An inscription honoring America's veterans and workers at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.
Monday May 31, 2005
Labor Quote of the week!
William "Wimpy" Winpisinger, 1924-1997, Cleveland Ohio
William Winpisinger quit high school to enter the navy during World War II. He learned the trade of diesel mechanic, joining the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM) after his military service. Exercising leadership qualities as early as age 26, he rose in prominence and eventually became International President of the IAM in 1977 and was named vice president of the AFL-CIO.
Serving three terms as IAM president, Winpisinger was flamboyant, aggressive, radical, and outspoken. He was often sought by the media and asked to testify to Congress on legislation affecting working people. Under his bold leadership, the IAM filed a lawsuit against the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the international oil cartel, for price fixing and denying his union members the right to work. Winpisinger's legacy was imaginative leadership and serving the nation's oppressed and underprivileged.
Taken from "Great Labor Quotations Sourcebook and Reader
Posted 8:20 pm
An inscription honoring America's veterans and workers at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.
This Memorial Day, take some time out to remember our nation’s service men and women who are fighting in Iraq and all of our veterans past and present.
“It is the sons and daughters of America’s working families who answer the call to serve our nation, and we must honor them for it,” said IAM President R. Thomas Buffenbarger. “As many of us spend time with our families this weekend, let us remember how special that time is, how lucky we are, and that the men and women in uniform make it possible for us to live in freedom.”
Taken from the imail
Posted 8:56 pm
The Union Does Nothing for Me!
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
This was such a good article I had to add it to our website it is so true and everyone who reads it will have to agree it applies to Local Lodge 774 as well.
Bet that got your attention! Well it should! I have heard that so many times and I think, Yah, and because you can’t see the air you breathe, it must not be doing anything for you. So, you don’t need it either.
Let’s review what the Union Dues, that you see go out of your pocket, DOES for you.
In South Carolina where Unions are not discussed, a Wisconsin born and raised went to work. His first holiday, after his probationary period, he was off for Christmas. He enjoyed the day with family. When he received his check for that week it was short one days pay. He approached his Boss and said, “My check is short a day’s pay?” The Boss said “No you had Christmas Day off.” “Yes, but don’t we get paid for the Holiday?” His boss replied “ no, you had the day off.” Your Union negotiates the right for you to have a holiday off to enjoy with your family and the company pays you for that day.
This same young man works over 8 hours a day for regular pay and 50 hours a week. Yes, he gets paid for the hours but straight time, no overtime. Your Union negotiates the right for you to get overtime for every hour over 8 a day and over 40 a week.
He also has to work weekends for straight time and possibly gets a day off during the week. He has very few 2 days off in a row to enjoy his children and family. Your Union negotiated weekends off or a few mandatory, some voluntary and overtime for those hours.
If your boss is less than happy with you as a person, you still have your job, if you are a productive employee. Your Union guarantees that that you can not be fired without cause. You have the right to be heard through the grievance process.
Talking to my neighbor about her work, I learned she works long hours and weekends, at a hospital supply company in Milwaukee. She says she makes good money. I said, “The overtime must be nice?” She replied, “Yes.” She told me her wages and I said, “but for over 40 and weekend you get, doing a quick calculation, this is nice money.” She said, “no, I get, my regular hourly wage.” I questioned her and she works all those hours in Wisconsin for a Non Union Shop and gets straight time. Your Union negotiated that you get paid time and a half for all over time and double time for holidays, plus holiday pay.
Let’s talk about your paycheck. Without it written in your contract a company has the right to change your pay schedule to what ever is profitable for the company. Every two weeks saves on check printing cost, increases the interest earned on the funds held for the two weeks and numerous other cost savings. Once a month would save more. Your Union can negotiate a weekly check.
I have only listed a few examples that I have personal knowledge. There are many more advantages we have because of a Union. Too numerous for me to list. So before you say your Union Dues do nothing for the money your pay! Please read this again and think about what You Being Union Does For You.
By Nancyanne Patesel. Lodge Communicator
One of my favorite movies of all time is called “The Straight Story,” based on the true events of an 80 year old man from Iowa who drives his John Deer riding mover over 100 miles to Wisconsin to visit his dying brother. I won’t tell you how the movie ends, so that you will go out and rent it if you have not already; but there is one scene in the movie that always sticks out in my mind and helps me answer the question, “Why do Unions Matter?”
During his journey, the hero of the story, Alvin Straight, meets a runaway teenage girl while he is camping out on the side of the highway. While roasting hot dogs on a stick over a fire, Alvin tells the girl about how important family is, especially through rough times. He gives an example of family by first describing how easy it is to pick up a twig and snap it between your fingers. However, if you hold a bunch of twigs together in your hands and try to break the entire bunch in half, you will find yourself with a much more difficult task.
Alvin’s example of family also shows why Unions matter. The twigs demonstrate how an individual, acting alone, can easily be broken. A group of workers acting together, however, has much more strength. This is what allows collective bargaining to work in our individual shops, and why our Local sends delegates to the Milwaukee County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, an affiliation of some 125 different Union Locals in the Milwaukee area. It is why I believe the work of the Wisconsin Legalization Coalition is so critical to the labor movement. Coalitions, which at times can be difficult to keep together due to different points of view of it various members, nonetheless allow people to pool their power and resources around an issue that affects all the members. By acting collectively, the many can together accomplish what one voice alone could not.
So as we head into the most critical months of this most critical election year, let us keep I mind that the bundle of small twigs, when held tightly together, is impossible to break.
Taken from united Lodge 66 website
Posted 8:47 pm
Former Congressman Richard Gephardt(left) met with IP Tom Buffenbarger (right) and representatives of Onex Corp. at IAM Headquarters to discuss labor issues related to the pending sale of Boeing’s commercial aircraft operations in Wichita. KS.
Former Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt lent his experience and stature to the talks between the IAM and Onex Corp., the Canadian buyout firm seeking to close a $1.2 billion deal to purchase Boeing’s Wichita and Tulsa operations.
Gephardt is serving as an advisor on “transition labor matters,” related to the pending sale, which requires new agreements with the Machinists Union (IAM), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). “Dick Gephardt is a good friend and would be a welcome addition at any bargaining table where IAM members are fighting for their jobs and their families,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “His credentials as an advocate for working Americans are simply without equal. We believe he can be a real asset to resolving the problems created by Boeing’s decision to sell its commercial aircraft operations in Wichita and Tulsa.”
Gephardt joined IP Buffenbarger and representatives from Onex today at IAM Headquarters to see if the bargaining process could be moved forward. “We had fruitful discussions with Onex today and we hope that negotiations can resume in the near future,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Dick Schneider.
Gephardt was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 2005 and served as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. His 1995 involvement in a bitter contract dispute between McDonnell Douglas and the IAM is widely credited with helping produce a successful resolution.
Taken from the imail
Posted 7:40 pm
Concerns over Boeing’s decision to shed much of its manufacturing capability were evident at the annual shareholder meeting in Chicago, where union leaders charged executives with pursuing a risk-filled strategy that will leave the company and the country devoid of a critical industrial resource.
The Chicago-based aerospace company’s decade-long strategy of cutting back on apprentice programs and capital investments while outsourcing large portions of aircraft production is driving the company closer to a demographic cliff, say union leaders, where sufficiently skilled production workers and engineers will no longer be available to produce critical new ideas and products.
Despite bluntly worded warnings from representatives of several unions, Boeing appears intent on moving more and more aircraft production out of the U.S. or into the hands of vendors. The company’s board of directors also rejected shareholder efforts to install two widely respected academics, Tom Kochan of MIT and Joesph Stiglitz of Columbia University, on the company’s board. “These are two of the most widely respected professionals working in America today and Boeing would have been fortunate to have their advice and counsel on their board,” said Steve Sleigh, IAM Director of Strategic Resources. “Boeing never even gave them the time of day.”
Taken from the imail
Posted 7:50 pm
Contract Approved for 3,000 in Alabama
Members of IAM Local 2003 who maintain aircraft at Ft. Rucker, AL put their solidarity on display with marches while their negotiators worked out a new contract.
Nearly 3,000 members of IAM Local 2003 in Daleville, AL are earning higher wages and better benefits after ratifying a new 3-year contract reached this past weekend with Army Fleet Support representatives at Ft. Rucker.
More than 2,500 red-shirted Machinists, who maintain aircraft at the Army base, turned out and voted to accept the new agreement by a 6 - 1 margin after hearing contract details at a ratification meeting held at the Ozark Civic Center on May 1. Negotiations for the new contract began on March 30 and did not conclude until the day before the vote.
Highlights of the new accord include annual pay hikes of 4 ½, 4 and 4 percent and an IAM pension plan increase that boosts members’ retirement from $93 dollars per month for each year of service to $116 per month by the end of the contract. Responding to members’ concerns over rising health care costs, IAM negotiators brokered contract language that prevents any increase in members’ health care costs during the life of the agreement. Additional features of the new contract include strengthened IAM dental and 401(k) plan language.
“The bargaining committee did a terrific job during these negotiations and the ratification results show the members appreciate their efforts,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Dick Schneider. “Special thanks should go to the members of Local 2003 and District 75 Directing Business Representative B.R. Brownell, who was so critical to the success of this great team effort.”
Negotiators were also able to restore unambiguous contract language regarding seniority and successfully resolved fifteen outstanding arbitration cases involving members’ overtime concerns.
Taken from the imail
Posted 7:56 pm