Mar 30, 2023 | Politics & Legislative News
The IAM, Maryland public library workers and their allies recently gathered at the Maryland State House in Annapolis to urge the state’s Senate Finance Committee members to move legislation giving public library workers the right to unionize.
Harford County Public Library workers Morgan Michael and Megan Baker called on legislators to pass H.B. 65, an IAM-led bipartisan bill that would give unorganized public library workers a fair, transparent, and consistent process to utilize their constitutional right to freedom of association by forming a union if they wish to do so. H.B. 65 passed with bipartisan support in the Maryland House of Delegates.
“To protect and preserve our libraries across the state, workers need a seat at their table, they need a voice in their room. We need to be regarded and respected as experts in our field alongside our administrators,“ said Michael. “The passage of H.B. 65 will do just that for the systems that need that right now, and the systems that need it in the future. I call on our senators to assist library workers and bring H.B 65 forward for a favorable vote.”
Other speakers included IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon, Maryland/District of Columbia AFL-CIO President Donna S. Edwards, and Metro Washington Labor Council President Dyana Forester.
“I don’t believe that leaving is the only option when it comes to improving my workplace,” said Baker. “Non-supervisory staff like us make up the majority of our library’s workforce, yet we have no say in the decisions and policies that affect us. This is why we want the ability to organize – so staff can have a seat at the table where our voice will be heard. Without us, it really is just a building with books.”
State Del. Steve Johnson proposed H.B. 65 to the Maryland General Assembly and took the podium to encourage the Senate to pass the bill, as the House did.
“We talk a lot down here about disparity gaps, about living wage, about bringing people up into the middle class,” said Johnson. “Well this is the way we do it–collective bargaining.”
After the press conference, Maryland Public Library Workers United lobbied state senators on the Finance Committee to pass the bill.
“Today, Maryland’s labor movement stands in solidarity to ensure we get legislation that will benefit working families in Maryland passed out of the Senate Finance Committee,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “There is nothing controversial about giving workers the freedom to choose to better their lives by having a voice in the workplace with a union. I urge members of the Senate Finance Committee to do right by the library and higher education workers in our great state.”
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Mar 29, 2023 | Politics & Legislative News
Registration is now open for the 2023 IAM Legislative Conference! This crucial conference provides an opportunity for IAM members to have their voices heard in Washington, DC, and to advocate for policies that benefit working families.
This year’s conference will take place from June 19-21, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Washington, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001.
Attendees must make reservations by Thursday, May 11, 2023, to guarantee the IAM hotel room rate.
Click here for the official call letter, registration information and hotel booking details.
As part of the conference schedule, attendees will lobby members of Congress and remind them who they were elected to represent. IAM members will meet with their congressional representatives and will provide their perspectives to advocate on behalf of fellow machinists and their families on the issues that matter most. All delegates planning to attend the 2023 IAM Legislative Conference should pre-schedule meetings with their Congressional District Representative as well as Senators for Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
By adding their voice, members can help support IAM’s work on:
- The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act
- Buy American
- Transportation
- Trade
- Defense funding
- Retirement security
- Affordable healthcare
- And much more!
The 2023 IAM Legislative Conference includes sessions where delegates will hear and interact with Congressional allies and attend a congressional reception hosted by the IAM.
Join us and make an impact by participating in this important conference.
Register today!
The post Register Now for the 2023 IAM Legislative Conference appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 28, 2023 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. met with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai this week to discuss the Indo-Pacific Trade Framework (IPEF) and other trade priorities. The IAM also stressed the importance of having a robust, comprehensive strategy that coordinates policies in trade, combats harmful trade practices, and doesn’t undermine the Buy American, Buy America, and Buy Local provisions we support.
Martinez and the IAM delegation made clear that all potential trade frameworks should concentrate on bringing jobs back and growing jobs here at home.
“The IPEF agreement must include provisions that are worker-centered and meet important objectives that include labor rights enforcement,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “It’s imperative for the Administration to uphold the interests and rights of workers during the negotiating process of this trade deal to prevent mistakes from the past and set the foundation for fair models for trade.”
In March, the IAM and more than 400 civil society groups
called on the administration to make strong labor rights commitments a central part of the proposed 14-nation IPEF.
The IAM has been actively engaged in developing the IPEF to ensure it includes policies with strong and enforceable labor standards and delivers real benefits to working families.
The post Machinists Union Meets with USTR to Discuss Trade Priorities appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 24, 2023 | Politics & Legislative News
This week, U.S. Reps. Julie Brownley (D-CA) and Marc Molinaro (R-NY) introduced the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 1716). The bipartisan legislation will institute a global safety standard for U.S. aircraft repairs and create measures to prevent the offshoring of domestic aircraft maintenance jobs.
“The traveling public deserves to know that commercial aircraft maintenance is done under the strictest standards possible,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “As the largest air transport labor union in North America, we commend Congressman Molinaro for introducing the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act.”
This piece of legislation mirrors a similar initiative to set global safety standards passed by the U.S. House in September last year and was then submitted to the Senate for consideration.
“The IAM will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul is performed by the best aircraft mechanics in the world under a standardized set of rules for U.S. carriers,” said Johnsen.
“If enacted, this bipartisan bill will hold foreign aircraft repair and maintenance to equal standards,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “The IAM supports and urges Congress to pass this legislation swiftly to ensure we strengthen global air transportation systems and preserve American jobs.”
“The U.S. has the safest air transportation system in the world, due to our rigorous standards for safety at all levels. It is past time that we close loopholes that allow foreign repair stations to undermine our safety standards,” said Brownley.
“The FAA has certified nearly one thousand foreign maintenance facilities that service American aircraft. These foreign based facilities, however, are held to a lower safety standard, offshoring jobs that can be done in America,” said Molinaro. “We can enhance safety and encourage quality high paying jobs here at home.”
Read U.S. Reps. Brownley and Molinaro’s release here.
The post IAM Supports Legislation to Establish Global Safety Standards for U.S. Aircraft Repairs to Protect Maintenance Jobs appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 9, 2023 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. sent a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh urging the department to extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program and allow it to start receiving applications.
“Thousands of hard-working people are counting on this benefit, which provides crucial assistance such as training and employment services,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in the letter. “TAA has been an extremely useful benefit helping workers rebound from losing a job to trade.”
The letter came as a result of reports that tens of thousands of workers affected by unfair trade practices are currently awaiting the determination of their petition for TAA support.
The $494 million for the U.S. Department of Labor program was included as part of the omnibus funding bill passed by Congress.
“The IAM and the entire labor movement hope these dollars will be put to work by the DOL as soon as possible to accept new TAA applications,” said Martinez.
Click here to read the complete letter.
The post IAM Calls for Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Extension appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 6, 2023 | Politics & Legislative News
On March 1, the IAM and more than 400 organizations and labor groups sent a letter to the Biden Administration calling for strong labor rights commitments and other critical priorities for the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
The letter outlines measures needed for the IPEF, including swift and enforceable labor standards, climate provisions focusing on environmental justice in the participating partners, and digital trade terms that don’t favor Big Tech corporations over working people.
“The IPEF agreement must include provisions that are worker-centered and meet important objectives that include labor rights enforcement,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “It’s imperative for the Administration to uphold the interests and rights of workers during the negotiating process of this trade deal to prevent mistakes from the past and set the foundation for fair models for trade.”
The IAM has been actively engaged in the development of the IPEF trade agreement to make sure it includes policies with strong and enforceable labor standards and delivers real benefits to working families.
U.S. trade negotiators will begin the second negotiating round of the IPEF from March 13-19 in Bali.
Read the full letter here.
The post IAM, Civil Society Groups Share Worker-Centered Priorities for Proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework appeared first on IAMAW.
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