Midwest Floods Still Rising, Union Members Still There to Help

Ironworkers members secured bronze figures at the labor monument along the Missouri River.

by Tula Connell, Jun 14, 2011

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer reminds us that residents in the Midwest are still struggling with flood waters—and union members are there to assist them.

As the waters of the Missouri River continue to rise, union members are mobilizing to help and preserve labor landmarks along the river’s bank.

Union members have rushed in to help evacuate those in need from the rising waters, including three of our brothers and sisters from Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7400 who live in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Following an e-mail appeal from Omaha Federation of Labor Community Service liaison Marie Smith, union members showed up en masse with dollies, trucks and moving equipment to help move these families to a safer area.

And as always, the labor movement is keeping a watchful eye throughout the community on the immediate and long-term needs in case the waters spill farther into the community.

For example, Bill Biede, president of the Southwest Iowa Labor Council, has been mobilizing union members throughout the area and working alongside them filling sandbags, setting up a line of defense. As Marie Smith says:

Efforts by union volunteers during this crisis have been greatly appreciated and continue to demonstrate the strength, determination, and kind-hearted deeds that shine steadily throughout the labor movement.

Mike Baker, business manager of Ironworkers Local 21, and President Stu Steffens took action to secure the bronze figures at the labor monument along the river using steel cables to save these works of art from the rising Missouri River and its fast-moving currents. Action could not have been more pressing, as two of the sculptures are now waist-deep in the Missouri River. A union observer noted how “life imitates art” as the workers utilized tactics similar to the action captured in the bronze figures.

Terry Moore, president of the Omaha Federation of Labor, issued a statement praising the Ironworkers Local 21 members and other union volunteers:

The labor movement and its labor agency stand ready to help wherever we can in this time of disaster. We realize the hardship that many people are feeling at this time. Our rapid response efforts will continue to reach out and help as many people as we can.

This is just a fraction of the great work being done by our brothers and sisters up and down the Missouri River and, unfortunately, it’s likely there will be more stories to come.

Breaking: WI Supreme Court Rules Collective Bargaining Can be Gutted

by Tula Connell, Jun 14, 2011

According to WisPolitics.com,the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision, threw out a lower court ruling invalidating the collective bargaining law passed by the Republican-led Legislature and pushed by Gov. Scott Walker (R).

The decision had not yet been posted at the court’s site by late this afternoon. But a posting at the court’s site for the appeal described an order in which Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi’s orders in the case are vacated and declared void.

“The court has ruled Walker and the legislature can do whatever they want, however they want, with no regard for the rule of law.”

The brief description on the court site said the court concluded the Legislature did not violate a provision in the Wisconsin Constitution that the doors of each house shall be open except when public welfare requires secrecy. During oral arguments last week, there were a series of questions about public access to a conference committee meeting in which lawmakers took up the legislation. That meeting was the basis of the open meetings violation Sumi found in invalidating the law.

In her dissent, Justice Abrahamson says it is ridiculous the court would decide to take the case and decide it on the same day. A reasoned decision is the cornerstone of democracy, and the court simply didn’t take the time to address all the substantive matters of the case.

In short, the court has ruled Walker and the legislature can do whatever they want, however they want, with no regard for the rule of law.

National Staff Conference Underway in Toronto

Dozens of young Machinists – ages 25 years and under – were recognized as the “future of our union” during opening remarks by International President Tom Buffenbarger.

Tue. June 14, 2011

Nearly 600 Machinists and guests gathered in Toronto, Ontario, this week for the 2011 IAM National Staff Conference.

IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger opened the conference by calling attention to the youngest members of our union – ages 25 years and under.

IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger recognized General Secretary-Treasurer Warren Mart for his 45 years of commitment.


President Buffenbarger asked each of the young members to stand, saying to delegates, “this is our future. If you look around this room and you look beyond those young faces that may be seated next to you, take a look at what you see. It is an aging leadership in this union,” he said. “It’s hard to plan for our future when many are looking at the exit door.

All districts and unaffiliated local lodges were asked to send young Machinists union members to Toronto in order to participate in the IAM’s first ever Youth Symposium, being held in conjunction with this week’s staff conference.

“We must look to our younger members. We owe them the same great organization that was left to all of us 123 years ago,” said Buffenbarger. “They have a lot of ideas. But we have to ask them. We have to open the pathway for those ideas to be floated out. That begins today.”

International President Tom Buffenbarger presented Grand Lodge Representative Tim Klima with a token of appreciation for the IAM Rep’s Association’s commitment to IAM organizing efforts.


Buffenbarger further set the tone for the conference with candid opening remarks about recent attacks on middle-class families and the upcoming 2012 elections. He expressed his disappointment in Washington, DC’s continued lack of support for working families, while sending a poignant message to members of the Democratic Party.

“I have had it with the Democratic Party’s see-no-evil, speak-no- evil, do-nothing-about-the-evil that surrounds us,” said Buffenbarger. “When the President of the United States bashed business jets, not one Democrat stood up and said, ‘Hold the phone!’ When millions of Americans were thrown out of work, what was the best a Democratic Congress and Administration could say? ‘Jobs, jobs, jobs’ while they ‘cut, cut, cut’ taxes for the wealthiest. And when the NLRB filed a complaint against Boeing, was there even one Democrat who stood up and said. “It’s about time the law breakers were punished?’ Not a one.”

International President Tom Buffenbarger recognized District 725 Business Representative and Area 1 Director Virginia Cobb for her 50 years as an IAM member.


Other speakers included General Secretary-Treasurer Warren Mart who reported the IAM is on the road to financial recovery. Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt brought delegates to their feet with a stirring speech about the fight to save public sector collective bargaining rights in that state.

Activists Get Social Security Commitment from GOP Lawmaker. Will He Keep It?

by Mike Hall, Jun 13, 2011

Last week when Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) was back home in Little Rock for a campaign fundraiser, he was met by more than a dozen local activists from Arkansas Community Organizations (ACO).

They wanted to know that since he voted for the Republican budget that privatizes Medicare and guts Medicaid, if he supported recently introduced legislation by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) that would privatize Social Security. Max Brantley on the Arkansas Blog points out that:

Griffin said in 2010 that he didn’t support privatized Social Security, but since he’s voted to privatize Medicare, demonstrators were interested in getting a new commitment on Social Security from the Republican congressman from Little Rock.

ACO’s Neil Sealy told Brantley that two members of the group—David Arellanes, a retired Southwestern Bell employee, and Albany Bailey, president of the United Steelworkers (USW) local for the Bryant area, went inside to:

deliver a letter to Griffin that called on him to meet with all of the people in his district and to oppose efforts to weaken Social Security by raising the retirement age and creating private accounts. Said Sealy: “The two met with Mr. Griffin and a nervous staff member. They reported that Mr. Griffin said that he opposed the SAFE Act sponsored by Rep. Sessions.”

Write that down.

They will.

On Blue Arkansas, ARDem has a take on Griffin’s surprising response.

Maybe after his Medicare/Medicaid vote he realizes he can’t get away with another vote like this? Or maybe he’s just blowing smoke.

Either way, Arkansans will hold him accountable.

Protesters Spread the News: Keep Hands Off Medicare

U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards addresses protesters opposing the Republican budget and supporting Medicare.

by James Parks, Jun 13, 2011

About 100 working men and women told congressional Republicans to “Keep Your Hands off Medicare” Monday in front of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., where CBS was hosting a town hall meeting with members of Congress.

Holding signs with headlines from various newspapers about the Republican budget’s proposal to replace Medicare with underfunded vouchers for private insurance, the protesters lined up and unfurled a banner that read, “No News Here…Republicans Want to Eliminate Medicare to Give Tax Breaks to Millionaires.”

Passers-by honked horns along busy Pennsylvania Avenue at lunchtime, tourists walking by gave the demonstrators the thumbs-up sign and one woman pushing a stroller invited the protesters to move to Canada where she lives “because we have health care there.”

Check out pictures from the protest here and here.

Carrie Biggs-Adams, a member of NABET-CWA from Burbank, Calif., said she was protesting the Republican budget plan to privatize Medicare, cut corporate taxes and taxes for the wealthy, cut Medicaid funding repeals health care reform and cost up to 2 million jobs. She said the budget, which was proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) wouldn’t solve any of the country’s real problems. She said it was built on “fairy tales” and “lies.”

Instead of giving tax cuts to millionaires, she said we should make sure they pay their fair share and tax their offshore profits as well.

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) told the crowd that Medicare is not charity. Working people have paid into it for years. She added:

(House Democrats) are going to stand with the American people who paid into Medicare. We know Americans want and deserve Medicare.

She said Republicans had to hold a town hall meeting behind closed doors because they couldn’t hold one in their districts due to mass opposition to their votes for the Ryan budget.

UMWA, Coal Operators Reach Tentative Pact

by Mike Hall, Jun 13, 2011

The Mine Workers (UMWA) has reached a tentative 5.5 year agreement with the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA), the union announced this morning.

The 125 UMWA locals covered by the BCOA agreement will vote on the contract Friday. Details will not be released until contract explanation meetings are held at each local Wednesday. If the agreement is ratified, it will take effect July 3.

UMWA President Cecil Robert called the contract talks “a long and intense process.”

We had many issues to confront, especially with respect to our
pensions, health care and wages. But through the strength and
solidarity UMWA members have historically demonstrated, we were able
to meet those challenges.

Unions and Teens Partner for Community Service

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer sends this report from the Lehigh Valley (Pa.) Labor Council.

Since 1999 in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, the local labor movement has been helping teenagers and pre-teens develop leadership, teamwork and planning skills through TeenWorks. Developed by former AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison Ron Achey and funded entirely by Lehigh valley unions, TeenWorks allows young people to decide how to allocate grants for and plan community service projects.

In the 12 years since its founding, TeenWorks has allocated more than $324,000 for 324 community service projects.

This group is unique in that one half of the board is made up local union members and the other half is staffed by teenagers, young adults and pre-teens as young as 11 years old. Together they participate as equals and discuss the merits of the various community service projects and which get funded. Says Gregg Potter, Lehigh Valley Labor Council president and Community Service liaison:

The TeenWorks program builds character and leadership in our youth while supporting their philanthropic efforts beginning at a very young age. Through the grant process, we are educating both teens and adults how unions are the driving force behind community service.

The board includes members from the Electrical Workers (IBEW), Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), Communications Workers of America (CWA), UAW, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), United Steelworkers (USW), Machinists (IAM) and Teamsters (IBT).

The groups that present project ideas to TeenWorks are under strict direction that the products purchased for their projects be union made, or at the very least, American made.

Here are some examples of recently funded projects:

•Eagle Scout Daniel Hower’s project refurbished seven grave markers of some of the First Defenders of the Civil War and three dozen union members came to the West Union Cemetery to help clean up the 45-acre facility. This cemetery is the second largest Civil War cemetery behind Gettysburg and maintenance is always a challenge.

•Girl Scout Brownie Troop 8614 helped design and landscape the Northampton Area Food Bank. The food bank feeds more than 500 families each month and the group decided this project fit their needs. The troop is made up of a dozen eight-year-old girls who were involved in the entire process, including presenting to the board.

•They also recently funded a graffiti artist who had compiled a lengthy record for tagging various locations in Allentown. Joel Mambru, along with Allentown teacher David Gonzalez, formed Art Cru Inc., an anti-graffiti club that uses its artistic talents to create art murals. With a grant from TeenWorks, Mambru and the group completed two murals at the Allentown PSEA local. Mambru has received several art scholarships and will attend art school this fall.

Newspaper Guild Ratifies Contract With Associated Press—and More Bargaining News

by Belinda Boyce, Jun 13, 2011

Members of The Newspaper Guild-CWA (TNG) ratified a new contract with the Associated Press, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,400 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work

SETTLEMENTS:
TNG-CWA, The Associated Press: Members of The Newspaper Guild (TNG-CWA) ratified a new contract with Associated Press that expires in August 2013. The 1,200 workers will receive a 4.5 percent raise over the term and maintain their current health benefits.

USW, Ormet Corp.: Workers at the Ormet Corp. plant in Hannibal, Ohio, last week ratified a new contract, after rejecting an earlier offer the week before. The 900 workers are members of United Steelworkers Local 5724.

WORK STOPPAGES & LEGAL ACTIONS:
UA, Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City: The strike by 1,500 members of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) Local 533 in Kansas City, Mo., against the Mechanical Contractors Association ended last Thursday, after a settlement was reached on a new contract.

NEGOTIATIONS:
UFCW, Multiple supermarket chains: While no deal has been reached on wages and healthcare, United Food and Commercial Workers locals in Southern California announced they have reached agreement on pension benefits covering more than 60,000 employees of Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs supermarket chains.

AFSCME, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: AFSCME Council 13 and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration are planning a three-day negotiating session later this month. With 17 contracts covering 57,000 state workers set to expire in the next few weeks, any agreement reached with Council 13, which represents 45,000 state workers, is expected to be the basis for contracts with the other unions.

TWU, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency: Members of Transport Workers (TWU) Local 250A overwhelmingly voted to reject a tentative agreement with San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency. The dispute will now go before an arbitrator who will set the terms of the new contract.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only. As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

Election Dates Set for United/Continental Ramp Workers

Mon. June 13, 2011

June 13, 2011-The National Mediation Board (NMB) today set July 7, 2011 as the starting date for a five-week election that can establish the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) as the collective bargaining representative for 14,300 Ramp/Fleet Service workers at the recently merged United and Continental Airlines.

“This election is all about job security and which union can negotiate the best Ramp contract in the airline industry,” said IAM Transportation Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “The IAM negotiated our first United agreement in 1948, and generations of members have been building on it ever since.”

The NMB will announce vote results on August 11, 2011.

“Even with an agreement adopted while United was in bankruptcy, IAM members enjoy a contract that is light years ahead of the terms weighing down Continental Fleet workers,” said Rich Delaney, President of IAM District 141. “Our goal for the combined group is a contract that provides the kind of compensation and job security that ensures employees share in the success of the world’s largest carrier.”

The IAM represents approximately 6,860 United Ramp Service workers while Continental and Continental Micronesia’s 7,440 Fleet Service workers are currently represented by another union. The IAM is the largest airline union in North America. More information about the IAM campaign is available at www.voteiam.com.

Membership Pays Off for Georgia Federal Workers

Thu. June 09, 2011

IAM Local 2783 in St. Marys, GA represents about 1,100 federal employees at Trident Refit Facility (TRF) in Kings Bay GA, and recently received good news concerning three separate grievance issues. Two of these resulted in significant financial awards, while the third hopefully signals a better relationship with management.

Management incorrectly classified bargaining unit employees as “Exempt” for Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) classification, which made them ineligible for normal overtime rates. Most of these employees worked large amounts of overtime due to the nature of their jobs. The original grievance was filed in October 2006 and settled this year after five years of arbitration. The workers affected were correctly reclassified and paid for the overtime they have worked since the original filing. This resulted in a payment of approximately $2,000,000 to some 300 bargaining unit employees. Some employees received as much as $60,000 in back pay.

Local 2783 also addressed a misinterpretation of the Code of Federal Regulations by management concerning Environmental Differential Pay (EDP). The agency agreed to evaluate requests for EDP compensation from specific shops, Shop 38A, 57A, 57B and 71A. The agency decided to not recommend any of these shops for EDP compensation. Local 2783 filed a grievance, the arbitrator ruled in the union’s favor and the agency appealed to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). The FLRA ruled in the IAM’s favor and ordered the agency to abide by the arbitrator's decision directing the agency to pay $1,036,834.02. About 70 members will receive up to $8,000 apiece.

This command has a vibrant apprentice program in place. The apprentices sign a contract that says they are promoted and allowed to work overtime after completing their academic program. One of the groups was held back six weeks due to a paperwork error between the college and apprentice program administrators. The local negotiated a cash award of $500 and a six-week early promotion to remedy the mistake. This was a positive indication of management cooperation.

“Local Lodge President Harry Spafford arbitrates grievances for the local,” said Local 2783 Trustee Gene Sykes. “He attended the arbitration class at the Winpisinger Center, and it sure has paid off for the Local Lodge.”

“The union is important for the federal workers at Kings Bay,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “The education and professionalism of our representatives are instrumental in making sure our members get the pay they are entitled to.”

Contract Talks Underway for 15,000 at General Electric

Thu. June 09, 2011

In the shadow of plant closing and job cuts, negotiations for a new contract covering nearly 15,000 workers at General Electric got underway in New York this week. The IAM represents approximately 1,500 GE workers at nine locations and is one of 10 unions negotiating with General Electric as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Committee.

The IAM delegation in New York included a cross-section of local, district and headquarters representatives, including IAM Headquarters Vice President Rich Michalski; IAM Director of Collective Bargaining Tom O’Heron; Director of Strategic Resources, Neil Gladstein; District 10 Business Representative Don Griffin; Local 1916 President Larry Nunley, Local 1916 Chairman Leo Reisinger, Local 912 Committeemen Lloyd Friend and Court Lillard. Significant resources from IAM headquarters will also be made available to the IAM Bargaining committee.

Among the issues under discussion in the opening sessions were: financial information; health care and new hire information as well as wages and pensions. Additional issues that will be raised in response to IAM members’ concerns are: job and income security; SERO window and plant closings; disability programs; vacations and sick leave.

Despite profits that topped $11 billion in 2010, GE has imposed a health care plan on its salaried and management workers with huge deductibles, massive co-pays and co-insurance. The plan would substantially increase health care costs for many active GE employees and shifts significant health care costs to retirees as well. Beginning in 2011, GE also eliminated the defined benefit plan for management new hires, despite a well-funded plan with assets in excess of $45 billion.

While proposals regarding health care and pensions for union members at GE have yet to cross the bargaining table in New York, representatives are urging their membership to be vocal, vigilant and involved in the negotiations.

“We are asking for your support through these tough negotiations and ask that you show your support by letting management know your thoughts on the tough subjects we are discussing,” said the IAM Bargaining Committee in a bulletin to members. “Let them know your position on their new Health Care program. Let them know your thoughts on new hires. Let them know where you stand on retirement benefits.”

Lackland AFB Drivers Vote Unanimously for IAM

Drivers at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, voted unanimously for the IAM, including, from left, Steve Little, Alice Moncada, Roy Hernandez Jr., Sylvia Benavides Ernest Guajardo, Carlos Garza, Ron Hill, Maria Espinoza and Bonnie Thorman

Thu. June 09, 2011

Eighty-two bus drivers and dispatchers at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, are now proud IAM members. Drivers at Brymack and FSI Inc. voted unanimously to join the IAM under the Service Contract Act. “Many of the drivers are veterans or have health insurance through other means,” said DL 776 Business Representative Joe Alviar. “But the company was forcing them to use their health and welfare money on something they didn’t need. With a union, they can negotiate how to use that money under the Service Contract Act. They understand how important it is to have a voice in the workplace.”

“This is an important win for the IAM on Lackland AFB,” said General Vice President Bob Martinez. “We are increasing our presence on the base, and showing the other Service Contract workers there how important an IAM contract is for their family. Congratulations to Joe Aviar and to our newest IAM members.”