Feb 29, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM International President Brian Bryant, Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin and Chief of Staff Vinny Addeo joined IAM Florida State Council President Mike Phillips and members from across Florida at the state’s council.
Other featured speakers included former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, Florida AFL-CIO President Dan Renolds, Florida State Rep. Tom Keen (D-District 33) and Florida State Rep. Victor Torres (D-District 25).
The Council discussed pending anti-worker legislation moving through the Republican super majority in the state, including:
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Funding the Florida’s Unemployment Insurance Program with internet sales tax funds instead of employer contributions
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Modifying state child labor laws to allow 16 and 17 year olds to work until midnight on school nights
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Require every voter in Florida to re-enroll to vote by mail each election cycle.
A rally was held to support the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voters Right Act (S.B. 1522/ H.B. 1035). The bill aims to counter actions to restrict voting in the state, and improve upon the provisions of the 1965 Voters Rights Act that were recently gutted by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court.
The post Florida State Council Fights Back Against Anti-Worker Legislation appeared first on IAMAW.
Feb 29, 2024 | Air Transport, Politics & Legislative News
U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) joined the growing call for Delta Air Lines to create a pathway to ensure workers are free to join the union without fear or interference.
“As a longtime fighter for unions, I stand alongside the Delta flight attendants, fleet service workers, and technicians fighting to organize and join a union,” wrote Scott in a statement. “The pathway to ensure workers remain free to join the union of their choice must exist without fear of reprisal or interference. Delta has a long history of employing unionized workgroups across its operations and fostering an inclusive workplace culture, and I look forward to working with all sides to protect workers’ freedom to make their own decisions.”
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) also wrote a letter to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian calling on Delta Air Lines to uphold its reputation for excellence and fairness by respecting the rights of its employees to decide on unionization without interference.
“It means a lot to Delta workers in Georgia to have the dean of the Georgia Congressional Delegation weigh in on their behalf,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “Georgia has always been vital in the fight for human rights, civil rights, and union rights for workers. The IAM will continue to provide Delta workers the support they need to voice their freedom to have respect and dignity at Delta Air Lines.”
Upwards of 55,000 Delta employees are currently engaged in a campaign to join unions. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is currently organizing Delta ramp, cargo, and tower workers. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) is signing up flight attendants, and the Teamsters are supporting technicians and related crafts.
This latest letter comes after five more Republican members of Congress penned a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian. The Congressional Labor Caucus letter garnered 146 members of Congress to sign on, including Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.).
Delta Air Lines management has threatened employees with termination for union activities. It hosts an anti-union website and distributes literature threatening workers seeking to organize.
Delta Air Lines is the only U.S.-based mainline carrier where a union does not represent flight attendants, fleet service, and mechanics – only 20 percent of Delta workers are unionized.
Unionized Delta pilots recently endorsed the joint IAM, AFA-CWA, and Teamsters campaign to organize Delta workers.
“Delta workers are being subjected to an immense amount of pressure, simply by exercising their federal right to join a union,” “It’s time to put an end to the intimidation and give Delta workers the voice on the job that they deserve.”
Read the statement here.
The post Georgia Congressman David Scott Urges Delta Air Lines to Remain Neutral in Union Organizing Campaign appeared first on IAMAW.
Feb 28, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
Members from IAM Local 4 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and from IAM Local 2424 at Aberdeen Proving Ground recently testified before the House Appropriations Committee of the Maryland General Assembly. A bill to increase the number of scholarships available to dependents of active duty military service members killed in the line of duty and service connected disabled veterans is moving through the Maryland House this session.
Watch the IAM’s testimony to the Maryland General Assembly here.
State Del. Brian Crosby (D-District 29B), who represents Naval Air Station Patuxent River and is a military veteran himself, sponsored the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program (H.B. 529). The bill would remove the cap of 15 scholarships that can be awarded to veterans by the Maryland Higher Education Commision.
“It’s an easy return on investment,” said IAM Local 4 Shop Steward Joseph “Matt” Langford. According to his research, “10% of all EMTs are veterans, 19% of all firefighters are veterans, and 25% of all police officers [are veterans].”
Former Local 2424 President Bill Harkum, now an IAM Communications Representative, shared that many workers on Maryland’s military installations and various Department of Defense contractors are also reservist and National Guard members who already support Maryland state needs. He stressed that helping disabled veterans is the right thing to do.
“Those of us that have served in the military, we have an open ended commitment to this state and to this nation, and we hope you consider that worthy of giving us the benefits of this bill,” said Harkum.
IAM Veterans Services Program Coordinator Rich Evans testified remotely.
“Growing education opportunities aligns with our union’s platform to promote efforts to assist U.S. Armed Forces Veterans,” said Evans. “Our union’s roots run deep in Maryland and we support legislation that can help workers and families prosper, and support the state’s continued growth and success.”
The post IAM Members Testify at Maryland General Assembly to Expand Military Veteran Scholarships appeared first on IAMAW.
Feb 22, 2024 | Air Transport, Politics & Legislative News
ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2024 – U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) wrote a letter to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian calling on Delta Air Lines to uphold its reputation for excellence and fairness by respecting the rights of its employees to decide on unionization without interference.
Upwards of 55,000 Delta employees are currently engaged in a campaign to join unions. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is currently organizing Delta ramp, cargo, and tower workers. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) is signing up flight attendants, and the Teamsters are supporting technicians and related crafts.
“My office has heard from different unions about their organizing efforts, and I strongly agree that Delta’s workers have a right to make a decision on unionization without fear of retaliation or intimidation,” wrote Rep. Bishop. “Ialso urge Delta to continue to adhere to the organization process outlined in the Railway Labor Act and to take any allegations of interference seriously.”
In the letter, Bishop also expressed support for the ongoing efforts of Delta employees to organize and urged Delta Air Lines to maintain their well-deserved status by respecting its employees’ decision whether or not to organize.
This latest letter comes after five more Republican members of Congress penned a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian. The Congressional Labor Caucus letter garnered 146 members of Congress to sign on, including Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.).
Delta Air Lines management has threatened employees with termination for union activities. It hosts an anti-union website and distributes literature threatening workers seeking to organize.
Delta Air Lines is the only U.S.-based mainline carrier where a union does not represent flight attendants, fleet service, and mechanics – only 20 percent of Delta workers are unionized.
Unionized Delta pilots recently endorsed the joint IAM, AFA-CWA, and Teamsters campaign to organize Delta workers.
“Delta workers are being subjected to an immense amount of pressure, simply by exercising their federal right to join a union,” “It’s time to put an end to the intimidation and give Delta workers the voice on the job that they deserve.”
“We applaud Rep. Bishop’s courage for taking a stand to level the playing field for Delta workers,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “He has a long history of fighting for workers throughout Georgia. His support reinforces the importance of fairness and respect in this organizing campaign.”
Read the complete letter here.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
The post Georgia Congressman Sanford Bishop Urges Delta Air Lines to Remain Neutral in Union Organizing Campaign appeared first on IAMAW.
Feb 21, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2024 – Five more Republican members of Congress are calling on Delta Air Lines to sign a neutrality agreement and respect the rights of its employees to join a union.
U.S. Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) penned the letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian. The call comes after a Congressional Labor Caucus letter garnered 146 members of Congress to sign on, including Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.).
Upwards of 55,000 Delta employees are currently engaged in a campaign to join unions. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is currently organizing Delta ramp, cargo and tower workers. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) is signing up flight attendants and the Teamsters are supporting technicians and related crafts.
“Adopting a neutrality agreement simply involves an employer agreeing not to engage in pre-election activities that influence workers’ freedom to form a union,” the Republican letter says to Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “Your commitment to neutrality would ensure that management does not pressure workers into voting against unionization or delaying the election process. We believe a neutrality agreement would demonstrate Delta’s respect of workers’ rights and would comply with the Railway Labor Act’s directive to not impact its employees in their choice of a workplace representative.”
Delta Air Lines management has threatened employees with termination for union activities. It hosts an anti-union website and distributes literature threatening workers seeking to organize.
“The IAM and Delta workers are extremely grateful for the bipartisan support of workers’ rights at Delta,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Delta has the opportunity to do the right thing by ending its scorched-Earth campaign against its own employees.”
Delta Air Lines is the only U.S.-based mainline carrier where a union does not represent flight attendants, fleet service, and mechanics – only 20 percent of Delta workers are unionized.
“All workers should have the free and fair choice to join a union, as is required by law,” continues the Republican letter. “We urge you to adopt a neutrality agreement with regard to any efforts by your employees to unionize, to meet with your employees to implement this agreement and to commit to negotiating in good faith if your employees do choose to form a union.”
Unionized Delta pilots recently endorsed the joint IAM, AFA-CWA and Teamsters campaign to organize Delta workers.
“Delta workers are being subjected to an immense amount of pressure, simply by exercising their federal right to join a union,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “It’s time to put an end to the intimidation and give Delta workers the voice on the job that they deserve.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion
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Feb 21, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) was joined by labor leaders at the U.S. Capitol to oppose the Fiscal Commission Act, legislation that would create a shady “fiscal commission” with the power to make quick cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Former IAM General Vice President and current Alliance for Retired Americans President, Robert Roach, also spoke at the news conference.
The post IAM, Labor Allies Warn of Commission Aimed at Slashing Social Security, Medicare appeared first on IAMAW.
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