Oct 18, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 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 addressing our nation’s debt limit:
“IAM members over the last 19 months have been battling with one of the worst pandemics in our country’s history that has caused the loss of lives and uncertainty about their future. The last thing our members need to be concerned with is the recklessness of GOP leadership forcing our nation to default on our obligations by not raising the debt limit. A default that may have dire consequences for workers all across our union and the country.
“The debt limit has long been a bipartisan issue. Congress has addressed the debt limit 78 times since 1960: 29 times with a Democrat in the White House and 49 times under a Republican president. More recently, since 2011, Congress did so on a bipartisan basis each of the seven times that the debt limit was addressed. This includes three times under the last Administration. The full faith and credit of the United States should not be questioned. This is in the Constitution: Fourteenth Amendment, Section Four states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law… shall not be questioned.”
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, airline, railroad, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
The post Stop Playing Games With Workers’ Lives: Raise the Debt Ceiling appeared first on IAMAW.
Oct 18, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
Fewer riders, fewer tickets bought and scaled-back schedules were just a few of the COVID-induced hurdles facing Amtrak during the past year and a half. All of those obstacles caused the railroad industry to lose millions, and threatened the livelihoods of thousands of Amtrak employees.
Workers often only discover how legislation impacts their lives when they see immediate results. The American Rescue Plan did just that. The massive relief legislation was negotiated and signed into law by President Biden and Congressional Democrats, and provided direct immediate relief to American workers to help rescue the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of that relief helped hard-hit public transit agencies and Amtrak to major avoid layoffs and service reductions which, in turn, kept thousands of TCU/IAM members from being furloughed or recalled them from furlough. Together, the IAM and TCU/IAM fought hard to pass the American Rescue Plan, which brought much-needed relief to working families. 
Art Gonzales is an Amtrak Service Attendant/Train Attendant (SATA) and President of TCU/IAM Local 2508 in Los Angeles. With nearly 10 years under his belt, Gonzales was furloughed for about nine months beginning last November, but was brought back to work in May thanks to the American Rescue Plan.
“We do have this legislation and these people fighting for us, so that’s a safety net. Having TCU behind us was our safety net,” said Gonzales.
The Transportation Communications Union lobbied heavily on Capitol Hill for that safety net – to save jobs that keep America and Americans moving, to increase unemployment benefits, not to mention ongoing efforts to bolster railroad retirement benefits.
“TCU members are working hard all across this country,” said TCU/IAM President Artie Maratea. “This pandemic has shown us how much we need to support each other. A strong, vibrant labor movement — one that gets in front of change, supports its members and stands in solidarity with everyone is the only way to create the kind of future we all want and deserve.”
The funding brought back hundreds of Amtrak workers like Gonzales, and he is forever grateful. “I believe it’s strong legislation, it’s needed,” said Gonzales. “I try to find the best things from everything.”
Gonzales works on California’s Pacific Surfliner. His day starts at 6 a.m. and often ends at 10 p.m., as he travels 351 miles between Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. 
“When I’m at work, I give 100%.,” said Gonzales. “It makes me proud to be able to work for a union that works as hard as me – that will fight for me and my family.”
His message to other furloughed workers is to stay grounded and look above your current situation and know that hopefully, your company is giving you the resources you need. But regardless, “the union is always there for you, no matter what,” said Gonzales.
He’s also thankful for being able to continue his work as an instructor with the Los Angeles Job Corps, which trains young adults. Gonzales preps them to be train attendants and helps them get ready for interviews. The program has a high success rate, with many of the trainees getting hired at Amtrak or other employers.
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