Working Families (on YouTube)

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says the Massachusetts election results should be a wake up call for activists to fight harder than ever for issues important to working families.

Maintaining Your IAM Membership

International
Association of
Machinists and
Aerospace Workers

Gateway Lodge No 731
277 Tallulah Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32208
904-612-6456
Fax. 904-764-2629


IAM MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

MAINTAINING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT, AND YOUR IAM-COMPANY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO JOIN THE IAM WITHIN (60) DAYS AFTER YOUR HIRE DATE. TO JOIN YOU MUST PAY AN INITIATION FEE OF ($100) AND MONTHLY DUES IN THE AMOUNT OF ___________FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

EXCEPTIONS: NEW MEMBERS EARNING LESS THAN ($12) PER HOUR SHALL BE GRANTED SPECIAL DISPENSATION AND PAY LESS FOR THEIR INITIATION FEE AND MONTHLY DUES.

YOU MUST ALSO NOTIFY THE UNION IMMEDIATELY IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST: YOUR DUES ARE NOT BEING DEDUCTED MONTHLY; YOUR DUES ARE NOT PAID UP-TO-DATE; YOU'RE ON SICK/INJURY LEAVE; TRANSFER OUT; ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE; ON FMLA; NOT RECEIVING A PAY CHECK; LAID OFF OR NO LONGER WORKING IN THE TRADE.

MEMBERS NOT RECEIVING A PAY CHECK DUE TO MANY OF THE REASONS IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH ABOVE, ONLY HAVE TO PAY MONTHLY UNEMPLOYMENT DUES IN THE AMOUNT OF ($5) A MONTH. IF YOU LEAVE THE TRADE YOU CAN GET A WITHDRAWAL CARD FOR A ($1) FEE AND IF YOU RETURN, YOU MUST TURN IN YOUR WITHDRAWAL CARD WITH A FEE OF ($10) PLUS THE FIRST MONTH'S DUES AND YOU WILL BE RETURNED TO GOOD STANDING. OTHERWISE, AFTER TWO MONTHS YOU WILL BE LAPSED AND HAVE TO PAY A REINSTATEMENT FEE AND BACK DUES IN ORDER TO BE RETURNED TO GOOD STANDING.

REMEMBER: APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP WITHIN (60) DAYS, PAYING YOUR INITIATION FEE, MAINTAINING YOUR MONTHLY DUES IN A TIMELY MANNER AND NOTIFYING THE UNION OF ANY CHANGES IN YOUR STATUS IS YOUR OBLIGATION, NOT THE UNION'S.

NOTE: MEMBERS WORKING UNDER A UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH CONDITIONS HEREIN, THE UNION SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY THE RESPECTIVE MEMBER AND THE RESPECTIVE IAM DISTRICT LODGE. IF THE MEMBER FAILS TO RESPOND AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT LODGE SHALL BE NOTIFIED AND THEY WILL NOTIFY THE RESPECTIVE COMPANY, WHO IS OBLIGATED TO TERMINATE YOUR EMPLOYMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

YOU WILL BE A MEMBER OF IAM DISTRICT LODGE __________ AND LOCAL LODGE 731. A LIST OF YOUR LOCAL LODGE OFFICERS IS POSTED ON THE UNION BULLETIN BOARD AT YOUR FACILITY. YOUR LOCAL LODGE SECRETARY TREASURER MAY BE CONTACTED AT THE IAM UNION HALL AT 277 TALLUAH AVE, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32208, PHONE NUMBER IS 904-612-4656.


IN SOLIDARITY,

YOUR LOCAL LODGE SECRETARY TREASURER

TSA Nominee Erroll Southers Withdraws

President Obama's nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration withdrew from consideration on Wednesday, saying his nomination was "obstructed by political ideology."

Updates

The web page is still being updated. The links are still being reorganized and increased to provide our members access to vast amounts of information. The current postings allow the member to click on the "Subject" or "Title" and go to the source of the article without having to enter a web address or find the corresponding link on the sidebar. The older postings are being updated with the same functionality.

Only in rare exceptions will the entire article be in the posting.

The Search Box at the top of the sidebar is a very powerful tool. If the words health care reform were entered then every link containing that phrase would appear. The member can click on the corresponding link and go to that article.

Many members have commented in person how great the website looks but "The Voice of 731" would like to have your comments about the content, what do you like or don't like, what you would like to see added. Please take a few moments and click on Contact Us and send an email to thevoice731@gmail.com

Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, Inc. (FLARA)

The Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA), a non-profit organization based in Wellington, Florida, actively pursues and promotes legislation and public policies that are in the best interest of current and future retired Floridians. Through the active civic involvement of it’s over 200,000 members, FLARA advocates programs and activities at all levels of government to prepare for the growing population of older Floridians who desire to remain self-sufficient.

FLARA President, Tony Fransetta is pictured above right.

Class-Action Lawsuits Continue at Wal-Mart

On the heels of a $40 million settlement with its Massachusetts employees regarding wage-and-hour violations, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. now finds itself hit with another class-action lawsuit.

According to Workers Independent News, Wal-Mart warehouse workers in Chicago have announced a class-action lawsuit asserting that the hiring of workers from temporary staffing agencies is, in effect, stealing their wages.

It was only a year ago that Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, agreed to pay $640 million to settle 63 wage-and-hour lawsuits, which was quickly followed earlier this year by a $54 million settlement in Minnesota and then a $172 million settlement in California.

Remembering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. has now been dead longer than he lived. But what an extraordinary life it was.

At 33, he was pressing the case of civil rights with President John Kennedy. At 34, he galvanized the nation with his "I Have a Dream" speech. At 35, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. At 39, he was assassinated, but he left a legacy of hope and inspiration that continues today.

North Florida Central Labor Council (CLC) January 2010 Business Meeting

The January 2010 Business meeting of the North Florida Central Labor Council (CLC) was held on Wednesday, January 13. Robert Campbell, Flytele/BA, was sworn in as a delegate representing LL731.

The guest speaker was State Senator Dan Gelbert, Democratic candidate for Florida Attorney General. He presented his qualifications to be the next Attorney General for the state of Florida and took questions from the members.

Information packets were handed out for the "Jobs for Jacksonville" rally to be held on Tuesday, January 26, at 3:00 pm.

Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL)

The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League
is the political arm of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. It was created in 1947 to allow IAM members to gather individual contributions, coordinate political activity, and elect candidates who support IAM members and their families.

Candidates we support know that the MNPL stands for economic justice, security in the workplace and equality for every member. They do not take us for granted.

The MNPL scrutinizes each candidate thoroughly. We ask tough questions such as their positions on trade, labor law reform, economic conversion, transportation policies, and enhancement of the U.S. manufacturing base.

Labor News on Talk Radio

President Ernie Hartless (at left) as a "Guest DJ" on "The Brother Stan Labor Show". The program can be heard on WJSJ, FM 105.3, every Wednesday, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

The Brother Stan the Union Man Show - Stan Swart offers an hour of political talk from the labor perspective, with regular guests from the labor community.