Early
retirement incentive program signup
deadline is July 23
As agreed in the IAM/Spirit 2010
Collective Bargaining Agreement, an
Early Retirement Incentive Program is
being offered to eligible IAM
represented employees. The program is
available for at least 500 employees and
acceptance into the program will be
based on seniority (not first come,
first serve). Complete information about
eligibility and how to sign up is on the
web,
http://www.ll839.org/Final_Application_.pdf
,
at the local lodge office and
the
Spirit Employment Service Center.
Applications must be
received by Human Resources on or before
5 p.m.
Central Time, Friday, July 23, 2010.
Special
enrollment begins July 19
Because of the recently
ratified contract, IAM employees may
make changes only to their medical and
dental plan elections during a special
enrollment period, July 19-23.
Employees are not required to take
action if they are not making changes to
their medical or dental plans, unless
they are currently enrolled in the PHS
Open Access (Premier) or Aetna
Coordinated Care (Core) plan. IAM
employees currently enrolled in the PHS
Premier plan who do not make an active
election will be automatically enrolled
in the PHS Consumer Directed (Enhanced)
plan with coverage effective from Aug.
1, 2010, through June 30, 2011. IAM
employees currently enrolled in the
Aetna Core plan because of the Live/Work
rule who do not make an active
election will be automatically enrolled
in the Aetna Consumer Directed
(Enhanced) plan with coverage effective
from Aug. 1, 2010 through June 30,
2011. If election changes are not made
to PHS Core, PHS Enhanced, Aetna Premier
or Aetna Enhanced plans, the elections
made during the regular Annual
Enrollment period will remain in effect
until June 30, 2011, unless there is a
qualifying life event and the employee
takes appropriate action at that time.
The increase in Basic Life insurance is
automatic and no action is required.
Additional information is in the
benefits guide.
Contact: Benefits Center, 1-877-459-3345, Option 1
 |
|
IAM President Tom Buffenbarger, right, speaks to Local 1746-A members celebrating an appeals court decision upholding an IAM lawsuit that stopped Pratt & Whitney from shipping more than 1,000 jobs out of Connecticut. Joining the rally, from left, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Eastern Territory General Vice President Lynn Tucker, Jr. and District 26 DBR Everett Corey.
|
Several
hundred
members
and
families
of Local
1746-A
in
Southington,
CT, used
their
annual
union
picnic
to
celebrate
the
court
victory
that
barred
Pratt &
Whitney
from
closing
the
Cheshire
Engine
Center
and
another
plant in
East
Hartford.
In a
major
victory
for job
security
language,
the
Second
Circuit
Court of
Appeals
upheld a
lawsuit
brought
by IAM
District
26
against
United
Technologies
Corporation
(UTC),
parent
company
of Pratt
&
Whitney.
The
court
upheld
an
earlier
ruling
that
found
Pratt
had not
honored
IAM
contract
language
requiring
the
company
to “make
every
reasonable
effort”
to
preserve
jobs in
Connecticut.
Despite
claims
to the
contrary
by Pratt
&
Whitney,
the
judge
ruled
the
company’s
actions
were not
taken
out of a
“mistaken
view” of
what the
contract
required.
“To the
contrary,”
said
U.S.
District
Court
Judge
Janet
Hall,
“Pratt
understood
its
obligations,
but
decisively
attempted
to evade
them.”
Connecticut
Attorney
General
Richard
Blumenthal,
who
joined
the
Machinists
suit
against
Pratt on
behalf
of the
state,
urged
the
company
to
abandon
further
efforts
to
overturn
this
decision
and
instead
seek
common
ground
with
workers
and the
state in
keeping
jobs in
Connecticut.
“This
issue is
not only
about
jobs.
It’s
about
national
security,”
said
Blumenthal,
who was
welcomed
with
cheers
and
applause
by
members
at the
Local
1746-A
picnic.
“When
Americans
go into
battle,
I want
the best
planes
defending
them and
the best
workers
in the
world
maintaining
those
planes.”
Closure
of the
two
plants
would
shift
about
1,000
well-paid
manufacturing
jobs to
other
states
and
countries.
“No
longer
will the
labor
movement
allow
our jobs
to be
shipped
offshore,”
said
Eastern
Territory
GVP Lynn
D.
Tucker,
Jr.
“It’s a
sad day
when we
are
asked to
give up
the
repair
work of
American-built
military
aircraft
engines
to a
foreign
county.
“We
can’t
allow
tax
dollars
to be
used to
pay
foreign
countries
to work
on jet
engines
used by
our
military.”
The
appeals
court
ruling
will
remain
in
effect
until
the
expiration
of the
collective
bargaining
agreement
December
5, 2010.
The
Second
Circuit
Court of
Appeals
has
upheld a
lawsuit
brought
by IAM
District
26
against
United
Technologies
Corporation
(UTC),
parent
company
of Pratt
&
Whitney.
The
court
upheld a
U.S.
District
Court’s
injunction
that
barred
Pratt
from
closing
plants
in
Cheshire
and East
Hartford,
CT.
The
unanimous
23-page
decision
from the
three-judge
appeals
panel
states,
in part:
“The
district
court
concluded
that
Pratt
had not
made,
and was
not
making,
‘every
reasonable
effort’
to
preserve
bargaining
unit
work as
required
by the
CBA
[collective
bargaining
agreement].
We find
no
error…
in the
district
court’s
determination
that
Pratt
failed
to
pursue
the goal
of
preserving
bargaining
unit
work in
good
faith.
We
therefore
affirm
the
judgment.”
“This
once
again
confirms
what
we’ve
said all
along –
Pratt
didn’t
give us
a chance
to
address
their
concerns
to keep
the work
here,”
says IAM
chief
UTC
negotiator
Jim
Parent.
“It’s
more
than
1,000
hourly
and
salary
jobs –
that’s
1,000
workers
who
deserve
a fair
chance
to keep
their
livelihoods,
and a
thousand
families
who
depend
on those
wage
earners.”
“This
court
decision
brings
home the
fact
that UTC
and
Pratt
leadership
need to
reconsider
their
plans,”
says IAM
District
26 DBR
Everett
Corey.
“They
need to
work
with us,
not
against
us, to
keep
Cheshire
& CARO
open.
We’re
prepared
to reach
agreement
– or
fight it
out – in
contract
negotiations.
The
ball’s
in the
company’s
court
right
now.”
IAM
attorney
Gregg
Adler,
assisted
by Mary
Kelly,
argued
the
case.
Kelly is
the
daughter
of
former
GLR Paul
Kelly
who
passed
away in
2001.
The
injunction
will
remain
in
effect
until
the
expiration
of the
collective
bargaining
agreement
December
5, 2010.
Members of
the IAM
Local 839
Negotiating
Committee
were joined
by IAM
President
Tom
Buffenbarger,
Headquarters
GVP Rich
Michalski,
Southern
Territory
GVP Bob
Martinez and
others on
Day One of
contract
talks with
Spirit
AeroSystems.
|
The opening round of
talks between Machinists
Local 839 and Spirit
AeroSystems in Wichita,
KS, is drawing favorable
media coverage for both
sides, who declared they
are prepared to broker
an accord that could
serve as a new model for
the aerospace industry
across the country.
In ‘A
New Kind of Contract,’
published today in The Wichita
Eagle, leaders on both sides
indicated they would consider
non-traditional terms in an
agreement that provides
flexibility for the company and
ensures job security for workers
at Spirit.
The article quotes IAM
President Tom Buffenbarger
saying, “This is the contract
that this union hopes very
deeply will set the bar and set
the stage for a new way of
bargaining in the aerospace
industry. Not just with Spirit,
but we're carrying the weight of
an industry on our shoulders in
these negotiations.”
Spirit AeroSystems CEO Jeff
Turner is also quoted. “Clearly,
a cooperative, peaceful
relationship between labor and
management is very important for
the
 |
Preparations for the
negotiations with
Spirit included
meetings at the
Winpisinger Center
between Local 839
leaders and company
executives.
|
long-term health of the
company,” said Turner, who added
that he believed “layoffs should
be an absolute last resort” and
that employees should “share the
gain” in good times.
The union’s goal of a new
bargaining model was summarized
by Gary Chaison, the oft-quoted
professor of industrial
relations at Clark University at
Worcester, MA. “The union is
saying, 'We don't want to be the
senior partner in failure and
the junior partner in success,'”
said Chaison, who suggested it
was an approach Boeing should
try.
Prior to the opening of
talks, Buffenbarger, Turner and
former Congressman Dick Gephardt
met with the shop management
team and union stewards. A video
of the meeting and a Q&A will be
available on the Local 839
website at
www.ll839.org.
 |
IAM President Tom
Buffenbarger (left),
Spirit AeroSystems
CEO Jeff Turner
(center) and former
Missouri
Representative and
current Spirit Board
Member Dick Gephart
(right) take
questions from union
and company
representatives at a
meeting in Wichita,
KS.
|
In a meeting with the
potential to redefine
labor-management relations in
the U.S. aerospace industry, IAM
President Tom Buffenbarger,
former Congressman Dick Gephardt
and Spirit AeroSystems Holdings
Inc. CEO Jeff Turner met this
week with managers and union
stewards to discuss the state of
the industry and the upcoming
contract negotiations for 6,000
IAM members at Spirit.
Preparations for the talks
between the IAM and Spirit began
months ago, with members of the
union’s bargaining committee
meeting with company officials
to broach the possibility of
longer agreements and terms that
would provide real job security
for workers in the turbulent
industry.
“We need to move beyond the
old ways of collective
bargaining,” said Buffenbarger.
“If there is a way, and a
willing partner, that makes it
possible to protect our members’
jobs while working in a less
adversarial environment, then we
have an obligation to explore
that possibility.”
Neither the IAM nor Spirit
would discuss in detail the
proposals they will exchange
when contract talks get
underway, but both sides
expressed optimism. In remarks
published in Bloomberg News,
Turner displayed an
understanding of the dynamics
that can stymie traditional
negotiations.
“In a market that's so
volatile, a classical set of
negotiations is going to set us
up to butt heads,” said Spirit
CEO Turner in the Bloomberg
article. “If the company has a
pessimistic view of the business
and tries to win concessions
that turn out to have been
unnecessary, it breeds
distrust.”
The current contract
expires June 25th.
Headquarters General Vice
President Rich Michalski opened the 2009 Aerospace Conference
where delegates focused on ways to preserve good-paying jobs,
increase organizing efforts and prepare for the future in the
aerospace industry.
Amid one of the
most turbulent times in the aerospace industry’s history,
delegates from across North America gathered in San Diego, CA,
for the 2009 IAM Aerospace Conference to focus on keeping and
creating good-paying jobs, increasing organizing efforts and
preparing for the future in the aerospace industry. “ North
America’s aerospace industry stands unique from other
industries,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger. “It
is the heart of our manufacturing and industrial know-how and we
must protect it.”
In less than a
year, major sectors of the aerospace industry like Wichita, KS,
have gone from backlogs of orders to mass layoffs with
devastating impacts on families and their communities. Key to
turning around the aerospace industry and the economy in general
is a second economic stimulus program and stopping short-sighted
efforts to cut vital defense programs like the F-22 Raptor. “We
need to let politicians know that working families need jobs –
not banks sitting on bailout money,” declared Buffenbarger. The
IAM has launched a JOBS Now! campaign to demand a second
stimulus program that includes investments in manufacturing and
transportation to create jobs more quickly and a major
commitment to vocational training to make sure workers have the
skills they need to keep North America’s industrial capacity
strong.
A critical vote
in the Senate for funding additional F-22 fighters is imminent.
Click
here to send a message to your Senators to let them
know that America cannot afford to undermine the strength of its
industrial base or to short change its national defense. You can
also call your Senators at 202-224-3121.
Click
here to send a message to your Representative, Senators, and
President Obama to support JOBS Now
In an editorial published this week in Oregon’s
Statesman-Journal, IAM Headquarters GVP Rich Michalski makes a
strong case for the Boeing refueling tanker over the unproven
model being promoted by French aerospace giant EADS. The timely
editorial, ‘Outsourcing Pentagon contract to Europe a bad idea,’
is printed below in its entirety:
“Stories of plant closings are all-too-frequent
in today's newspapers, even as the federal government rushes
billions in stimulus money in an attempt to save jobs and turn
around the economy.
Yet the government may end up sending 44,000 U.S.
jobs overseas this year alone if French aerospace giant EADS
convinces the Pentagon to outsource to France and Europe its
$100 billion contract to build tanker refueling aircraft.
Strangely enough, EADS's tanker aircraft doesn't
even meet the Air Force's requirements, according to industry
experts. It's inefficient, consuming an unnecessary $40 billion
in taxpayer funds because of excess fuel and other costs over
its lifetime, can only land at half the bases compared to the
competition, and is more vulnerable to enemy fire. Almost all
aerospace and military experts have attested that the American
tanker designed by Boeing is superior by nearly every measure.
The irony is that EADS's tanker aircraft was developed using
billions in illegal foreign subsidies which are the basis for
the largest ever suit by the U.S. Trade Representative before
the World Trade Organization. Does the Pentagon really believe
that it is sound acquisition policy to outsource its entire
industrial base, put 44,000 Americans out of their jobs and
reward a company that violates international trade laws?
On the heels of a 58-40 vote in the U.S. Senate to end F-22
Raptor production at the 187 jets currently on order, the IAM
pledged to continue fighting for additional funding and warned
of far-reaching consequences if the funding is not restored.
“This is a critical economic security issue as well as a
national security issue,” declared IAM President Tom
Buffenbarger. “More than 95,000 jobs in 44 states are at risk
from the shortsighted decision to terminate this program. Entire
communities will suffer and a critical skill base could be lost
forever if this decision is not reversed.”
IAM members build, assemble and maintain F-22 components in
dozens of states, including Connecticut, Georgia, California and
Texas.
In a soon-to-be-published
editorial, Buffenbarger contrasts the current situation with
the global political and economic environment during the summer
of 1933, when the Great Depression was in full swing and
lawmakers debated how to restore economic stability.
Despite serious and growing threats in Europe and Asia, many
lawmakers at the time balked at pleas by Winston Churchill and
Franklin Roosevelt to invest in modern air defenses, as a
prudent precaution at the very least.
“To leaders like Roosevelt and Churchill, however, foresight was
a critical, differentiating capacity. They managed to disengage
from the mundane, explore the broadest range of possibilities,
assess the longer term risks their nations faced, and act
decisively. And they did so in the smoke and confusion of
political battle.”
Buffenbarger cited long-term plans by
China and Russia to develop fifth-generation fighters as
potential threats that require strategic decision making.
“In this time of global economic and political turmoil, America
could use equally farsighted leaders who prepare us for all
eventualities. Unfortunately, they were in the minority this
week,” said Buffenbarger of the Senate vote.
Is a Kansas Not-for-Profit/501 (c)(3)
organization dedicated to helping those who help others. By
celebrating and uniting communities through cooperation and
volunteerism we build a stronger and bright future for all
concerned.
Do you volunteer as a 4-H leader or a soccer coach, sing in the
church choir, teach Sunday School, or volunteer in the church
nursery. Do you pick up trash on your daily walk, say a pray for
those in need, visit a homebound friend, or give of your time in
some other way? If so, you are eligible to participate in
Prairie Land Food.
Our program offers a nutritious grocery package which includes a
wide assortment of frozen meats, fresh fruits and vegetables,
just like you see in major grocery stores in exchange for your
volunteer hours. Packages are offered at a low cost, helping to
s-t-r-e-t-c-h your food dollars.
PRAIRIE LAND FOOD is not a government funded program; there are
no income guidelines. We are funded through you – the
participant. The more people that participate, the greater the
buying power, and the more communities will benefit through
volunteer service.
No fine print, no gimmicks, no term commitment how often you
participate is up to you!
Visit their
website for all the information.
To sign up contact:
Robert Gainer
838-8289 (home)
518-8280 (Cell)
Charlotte Washington
207-7653
Martin Eddy
640-4677
Beginning July 1, 2009, new benefits to make student loan
payments more affordable and manageable will go into place,
making the prospect of receiving a higher education and a
much-needed upgrade in skills that much more attainable for
millions of Americans.
The benefits, put into place by the Democratic Majority and
House Committee on Education & Labor, were signed into law in
2007 as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. They
include cheaper interest rates on need-based federal student
loans, reasonable and affordable monthly payments, and higher
Pell Grant scholarships that cover the average tuition at public
universities.
These provisions are in addition to the Obama
administration’s recent announcement of a relaxation in Pell
Grant eligibility requirements for unemployed workers. That
initiative is also slated to begin in July.
A trio of well-known corporations are trying to derail the
Employee Free Choice Act with their own watered down version of
labor “reform.” The CEOs of Starbucks, Costco and Whole Foods
are shopping the halls of Capitol Hill with a bill they claim is
a “fair compromise” to the Employee Free Choice Act.
The companies are proposing that the system for joining a union
stays as-is, with employers still being given ample time to
harass and intimidate workers before an election and no
guarantee of a first contract. The bill even goes one step
further by making it easier for corporations to get rid of a
union after workers vote to join one.
“The legislation being brought forward by Starbucks, Costco and
Whole Foods is nothing more than an attempt to distract from
what Employee Free Choice is really about,” says IAM
International President Tom Buffenbarger. “Their proposal does
absolutely nothing to level the playing field between workers
and management. Under their plan, workers are no better off than
they are now. They’ll still be subject to low wages, inadequate
health care, and an uncertain retirement. Their ‘compromise’ is,
frankly, useless.”
The Employee Free Choice Act does exactly what the title of the
bill says it does: puts the power of choice into the hands of
the employees – not companies. Employees, not companies, will be
able to decide for themselves whether to join a union. CEOs will
have to make room at the table when it comes time to talk wages
and benefits.
Click
here for more information on the Employee Free Choice Act
and to send a letter to your legislator that it’s time to
restore America’s middle class by passing the Employee Free
Choice Act.
In another show of support for unions and America’s working
families, President Obama reemphasized the importance of giving
workers the right to organize. During a town hall meeting in
southern California last week, Obama said giving workers fair
pay and “the opportunity to organize themselves” is, quite
simply, the right thing to do.
“Sometimes, you know, the business press says that's
anti-business,” Obama told the crowd. “And whenever I hear that,
I'm always reminded of what Henry Ford said when he first
started building the Model T. He was paying his workers really
well. And somebody asked him, they said, why are you paying your
workers so well? He said, well, if I don't pay them well, they
won't be able to buy a car… Think about that.”
The president said not only do unions benefit workers and
their families, but the entire country as a whole. “All I'm
trying to do is restore some balance to our economy so that
middle class families who are working hard… They're not on
welfare. They're going to their jobs everyday. They're doing the
right thing by their kids. They should be able to save, buy a
home, go on a vacation once in a while, you know. They should be
able to save for retirement, send their kids to college. That's
not too much to ask for. That's the American dream,” added
Obama.
The president has already indicated he will sign a bill
currently working its way through Congress, which will make it
easier for workers to join a union. The Employee Free Choice Act
will allow workers to bargain for better wages, benefits and a
secure retirement. The bill strengthens penalties for employers
who try to take action against an employee wishing to join a
union. It also provides for arbitration if an employer does not
bargain in good faith for a first contract.
Click
here to send a message to Congress to support the Employee
Free Choice Act.
Employee Free Choice Act Introduced in Congress
 The
Employee Free Choice Act took a big step toward becoming the law
of the land today as Representative George Miller (D-CA) and
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the legislation in the
House and Senate.
“American workers need help now and the Employee Free Choice Act
is an important step to rebuild America’s middle class and make
an economy that works for everyone,” said IAM President Tom
Buffenbarger. “We must ensure that Congress listens to working
families and passes the Employee Free Choice Act.”
Recent polling by the AFL-CIO shows 73 percent of the public
supports the Employee Free Choice Act, despite an intense
corporate campaign of distortions and falsehoods. The Employee
Free Choice Act makes it easier for workers to join unions and
bargain for better wages, benefits and a secure retirement,
strengthens penalties for employers who harass, intimidate or
fire workers who try to form a union, and provides for
arbitration if an employer does not bargain in good faith for a
first contract.
The Employee Free Choice Act has enough support for a simple
majority passage in the House and Senate, but faces a filibuster
in the Senate. A filibuster takes 60 votes to end and
corporations are pouring millions of dollars to pressure key
legislators not to support the bill.
“President Obama has pledged to sign the Employee Free Choice
Act if it reaches his desk,” said Buffenbarger. “It’s time to
call, write and email Congress and let them know it’s time for
American working families to be listened to.”
Click
here send a message to Congress to support the
Employee Free Choice Act.
Win the
Hunting, Fishing Trip of a Lifetime
 The
Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is announcing a casting call for the
fourth season of Escape to
the Wild, the union-dedicated TV show that selects
hardworking union members to take part in the hunting or fishing
trip of a lifetime.
IAM
members interested in nominating themselves or a fellow member
should log-on to
www.UnionSportsmen.org and click on the Escape to the
Wild button to download an application. But act now – the
deadline for trips in March and April is fast approaching.
Among the upcoming trips planned are hunting in Africa, South
Dakota and Colorado, fishing for sailfish off the coast of
Guatamala and a caribou hunt in Canada.
Escape to the Wild
is a TV program of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation
Partnership, VERSUS Network and several of America's leading
trade unions and contractor associations that honors hardworking
union members with world-class hunting and fishing adventures.
Solis Secures Labor Secretary Post
|
Workig families can find solace in knowing they have one
more advocate fighting on their behalf in Washington,
DC.
After nearly two months of procrastinating
interrogations, background scrutiny, and back-and-forth
correspondence, the Senate has finally confirmed Rep.
Hilda Solis as Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Labor.
The show of support by millions of Americans overcame
the sideshow put on by some Senate Republicans not in
favor of her commitment to defending workers’ rights,
including the right to form a union without employer
interference.
As Secretary of Labor, Solis will fight to improve
skills development and job creation programs, assure
workers get the pay they have earned, address the
retirement security crisis, and improve working
conditions. She also understands that giving workers a
voice and the freedom to organize is the key to
rebuilding our economy.
|
Mexico Feels NAFTA
Backlash
Nearly 15 years after the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) became law, the global recession is exposing a new
dimension of the controversial trade accord.
High unemployment is on the march in Mexico, where manufacturing
companies are moving abroad in search of lower costs and even
cheaper labour. Sound familiar? Recent statistics show the
Mexican economy in tatters, with auto and manufacturing workers
suffering a fate not unlike Canadian and U.S. workers who saw
tens of thousands of their jobs fly south in the wake of NAFTA.
More than a half-million Mexican workers lost manufacturing jobs
since November 2008, as the official unemployment rate climbed
to 4.3 percent. The actual unemployment rate in Mexico is much
higher, as the government counts anyone working even one hour a
week as being employed.
With Canadian and U.S. unemployment hitting record highs each
month, Canadian and U.S. workers may be slow to sympathize with
Mexican workers losing jobs that were once performed north of
their border, but workers in all of North America now share
something besides a similar former occupation: They’re all
casualties of NAFTA.
The migration of Canadian and U.S. manufacturing jobs to Mexico
was initially touted as necessary to jump start the development
of new industries in all three countries. But with corporations
now looking beyond Mexico to China, South Korea and Indonesia,
it’s increasingly clear that whatever NAFTA may give, NAFTA can
also take away.
As the years pass and workers in one country after another feel
the pain of NAFTA, the question to ask is not who’s losing, but
is anyone really winning?
|
The host of the popular Discovery Channel program,
‘Dirty Jobs,’ has launched a new
website aimed at raising awareness about the amount of
skilled trades jobs being lost in the United States.
After four years as host of ‘Dirty Jobs,’ Mike Rowe
believes there is a bias against skilled labor as well as a
nationwide shortage of educational programs to provide
training for high school students interested in pursuing
high-tech careers.
“I’ve come to believe that we marginalize skilled labor,”
said Rowe. “We make fun of it. We avoid it. And the
consequences of doing so are not good. Our infrastructure is
crumbling around us. Yet somehow, we have a labor shortage
and high unemployment.”
With an arsenal of information and considerable personal
experience, Rowe promotes educational awareness and user
participation on the unique website. A long-time supporter
of unions, Rowe is committed to nothing less than changing
how the world looks at work and skilled labor.
|
IAM
Defends ‘Buy America’ Provisions
The IAM
is calling on Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., to reject a
campaign by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to strip “Buy America”
provisions from the pending $825 billion economic stimulus package.
“We are
in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, with more than 11
million Americans out of work and millions more on the brink of being
laid off,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “It is outrageous for
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to assist foreign contractors hoping to
gain access to funds clearly designed to stimulate local and state
economies.”
In a
recent letter to House and Senate leaders, the Chamber of Commerce, the
Business Roundtable and 13 high-powered lobbying organizations warned
Congressional leaders against any use or expansion of “Buy America”
provisions, which are designed to ensure U.S. companies and U.S. workers
benefit from U.S. government spending.
“The
extraordinary gall of these corporate lobbyists to align themselves with
foreign corporations at this time is nothing short of economic treason,”
declared Buffenbarger. “Every other country in the world puts its own
industries and workers first. For the sake of our nation and our
economic recovery, our elected officials should do the same.”
Local Lodge
Election Results
President
Kathy Petersen
Vice President
Brent Allen
Recording Secretary
Larry Stafford
Secretary/Treasurer
Joni Pierce
Conductor/Sentinel
Jeff Meis
Trustees
Terry
Rodriquez
Susan Hiebert
Stan Chapman
Auditors
Tim Petersen
Larry Stafford
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Journeyman Review Board
Larry Enochs
Jeff Meis
Gary Stroud
Kansas State Council Delegates
David Eagle
Terry Rodriquez
Stan Chapman
District 70 Delegates
Dan Huckabee
Larry Stafford
Susan Hiebert
Joni Pierce
Kathy Petersen
Stan Chapman
Brent Allen
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
David Mourning
Jeff Meis
Russell Walker
Wichita Hutchinson Labor Federation
Delegates
Larry Stafford
Dan Huckabee
Kathy Petersen
Stan Chapman
Joni Pierce
Jeff Meis
Brent Allen
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Frank Gallegos
Union Label Delegates
Mike Hurd
Dan Huckabee
Roger Stamback
Kathy Petersen
Curtis Erbert
Brent Allen
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Larry Stafford
Stan Chapman
Justin Eagle
Jeff Meis
Gary Stroud
Russell “Texas Ranger” Walker
Frank Gallegos
Tim Petersen
The Boeing Company expects to have about 400 new job openings
– in China. That’s right. The Dow Jones Newswires and Chinese media are
reporting the U.S. plane maker recently broke ground on a new $21
million facility in Tianjin, China. The joint venture –formerly known as
BHA Aero Composites Co., but now known as Boeing Tianjin Composites Co.
– supplies composite parts to domestic and foreign companies.
IAM President Tom Buffenbarger commented that this is one more
indication of just how serious China is becoming a global competitor in
the world’s aerospace market. “The fact that China is building its
aerospace industry with the direct support of western aerospace
companies like Boeing, only adds insult to injury,” Buffenbarger said.
This expansion of would-be U.S. jobs in China comes nearly one year
after the start of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Validated End-User
program, which grants expedited access to U.S. aerospace technology.
Buffenbarger warned against the program back in January, saying, “It is
naïve to assume that relaxing export restrictions on sensitive aerospace
technology do not represent a significant threat to U.S. jobs, companies
and communities.”
In a letter to the Under Secretary of the Commerce Department’s Bureau
of Industry and Security, Buffenbarger wrote, “The approval of one of
these companies… will involve work on the Boeing 787 program that could
have been performed by U.S. workers.”
The Chinese media reports the new facility will be completed by early
2010. Employment is expected to increase from 600 to about 1,000 by
2013.
Nominations for
Lodge 839
President
Vote for 1
Kathy Petersen
Ernest “Ernie” Gonzales
Vice President
Vote for 1
Brent Allen
Kevin Jamis
Recording Secretary
Vote for 1
Larry Stafford
Neal Mullen
Secretary/Treasurer
Vote for one
Joni Pierce
Roger Stamback
Conductor/Sentinel
Vote for one
Dennis “Mad Dog” Williams
Jeff Meis
Trustees
Vote for 3
Terry
Rodriquez
Susan Hiebert
Rickey Nelson
Stan Chapman
Leo Larouche
Dan Briggs
Auditors
Vote for 3
Tim Petersen
Tony Dornbush
Larry Stafford
Dan Huckabee
Darrick Meyer
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Journeyman Review Board
Vote for 3
Dan Briggs
Larry Enochs
Darrick Meyer
Jeff Meis
Gary Stroud
Kansas State Council Delegates
Vote for 3
David Eagle
Roger Stamback
Terry Rodriquez
Stan Chapman
Gary Cochran
Dennis “Mad Dog” Williams
District 70 Delegates
Vote for 11
Dan Huckabee
Larry Stafford
Susan Hiebert
Joni Pierce
Kathy Petersen
Rickey Nelson
Stan Chapman
Ernest “Ernie” Gonzales
Brent Allen
Dennis “Mad Dog” Williams
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Dan Briggs
David Mourning
Jeff Meis
Kevin Jamis
Russell Walker
Gary Cochran
Neal Mullen
Roger Stamback
Leo Larouche
Chris Woodard
Wichita Hutchinson Labor Federation
Delegates
Vote for 9
Larry Stafford
Dennis “Mad Dog” Williams
Dan Huckabee
Kathy Petersen
Stan Chapman
Roger Stamback
Neal Mullen
Joni Pierce
Jeff Meis
Brent Allen
Dan Briggs
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Frank Gallegos
Union Label Delegates
Vote for 15
Mike Hurd
Dan Huckabee
Roger Stamback
Kathy Petersen
Ernest “Ernie” Gonzales
Rickey Nelson
Curtis Erbert
Brent Allen
Howard “HoJo” Johnson
Kevin Jamis
Larry Stafford
Gary Cochran
Stan Chapman
Neal Mullen
Justin Eagle
Jeff Meis
Dennis “Mad Dog” Williams
Gary Stroud
Leo “The Clown” Larouche
Dan Briggs
Russell “Texas Ranger” Walker
Raymond Winter
Frank Gallegos
Tim Petersen
Chris Woodard
Darrick Meyer
Rene Ornelas
Jarrod Lehman
More
than 32 years ago, union delegates gathered in a room like this,
changed the financial structure of the IAM. Today, that decision was
again in front of this year's delegates who voted to amend the
current financial structure....
watch clip »
District 70 9th Annual Car Show and 3rd Annual
Poker Run
The
Community Service Committee and Recreation Committee of Local Lodge 839
joined together to host the 9th Annual Car & Bike Show and 3rd
annual Poker Run. The committees were able to raise $4600 for charity.
The
events began with more than 20 motorcycle riders participating in the
Poker Run, with the ride being extended to 160 miles. Unfortunately, the
Wichita-Hutchinson Labor Federation’s annual picnic and Bingo game was
cancelled this year. There was a Moonwalk and inflatable obstacle
course set up by Party Bounce Rentals. A Bike Safety Class hosted by
the Wichita Police Department.
There
were over 75 entries for the Car & Bike Show, making it a tremendous
success! Trophies and plaques were awarded to many participants.
Following the awards ceremony was a basket drawing where some lucky
winners made off with some FABULOUS prizes! Special thanks to all of
the Sponsors that donated money and prizes and to all of the volunteers
who came out to help. A banner listing all of the donating Sponsors is
hanging up at the District 70 Lodge at 3830 S. Meridian. Be sure to
check it out!
Best of
all, we were able to present a check for $2300.00 to the Muscular
Dystrophy Association and an additional check for $2300.00 to benefit
the Guide Dogs of America Program.
by Kathy
Petersen and Brent Allen
The
following is a Labor Day 2008 message from International President Tom
Buffenbarger.
This
Labor Day is a worthy occasion to remember Labor’s friends and Labor’s
foes.
Labor’s
friends would never think of crossing a picket line.
They worry when they hear about factories closing and jobs being shipped
overseas. They get angry when they hear about roads, bridges and
buildings falling into disrepair. They are the men and women who built
this country and feel a keen and personal responsibility for its well
being.
There
will be great speeches this Labor Day. There will be moments of silence
for those who gave their lives, and much praise for the accomplishments,
the sacrifices and the basic value of work and working people.
On this
Labor Day, there will be picnics and parades, barbecues and baseball,
rest and recreation. The nation will pause to honor the builders and the
bakers, the movers and shakers, the plumbers, policemen, machinists and
music makers.
We must
also remember the public figures and elected officials who stood with
Labor on the picket lines, at the bargaining tables and in the
congressional hearing rooms where laws are fashioned that can give so
much or take so much away.
It is
there too we find Labor’s foes. They toil on behalf of countries and
corporations with no allegiance to work or workers, only to greater
profits, quicker profits and greater access to more of the same.
They too
will relax from their efforts on Labor Day. They will consume good food
and fine wine and gather strength for their next assault on workers’
health care, workers’ pensions, workers’ rights and even workers’ lives.
They may
even find time to pray, that the upcoming election does not change the
advantage they have enjoyed for the past eight years. They have good
reason to worry.
This year, on Election Day, we can not only remember Labor’s friends and
Labor’s foes, we can reward them both accordingly. It is an opportunity
too good to miss.
Labor Day Picnic
Cancelled to Support Strike
The IAM
Hall on South Meridian is being transformed into a strike warehouse to
distribute food to the striking workers at Hawker Beechcraft. The
Executive Board of the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Fed has decided that it
will be necessary to cancel the planned August 30 Labor Day picnic and
bingo event which has traditionally been held. Funds and supplies that
had been allocated to the picnic will be donated to the strike fund.
A Celebration of Life Services for
Jeff Hart will be 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, at Countryside Christian
Church, 1919 S. Rock Road, Wichita,
KS.
DONATIONS TO THE JEFF HART FAMILY
We have
received and have confirmed this
notice from the Watson Funeral Home.
We will post more information as it
becomes available.
Click here
for the flyer then you can click on
the image for large size.
LOCAL LODGE 839 COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE ANSWERS CALL FOR HELP
Kathy Petersen was
reading iMail news on the
www.goiam.org website when something caught her eye. As she was
scanning an article, the words “community services” jumped out at her.
A closer examination of the article revealed an appeal for donations
from the IAM Community Services Department of the Grand Lodge to be
distributed to IAM brothers and sisters who are suffering from the
effects of extensive flooding in the Midwest.
As the chair of her Local
Lodge Community Service Committee, Kathy wasted no time in printing out
the article and taking it before the rest of the committee members.
Without hesitation, the committee agreed to give all they could to help;
immediately approving a $1,000.00 donation.
“We’re a small group of
volunteers, but we work tirelessly to raise funds for situations like
these. We are so proud to be able to contribute whatever we can to
assist our IAM brothers and sisters”, said Sister Petersen. “We have
all seen the devastation caused by flooding and tornadoes in the
Midwest. It is hard to see people lose everything they have worked for
all their lives”.
Each month at their Local
Lodge meeting, the Local Lodge Community Service Committee cooks and
sells cheeseburgers, chips, candy and sodas to their membership. They
also offer a drawing to win a basket of goodies. All of the proceeds go
to benefit charitable organizations and members in need.
The membership of Local
Lodge 839 approved an additional $500.00; bringing the total amount
pledged to $1,500.00.
International
President Joins Wichita Strikers
International President
Tom Buffenbarger joins with IAM members outside Hawker Beechcraft in
Wichita, KS, on day three of the first strike against the aerospace
company since 1984.
Striking members of Local 733 in Wichita,
KS, warmly welcomed IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger to
their picket lines where members are holding strong on day three of the
strike against Hawker Beechcraft.
“You gave a signal with your overwhelming vote that you’ve had a
bellyful, and you want a good wage, dignity and respect,” said
Buffenbarger, who also spoke with members and their families at strike
headquarters. “When a company doesn't want to be a partner and give you
an agreement, we've got to stand our ground.”
The strike at Hawker Beechcraft comes just as negotiations for 26,000
IAM members employed by the Boeing Co., in Wichita, Seattle and Portland
are becoming increasingly contentious. “It would not bode well for the
company to take a threatening stance in these negotiations,” warned IAM
Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin, who noted the aerospace industry is
seeing some of the best profits and backlogs in years.
Key issues at Hawker Beechcraft, which is also swimming in profits and
airplane orders, include job security, health care, earned time off for
new hires, overtime schedules and pensions. No new talks are currently
scheduled.
“We've told the entire union to mobilize,” declared Buffenbarger.
“Wichita's our focus. Hawker Beechcraft is the cause. You've got the
attention of all Machinists across North America”
Additional information is available
at
http://www.ll733iam.com.
Machinists at Hawker Beechcraft Vote to Strike
August 02, 2008 -
Picket lines will go up at 12:01 am on Monday, August 4, 2008, at Hawker
Beechcraft in Wichita and Salina, KS, after IAM members in both
locations voted overwhelmingly to reject the company’s offer and to
strike the plane maker.
The IAM represents
nearly 5,000 aircraft assemblers and production workers at Hawker
Beechcraft in Wichita and approximately 500 in Salina.
Additional information is available
at
http://www.ll733iam.com.
Boeing Gets an Earful
IAM leaders urged Boeing Company officials to think
twice before proposing a substandard contract offer for 26,000
Machinists in Washington, Kansas and Oregon, who assemble the company’s
commercial aircraft, including the next generation 787 Dreamliner.
Speaking on a conference call for investors and journalists that was
co-sponsored by the IAM and the Society of Professional Engineering
Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IAM Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin
warned that Boeing’s current position at the bargaining table will need
to improve considerably to avoid a strike. “So far, all they are talking
about are take-aways,” said Blondin, who leads the IAM’s Bargaining
Committee. “If that continues over the next couple of week, they’re in
deep trouble.”
The IAM struck Boeing for 28 days in 2005 over a divisive contract offer
that failed to acknowledge the surge in profits and aircraft orders
Boeing was experiencing. Despite current delays due to Boeing’s global
outsourcing strategy, the company remains awash in orders and profits.
The goal of the current negotiations remains a contract that can be
ratified, and a company that continues to thrive, rather than a strike.
“We want to ensure that we come out of these negotiations with something
that is going to be good for us, good for the company and good for the
future – not only in Seattle, Wichita and Portland, but good for
America,” said Headquarters GVP Rich Michalski, who moderated the call.
The conference call included the IAM, SPEEA and more than fifty Wall
Street analysts, investment managers and pension fund representatives.
Together, the IAM and SPEEA represent more than 50,000 employees at
Boeing.
“This round of
negotiations is shaping up to be particularly critical for the future
direction of Boeing,” said David White, IAM Assistant Director of
Strategic Resources, who pointed out that three of the last four
contract cycles for IAM and SPEEA resulted in strikes at Boeing. “Our
members have delivered for management. Now its time for Mr. McNerney and
his executive team to acknowledge this contribution.”
To hear a replay of
the hour-long forum, call 1-800-475-6701, passcode: 955367.
Machinists Charge
Hawker Beechcraft with
Infringement
The IAM is filing
Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) over Hawker Beechcraft’s distribution of the company’s
contract proposal that prominently displayed the IAM logo, implying
union endorsement of the offer.
“We’re prepared to work closely with any company that deals honestly
with us and respects its workforce,” declared IAM President Tom
Buffenbarger. “Our members at Hawker Beechcraft are highly-skilled
professionals that deserve better than secret plans to outsource their
jobs to Mexico and deceitful tactics at the bargaining table.”
Negotiations between
the IAM and Hawker Beechcraft ended on July 30, with union negotiators
unanimously urging rejection of the company’s contract offer. The
following morning, the company distributed the offer to workers, bearing
the union logo.
“Hawker Beechcraft officials have crossed the line repeatedly in these
negotiations,” said Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge. “But the use of
our logo to imply we approve of their inadequate offer is a new low.”
The union is also filing ULP charges on Hawker Beechcraft’s continued
practice of threatening to discharge probationary employees who honor
picket lines if a strike occurs.
“Threatening and deceiving employees and the public is the mark of a
management team that needs a quick trip to the ethics woodshed,” said
Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “Senior management at Hawker
Beechcraft should join us in condemning this latest outrage, lest they
share the blame for its consequences.”
A vote on the company’s so-called “last, best and final” offer is
scheduled for August 2, 2008. The current contract expires at midnight
on August 3, 2008. Updates and additional information about the
negotiations are available at
www.beechworkersblog.blogspot.com,
www.ll733iam.com, and
www.ll2328.org.
Members Win &
Community
Wins!
By Kathy
Petersen,
Chairperson
Community Services Committee
In May the
LL839 Community Services Committee raffled off two Mother’s Day
Baskets. The winners were Russell Walker a second shift steward in
Plant II and Stan Chapman LL Trustee in Strut/Nacelle first shift.
Russell Walker
Stan Chapman
In June
the LL839 Community Services Committee held a raffle for a Panasonic
Digital Camcorder. We raised over $500 and Brent Allen a first shift
steward from Strut/Nacelle was the winner. The winner of the Father’s
Day Basket ($55 value) was Neal Mullen a first shift steward from
Strut/Nacelle
.
Brent
Allen
Neal Mullen
The
Community Service Committee cooks and sells cheeseburgers at the Local
Lodge meetings each month in order to raise funds to help local
organizations and laid-off workers. If you are looking for a way to get
more involved in the union, you can become a member of the Community
Service Committee. We have immediate openings now! Contact the Local
Lodge (524-1090) for more information.
Machinists Fight Back in
Wichita
In a well-timed and
well-placed editorial, District 70 President Steve Rooney saluted
generations of aerospace workers in Wichita, KS, who built everything
from WW II bombers to the latest business jets.
Rooney’s editorial,
titled
‘Don’t Sit Back and Let Aircraft Industry Leave,’
appeared in the July 4 edition of the Wichita Eagle, where he called on
the community to resist a plan by Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft to
transfer increasingly large amounts of aircraft assembly work to a
facility in Mexico, where workers would earn as little as $3 per hour.
“The aviation industry is the last great American industry in which we
indisputably lead the world,” said Rooney. “The aircraft jobs in Wichita
provide the ability to make a good living and raise a strong family.
Aviation fuels a tax base that allows the city to be vibrant with good
schools and services. In short, it makes Wichita a great city.”
The City of Wichita also deserves credit for its decades-long support of
the aerospace industry, according to Rooney, including a research center
at Wichita State University to the soon-to-be-built National Center for
Aviation Training.
“There's no good reason for these companies to leave,” said Rooney. “The
skills that build these airplanes are American, and much of the
technology on which these companies rely was developed with government
funding.”
In closing, Rooney sounded a battle cry that is as relevant today as it
was in 1776: “Some would say there's nothing we can do. I disagree,”
declared Rooney. “Americans are tired of the exodus of American
industry, and we need to shake the rafters and demand that our
legislators work to keep the aviation industry in America and in
Wichita.”
Globalization Driving Wages Down Even
In Mexico
More than 15 years
after supporters of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
predicted a boatload of benefits for workers on both sides of the
border, the hemispheric trade pact is fast becoming a global albatross
for workers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
While workers in the U.S. and Canada are continually subjected to
downward pressures from China, competition from China is actually
widening the wage gap between the U.S. and Canada with Mexico.
“Global corporations who turned their backs on U.S. and Canadian
workers are now using China to cut even Mexico’s ridiculously low
wages,” said IAM Trade and Globalization Director Owen Herrnstadt. At an
assembly plant where workers build Ford Fiestas on the outskirts of
Mexico City, wages were cut from $4.50 per hour to as little as $1.50
per hour to prevent work from being moved to China, where wages at a
foreign-owned factory are as low as $2 per hour.
The squeeze on wages is reaching astounding levels. At a Volkswagen
plant in the central city of Puebla, workers now face a seven-year
progression to get to what used to be starting pay of $1.95 an hour.
“This is just one more example of why we need a new trade agenda—one
that is based on fairness and that works for all of us,” said Herrnstadt.
Union Support Grows for
Boeing Tanker
Twenty-two unions,
labor federations and affiliated organizations have signed and delivered
a
letter to House and Senate lawmakers calling for Boeing
to immediately be awarded the Air Force refueling tanker contract.
Citing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that said
the Airbus tanker lacked the ability to refuel all of the Air Force’s
aircraft and calling Boeing’s KC-767 “the clear winner” in the
competition to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of tankers, the labor
groups are urging Congress to award the contract to Boeing without
delay.
“The Air Force needs new tankers now,” said the letter, which was
delivered to all 535 members of Congress. “Continuing this phony
“competition” only adds unnecessary delays and costs to the tanker
refueling program. The Boeing KC-767 fulfills the requirements of the
original Request for Proposal (RFP) and has over 85 percent domestic
content – a clear win for America.”
The Air Force decision to award the $40 billion contract to Northrop
Grumman/EADS Airbus, was rebuked by the GAO report, which cited the Air
Force for failing to follow its own guidelines and awarding the massive
contract to a more costly aircraft that is too large for many airfields.
Additional concerns outside the scope of the GAO report were also
raised.
“Only Boeing has the skilled workforce and fully operational production
line to meet the Air Force’s demand for new tankers. We strongly urge
that Congress act now and award the tanker refueling contract to the
original winner, the Boeing KC-767.”
Hawker Beechcraft Plans
Mexican Assembly Plant
In a move that
will send economic shock waves across Kansas for generations, Hawker
Beechcraft is planning to build a tip-to-tail aircraft assembly plant in
Chihuahua, Mexico. The company expects to move from manufacturing small
parts and sub-assemblies to full aircraft assembly after 2012.
The five-year plan, code named
Project Pelican, is outlined in
(documents
look at slide 34)containing detailed instructions on how the
company planned to conceal the scope of the plan from the public, the
press and employees at Hawker Beechcraft's Wichita assembly plant.
“Never mention the potential of full aircraft
assembly,” is among the covert marching orders for Hawker Beechcraft
managers tasked with purchasing land, negotiating tax breaks with the
Mexican government and hiring a workforce for as little as $3 an hour.
Instead, managers are instructed to frequently cite global competition
and the need for “additional capacity other than Wichita.”
“Hawker Beechcraft shows no recognition of the damage they do to our
economy, our industrial base or our national security when they transfer
sophisticated technology and production to countries that turn around
and compete with U.S.-based companies,” said IAM President Tom
Buffenbarger. “Thanks to NAFTA and other job-killing trade deals, we’re
encountering this phenomenon at every bargaining table in the aerospace
industry."
“The real story is what’s going on in Wichita,” said Hawker Beechcraft
spokesperson Andrew Broom, in an
article published in the Wichita Eagle. Broom did not
deny the company’s outsourcing plans.
“Never before did Hawker Beechcraft disclose their intent to build a
final assembly line in Mexico,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Ron
Eldridge, who is engaged in contract negotiations for 4,300 IAM members
at Hawker Beechcraft. “This is deceit on a grand scale and will be a
huge issue in the workplace and at the bargaining table.”
The IAM represents nearly 20,000 workers at Kansas aerospace and
aircraft companies, including Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna, Bombardier,
Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing. For additional information about Project
Pelican, visit
www.projectpelican.blogspot.com .
GAO Sustains Boeing Tanker Protest
They said it couldn’t
happen. The industry experts and defense analysts who track the
aerospace industry said there was no way the Government Accounting
Office (GAO) would ever recommend an overhaul of the $35 billion tanker
contract that was awarded earlier this year to EADS/Airbus over Boeing.
But the so-called experts were wrong. Not only did the GAO recommend a
new round of bidding, but they rebuked the Air Force decision to award
the contract to Airbus in blunt and unequivocal terms.
“Our review of the record led us to conclude that the Air Force made a
number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of
what was a close competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman,” the
GAO said. “We therefore sustain Boeing's protest.”
The 69-page GAO decision was not made public because it contains
proprietary and sensitive information about the Boeing and Northrop
tanker bids. But the GAO did issue a
three-page summary that found significant mistakes by the
Air Force in seven key areas.
Among the points made in the GAO report was that the Air Force did not
assess the relative merits of the tanker proposals in accordance with
the criteria it initially established. The GAO also cited the Air Force
for conducting "misleading and unequal discussions" with Boeing by
informing Boeing that it had fully satisfied a key performance
objective, but later determined privately that Boeing had not. The GAO
also concluded the Air Force miscalculated the life-cycle costs of
Boeing's tanker, and incorrectly concluded that the Northrop tanker
would have lower operating costs.
The IAM enthusiastically welcomed the GAO report as the foundation for
reversing the award without delay. “Not only is the Boeing aircraft
superior, but we can begin building these planes right away,” said GVP
Rich Michalski, who urged IAM members to contact lawmakers and demand
the contract be awarded to the workers, the aircraft and the company
that won it in the first place.
GAO says Air Force Flawed in tanker contract
The Government Accountability Office concluded today that the Air
Force made "significant errors" in awarding a $35 billion
contract for aerial-refueling tankers to a team that included a European
aerospace company.
"Our review of the record led us to conclude that
the Air Force had made a number of significant errors that could have
affected the outcome of what was a close competition between Boeing and
Northrop Grumman," the GAO said. "We therefore sustain the
Boeing protest." GAO decision CLICK
HERE
“Today’s ruling by the federal General Accounting Office to recommend
the reopening of bids for the Air Force’s new refueling tanker is
incredibly good news for Boeing and our state. I joined fellow Governor
Chris Gregoire in expressing serious concerns when the Air Force bid was
initially awarded. I’m relieved the GAO has granted Boeing’s appeal,
finding the Air Force made changes during the decision process that gave
Boeing’s competitor an unfair advantage.
“This decision gives Boeing an opportunity to rebid the contract and
would enable them to keep good jobs in Kansas and in states across the
country. This is great news for our workers in Wichita as well as all those in the
Boeing family.”
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama lauded the GAO
decision and called for a "fair and transparent" rebidding of
the contract.
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who
was instrumental in the Pentagon's long attempt to complete a deal on the
tanker, called the GAO decision "unfortunate for the
taxpayers."
We are pleased with the finding of the GAO. "This is Great News
for Wichita the State of Kansas
and
America
as we will keep Jobs here" Said Dennis Williams Union Label Vice
President. "Any time it has to do with National Security Our
Security Buy American is a NO Brainier".
Effective Friday, June 13th, the COLA will be eleven cents (11¢).
On Friday, June 13th, the outstanding COLA of four cents and
the new eleven cents will be rolled into the base wage, for a
total of fifteen cents.
If you have questions, please call
the Local at: 316-524-1090.
Fraternally,
LOCAL LODGE NO. 839
Election Results
Winners
for the 2008
Grand
Lodge Convention
In order with most votes
1 Howard Johnson
2 David Eagle
3 Kathy Petersen
4 Joni
Pierce
5 Terry
Rodriquez
6 Stan
Chapman
7 Susan Hiebert
8 Larry Stafford
9 Brent Allen
10 Jeff Meis
Women's
Committee Makes Donation
Chryle Nofsinger-Wiens, Executive Director
of the YWCA Administration
and Kathy Petersen, Chair of the Women's Committee, Local 839.
The Women's Committee from Local Lodge 839
collected cell phones and cell phone chargers from members during the
month of April. The cell phones were donated to the YWCA Crisis Center. The center
works with cell phone companies to program the phones with 911
access. A total of 56 phones were collected from District 70 and
Local Lodge 839 members! The Women's Committee would like to thank
everyone who took the time to drop off their old phones at the Local
Lodge in support of this effort to empower women by giving them access to
emergency services. A big, heartfelt hug goes out to
all of our Brothers and Sisters!
April Showers? Bring ‘em On!
By
Kathy Petersen
Trying to keep up on keeping your
car clean? Brad Stewart will have an easier time of it! Brad
is the winner of the Car Care Bucket at the April Local Lodge 839
meeting. The contents of the bucket included: 1 Free Basic Wash and
1 Free Super Wash at Green Lantern Car Wash, a chenille wash mitt, a
detail brush, 2 wax applicators, Turtle wax wheel cleaner, Coastal glass
cleaner, Rain-Ex, Armor All extreme tire shine, Turtle Wax zip wax, car
polish and an Air freshener. The total value of Brad’s winnings
exceeded $90.00. Brad Stewart is a 1st shift union steward over
shop 68E0 in the CFF building. Stop by and congratulate Brad on his
winnings, or better yet, ask him to wash your car! (Just kidding,
Brad!).
Be sure to attend the May 10th
Local Lodge meeting for a chance to win a beautiful Mother’s Day basket
from MRS. TEA. Heck, even if you don’t win, it is a great
way to meet the Local and District leadership and to learn more about
what’s going on in YOUR union.
The Community Service Committee
cooks and sells cheeseburgers at the Local Lodge meeting each month in
order to raise funds to help local organizations and laid-off workers.
If you are looking for a way to get more involved in the union, you can
become a member of the Community Service Committee! We have immediate
openings now! Contact the Local Lodge (524-1090) for
information.
Speaking of new members, we’d
like to welcome the newest members of our committee: Neal Mullen
and Tim Petersen. Neal is a 1st shift union steward in
the Nacelle Building and Tim is a 2nd shift
member in the Tooling
Building.
Negotiating Committee Meets With Company
Seated on the left for LL839 (l to r) Gary Cochran LL839
Pres., Michael Burleigh DL70 BR, Mark Love DL70 BR, Steve Rooney DL70
DBR, Bob Martinez GVP, Ron Eldridge GLR Aerospace Coordinator, Don Barker
GLR, David Eagle LL839 In-Plant Rep., Kathy Petersen LL839 VP
Wichita’s aerospace community will
be closely monitoring the progress of talks between Local 839 and Spirit
AeroSystems, which opened this week on behalf of 6,200 workers at the
former Boeing facility. The trend-setting IAM contract with Spirit, which
delivered a $240 million payout to members in 2006, also provided for
early negotiation on economic issues.
“We fully expect the next contract with Spirit to reflect the skills and
contributions our members have made to the success of this company,” said
Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez, who joined the Local 839 Negotiating
Committee for the initial meeting with Spirit representatives. “I have no
doubt this negotiating committee will fully relay the concerns of the
membership throughout the course of these negotiations.”
Key issues included pensions, improved health care, regularly scheduled
cost-of-living increases and general wage increases. Any changes
negotiated and ratified in the current round of talks would remain in
force until the contract expires in June 2010.
In preparation for the talks with Spirit, the Local 839 Negotiating
Committee took part in one of the Winpisinger Center’s most innovative
training opportunities; a week-long class that included bargaining
simulations using real financial data and actual contract proposals.
“This committee has already demonstrated how serious they are about these
negotiations,” said Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge, who helped guide
the training sessions and will take part in the talks with Spirit.
IAM Celebrates 120 Years
Machinists
marked the 60th anniversary of the IAM, commemorating its founding at a
meeting of 19 workers in a railroad pit in Atlanta, GA
on May 5, 1888.
The
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers celebrate
its 120th anniversary this week. It was on the evening of May 5, 1888
that railroad machinist Tom Talbot held a secret meeting with eighteen
fellow machinists in a locomotive engine pit in Atlanta, Georgia.
That meeting was the foundation of the IAM.
Unemployment was high in the 1880s and people were still hurting from the
ravages of a depression of the 1870s. With 10-hour days, unsafe working
conditions and declining wages (journeymen machinists, at $2.00 an hour,
were earning about half as much as twenty years earlier), the need for
workers to unite and organize was never greater.
First named the Order of United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers of
America, Tom Talbot became the union’s first president. With the help of
“Boomers,” Machinists organizers
who traveled by rail, membership grew to 4,000 in just two years.
Clock Ticking on Tanker Decision
With
less than two months remaining before the Government Accountability
Office is set to rule on a formal objection filed by Boeing, opponents of
the U.S. Air Force’s decision to award a $40 billion tanker contract to
Airbus and Northrop Grumman are stepping up the pressure.
Boeing, which has been supplying tankers to the Air Force for nearly half
a century, took out a full page ad in the Washington Post stressing the
importance of experience and expertise in securing the tanker contract.
“Designing, building, certifying and delivering tanker aircraft and booms
is a complex, high-risk process,” the ad states. “Boeing’s track record
of superior management of complex military programs is unsurpassed.”
Union members, meanwhile, continue to flood lawmakers with petitions
protesting the deal. You can send a message to Congress telling them
“U.S. Forces Deserve U.S. Tankers” by clicking here.
Lawmakers also continue to remain active in their opposition. Sen. Patty
Murray (D-Wash.), along with seven other Senators, recently sent a letter
to President Bush questioning the decision.
Derby
Days Parade
By Kevin Jamis Union Label Parade Chair
Wichita/Area Union Label will have a float in the Derby Days Parade
on Friday May
30, 2008 at 6:30. Everybody is invited to come and enjoy the
fun. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Thirty Years”. We would like a
bunch of people to come out and help spread the word “Buy American, Buy
Union“.
A IAM L.L 839 member Leo Larouche
from Last years Parade
Election Results Winners
District
70 Business Representative's
Mark Love
Rita Rogers
Becky Ledbetter
Terry Carrington
Steve Groom
Mike Burleigh
Tony Larkin
2nd
Shift In Plant Rep
Howard Johnson
Tellers Needed
 Please
be reminded, and remind others, we need
volunteer tellers for the election, scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2008
from
6:00 am to 4:00pm
.
If a person can only volunteer for a certain period of the day, they
may state that on the volunteer sign up sheet. Volunteer tellers
will be paid $50.00 after serving for a minimum of two hours and we would
like for them to return to count the votes.
If you have questions,
please contact the Local Office……and consider stopping by the Hall to
sign the volunteer sheet. or Call 524-1090 for more info. 
Oh,
the Luck of the Irish!
By Kathy Petersen
At the March meeting of Local Lodge 839, the Community Service
Committee held a drawing for a St. Patrick’s Day basket. The basket
contained a carton of O’Doul’s Premium, a Dublin Hooligans T-shirt, a
green ball cap, a button, a box of Lucky Charms, a dice game, a shamrock
necklace, a wooden planter and a $20.00 gift card for Timberline
Steakhouse. The basket, valued at $80.00, was won by
Gary Sawyer. Gary
is a second shift Steward in shop 2974 in Plant II.
Congratulations, Gary!
Be sure to attend the April 12th Local Lodge meeting
for a chance to win your very own basket! Remember, these meetings
are open to every member. You do not have to be a Steward to
attend. So come on out and get involved! It is a great way to
meet the Local and District leadership and to learn more about YOUR union.
The Community Service Committee cooks and sells cheeseburgers
at the Local Lodge meeting each month in order to raise funds to help
local organizations and laid-off workers. If you are looking for a
way to get more involved, you can become a member of the Community Service
Committee and work with us to demonstrate to the Wichita area that union members are
actively working to help improve our community. We have
immediate openings on the 2008 committee! Contact the Local Lodge
(524-1090) for information on how you can join us in helping
others!
GAO to Investigate $40 Billion
Tanker Contract
If
the Air Force officials who awarded a $40 billion contract to Airbus and
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.) were betting the outrage
over the deal would die out quickly, they gambled wrong. A formal protest
filed today by the Boeing Co. will be considered by the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) to determine if the multi-billion contract
was properly awarded.
From
Seattle, WA
and Wichita, KS
to Washington, D.C.,
elected officials are going ballistic over the Air Force’s decision to
outsource an entire fleet of U.S. military aircraft to a
consortium that is heavily subsidized by European governments. “This is
one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen,” said Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA),
who echoed the sentiments of many lawmakers in the House and Senate who
were stunned by the decision to bypass Boeing, a U.S.
company that has been supplying the Air Force with refueling tankers for
nearly 50 years.
The
controversy gained fresh legs when Air Force officials admitted the
impact on American jobs was not one of their criteria for awarding the
contract, which could eventually be worth as much as $100 billion. Boeing
officials also claim the Air Force changed its criteria after the bidding
was underway, further favoring Airbus.
Leading
the charge to give Airbus a leg up on the historic contract was none
other than presidential aspirant John
McCain (R-AZ), who prodded the Pentagon in 2006 to
develop bidding procedures that did not exclude Airbus.
“Awarding
this contract to Boeing would support at least 44,000 U.S. jobs
in 40 states,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger.
“Instead, billions in U.S.
taxpayer dollars will be used to create jobs in Toulouse,
France, and give
European countries the potential to influence U.S. foreign policy to an
unprecedented degree.”
Click
here to view a letter sent by IP Buffenbarger
to members of Congress and click here to send a message to your
representatives, urging them to overturn this decision.
March 5, 2008 -
Machinists across the country are calling for congressional action following
the decision by Air Force officials to award a $40 billion aerial
refueling tanker contract to a team led by the European Aeronautic
Defence and Space Co. (EADS), parent company of Airbus.
“The Air Force's
decision is a serious blow to a key American industry,” said IAM GVP Rich
Michalski. “President Bush and his administration have denied real
economic stimulus to the American people and chosen instead to create
jobs in Toulouse, France.”
The tanker competition
was mandated in 2003, allowing a heavily subsidized European
manufacturer, EADS, to bid against Boeing, a U.S. firm that received no
subsidies.
“This decision means
billions of taxpayer dollars will be used to create jobs in foreign
countries, rather than here in the United States,” said IAM International
President Tom Buffenbarger. “Giving this contract to EADS further hollows
out America’s industrial base and rewards a company that has already used
$100 million in European government subsidies to grab nearly 50 percent
of the U.S. commercial aircraft market.”
The IAM represents
nearly 35,000 Boeing employees in Washington
state, Oregon, Kansas and locations across the
country.
Take
Action Now
January 22, 2008 - IAM
District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Tom
Wroblewski and Cynthia Cole, president of Local 2001 of the Society of
Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA)/International
Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), wrote a
joint letter to The Seattle Times to call attention to the tremendous
stakes involved in the Air Force’s decision on who will build the
replacement for its aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling tankers. The
Air Force will soon choose either Boeing’s KC-767 Advanced Tanker or the
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company’s (EADS) Airbus A-330.
Choosing the American
version could support more than 44,000 jobs with 300 contractors in forty
states. “First and foremost, it just makes sense for the U.S. Air Force
to use an American plane,” stresses Wroblewski and Cole. “The idea of
outsourcing a $40 billion U.S.
military aircraft program to the [EADS]… makes neither national-security
nor economic sense. Why hand over some of our most valuable technology to
Europe when we should be protecting it
and our industrial base here at home?”
And who better to speak
on the value of experience than the folks who’ve been designing and
building tankers for years; namely IAM and SPEEA members? “Generations of
Boeing engineers, technicians and machinists have worked on military
programs,” continues Wroblewski and Cole. “That's in stark contrast to
Airbus, which has never built or flown a tanker.”
If the Air Force chooses
the Boeing KC-767, an estimated 9,000 jobs will be created in the Washington state
alone.
Go here to read
the full letter. Take
Action Now
A Sad
decision
I
find it interesting that the president, Congress and the Pentagon have
forgotten that France
didn't and still hasn't supported our military in Iraq.
That they are letting France
build airplanes for our military doesn't make sense. What's next?
Outsourcing our military? We are on the verge of a recession, if we
aren't in it already. Here our politicians talk of jobs for the people of
this country, then turn around and outsource them. If the government
keeps this up, there won't be any good jobs in this country; therefore
the government will get less in taxes to pay for outsourced defense
projects like this. It's very sad that the politicians and those running
for president have brainwashed people into believing what they have to
say.
SCOTT TIDWELL
L.L. 839 Shop 318N
Take
Action Now
A
Sweetheart of a Deal!
At the February meeting of Local Lodge 839,
the Community Service Committee held a drawing for a special Valentine’s
basket. The basket contained a gift certificate for a night’s stay
at Candlewood Suites, a bottle of Ca’ De’ Medici Lambrusco wine (we were
told this wine was a personal favorite of the great operatic tenor
Luciano Pavarotti when he was in town), wine glasses, linen napkins, a
silver bracelet, candles, “The Wedding Singer” DVD, a Ray Charles CD,
chocolates and a calendar. The basket, valued at
$175.00, was won by David Betthauser. David is a second shift
Steward in dept.
68E2; 787 Equipment Maintenance. Congratulations
David!
The Community Service Committee cooks and
sells cheeseburgers at the Local Lodge meeting each month, and tries to
have basket drawings whenever they can to help raise money to
donate to community organizations that help our members in need. Be
sure to attend the March 8th Local Lodge meeting for a chance
to win a St. Patrick’s basket!
Better yet, become a member of the Community
Service Committee and work with us to demonstrate to the Wichita area that union members are
actively working to help improve our community. We have
immediate openings now on the 2008 committee! Contact the Local
Lodge for information on how you can get more involved! (524-1090).
By Kathy Petersen
Escape to the Wild Features Local 1886 Member
Mark your calendars, set your TiVo’s or just
reserve your favorite chair for Feb. 28 at 7:30 PM (ET), to watch Local 1886 member Barbara
Ries as she takes part in the hunting trip of a lifetime on Versus
Network’s Escape to the Wild.
A United Airlines Ramp Service worker with years of outdoor and hunting
experience, Ries was selected for a caribou hunt in Canada’s Northwest
Territory after her brother secretly nominated her, knowing
she would jump at the opportunity if selected.
The trip involved taking a float plane to a remote drop-camp location and
then a 25-mile boat ride through rough water in freezing temperatures.
Hunting caribou was just one of many memorable aspects of the trip for
Ries. “To get up on a hill and look out and see 30 miles of nothing, no
human intervention, was amazing.”
Escape to the Wild is a program of the Theodore Roosevelt
Conservation Partnership (TRCP), VERSUS Network and several trade unions
and contractor associations that takes hardworking union members on the
hunting or fishing trip of a lifetime.
Visit Union Sportsmen's
Alliance to learn how you could be the next union member featured on Escape to the
Wild.
Senators Balk at Proposed
Changes for FMLA
At a hearing on the Department of Labor’s (DOL)
proposed changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a host of
Democratic senators yesterday criticized the DOL for “chipping away” at
the current law.
Lawmakers fear workers could be discouraged from using FMLA under the
DOL’s proposals, which include an enhanced medical certification process,
changes to the definition of a serious medical condition and more
employer notice requirements.
“The Family Medical Leave Act has been a huge success for both workers
and employers. It lets workers get treatment for their own or a
family member’s serious medical condition, while keeping the job they
need to pay for that treatment,” said Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA),
chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions.
“In the face of all this progress, however, the Bush Administration last
week took a step backward, announcing new regulations that will limit
workers’ ability to use such medical leave when they need it,” added
Kennedy, who was joined by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Sen. Patty
Murray (D-WA) in his criticism of the changes.
Under FMLA, companies employing 50 or more people must allow
workers up to 12 weeks a year of unpaid leave to care for themselves or
family members during serious health conditions, or for the birth or
adoption of a child.
Local Lodge 839 Nominations for District Lodge 70 Officers and
Business Representative's
Directing Business Rep.
Steve Rooney
Secretary Treasurer
Judy Pierce
Business Representative's:
1. Mark Love
2. Rita Rogers
3. Mike Burleigh
4. Terry Carrington
5. Roger Stamback
6. Steve Groom
7. Garland (Bear) Moore
Ready for the Big Game? Mike Shock is!
At the
January meeting of Local Lodge 839, the Community Service Committee held
a drawing for a Super Bowl Basket. The basket contained various
Hickory Farms snack items, 4 prime-seating tickets to a Wichita Thunder
Hockey game, Car Wash coupons from Green Lantern and other fun stuff!
The basket, valued at over $120.00, was won by Michael Shock.
Mike is a first shift Union Steward in dept. 2964 located in Plant II.
Congratulations Mike!
The
Community Service Committee cooks and sells cheeseburgers
at the Local Lodge meeting each month, and tries to have
basket drawings whenever they can to help raise money to
donate to community organizations that help our members in need.
Be sure to attend the February 9th Local Lodge meeting for a
chance
to win a Valentine’s basket!
Better
yet, become a member of the Community Service Committee
and work with us to demonstrate to the Wichita area that union
members
are actively working to help improve our community. We have
immediate
openings now on the 2008 committee! Contact the Local Lodge for
more information on how you can get more involved! (524-1090).
By Kathy Petersen
Increase in Union Members Highest in Decades
The
number of U.S. workers belonging to unions rose to 15.7 million in 2007.
That 311,000 gain was the largest single-year increase in union
membership since 1983 when the government first started keeping track,
according to a recent report by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS). Construction and health services showed the strongest
growth, the report showed, and more women than men joined unions last year.
“In
2007, among full-time wage and salary workers, union members had median
usual weekly earnings of $863 while those who were not represented by
unions had median weekly earnings of $663,” said the report.
More
and more workers want to join unions according to data from independent
research firm Peter Hart Associates. In fact, some 60 million U.S.
workers - more than half of all workers - say they would join a union if
they could. But for many, employer intimidation and retaliation keep them
from having a voice on the job. This could change dramatically if the
next Congress passes, and the new president signs, the Employee Free
Choice Act, which will increase penalties for employer misconduct and
make it easier for workers to organize.
Click here
to read a summary of the BLS report, and here
for the full report.
Letters of Thanks Community
Services 2007 Holiday Outreach Program
   
   
Women’s Committee donates aerial
photos
Photo by Terri Friend
Pictured above are members of the Women’s
Committee at Local Lodge 839: Joni Pierce, Susan Hiebert
and Kathy Petersen.
The Women’s Committee donated two
framed aerial photos of the William W. Winpisinger
Education and Technology Center at Placid Harbor in Hollywood, Maryland.
If you are actively involved in
your Local Lodge, you can apply to attend leadership classes at the
William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology
Center. For more information, visit their website at: http://winpisinger.iamaw.org/
Local
Lodge Members Reach Out
Pictured above: Kathy Petersen, Chair of LL 839
Community Services Committee and Jeff Meis, Co-Chair present a check for $100.00 to Catherine Holeman to benefit the Treat the
Troops Organization. Catherine and her staff send
home-baked cookies to troops deployed overseas. Each box of cookies
costs around $8.95 to ship.
The
organizations
listed below received
a donation as well. Local Lodge 839 and the Community Service
Committee reach out to help charitable organizations in the Wichita
Community that rely on contributions to serve those in need.
If
you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, please consider joining the
Community Service Committee for 2008. We have openings right now
for new committee members. For as little as 2 hours of volunteer time per
month, you can help us help others!!
|
IAMAW
Local Lodge 839 Community Services 2007 Holiday Outreach Program
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agency
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Way Food
Pantry
|
|
$1,000.00
|
|
|
Ronald McDonald House
of Wichita
|
|
$250.00
|
|
|
Center of Hope
|
|
$250.00
|
|
|
Medical Services
Bureau (MSB)
|
|
$250.00
|
|
|
Kansel
|
|
$250.00
|
|
|
Dole V.A. Hospital
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Make A Wish
Foundation
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Sudden Infant Death
(SIDS) Network
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Heart Spring
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Nat'l Federation for
the Blind
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
YWCA Women's Crisis
Center
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Treat The Troops
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Grace Medical Center
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Catholic Charities
Adult Day Services
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
Three Trees Inc.
|
|
$100.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
$3,000.00
|
|
Alphons Thompson is the winner of the
MNPL Raffle
Winners for 2007
Organizing Program
Kevin
Jamis Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee presents Terry Rodriquez his
Check
1st
Place Prize ($250) was won by Union Steward Terry Rodriquez, C.M.F.
Building, 2nd Shift, signing thirteen new members. Terry
also won the Incentive Prize (an additional $10.00 for each application
-$130.00), for a total winning of $380.
2nd Place Prize ($200) was won by Union
Steward Larry D. Foley, Plant II, 2nd Shift, signing twelve new members.
Not Pictured
 
Photos by Dennis Williams
3rd Place Prize ($150) was tied-for by Union Stewards Albert Ward,
C.F.F. Building, 1st Shift and Wesley Dean Warriner, I.P.B. 4,
2nd Shift, signing ten new members. For this tie the
E-board made a motion to pay both of them ($150) each the motion passed
overwhelming .
Organizing Committee with the Winners
Look for the NEW 2008
Organizing Program Soon
Photo by Dennis Williams
At the December meeting of Local Lodge 839, the Community Service
Committee held a drawing for a Christmas Basket. The basket
contained passes to the Sedgwick County Zoo and Wichita Thunder Hockey
games. Also included were Red Wing Shoe gift certificates,
restaurant gift certificates, clothing items, tea, cocoa and candy.
The basket, valued at over $250.00, was won by Craig
Dunbar. Craig is a first shift Union Steward located in Plant II on
the balcony.
The Community Service Committee cooks and sells cheeseburgers at
the Local Lodge meeting each month, and tries to have basket
drawings whenever they can to help raise money to donate to community
organizations that help our members in need. Come on out to the
next Local Lodge meeting and win big!!
Better yet, become a member of the Committee as we are looking forward
to an even bigger year for Community Services in 2008!
By
Kathy Petersen
40,000 U.S. Aerospace Jobs at
Risk
In the near future the U.S. Air Force will be
making critical decisions regarding the purchase of a new fleet of
refueling tankers. This decision will have a profound impact on
America’s aerospace industrial base and IAM jobs. At stake are over
40,000 U.S. aerospace jobs at 300 contractors, including those at
IAM-represented facilities of Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and Spirit
Aerosystems.
Boeing’s KC-767 Advanced Tanker clearly offers the best opportunity and
value for the U.S. Air Force and for American aerospace workers.
Click here
for more information and to send a message to Congress to choose the
KC 767 Tanker.
I.A.M LOCAL 839
COMMUNITY
SERVICE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS
KFDI
“CHRISTMAS IN A BOX” PROGRAM
Wichita Radio station KFDI (FM
101.3) sponsored efforts to send Christmas to our Kansas soldiers in
Iraq. Radio hosts Brian Pierce and Kellie Michaels collected
boxes of donated items and much needed money to pay for postage to send
care packages to several units representing hundreds of Kansas soldiers.
Three members of the Community
Service Committee of Local Lodge 839 were at KFDI on Monday morning to
show the I.A.M’s support of this program. Kathy Petersen, Jeff Meis
and Stan Chapman presented Brian and Kellie with a donation of $500.00 to
help pay the postage on these care packages. They made an
on-air challenge to other Locals reporting to District Lodge 70 to make a
donation as well.
Jeff Meis was
listening to KFDI and first heard about the program. He wanted to
do something to help. He called on his fellow members of the
Community Service Committee for assistance.
“When our Committee
heard about this program, we felt a need to do what we could to show our
support for all of the men and women that won’t get to spend Christmas
with their families,” said Sister Petersen. Brother Chapman
added; “No matter what your feelings are about the war, the soldiers need
to know that there are people at home who care about them and who are
proud of the work they are doing.”
The Community Service Committee raises
money all year long so that they can help local organizations provide
services to those in need of assistance during the holiday season.
Local Lodge 839 is proud to have the support of so many generous members
that participate faithfully in our fundraising efforts month after month.
Without them, we would not be able to provide support for programs like
Christmas in a Box. Thanks to each and every one of you for
your kindness and generosity!
By
Kathy Petersen
United Way achieves record level;
tops goal
with 1.04 million new dollars
WICHITA, Kan. — A crowd of
more than 900 was present when United Way of the Plains
announced today a total of $16,353,834, surpassing its $16,232,000 goal
to fund needed
community services. United Way revealed its fund-raising total during its
Campaign Victory
Luncheon at Century II Convention Hall. This year’s amount raised is
$1,040,563 more than
was raised last year and is the most ever raised by United Way of the
Plains. It represents a
6.7 percent increase over the $15,313,271 raised in 2006.
Outstanding
corporate and employee gifts reported at the luncheon:
Boeing Integrated Defense
Systems ..........................................................
$800,000
Bombardier Learjet
...................................................................................
$250,000
Cargill Meat
Solutions...............................................................................
$614,971
Cessna Aircraft Company
.......................................................................
$1,790,000
City of Wichita
..........................................................................................
$173,398
Dillons
.........................................................................................(Partial)
$164,500
Hawker Beechcraft
Corporation..............................................................
$1,540,000
INTRUST
Bank...........................................................................................
$384,974
Kansas Gas
Service...................................................................................
$152,920
Koch Industries, Inc.
.................................................................................
$198,085
QuikTrip Corporation
................................................................................
$204,393
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc and
L.L 839 Members........................................... $2,300,000
Via Christi Health System
and Via Christi Wichita Health Network .............. $300,000
Wesley Medical
Center..............................................................................
$174,251
Westar Energy
..........................................................................................
$178,796
Wichita Public Schools USD
259 ...............................................................
$248,625
Money raised during the
fall campaign will help United Way of the Plains continue bringing people
and resources together to address critical community issues such as care
for the elderly, programs
for youth, support for families, disaster relief and more. United Way
raises funds, works with
coalitions, writes grant requests, recruits volunteers and distributes
gifts-in-kind for local agency
programs. United Way also helps people find needed services and volunteer
opportunities through
its United Way 2-1-1 service (dial 2-1-1 toll free statewide).
Solidarity
Thursday's
Show your Pride and Solidarity wear
your Union shirt's every Thursday. Local Lodge 839
T-Shirts For Sale $11.00 Each. Stop by the Local Lodge to buy your
shirts!
If your shop has 100% membership and
your Steward has not turned in your shirt size for the 100% shop polo
shirt's please call the local at 524-1090 and let the Organizing
Committee know what your shirt size is. Call if you have no Steward .
  
  
Click Here
District 70 Car Show Scores Big
The Community Service Committee and the Recreation Committee of
Local Lodge 839 joined together to host the 8th Annual Car
& Bike Show and 2nd annual Poker Run. The committees
were able to collect $3,600 for charity. A full day of events began
with more than 20 motorcycle riders participating in the Poker Run.
The Wichita-Hutchinson Labor Federation kicked things into high gear with
their afternoon picnic and BINGO games. There were Moonwalks, a Bike
Safety class hosted by the Wichita Police Department, and a special
visitor; Kleetus the Clown. There were over 70 entries for the Car &
Bike show, making it a tremendous success! Trophies and plaques were
awarded to many participants.
The Wichita Area Union Label & Service Trades Council was
on-hand with a special award for the best Original American-made muscle
car. Following the awards ceremony, was a basket drawing where some
lucky winners made off with some VERY nice prizes! The evening
ended with a special drawing for a hand-made quilt sporting a Route 66
theme donated by Stan and Monica Chapman. Special thanks to all of
the Sponsors that donated money and prizes and to all of the volunteers
who came out to help. Best of all, we were able to present a check
for $1,800 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and an additional check
for $1,800 to benefit the Guide Dogs of America program.
Click here Photos
A banner listing all of the donating Sponsors is
hanging up at the District 70 Lodge at 3830 S. Meridian. Be sure to
check it out!
Submitted by Kathy Petersen, Chair
Community Service Committee
Lawsuit
Update
The Union is challenging Boeing's denial of retirement
"bridging" benefits owed to eligible employees, age 49-55, who
Boeing laid off by the sale of the Commercial Division to Spirit in June
2005. These benefits include both pension and health care, available when
one reaches 55 years of age.
The Union and some members, with the Union's
support, have filed two lawsuits against Boeing asking the Court to force
Boeing to provide these promised retirement benefits for those men and
women who did not apply to work for Spirit and for those whom Spirit hired
as Day 1 employees.
The first lawsuit asserts that Boeing has
breached its collective bargaining agreement obligations by acting to
deny the benefits. The Court denied a motion by Boeing to
prevent the Union's case from going forward. This lawsuit is now
ready to move into the next phase of litigation.
The second lawsuit is a proposed class action
alleging that Boeing has breached its contractual obligations and also
violated federal law by acting to deny these benefits. The second
suit also asks, as an alternative, that Spirit be required to provide
these benefits to those individuals who went to work for that employer.
These two cases are pending in federal court
here in Wichita. The Union is working along with SPEEA and its
members, who face similar issues.
Lawsuits such as these often take a long time to
be resolved. We will work to keep everyone posted as to
developments.
Machinists Union Supports Heart Walk 2007
June 14, 2007 marked another fantastic
effort by District 70 of the Machinists Union in helping to raise funds
for the American Heart Association through its annual Heart Walk.
Assistant Directing Business Representative Rita Rogers, a member of the
Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, was very impressed
with the efforts of the members of District 70. Collectively, the union
members from many of the local lodges in District 70 were able to raise
more than $6,500.00 in donations. When you add the sponsorship pledge
from District 70, the IAM raised in excess of $11,500.00 for the American
Heart Association.
President and Directing Business Representative Steve Rooney and members
of his staff attended the walk and were very pleased with the efforts and
participation from the members of District 70. For the second year now
Sister Rogers asked District Organizer Jeff Kniep to help coordinate
District 70’s efforts. Brother Kniep was asked by the Heart Association
to serve on the executive planning committee for the Heart Walk this
year.
“The membership of District 70 really stepped up this year”,
said Brother Kniep. “When other companies and organizations were
struggling to keep up with their fundraising efforts from last year, our
members dug deep and surpassed what we raised last year.” IAM union
members know what it takes to support organizations like the American
Heart Association and are proud to be associated with them. The
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers looks
forward to helping make the Heart Walk a bigger success in 2008.
Among the issues that drove voters to the polls in November was the
endless parade of U.S. manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas, often
to take advantage of lucrative tax breaks and often to countries where
workers are underpaid, exploited and abused. In a sign that trade
policies in Washington could be in for a long overdue change, two U.S.
lawmakers are calling for an end to free-trade agreements that have
protected drug companies, international investors and Hollywood films,
yet failed to protect communities, workers and the environment.
In “How
Free Trade Hurts,” published as a Washington Post editorial,
Senator-elect Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said they
heard what voters were saying in the last election: “Last month voters
around the country said they want something very different. They voted
for candidates who stood up for the middle class and spoke out for fair
trade. They did so because they understand what’s at stake.”
The editorial outlines the 100 years of sacrifice that produced a
thriving middle class in this country, from the turn of the 20 th century
when child labor was common to today’s highly evolved economy with a
standard of living that is the envy of the free world.
“But much of the world at the beginning of the 21 st century looks a
lot like the United States did 100 years ago: workers are grossly underpaid,
exploited and abused, and they have virtually no rights,” wrote the pair,
who blame current trade laws for skyrocketing trade deficits and intense
pressure on income and benefits for U.S. workers.
“We believe there is a better way, Fair trade is not the enemy of more
trade. It’s how we expand international trade without reversing U.S.
economic progress.”
Governor Sebelius responds to good news for
Wichita workers
“This is a great outcome after many months – even
years of effort. We worked closely with Boeing, Spirit and the Machinists
when this sale was progressing and the state’s commitment of bonding
funds helped make this happen. Our on-going communication with key
leaders like Steve Rooney, Jeff Turner, Spirit reps, as well as International
President Tom Buffenbarger helped tremendously.
"This is a great conclusion to the 'Boeing
bill’, which was the first piece of economic recovery legislation, passed
in 2003. It helped position Boeing for future contracts and made the
company attractive to Spirit.
"Our goal was and continues to be keeping
jobs in Wichita, regardless of the name on the door. We also made it
clear that with state investment came a commitment to the workers in our
state. So here's the outcome of that strategy – it’s a win for the
company, a win for the workers, and a win for the state!”
Community
Service
Raises $2000.
The
Community Service Committee of LL 839 hosted the District 70 7th
Annual Car & Bike show and 1st Annual Poker Run. The
Committee members were able to successfully collect over $2000 for
charity. A full day of events was scheduled, beginning with a Poker
Run and ending with the Car and Bike Show. The Wichita-Hutchinson
Labor Federation’s Labor Day picnic was “sandwiched” between the two
events. A fun time was had by children and grownups alike.
Lots of nice prizes and trophies were awarded to the winners.
Special thanks to all of the Sponsors who donated money and prizes and to
all of the volunteers that came out to help. Because of your
generosity, we were able to present a check for $1000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association
and another $1000 to benefit the Guide Dogs of America
program.
A banner listing all of the Sponsors is hanging up at the
District 70 Lodge, 3830 S. Meridian. Be sure to check it out!
by Kathy Petersen & Jeff Meis
Machinists Poised to Benefit from Spirit IPO
Statement by
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
leaders following announcement that Spirit AeroSystems is seeking
approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct an
Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Wichita, KS, June 30, 2006 – “We welcome the news of today’s
SEC filing as an important step for the company and positive news for
IAM-represented employees at Spirit, who will be eligible for shares if
and when the IPO process is completed,” said Tom Buffenbarger,
International President, International Association of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers (IAM). “The equity participation mechanism in
our contract with Spirit is a good example of how smart collective
bargaining can protect employees caught in a turbulent industry.”
“Having endured considerable risk and sacrifice in this company’s
creation, it is fitting that IAM-represented employees have an
opportunity to share in its success going forward,” said Bob
Martinez, IAM General Vice President, Southern Territory. “As the largest
parts manufacturer for the commercial aircraft industry,
Spirit is well poised to benefit from resurgence in the
commercial aircraft sector.”
“Today’s announcement is good news for our members, their
families and the community,” said District 70 President Steve Rooney.
“The benefit of profit sharing extends beyond wage earners to local
businesses, retail outlets and can become an economic driver for the
whole region.”
The IAM represents nearly 5,250 production workers at
Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, KS, among its nearly 720,000 active and
retired members in industries across North America. For more information
about the IAM, visit their website at www.goiam.org
Daughter of IAM Local Lodge 839 Member
Wins Coveted Union Plus Scholarship
$150,000 Awarded to 108 Students Representing 44 Unions
Washington, DC—Margaret Tran, daughter of Local Lodge
839 member Chinh Tran of Derby, KS, has won a $1,000 Union Plus
scholarship.
She is among 108 students from 44 unions who have been
awarded a total of $150,000 in scholarships from the Union Plus
Scholarship program.
More than 5,800 applications were received last year in the
annual scholarship program, which is offered through the Union Plus
Education Foundation with funding from HSBC, the issuer of the Union Plus
Credit Card.
All Machinists members (as well as their spouses and
dependent children) are eligible to apply for scholarships and also can
take advantage of the wide variety of Union Plus benefits—such as the
home mortgage program and travel and leisure discounts. (Go to www.UnionPlus.org to find out which
of the more than 40 Union Plus benefits are available to you and your family.)
Families Benefit Twice
“It’s a way for working families to benefit twice,” says Leslie
Tolf, president of Union Privilege, the AFL-CIO-founded organization that
offers Union Plus benefits. “First, they get the special protections and
savings with our credit card and home mortgage programs and great
discounts on a wide variety of other goods and services. Then, as icing
on the cake, they have access to this program which, since 1992, has
awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarships to over 1,500 union
families,” she adds.
“The Bush administration keeps slashing programs that help
working families realize the dream of higher education as a path to a
better life,” says IAM President R. Thomas Buffenbarger. “The money goes
instead to tax cuts for the very rich, while, even at state universities,
tuition costs have skyrocketed over 25 percent, just since 2001.
“While we fight to restore the American Dream for all of working
America,” Buffenbarger continues, “Union Plus Scholarships provide
crucial help to many women and men in the labor movement seeking to
realize their dreams.”
The story of Local Lodge 839 scholarship winner Margaret Tran
is exemplary.
Margaret Tran
Tran’s parents fled to the United States from Vietnam in 1975 and
the job her father finally found as a union machinist at Boeing “provided
stability and benefits for my immigrant parents as they adjusted to a
daunting new world.”
That stability—and the determination of her parents that she
be free to pursue her own desires—have nurtured her passion for being a
writer. With a writer’s ear, she has listened to hundreds of stories
while volunteering for the past 10 years with Catholic Chaplain Services
at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Wichita.
“Each person has a story worth writing about or hearing and I
have realized just how important it is to respect others and simply
listen,” she says. “I have listened to—and learned from—the stories of
those who have fought for the freedom we enjoy in our country.”
How the
Scholarship Program Works
In addition to demonstrating academic ability, applicants are
required to submit essays of no more than 500 words describing their
career goals, detailing their relationship with the union movement and
explaining why they are deserving of a union scholarship.
Individuals must be accepted into an accredited college or
university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at
the time the award is issued. There is no requirement to have participated
in any Union Plus program in order to apply.
The challenging job of selecting the winners from a large and
diverse field of highly qualified applicants was handled by a panel of
education experts affiliated with the American Association of Community
Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities,
the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the
United Negro College Fund.
2007 Applications
Applications for next year’s awards will be available in September
2006. To download the application at that time, visit www.UnionPlus.org/Scholarships.
Or, send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and
international union name to: Union Plus Education Foundation, c/o Union
Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800.
The application deadline is January 31, 2007. Recipients of
scholarships will be announced May 31, 2007. Due to the high volume of
applications, only winners will receive notification.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR
MACHINIST CUSTOM CHOICES WORKSITE BENEFITS, PLEASE CONTACT
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SYSTEMS, INC.
10000 MEMORIAL DR., STE. 800
HOUSTON, TX 77024
1-888-521-2900
1-713-812-0888-FAX
|
