Dec 10, 2021 | Air Transport, Politics & Legislative News
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds the U.S. Senate for confirming longtime labor lawyer and former IAM Legal Fellow Deirdre Hamilton to serve on the National Mediation Board (NMB), a three-member panel tasked with handling labor issues in the nation’s railroad and airline industries.
“We thank each senator who voted in favor of confirming Deirdre Hamilton for a seat on this very important federal panel,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “As a seasoned lawyer, and an alum of the Machinists Union, Ms. Hamilton has shown time and time again that she is well qualified for the task of ensuring fairness for workers in our nation’s airline and railroad industries.”
“The confirmation of Deidre Hamilton to the NMB panel is a great step to make sure workers’ rights are protected,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “Ms. Hamilton is a great advocate for working people, and I am confident she will serve airline and rail workers well.”
“This confirmation is good news for our union members. Ms. Hamilton is greatly qualified for the NMB post, and I am confident she will make sure workers come first,” said TCU-IAM National President Artie Maratea. “As an appointed member of the Dunlop Committee I look forward to working with Deirdre. We need champions like Ms. Hamilton to protect our nation’s workers, and I know with confidence that Ms. Hamilton is up to the task of making the rail industry work for everyone.”
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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Dec 7, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
The IAM is joining the IndustriALL Global Union in calling for an end to gender-based harassment and violence, especially in the workplace.
The Machinists Union is specifically calling on the United States and Canada to ratify International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention Number 190 and Recommendation 206, the first international standards to recognize that everyone has the right to a workplace free from harassment and violence. The U.S. and Canada, among many other countries, have not yet ratified the standards.
The standards recognize that violence and harassment in the world of work can occur in the physical workplace, as well as during the commute, where workers rest and online.
Unions have an important role to play to make sure the Convention becomes part of national laws, as well as fills the gaps in existing laws. This toolkit provides ways for trade unions and other stakeholders to fight violence and harassment in the world of work.
“Gender-based violence is absolutely a workplace issue and one that unions have a critical role to play in stopping,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “This important initiative leaves no one behind and protects all workers in all sectors. The IAM is committed to ending all harassment and violence.”
READ: What unions can do to put a stop to domestic violence IndustriALL
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Dec 7, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM National Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon recently chaired the Labor Roundtable at the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL). The NBCSL Labor and Workforce Development Policy Committee members come together with members from different labor unions to discuss labor and workforce development issues pertinent to union members.
Examples include, but are not limited to, labor/management relations, minimum wage standards, so-called Right-to-Work initiatives, wage equality, employment security, family leave, and child care.
The NBCSL labor delegates concentrated on how to increase their collective voice at the NBCSL and pushing out messaging on vital issues for labor members, including the Build Back Better Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure package.
“We always say if your not at the table, you are on the menu,” said IAM Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon. “As chair of the Labor Roundtable, not only do we have a seat at the table – we also participate in setting the legislative agenda for state legislatures across the country.
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Dec 2, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
You may have heard about the Build Back Better Act, but what is it and how can it help to change your life?
The act would strengthen enforcement of employment and civil rights laws. That means safer workplaces, less discrimination and it would discourage wage theft, so you aren’t short-changed in your paycheck. It would expand job training programs like apprenticeships, provide universal family and medical leave. That includes four weeks of paid parental, family caregiving. Build Back Better would extend the enhanced child tax credit through the end of 2022… lower the cost of child care, by making sure most families would pay no more than seven-percent of their income on child care. How does free, universal preschool sound for three and four-year-olds? How about more financial aid for college students?
Build Back Better would secure our nation’s manufacturing supply chains with $5 billion to identify and monitor critical vulnerabilities and support U.S. companies that end those weaknesses. Let’s build back better, together, to lower costs and fight inflation, without any more taxes to people who make less than $400,000 a year.
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Dec 2, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2021 – The Maine Lobstering Union (MLU) today filed a brief with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to end the misguided closure of productive lobstering waters off the coast of Maine.
The MLU previously won injunctive relief from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine to stop the closure on Oct. 16. A federal appeals court overturned the decision on Nov. 16, closing off about 967 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean to lobster fishing for a third of the year.
WATCH: This is Maine and This is What We Do
“Generations of Mainers have taken pride in sustainably cultivating the world’s best lobster while simultaneously protecting the Right Whales,” said Virginia Olsen of the Maine Lobstering Union. “The decision to close Maine’s waters to this time-honored industry is unfortunately based on misguided and incomplete science. The Maine Lobstering Union looks forward to continuing to fight to save this great American industry and defend the families and communities who rely on it.”
The Maine Lobstering Union (MLU) is a division of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) District 4 and the only union-based cooperative in the lobster industry owned and operated by Maine lobstermen. The MLU supports Maine’s lobster community and is committed to the sustainability and safety of Maine’s lobstermen and women and all wildlife that occupy and rely upon the fishery.
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Nov 19, 2021 | Politics & Legislative News
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds the U.S. House passage of the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376), a bill that would invest in the nation’s working people.
“I want to thank the U.S. House members who voted in favor of this crucial bill that gives much-needed support to our nation’s workforce. These are important provisions like Child Tax Credit, child care, workplace development and access to clean energy jobs just to name a few,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “This legislation embraces a pro-worker agenda that provides millions of working families with the resources and opportunities of better wages and benefits.”
Highlights of the Build Back Better bill:
- Invests a total $390 billion for the child care initiative and the universal preschool initiative.
- Provides $20 billion in workforce development programs.
- Provides $9.5 billion in public health infrastructure and workforce.
- Provides $3.5 billion for domestic manufacturing conversion grants to automobile manufacturers and suppliers.
More details are available here.
The IAM has been a strong advocate for passage of the Build Back Better bill, which would build on the new bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed into law days ago.
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