Jul 19, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM District 54 members recently attended President Biden’s recent announcement at Max S. Hayes High School in Cleveland. President Biden focused on his economic agenda, increasing vocational training opportunities, and building the economy from the bottom up and middle out.
IAM District 54 members Jim McClelland, Phil Baker, Mary Napier, Barbara Sherrod, and John Graf attended the event.
“So here’s the deal,” said Biden while addressing the Cleveland crowd. “The deal is quite simple. When I ran, I was criticized for the basis upon which I ran. I said I’m running for three reasons. One, to restore the soul of America — the decency and honor of this country. And two, to rebuild the backbone of the country. The backbone of the country is the working women and men, the middle class. And, you know, there’s a middle class for one reason: American unions.”
“It was meaningful to have President Biden visit Max S. Hayes High School, my alma mater and that of many of our members, and bring the spotlight on one of our few trade schools in the Cleveland area,” said T. Dean Wright, Jr., President & Directing Business Representative District Lodge 54. “His visit to our trade school is a signal of his commitment to investing in the middle class and Machinists Union members and their families.”
“Announcements like this are impactful for our members,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “A strong economic agenda is not only good for our members, but it is good for the nation. The policies implemented by this administration will positively impact our members here in Ohio and elsewhere for years.”
President Biden lauded the work of Democrats and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for their leadership.
The post Ohio District 54 Members Attend President Biden’s Economic Agenda Speech appeared first on IAMAW.
Jul 19, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
Since late 2021, the economy has suffered debilitating setbacks primarily due to wrinkles in the global supply chain. As a result, President Biden hosted a supply chain summit with 14 other countries that same year to begin tackling the immediate supply chain issues.
Fact Sheet: Global Supply Chain Summit
Machinists Union was invited to participate in the Labor and Workforce Development breakout of the two-day 2022 Ministerial Forum on Global Supply Chain Resilience, scheduled for July 19 and 20.
The event hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, focuses on ways to tackle the supply chain issues championed by President Biden.
Included in these discussions were geographic diversity of advanced manufacturing centers, fostering stakeholders in labor, small businesses, transportation, and logistics to improve supply chains. All while expanding global training to enhance readiness in workforce participation for all workers, including women and other underutilized minority groups.
2022 Supply Chain Ministerial
“The IAM made it clear that to improve supply chain issues, the next generation of workers must receive the skills they need to fill good middle-class jobs,” said Peter Greenberg, IAM Strategic Resources Assistant Director. “We need improved and consistent funding for apprenticeship programs and the continuation of Trade Adjustment Assistance programs for displaced workers.”
The overall goal for this global partnership is to reduce and end near-term supply chain disruptions. The Departments of State and Commerce are committed to building long-term solutions while easing future troubles in the global supply chain. Advocacy and education are needed at every level, from workers, city leaders, state, federal, and international leaders. In addition, the Biden Administration aims to secure custom supply chain solutions for businesses and workers in each locality – securing jobs for all workers.
Watch: The Modern World Doesn’t Work Without the Global Supply Chain.
The post Machinists Advocate for Middle-Class Jobs, Trade Adjustment Assistance at Global Supply Chain Forum appeared first on IAMAW.
Jul 14, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest defense and aerospace labor union in North America, welcomes the Department of Labor’s publication of its proposed rule to implement Executive Order 14055, “Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts,” which will significantly improve job security for service contract workers across the country.
After the IAM’s advocacy, President Biden signed Executive Order 14055 on November 18, 2021. It requires federal contractors and subcontractors on a covered successor contract to offer jobs to qualified employees employed under the predecessor contract.
READ: The Labor Dept. Moves Forward on Reducing Turnover on Service Contracts Government Executive
The IAM led efforts in urging the Biden administration to protect Service Contract Act (SCA) workers’ jobs by reinstating critical job security protections that had been taken away under the Trump administration.
“This is a win for workers and employers who work under the Service Contract Act,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “President Biden’s reinstatement of President Obama’s Executive Order turned back the disastrous policy of President Trump and created clear guidance for employers. President Biden is a champion for working families and continues to put them at the top of his agenda. Thousands of IAM members and other service contract workers can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their jobs won’t be displaced when government service contracts change hands from one employer to another. Our nation can take great pride in the efficient government procurement and fairness to these workers and their families under Executive Order 14055.”
READ: Notice of Proposed Rule: Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers under Service Contracts (Executive Order 14055)
In 2021, IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. wrote a letter to President Biden urging him to restore Service Contract Worker’s job protections.
Service Contract workers are private-sector employees who work under federal contracts, primarily at military bases and other federal installations. The IAM represents nearly 40,000 Service Contract Workers in various industries, spread across more than 800 locations.
IAM members work at over 800 Service Contract Act locations across the country, primarily at military bases and federal institutions. Some of the IAM’s larger bargaining units include 4,000 SCA workers at Fort Rucker, Alabama; more than 1,000 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; nearly 800 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona; and 750 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.
The post Biden’s Executive Order Gives IAM Members Working Under Service Contract Act a Huge Victory appeared first on IAMAW.
Jul 14, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2022 — Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement:
“On behalf of the IAM Executive Council and our entire membership, I want to congratulate Owen on this historic accomplishment. Owen has been an important voice for manufacturing, international and employment law, and workers’ rights globally. In his 34-year career as IAM Chief of Staff to the International President, Director of Trade and Globalization, and more, Owen served as an invaluable resource to the IAM and workers worldwide. His work to advance global trade and human rights that benefit working people has been internationally recognized inside and outside the labor movement.
“The IAM applauds President Biden and Majority Leader Schumer for Owen’s appointment and confirmation to the Export-Import Bank Board of Directors. The Ex-Im Bank is one of the few U.S. trade policies that support U.S. exports and jobs. This confirmation will help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among North America’s largest industrial trade unions and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airline, railroad, transportation, and shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion
The post Machinists Union Applauds Confirmation of Owen E. Herrnstadt to U.S. Export-Import Bank Board of Directors appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 23, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
Approximately 175 IAM Local W384 (District 5) members at Motor Coach Industries (MCI) Pembina, North Dakota plant were told they will be out of work by the end of the year due to the company’s decision to close the facility.
“We were just in shock thinking back to all the things we’ve been told, the broken promises — how we’d never close because we were paid for and have so much to offer this community — things like that,” IAM Lodge W384 President Jennifer Winkler told the Grand Forks (ND) Herald.
Pembina is a very small town. The loss of these 175 family-supporting jobs will have a major impact on its area economy and the surrounding communities.
TELL NORTH DAKOTA’S ELECTED OFFICIALS: Help Us Save Good Machinists Union Jobs at Motor Coach Industries
“We do not agree with the company’s assertion that they were unable to find skilled workers in Pembina,” wrote IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in a letter to North Dakota’s Senators and U.S. House Representative. “The IAM has also made efforts to meet that demand by offering to partner with the company to recruit and launch apprenticeship programs to meet the workforce needs.”
“MCI plant jobs sustain Pembina. We want to keep the plant open and keep our members working,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “Any support we get for these members will help. We need to show MCI how important this plant is to Pembina’s community and the effect a shutdown would have.”
Members are still holding out hope that the company will decide to keep its plant open. Join us in supporting our brothers and sisters in Pembina by sending a letter to North Dakota’s congressional delegation, asking them to urge the company to reconsider its decision to close the plant.
The post Tell North Dakota’s Elected Officials: Save Machinists Union Jobs at Motor Coach Industries appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 23, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM members and political activists from across the United States convened in Washington, DC this week for the 2022 IAM Legislative Conference, hearing from allies of the Machinists Union and lobbying members of Congress.
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr., as well as IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon, welcomed Legislative Conference delegates after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATCH: Machinists Union Back on Capitol Hill for 2022 IAM Legislative Conference
“We are here this week in Washington, DC so that we can continue to help people live better lives. And we can’t leave what we learn this week here on Capitol Hill,” said Martinez. “You must take this home to explain to our members why we care about legislative issues and how their union is fighting for them.”
Martinez recapped the IAM’s support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, Buy American, defense funding, stiffer penalties for assault on airline customer service agents, and more.
PHOTOS: IAM Legislative Conference Day 1
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the Conference and congratulated Apple employees in Towson, MD for winning their union election to join the IAM. She also called for union members to keep pressure on the Senate to pass the PRO Act.
“Our nation has taken key steps forward, but so much more needs to be done,” said Pelosi. “Nearly half of non-union workers would organize if they could, we have to make sure they have that opportunity.
PHOTOS: IAM Legislative Conference Days 2 and 3
Other speakers and Machinists Union allies at the 2022 IAM Legislative Conference included:
- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD)
- U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA)
- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH)
- U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ)
- U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (ME)
- U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (VA)
- U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ)
- U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA)
- U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (MN)
- IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin
- IAM General Counsel Carla Siegel
- TCU/IAM Vice President and National Legislative Director William DeCarlo
- NFFE-IAM Federal District 1 National President Randy Erwin
The post Machinists Union Members Make Powerful Return to Capitol Hill at IAM Legislative Conference appeared first on IAMAW.
Pass the #PROAct (@unionveterans) 
Recent Comments