45,000 Verizon Workers on Strike

by Tula Connell, Aug 7, 2011

UPDATE: Tomorrow morning, Aug. 8, thousands of striking workers will join mass picket lines and rallies at more than 100 Verizon work locations across New York and New Jersey to push the highly profitable company to back off its sweeping demands. The list of picket lines and rallies is here: http://district1.cwa-union.org/news/entry/verizon_workers_fight_for_middle_class_jobs_-_join_the_picket_line

And in the Washington, D.C., area, you can show your support for striking workers at a mobilization rally Monday at noon at the Chesapeake Complex, 13100 Columbia Pike Silver Spring.

More than 45,000 workers from New England to Virginia went on strike just after midnight today at Verizon Communications. Since bargaining began July 22, Verizon has refused to move from a long list of concession demands. As the contract expired, Verizon, a $100 billion dollar company, was still was looking for $1 billion in concessions from 45,000 workers and families. That’s about $20,000 in givebacks for every family.nearly 100 concessionary proposals remained on the table.

This despite Verizon’s 2011 annualized revenues of $108 billion and net profits of $6 billion. At the same time, Verizon Wireless just paid its parent compny, Vodaphone, a $10 billion dividend. Meanwile, Verizon’s four top executives received $258 mllion over the past four years.

The workers, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the Electrical Workers (IBEW), say they are striking until Verizon “stops its Wisconsin-style tactics and start bargaining seriously.”

Read updates at www.cwa-union.org/verizon

Verizon already has outsourced some 25,000 jobs. It’s trying to destroy middle-class jobs and the middle-class standard of living that workers have gained over the past 50 years.

Follow the events on Twitter with the hashtag #verizonstrike and direct tweets to @VZLaborfacts.

Black Foreign-Born Workers Have Highest Jobless Rate

by James Parks, Aug 7, 2011

A new study dispels the myth that immigrant workers are taking good-paying jobs away from American-born workers. According to “The Low Wages of Black Immigrants” released last week by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), black workers, whether they were born in the United States or in a foreign country, have the highest unemployment rate, period.

In the United States, the black unemployment rate in July was 15.9 percent, compared with an overall rate of 9.1 percent. The 12.4 percent jobless rate among black immigrant workers last year was slightly higher than for Hispanic immigrants (11.3 percent) and significantly higher than for white (7.4 percent) and Asian immigrants (7.3 percent).

At the same time, black workers, whether native-born or immigrant, earn significantly less than white workers, the report shows. This is especially true for men. U.S.-born black men earn 19.1 percent less than white men while black immigrant men from English-speaking Caribbean countries earn 20.7 percent less. Haitian men (33.8 percent less) and African men (34.7 percent less) do substantially worse than any other group.

All groups of black women have lower weekly wages than similar U.S.-born white women, but the size of the wage gaps is smaller for women than it is for men.

The report’s co-authors, Patrick Mason, economics professor at Florida State University, and Algernon Austin, director of EPI’s Race, Ethnicity and the Economy program, point out that it’s not a matter of education that cretaes the job and wage gap for blacks. In 2008, more than one-third of African immigrants (36.6 percent) had at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 29.5 percent of whites. A higher percentage of native-born blacks (32 percent) had high school education than whites (30 percent), according to the study.

The EPI study follows a U.S. Labor Department report released last month that shows African Americans lag behind the rest of the nation in the slow economic recovery. Other studies show that blacks are disproportionately hurt by cuts in public employment and attacks on public workers.

Mason and Austin said their study makes it clear that:

because this disadvantage in the labor market affects both U.S.- and foreign-born blacks, it points to a problem that stems from race and not cultural background.

Read the full report, “The Low Wages of Black Immigrants,” here.

Help Locked-Out American Crystal Workers

by James Parks, Aug 5, 2011

The 1,300 locked-out employees at American Crystal Sugar Co. in three states need your help. The members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 167G have been locked out since Aug. 1 after they rejected the company’s final offer by a nine-to-one margin.

American Crystal reportedly has hired replacement workers at its seven plants in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa. Negotiations to replace a seven-year contract began in May. The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against American Crystal, claiming the company has not bargained in good faith.

You can help the American Crystal workers, who want to work and who are standing up for workers’ rights by signing a petition here telling American Crystal’s CEO Dave Berg to not turn his back on the community.

You also can contribute to the Sugar Beet Workers fund that will help workers during the hardship faced while being locked out. Make checks out to: Minnesota AFL-CIO, 175 Aurora Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103. In the memo line, print “BCTGM Lockout 2011.”

Republican Shutdown of FAA Over—For Now

by Mike Hall, Aug 5, 2011

The Republican shutdown for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is over—for now—and the 4,000 furloughed FAA workers will return to work Monday and 70,000 construction workers should be back on the job soon now that airport improvement funds will flow again.

The Senate—even though it was adjourned—approved a House-passed bill that extends FAA funding until Sept. 16. That was possible because it was in what is known as pro forma session. Here’s how The Associated Press described it:

Employing the so-called “unanimous consent” procedure which took less than 30 seconds, two senators were present to approve a House-passed bill extending FAA’s operating authority through mid-September.

Democratic Sen. James Webb of Virginia stood up, called up the bill and asked that it be passed. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the presiding officer, agreed and it was done.

The House-passed temporary extension of FAA funding authority eliminated some rural air service subsidies that senators objected to, but news report indicate that the Obama administration will be able to waive or otherwise negate those cuts.

But the real reason behind the Republican shutdown remains. House Republicans want to overturn democratic union election rules for aviation and rail workers. House Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. John Mica (Fla.) admitted the rural air subsidy “poison pill” in the temporary extension was a ploy to pressure to pressure senators to go along with overturning the fair election rules adopted last year by the National Mediation Board (NMB).

Those rules say air and rail elections should be decided by a majority of votes cast. Previously under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which covers rail and airline workers, each worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote.

BTW, if Mica ran for Congress under the election rules he wants for rail and aviation workers, he wouldn’t be a member of Congress.

The long-term FAA reauthorization bill in the House would overturn the fair election rules. The Senate version does not. House leaders say they will continue their fight to deny workers the right to a fair election. So Sept. 16, we might be facing another shutdown.

AFL-CIO Calls for End to ‘Fake Political Crises’

Thu. August 04, 2011

Instead of addressing the real economic crisis taking place in the homes of everyday Americans, Washington has instead chosen to ignore it and continuously distract the American public with fake political crises of their own, says members of the AFL-CIO Executive Council is a statement released Wednesday.

“The United States is in a continuing and severe jobs crisis. Yet Washington is inexplicably focused on measures that will make the situation worse—both in the short and long run,” reads the statement. “Our nation’s leaders are offering working people the choice between bad and worse policies. Instead of addressing our profound economic crisis, they are adding to it an unending series of fake political crises. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are real solutions to the jobs crisis, but real solutions require government action.”

The AFL-CIO Executive Council calls on Washington leadership to act. “Republican congressional leaders have made their agenda crystal clear—paralyze the government and hold our economy hostage until a multitrillion-dollar ransom is paid to their contributors in the form of tax cuts for the wealthy and for multinational corporations. Unfortunately, far too many Democrats have been either silent or complicit in the Republicans’ scheme. We expect Democrats at every level of government to stand tall for progressive principles, working families and the American labor movement. We need their leadership—not their excuses or apologies,” wrote the Council.

Labor leaders say the voice of the labor movement is clear: labor opposes any measure that will take away American jobs and/or further tie the hands of working families. “We oppose any cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits—no matter where they come from and that includes the Oval Office,” said labor leaders. “We need a tax code that asks the rich to pay their fair share. We oppose corporate tax reform that is merely ‘revenue neutral’ amid calls for ‘shared sacrifice.’ We oppose the Korea, Panama and the Colombia free trade agreements. And we will fight with every means we have against those who would take away the right to vote through a new generation of poll taxes and literacy tests.”

For a look at the complete statement, click here.

GVP Roach Named to Succeed GST Mart

Thu. August 04, 2011

From left, IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger, General Secretary-Treasurer Warren Mart and General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. at the IAM Transportation Conference after the announcement that GVP Roach will succeed GST Mart after Mart retires.

In keeping with the IAM tradition of reaching into the ranks for leadership and experience, International President Tom Buffenbarger announced at the IAM Transportation Conference that Transportation General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. will succeed Warren L. Mart as General Secretary-Treasurer when Mart retires at the end of this year.

“Robert Roach has led the Transportation Department through the challenges of de-regulation, bankruptcies and consolidations and has always fought to protect our transportation members,” said IP Buffenbarger. “He will bring that same commitment to his new post as General Secretary-Treasurer.” Roach first joined the IAM when he was a Ramp serviceman for TWA. He held numerous positions in his local lodge, served as a District 142 General Chairperson, a Special Representative, a Grand Lodge Representative and then became the General Vice President for Transportation in 1999.

“Warren Mart is retiring after an extraordinary union career that’s spanned more than four decades. During his tenure as General Secretary-Treasurer, he helped guide this union and its members through some of the biggest economic challenges in a generation,” declared Buffenbarger. “Warren Mart was instrumental in ensuring that the IAM will remain financially secure for the next generation of IAM members. We thank him for his many years of service and wish him a happy, healthy and long retirement.”

Mart has served as General Secretary-Treasurer since 2003. He also serves as the Co-Chairperson of the IAM National Pension Fund and the IAM Health and Benefit Trust Fund. Before becoming GST, Mart served as the General Vice President of the Eastern Territory, was a Special Representative and a Grand Lodge Representative, a Directing Business Representative of IAM District Lodge 153, held numerous offices in affiliated labor organizations in Indiana and a host of positions in his local lodge. Mart first joined the IAM when he worked as a welder at Arkla Air Conditioning in Evansville, Indiana.

Violations Prompt Protest in Flight Attendant Election

Tue. July 12, 2011

The IAM officially notified the National Mediation Board (NMB), United Airlines and the Communication Workers of America - Association of Flight Attendants (CWA-AFA) that it is protesting the conduct of the recent representation election for Flight Attendants at United Airlines, Continental Airlines and Continental Micronesia.

According to evidence provided by Flight Attendants at United, Continental and Continental Micronesia, the CWA-AFA engaged in at least five major breaches of the NMB’s voting rules. Additionally, United Airlines violated election rules to favor CWA.

“The repeated disregard for NMB election rules and the overt violations by the CWA and United/Continental management have placed the entire election process on trial,” said IAM Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “The NMB must act to rectify this injustice and restore confidence in its election procedures.”

The IAM’s complete submission to the NMB is posted below. All Flight Attendants are urged to download and review the documents to understand the breadth of the CWA’s violations. There is no set timeframe for the NMB to address the IAM’s protest.

IAM Protest: Document 1, Document 2, Document 3

Voting Underway for United & Continental Fleet Workers

Tue. July 12, 2011

IAM-represented Ramp workers at United Airlines and Fleet Service workers at Continental and Continental Micronesia - who are represented by another union - began voting this week by phone and internet in a representation election conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB).

The NMB began mailing voting instructions to more than 13,000 eligible voters on July 7 and the voting period will continue until 2 PM ET on August 11.

After July 12, any eligible voter who has not received or lost their voting instructions and unique VIN and PIN identification numbers can request a new set by mailing a signed request to the NMB.

Simply print and complete this duplicate Telephone and Internet Voting Instructions request form, place it in an envelope, affix the postage and mail it to the address on the form. Forms will also be available from IAM Representatives. The NMB does not accept telephone or fax requests. The NMB must receive your request by August 5, 2011.

The election is the second in a series of representation elections triggered by the merger of United and Continental. The IAM has represented Ramp workers at United since 1948.

IAM, Hawker Beechcraft Begin Negotiations for 2,600

Tue. July 12, 2011

IAM Local 733 Bargaining Committee: Front Row, L to R: Chief of Staff to the International President Diane Babineaux, District 70 Directing Business Representative Steve Rooney, Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge, Southern Territory General Vice President Bob Martinez, International President Tom Buffenbarger, Headquarters General Vice President Richard Michalski, District 70 Assistant Directing Business Representative Rita Rogers, LL733 Negotiator Marcus German, LL 733 Negotiator Shaun Junkins, LL 733 Negotiator Sam Humble, LL 733 Negotiator Tim Franta.

Back Row, L to R: Southern Territory Communications Representative Bob Wood, LL 733 2nd Shift Plant Chair Joe Kniep, District 70 Secretary-Treasurer Judy Pierce, District 70 Business Representative Becky Ledbetter, District 70 Business Representative Steve Groom, District 70 Business Representative Michael Burleigh, District 70 Business Representative Tony Larkin, Special Representative Mark Love, Strategic Resources Research Associate Andrew Buffenbarger.


Opening remarks by IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger and Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture in Wichita, KS set the stage for the negotiations that will lead to a new contract for 2,600 IAM members at Hawker.

Kicking off the negotiations for 2,600 IAM members at Hawker Beechcraft, IAM President Tom Buffenbarger (left) and Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture voiced similar concerns about the state of the general aviation industry.

Buffenbarger praised the skill and resolve of workers at Hawker in the midst of the industry’s worst downturn in decades. “We’re not afraid to speak out when we’re attacked,” declared Buffenbarger, who noted the IAM’s aggressive defense of the industry in the face of disparaging comments by President Obama and others about the use of business aircraft.

Hawker Beechcraft CEO Boisture also referenced President Obama’s disparaging remarks about business jets, calling the Obama Administration “no friend to our industry or our working people.”

Wichita’s largest newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, weighed in with an editorial titled ‘Stop the Jet Bashing.’ The editorial cites New York University law professor Richard A. Epstein, who derided the “cheap political populism” and “primitive economics” of the president’s rhetoric.

The general aviation industry supports a $1.2 billion annual payroll and generates an overall economic impact of $150 billion. The proposal to eliminate the depreciation on corporate jets would raise a scant $3 billion in tax revenue over a decade — less than a drop in the bucket of a $14.34 trillion national debt.

Opening remarks from President Buffenbarger and CEO Boisture, as well as a Q&A from media are available are available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quhQed334bw.

NLRB Proposes New Union Election Rules

Thu. June 23, 2011

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has proposed new union representation rules that ensure workers can freely exercise one basic right we hold dear in this country – the right to vote.

The new rules would make union representation elections fairer by simplifying procedures, deferring litigation and setting shorter deadlines for hearings and filings. Currently when workers petition the NLRB for an election, it can take months and even years before they can cast a vote. Companies often use this time to threaten, scare and discourage workers from voting. Many hire “union busting” consulting firms who assist the company in deterring employees.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released a statement in response to the NLRB proposal saying the new rules are about fairness and rebuilding the middle class. “A key part of rebuilding the middle class is ensuring that every American worker has the same right that powerful CEOs take for granted—the right to sign a contract ensuring fair treatment on the job,” said Sen. Harkin. “The rules don't encourage unionization or discourage it —workers get to make the decision that is best for them. But preserving this right brings some balance to the system, so that the deck isn’t always stacked against ordinary working people and in favor of the wealthy and the powerful.”

The NLRB will take 75 days to review comments and replies before making a decision on whether the rules should become final.