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2010 IAMAW Legislative Conference

by Thomas Collard Jr.
In May, the IAM held its annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.. Local Lodge 141 was represented at the conference by Legislative Director and Secretary-Treasurer, Thomas Collard Jr. along with Legislative Committee member Carmen Johnson. Both were able to meet with their Representatives in congress. They discussed current labor issues, and thanked them for their help and support with the recent NMB (National Mediation Board) voting rule change which brings union representation voting in the transportation sector on par with all others.

They also had the opportunity to experience and listen to some of the most supportive and union friendly government officials at the conference. Here is just a sampling: Continued...

House Restores Jobless Aid

July 22, 2010 — By a 272 to 152 vote marking the end of a months-long battle between Democrats and Republicans, House lawmakers passed an unemployment insurance extension for 2.5 million jobless Americans. The measure now goes to President Obama for his signature.

The vote to restore jobless aid comes after Republicans blocked numerous attempts to pass the benefit extension. Democratic Senators and two Republicans broke the filibuster Tuesday. The Senate finally passed the measure by a 59 to 39 vote Wednesday.

The bill extends unemployment benefits for people who have been out of work for more than six months. However, in an effort to end the Republican stalemate, several additional provisions that would have further helped the jobless were taken out. Those provisions include a 65 percent COBRA subsidy, a fifth tier of benefits for individuals out of work longer than 99 weeks, a $25 stimulus bonus, and funds to save teachers and other state employees from layoffs.

Senate Resolution Would Target NMB Voting Rights Rule Change

June 10, 2010 — The National Mediation Board (NMB) made history on May 11th when it declared that airline and rail workers deserve the same voting rights as workers in every other U.S. industry.

Under the new voting guidelines, representation elections for transportation workers will be decided by a majority of workers who actually vote. The new NMB guidelines would end the practice of assigning "no" votes to all workers who do not participate in an election.

In the weeks ahead, U.S. Senators are expected to debate and vote on a last-ditch resolution by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) that would block the NMB rule change and restore the unfair voting procedure that was a key tool in anti-union campaigns.

Click HERE write your Senator today and ask them to oppose the Isakson resolution.

Act Now to Secure FAA Reauthorization

Every three to five years the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is funded through legislation in the House and Senate. This is one of the few opportunities for Congress to provide direction and oversight to this agency which is so critical to airline workers.Continue...

TAKE ACTION: To help secure passage of the FAA Reauthorization, use this link to send an e-mail message to your U.S. Senators urging them to "Pass the FAA Bill."

Tell Mott's: get the scabs out of your applesauce!

Workers for Mott's, the applesauce and juice maker, could use some help in a battle over pensions and wages. More than 300 workers have been on strike since May in Williamson, NY. Even though the Mott's parent company raked in $555 million in profits last year, it's trying to slash workers' wages by as much as $1.50 per hour and take away their pension plan. For months, Mott's has refused to negotiate in good faith. And, now the company is beginning to hire strikebreakers to cross the picket line. TAKE ACTION: Click here to tell the President of Mott's parent company: Mott's workers deserve better.

Merrill Manufacturing Stonewalls Negotiations, IAM Members Vote to Continue Strike

Merrill Manufacturing continued its practice of stonewalling negotiations and prolonging a strike that began on March 24, 2010 by members of Local 2362 in Merrill, WI. The IAM indicated through a federal mediator that it was willing to modify some of its positions to reach a settlement. During a meeting between Merrill and the IAM, Merrill, as it has throughout the strike, refused to modify any of its outrageous proposals. TAKE ACTION: Click here to send a letter to Merrill Manufacturing to demand they bargain fairly. Continued...

Tell Congress to Invest in Maritime Infrastructure Projects

Legislation in the House and Senate could jump-start investment in the nation's maritime infrastructure and create thousands of good-paying jobs. Take Action: Click here to tell Congress to invest in America's maritime industry. Continued...

Independent Report Slams Space Privatization

The final draft of an independent report on the future of the U.S. space program finds significant shortcomings in the plan to restructure NASA as proposed by President Obama. Take Action: Click here to send a message to Congress to support America's manned space program. Continued...

Tell Congress to Pass the TRADE Act

It's time to stop exporting North American jobs and enact trade agreements that protect workers and communities, not devastate them. A new bill in Congress, the TRADE (Trade, Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment) Act, fundamentally changes how the U.S. negotiates trade agreements. The TRADE Act puts workers, communities, and the environment before the interests of multinational corporations. The TRADE Act seeks to make global trade work for all of us. Urge your Senators and Representative in Congress to cosponsor this important legislation. Take Action...

I Urge You to Take Action to Help Feed the Jobless Today!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting a record number of food stamp recipients in the wake of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The department says the number of Americans receiving food stamps has topped 40 million as more and more families find themselves without a means to buy food. Still, thousands of jobless Americans - especially those without dependants - are being denied food assistance because they don't meet the income requirements. Even when applying for food stamps under meager unemployment benefits, many are being told they make too much money. Others have been forced to wait months for their application to be processed. Congress must act now to address key issues with the U.S. food assistance system, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Lawmakers must expand the income requirements to include the jobless, ensure that the long-term unemployed can readily qualify and increase the maximum benefit amount. Demand Congress acts now to ensure every unemployed person receives the supplemental nutrition assistance they need to make it through these extremely difficult times. Take Action...

We Demand Renewing the COBRA Coverage Subsidy at Once!

When passing the health care reform bill, Congress failed to include a measure extending overall COBRA benefits until 2014, when many of the new state-run health care exchanges would be in place. Traditionally, COBRA benefits let laid-off workers stay on their companies' health plan for up to 18 months, but the worker must pay the full price of the premium. At the start of the recession, Congress passed legislation that subsidized 65 percent of the cost of COBRA premiums, reducing the average cost from $1,100 per month to $389 per month. Now, under pressure to reduce the deficit, Congress is not renewing the subsidy and for many jobless Americans it expired on May 31. Many won't be able to afford the new premiums and will go without health care coverage. Leaving struggling Americans to fend for themselves is wrong. Congress must renew the subsidy for COBRA payments and extend the eligibility period beyond 18 months. Take Action...

Support Fairness for Flight Service Personnel

IAM-represented Flight Service Specialists at Lockheed Martin play a critical role in ensuring the safety of America’s skies, providing weather, flight and other vital information to civil aviation pilots across the country. When the Federal Aviation Administration privatized Flight Service in 2005, it deprived the Specialists of their early retirement federal pensions – a benefit that Specialists had paid for with increased contributions out of their own paychecks!

H.R. 5115, introduced by Congressman Mark Schauer (D, MI), is designed to right this wrong. If enacted, H.R. 5115 will permit Flight Service personnel who were involuntarily privatized in 2005 to count their subsequent time as privatized Flight Service employees (or with another job in the federal government) toward their years of service necessary to qualify for enhanced federal early retirement benefits and toward the calculation of their federal benefits. Covered individuals will qualify for early retirement benefits if they: (1) reach age 50 with 20 years of service, counting qualified post-FAA time; (2) have 25 or more years of service, counting qualified post-FAA time; or (3) reach age 56.

You can help support fairness for Flight Service Specialists. Click here to tell Congress to restore the retirement benefits Flight Service Specialists rightfully earned.

Support American Jobs - Close Tax Loopholes and Prevent Outsourcing

Lawmakers are preparing to vote on a bill that would create jobs and provide much-needed assistance to the unemployed.

The "American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act" (HR 4213) extends unemployment insurance benefits and reduced COBRA payments to the end of 2010, creates thousands of new jobs by extending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) emergency fund through 2011, and provides additional funding for local infrastructure projects and summer youth jobs. Several of the bill's provisions can be found in UCubed's Hire US, America plan.

This vote is critical. If the bill is not passed, millions of workers will lose their unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits by June 2, and America will have lost an opportunity to create jobs and get folks back to work.

Tell your lawmaker to pass the American Jobs/Preventing Outsourcing Act today!

Demand Congress Expand The Food Stamp Program

In the wake of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, millions of unemployed workers - from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds - are turning to food stamps to survive. But often times the allotted amount is not enough to sustain an unemployed person and their family for an entire month.

Another problem is that the income eligibility requirements have left thousands of jobless Americans hungry, especially those without dependants. Even when applying under meager unemployment benefits, many are being told they make too much money and are, therefore, denied help. We need to ensure every unemployed person receives the supplemental nutrition assistance they need to make it through these very long and extremely difficult times. Tell Congress to expand the income requirement threshold for food stamp eligibility to include the jobless and increase the maximum allotted benefit amount. Take Action...

Tell Congress We Need Jobs and We Need Them NOW

Manufacturing is the foundation of our country. It is the ground by which the U.S. was built on. It is the infrastructure by which all other aspects of our economy rest upon. When it withers, so too does everything else that helps to keep our nation thriving - especially jobs. That is why when policymakers talk about legislation to create jobs, reboost the economy, hold Wall Street accountable, decrease the national deficit, etc. - at the center of that debate, must be a concerted effort at restoring goods "Made in America" and investing in our country's infrastructure. Its absence leaves very little hope for recovery. JOBS Now! is a comprehensive strategy for creating jobs - immediately - through the passage of a national jobs package focused on the U.S. manufacturing and transportation sectors. Tell the White House and Congress America needs JOBS Now! Take Action...

Support the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2010

All IAM members are asked to contact their Senators and Representative to urge their support for the "Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2010". The Act addresses inequities in current law and helps put workers and retirees on equal footing with businesses and banks when companies go bankrupt. It also promotes economic fairness by making CEOs think twice before they abuse the bankruptcy process.Take Action...

No Room For NAFTA - Create U.S. Jobs Now!

I am Union. I am Sportsman. I Belong. If you're a hunter or fisherman, these are more than just words…they're a statement about who you are and what you believe in. They're just one reason why you belong in the Union Sportsmen's Alliance, the hunting and fishing club exclusively for union members, retirees and their families. Take Action...