Nov 4, 2021 | Air Transport, Politics & Legislative News
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) committee for advancing the nomination of two union-friendly members to the National Mediation Board (NMB), which includes longtime labor lawyer and former IAM Legal Fellow Deirdre Hamilton.
The HELP committee recently voted to approve the nomination of Hamilton and renomination of Linda Puchala, an action that moves both for a full Senate consideration. The IAM is now urging Senate leadership to swiftly move forward with a full floor vote to confirm the two NMB nominees.
“We thank each senator of the HELP committee who voted in favor of the Democratic nominees for this very important federal panel, which will help make sure the pendulum stays balanced in the efforts to smooth out disputes in the rail and airline industries,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “We also applaud the Biden administration for choosing a slate of very qualified members to the NMB panel, which would become Democratic majority. We are confident that Deirdre Hamilton and Linda Puchala will fight hard to protect the interest of the American worker.”
“We applaud the Senate HELP Committee for moving our labor-friendly nominees out of committee and we are now urging Senate Leadership to schedule a floor vote. The IAM’s Transportation Department stands ready to work to help get these nominees confirmed,” said Richard Johnsen, Chief of Staff to the International President. “Both Hamilton and Puchala have shown to be advocates of workers, so I am confident that they will assure workers’ rights will be protected.”
The NMB is a three-member panel tasked with handling labor issues in the nation’s railroad and airline industries.
In January, the IAM joined 18 unions representing rail and aviation workers in sending a letter the Biden administration asking for some immediate attention to confirm Hamilton and Puchala.
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Nov 4, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
NFFE-IAM stands in solidarity with an alliance of nearly 300,000 federal workers across the country who support the three recent nominations to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
NFFE-IAM is part of 30 labor unions that make up the Federal Workers Alliance (FWA), an organization of unions that represent federal workers across the country. Under the FWA umbrella, these unions have united in backing Ernest W. DuBester’s nomination and former NFFE-IAM General Counsel Susan T. Grundmann’s nomination as members of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) along with Kurt Rumsfeld’s nomination for FLRA General Counsel.
Based on their distinguished professional backgrounds, the hope is that these three candidates would restore much-needed balance back to the FLRA board, which has recently supported decisions that hurt federal workers rather than protect their collective bargaining rights.
The letter was sent directly to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), which is scheduled to take up the nominations in the very near future.
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Nov 4, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
Cristino Vilorio, New Jersey State Council of Machinists President, this week represented the IAM at President Biden’s Build Back Better event in New Jersey, which focused on the status of the Infrastructure and the Reconciliation Bill and how it will create thousands of union jobs in New Jersey and across the nation.
Vilorio was also among a select few to meet privately with the President during the event.
“As the president of New Jersey State Council of Machinists and a full-time Business Representative for District 15, I will continue to provide the best representation to our over 20,000 members that we represent in various industries in New Jersey,” said Vilorio. “We will continue with our supportive agenda that creates good union jobs with great benefits for our members and their families.”
“Brother Vilorio continually fights for the rights of all union members, so I couldn’t think of a more deserving representative of our union at President Biden’s event,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “I congratulate him for having the esteemed honor of meeting the President. Our union has advocated relentlessly for the passing of this legislation which will further enhance good-paying union jobs.”
President Biden, who was joined at the event by New Jersey representatives, including Gov. Murphy and other union leaders, thanked all attendees for their leadership, dedication and support while asking all attendees for their continued support in passing the Infrastructure Bill.
The Machinists Union has been at the forefront of the labor movement in supporting the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal.
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Nov 2, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
New Jersey and Virginia are the only gubernatorial races this year, and both could shape the future of the labor movement. Please hit the polls today to vote for pro-labor candidates, Governor Phil Murphy in New Jersey and Terry McAuliffe in Virginia,
In addition to gubernatorial races, there are important elections for other statewide offices and the state legislature.
New Jersey residents can click here to find their polling location.
Virginia residents can click here to find their polling location.
Polls are open in New Jersey until 8 p.m. and in Virginia until 7 p.m.
The post Reminder: Get Out the Pro-Labor Vote Today in Virginia and New Jersey appeared first on IAMAW.
Oct 29, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
A critical amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen Buy American, tirelessly lobbied for by the IAM, was filed today in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). If passed, the amendment would dramatically increase domestically made procurement requirements in major defense programs.
The amendment would increase “Buy American” requirements for major defense programs from 55 percent to 60 percent upon the bill’s enactment. Requirements would further rise to 65 percent by 2024 and to 75 percent by 2029.
The amendment, championed in the U.S. House by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), was included in the bipartisan House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“As the largest defense labor union in the United States, the IAM is incredibly grateful to Senator Duckworth for moving Buy American forward to benefit the U.S. workforce,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “The IAM has led the way in advocating the use of U.S. tax dollars to purchase American-made planes, ships, missiles, submarines, and other products and services that keep our nation secure. This amendment will not only grow our industrial base and help give thousands of working Americans the opportunity to improve their lives and communities, but it will increase the number of domestic manufacturers throughout the country.”
The IAM has been pushing the increase for years in order to strengthen the defense industrial base and domestic supply chain while helping prevent vulnerabilities created by military products being made in China and other countries.
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Oct 28, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2021 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest aerospace, defense, and transportation union in North America, released the following statement strongly supporting the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the agreement on the Build Back Better Act:
“Our union is relieved that our nation’s elected officials could agree on legislation impacting millions of working families. The IAM was instrumental in helping pass the American Rescue Plan and other rescue packages to help keep our members employed and their families secure. But these were temporary fixes to a problem that needs a permanent solution. The IAM applauds the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the framework agreement on the Build Back Better Act. Both pieces of legislation will provide historic investment for the airline, transit, aerospace, manufacturing and other critical industries.
“Build Back Better is transformative for families, with the Child Tax Credit, child care, universal pre-K, workforce development, and more. Corporations have been on the receiving end of corporate tax cuts and other special giveaways for too long. We need legislation that will embrace a pro-worker, pro-democracy agenda that provides millions of working families the opportunity to better wages and benefits.
“The infrastructure package will finally strengthen Buy America rules to help boost our domestic manufacturing sectors. Our union fought to include the most significant federal investment in public transit and passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. Our transportation sector will benefit through the modernization projects created through the robust funding provided in this infrastructure package. This investment will help our vital manufacturing and transportation sectors build back better.
“Our union is dedicated to reversing the trend of an economy that serves the wealthiest and most prominent corporations so that working families can live a better life with decent wages and benefits.”
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