Happy New Year

Wishing our union brothers and sisters and their families and friends a very joyous and prosperous New Year. May 2010 be much better than 2009.

Machinists Call for Major Changes in Airline Industry

On May 13, 2009, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. called for major changes to the airline industry in testimony before the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the subject of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2009.

The Fight for a Voice@Work

When you go to work, what do you look for in your job? Like most workers, your list probably includes a decent wage, health insurance, job security and a voice on the job to help solve workplace problems. And as expereience has shown, the best way to win these improvements is by forming a union. Workers know this, too. Studies show the number of workers who want unions is more than three times the number of workers who belong to unions now.

America's Edge

Say yes! I support sharpening America's Edge in the global economy. Ameerica's Edge relies on our skills and our kid's abilities to learn and adapt to the ever-changing demands of tomorrow's workplaces. And it is time public investment flowed in their direction. Go to www.americasedge.tv and sign the petition.

Economic Recovery

Millions of Americans are out of work. Banks have received and profited from the government bailout, and the economy, in shambles, slips further away. In addition, some congressional members continue to seek higher tax cuts for big business while devaluating education, healthcare, and putting Americans back to work. With the first economic stimulus passed and signed by President Obama, American's begin preparation for a slow and painful tranisiton. This portion of GoIAM.org is committed to providing you solid information on the economic recovery.

Update - Links

The links in the sidebar have been reorganized and new links added for Labor Relations, Domestic Partnerships and Health Insurance.

Domestic Partners

Links for information regarding domestic partner benefits have been added. The definition of Domestic Partnership (from Wikipedia), The HRC (Human Rights Campaign) and EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute). See the link for Domestic Partnership.

District Lodges 141 and 142 Websites

Links to District Lodges 141 and 142 have been added under Union Links.

What is Pride at Work?

National Pride at Work (P@W) is affiliated as the newest constituency group of the AFL-CIO. The purpose of P@W is to mobilize mutual support between the organized labor movement and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community around organizing for social and economic justice.

Pride at Work strives to create a labor movement that cherishes diversity, encourages openness and ensures safety and dignity. P@W wants to see full equality for LGBT members in their workplaces and their unions. They aim to educate the LGBT community about the benefits of union membership for LGBT working people. This is done in the spirit of the historic motto, "An injury to one is an injury to all." P@W is opposed to all forms of discrimination on the job and in unions based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, national or ethic origin, age, disability, religion or political views.

IAM Member and Connecticut State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Lori Pelletier serves as Pride at Work Executive Board Member.

Affordable Healthcare

In today's uncertain economic climate, issues surrounding health care in the United States are a top priority. Americans spend more on health care than any other country in the world and too many Americans can't get the affordable care they need when they fall ill.

Congress must change America's health care system and ensure Americans are able to receive comprehensive health reform that lowers costs, guarantees choice of doctors and plans, and assures quality affordable health care.

EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act)

"The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers the ability to negotiate for better terms from their employers. It takes an important step toward strenthening America's middle class."

- George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor

Help working families by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act

One of the most important bills for working families in years - the Employee Free Choice Act would enable workers to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring their rights to form unions.

AFL-CIO Congressional Voting Record

The media only reports on the most important legislation being considered by Congress. The bill being voted on is identified and the total vote, by party line, is given. But how did your elected official vote?

View their voting record on AFL-CIO legislation and other issues.

NMB Hears Compelling Comments on Proposed Voting Rule

More than thirty people spoke at the National Mediation Board's December 07, 2009 public hearing on its proposal to implement a fair representation election voting process for air and rail workers under the Railway Labor Act (RLA). Current NMB rules count eligible voters who do not participate in the election to have voted again union representation. General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. testified on behalf of present and future IAM members.

IAM Launches Voter Rights Campaign for Air & Rail Workers

The National Mediation Board (NMB) is proposing historic changes to the rules governing representation elections in the air and rail industiries, and the NMB is inviting comments from the public. With the neare-certain prospect of additional consolidation in the airline industry, workers at United, Continental and all carriers need to understand how a rule change proposed by NMB would dramatically increase their chances of retaining their contracts, retirement benefits and senority rights.

NMB Proposes Fair Air/Rail Elections

The National Mediation Board (NMB) this week took the first step toward overhauling the union representation election rules for air and rail workers in the United States. The NMB is proposing to change the threshold for a successful union election from a majority of eligible voters in a classification to a majority of voters who actually participate in the election.

Taxing Union Health Care Benefits?

On Sept. 16, Senator Baucus (D-MT), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, released a deeply flawed health care reform bill that fails to meet the most basic promise of health care reform, and threatens to shift more costs to employees represented by labor unions.

We are asking you to contact your union sisters and brothers, friends and families to make calls to their U.S. Senators. The call-in number is - 1-877-323-5246.

Please Read

Welcome to the IAMAW Local lodge 731 web page, blog. There are many features currently on this page, and more to come.

There is a search box and if the word(s) you typed are found in any of the links, then you will see a Result showing everything containing the word(s).

There is a calender and weather gadget. Click "Edit" on the weather gadget and enter the Zip Code or city name to see the weather in that locale.

You can contact your state and federal legislators. Go to the links U.S. Senators, U.S House of Representatives, State Senators or State Representatives.

There will be photos of members from various units.

See where you might want to take a vacation or how to cook something.

There are links to many federal agencies and departments as well as links for health and benefit coverages.

And of course, all of the information about Local Lodge 731 and the District Lodges and the IAM&AW and video feeds.

You can sign up for email notifications when postings are done and even send feedback to the lodge.

There is also a survey on the page.

Enjoy the web page.

Happy Holidays

Local Lodge 731 wishes all of its members and their family and friends a safe and happy holiday. If you are traveling during the holiday season, please allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

January 2010 Business Meeting

The January business meeting of IAM LL731 will be held at the Union Hall, 277 Tallulah Ave, Jacksonville, FL on January 12, 2010 at 7pm. See Maps and Directions for location.

Your union supports its members 24/7. Please support your union 1/1. The meetings are about 60 minutes in duration and only one night a month.

One voice can light a fire. 100 voices can increase the flame. 1,000 voices can keep it burning.

* * * * * W A R N I N G * * * * *

Clicking on the button "Next Blog" at the top of the page will take you to the next blog in Google's blogger domain. The "Next Blog" is not part of the IAM Local Lodge 731 web page, and may contain objectionable material.

The Railway Labor Act: Procedural Steps to Reach An Agreement

The Railway Labor Act, at 76, the oldest federal law affecting labor-management relations, is what airline management and their unions follow during negotiations. While all steps of the procedure may be played out, an agreement between the Union and the Company can come during any of the steps described here - that agreement being subject to ratification by union membership.

Step 1: Intent To Change - Either the Union or Company must notify the other of an intent to change the contract at least 30 days prior to its ending date - and they must meet within ten days of the notification. At that time, they exchange proposed contract changes.

Step 2: Collective Bargaining - The Union and the Company must meet within 30 days of the first notice to change the contract. Collective bargaining begins at this point. Progress, or the lack of it, during this step determines whether it will be necessary to proceed with the other steps of the Railway Labor Act.

Step 3: Contract Becomes Amendable - Under the Railway Labor Act, contracts never expire, they continue as the "status quo" until amended. The Company may not change the contract and the Union may not engage in any job actions until all the steps of the Act have been completed and both parties are released.

Step 4: Mediation Options - Either the Union or the Company may choose to request the services of the National Mediation Board (NMB). If neither requests that option, the NMB can and may intercede and force both parties into mediation. This often happens when the talks are deadlocked or broken off.

Step 5: Mediation Mandatory - If the NMB intercedes, both parties must enter into the mediation process, and a mediator is assigned by the NMB. The mediator decides if negotiations are deadlocked and if either or both parties can proceed with other legal steps.

Step 6: Binding Arbitration - Binding arbitration may be proposed by the NMB if mediation fails. Binding arbitration requires both the Union and Company to agree to it. They must also agree upon a neutral arbitrator. The arbitrator makes a decision which is final and binding to both parties.

Step 7: Cooling Off Period - If either the Union or the Company refuse the NMB's offer of binding arbitration, both parties must observe a 30-day "cooling-off" period. If the President of the United States does not intervene in steps 8-11, then the whole process moves directly to step 12.

Step 8: Presidential Intervention - The NMB may at this time request the President of the United States to intervene due to "possible substantial interference with interstate commerce." The President, however, is not legally mandated to intervene.

Step 9: Fact Finding Board - The President may, at his discretion, establish an Emergency Fact Finding Board to investigate the dispute between the Union and the Company and make recommendations.

Step 10: Board Findings - If the Board is appointed, they must make their recommendations within 30 days. They may, however, ask either party for additional time to investigate. The President may also allow an additional 30-day extension for the Board to complete its investigation.

Step 11: Cooling Off II - After the Emergency Fact Finding Board makes its recommendations to the President, the Union and the Company must observe another 30-day cooling off period.

Step 12: Self Help - At the end of the 30-day cooling off period, the Union and Company are free of any legal restraint. The Company has the option of imposing its own work rules and wages. The Union has the option of accepting those rules and wages or election to strike.

2010 IAMAW Union Calenders

The 2010 IAMAW Union Calenders have been received by LL731 and given to the chief stewards for distribution. If you have not received your calender, please see a shop steward.

LL731 December Business Meeting

The December Business meeting of LL731 was held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

Two appointments were made by the president, Ernie Hartless: Robert Campbell (Flytele/BA) was appointed Communicator for LL731 and was also appointed to the Legislative Committee.

Union Dues Increase for 2010

December 15, 2009

To: IAM Membership
IAM Local Lodge 731
Jacksonville, FL


Dear Brothers/Sisters

In accordance with IAM Local Lodge 731 Bylaws, Local Lodge 731 annual dues rate shall be adjusted to reflect any/all annual per capita tax and affiliation fee increases.

After calculating all increases for 2010 by the IAM Grand Lodge, IAM District Lodges 141 and 142 and our affiliates, the increases totaled $2.62, which will be added to the current IAM Local Lodge 731 dues rate.

The 2010 IAM Local Lodge 731 dues rate for members earning $12.00 an hour and more shall be $48.25, effective January 2010.

For IAM Local Lodge 731 members earning less than $12.00 an hour the 2010 dues rate shall be $39.31.


In Solidarity

Bruce Rennie
Financial Secretary/Treasurer

Local Lodge 731 Notice

AIR TRANSPORT DISTRICT 142 - IAMAW
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS 2010
_______________________________________________

District Officers
(1) President-Directing General Chairperson (4 Year Term)
(1) Vice President-British Airways (4 Year Term)
(1) Vice President-Continental Airlines (4 Year Term)
(1) Vice President-Southwest Airlines (4 Year Term)
(1) Vice President-US Airways (4 Year Term)
(1) Trustee (4 Year Term)

District Positions
(4) General Chairperson (4 Year Term)
(1) General Chairperson - Continental Airlines (4 Year Term)
(1) General Chairperson - ExpressJet Airlines (4 Year Term)
(1) General Chairperson - Southwest Airlines (4 Year Term)
(3) General Chairperson - US Airways (4 Year Term)
_______________________________________________

Nominations for the above officers and positions will be at the regular business meeting which will be held:

Date: February 9, 2010
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Machinist Union Hall, 277 Tallulah Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32208

The election will take place on June 8, 2010; polls will be open from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the above location.