Mar 4, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2022 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace, the largest aerospace and defense labor union in North America, released the following statement regarding President Biden’s expansion of “Buy American”:
“The Machinists Union has championed and called for an expansion of ‘Buy American’ domestic content requirements for decades. Today’s announcement is further proof that in President Biden, we finally have a champion for U.S. workers in the White House.
“Today’s announcement makes real what we have been saying all along—that ‘Made in America’ should mean ‘Made in America.’ In fact, the Machinists Union, along with U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, championed an amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that would have made a similar ‘Buy American’ threshold increase for defense products. That bipartisan amendment passed the House before being defeated by corporate-backed politicians in the Senate.
“The Biden administration is now applying that rule—that any product stamped with ‘Made in America’ should have 75% of its value come from parts made here in the United States—to all products purchased with taxpayer dollars by 2029.
“This is critical for our domestic supply chains. It is music to the ears of American workers. It puts our tax dollars toward buying the best products made by the best workers. And it will finally make a real difference toward bringing back U.S. jobs that have been sent out of the country by bad trade deals and corporate greed.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Biden administration and the Made in America Office for hearing our call and the calls of millions of Americans. Let’s build the future right here in America.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.
goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion
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Mar 1, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
Voting rights reform is critical to this country’s foundation. That’s why the labor movement will do all it can to protect the sanctity of our voting system and shine a spotlight on the laws and policies that aim to damage our nation. It’s time to put the American people back at the center of our democracy.
The post Restoring Voting Rights for All appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 1, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
About 50 delegates with the Illinois State Council of Machinists recently gathered in Springfield, IL for a political conference. While there, IAM members heard from politicians, built a grassroots plan for the upcoming midterm elections and listened to union leadership.
The post Building Political Power in Illinois appeared first on IAMAW.
Feb 10, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM members, officers and staff recently gathered in Tallahassee to attend the Florida State Council of Machinists Conference. The conference focused on the importance of staying engaged in the legislative process by contacting state and federal lawmakers on bills that protect or harm union working families.
Among the council’s endorsements was U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), a longtime champion for IAM families, for U.S. Senate
Attendees heard from a slate of dynamic speakers, including IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace and IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon. Attendees also heard from six labor-friendly legislators throughout the sessions.
“I want to thank every officer and delegate who attended for three days, who put in long hours lobbying their legislators and attending committee meetings at the Capitol,” said Mike Phillips, Florida State Council of Machinists President. “I am very proud of the commitment that each delegate and officer showed for the conference duration. I was also honored to walk the halls of the Capitol with my brothers and sisters of the great state of Florida who fight for justice, dignity, and a better way of life.”
“It is always a great honor attending the Florida State Council and joining in great conversation with our members on some of the most important issues our union and the labor movement face,” said IAM Southern Territory Vice President Rickey Wallace. “I thank the council leadership for always facing these difficult issues head-on. I also congratulate them for such a great turnout, especially in these trying times.”
Members attending the Florida State Council meeting heard how vital the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) is for our union and state councils. Increasing contributions to the MNPL is always a big part of the Florida State Council’s agenda with the help of IAM staff from the Political and Legislative Department. The voluntary donations to the MNPL help the IAM get pro-worker candidates elected in hopes of implementing a pro-worker, pro-democracy agenda in the state.
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Feb 8, 2022 | Machinists On The Hill, Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, February 8, 2022 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) proudly supports the recent findings from the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. The report, which includes more than 70 recommendations, empowers workers, supports unions by leveling the playing field, and allows everyone to have a seat at the table.
“The report from the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment solidifies the commitment the Biden-Harris administration made to workers to take on injustices that have left them without a seat at the table,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “No longer will those in power be able to sit idly by and watch our nation’s workers suffer at the hands of corporate CEOs without recourse. This report’s recommendations will help grow the middle class, build an economy that works for everyone, and strengthen our democracy. We applaud the Biden-Harris team for being true to their word and fighting for working people. Unions built the middle class, and it’s the legacy of the hardworking men and women of the labor movement who we owe a debt of gratitude, not just for the past but for the future they will help secure for generations to come.”
“I am excited to be a liaison for our Union on this much-needed task force,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “As someone who spends most of my time fighting to level the playing field for workers trying to establish a voice in the workplace, it feels powerful to have our President issue these findings. This report shows that the Biden-Harris administration holds the same values as the Machinists Union. Being able to join a union is a basic human right, and for far too long, companies have been left unfettered in their abilities to stop workers from joining a union. With the recommendations made by the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, this administration is showing workers across the country that their voices and their rights matter.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion
The post Machinists Union Applauds White House Task Force Report on Worker Organizing and Empowerment appeared first on IAMAW.
Feb 2, 2022 | Politics & Legislative News
Starting in early 2021, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made it clear that it intends to ramp up its ability to protect all workers and their rights. But this latest wave of outreach specifically includes Spanish-speaking workers—a large group of U.S. workers who have been excluded from such efforts in the past.
In March 2021, the NLRB launched a Spanish website with information about the Board and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Last month, the NLRB launched a Spanish language e-filing service on its website for users to file unfair labor practice charges and petitions for union elections. And the NLRB has created Spanish Twitter accounts for the NLRB and the NLRB General Counsel, along with posting its news releases in Spanish as well.
Why is the NLRB engaging in this Spanish-language outreach? Within the United States, over 41 million people age five or older speak Spanish at home, making it the second-most spoken language in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census. As the U.S. labor force has grown more ethnically diverse, the number of workers who are not native English speakers has increased, with more than 20 percent of the US population overall speaking another language at home (QuickFacts). Workers who do not speak English, or do not speak it as fluently as other languages, are less likely to know their rights at work, and are therefore more likely to be exploited.
“It is vital that our members can learn about their legal rights in ways that are accessible to them, including in their native languages, so we can better inspire effective and meaningful activism among our members,” said IAM General Counsel Carla Siegel. “We commend the NLRB and the Biden administration for taking this much-needed step to reach workers in more ways.”
To address these disparities, the new appointees at the NLRB have undertaken an unprecedented level of outreach to Spanish-speaking workers.
“By allowing workers, employers, and unions to file an unfair labor practice charge or union petition in Spanish, we’re going to reach a portion of the public that we may have previously been unable to engage with as effectively,” said NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran.
This is also why the IAM has created Spanish Leadership courses, available at the Winpisinger Center each year. This three-course series brings the Leadership I, II and III courses to IAM Spanish speakers, and allows participants to develop skills necessary to be a good Local Lodge officer and/or active member in their native language. The IAM wants all of its members to get access to the information needed to be good unionists on the job, and the Leadership program is an excellent start in Spanish or English.
“One of our top priorities is to train and motivate our next generation of IAM leaders in ways that reflect the changing labor movement and the evolving demographics of our country, in Spanish and English,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “The IAM continues to show its commitment to developing future officers, activists, organizers and leaders from all backgrounds to represent and add future members to the IAM.”
The IAM Spanish language program description can be found here, and District Lodge leadership can provide you with more information if you want to participate.
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