Introduction to the IAM

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Tentative Agreements reached between Unite Continental Holdings and International Association of Machinists (IAM)

September 27, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re:  United Continental Holdings and IAMAW reach Agreement

Washington, D.C. – The National Mediation Board (NMB) is pleased to announce that three tentative agreements were reached on September 26, 2013, by United Continental Holdings with the IAMAW (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers).  These agreements affect over 28,000 employees.

One agreement covers fleet service employees; another covers passenger service employees; and the third agreement covers storekeeper employees.  Each of these three agreements combine the workgroups of United, Continental, Continental Micronesia and MileagePlus subsidiaries. 

Mediation was guided by NMB Mediators Michael Kelliher and Andy Nordgren; Senior Mediator Patricia Sims; and Chairman Linda Puchala.

These agreements are subject to ratification by IAMAW members.  Specific information regarding these contracts or their provisions should be obtained directly from the parties.

The National Mediation Board is an independent Federal agency established by the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor-management relations within two key transportation sectors of the United States and U.S. territories: the railroads and airlines.

Union Membership and the Middle Class

There is a direct correlation between union membership and the decline of the middle-class.
Without labor making demands to drive the economy- by increasing consumer buying-power  and fighting for fair health insurance & pensions, an ever-larger portion worker's wages are going towards funding their own benefits that used to be employer-paid, and they're doing it with stagnated wages that haven't kept up with inflation.
Failed Trickle-Down economic theories and attacks against labor unions has driven income disparity to that not last seen since the 1929 Depression.

Recent IAM union elections

Washington, D.C., August 12, 2013 – In a contest overseen by the Nation Mediation Board (NMB), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today soundly defeated the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) in an election to represent nearly 4,600 Mechanic and Related employees at US Airways. The IAM received 1,903 votes, or 58% of all votes cast in the five-week election, while the IBT received 1,418 votes, less than 42%.

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013:  Election results speak for themselves, and few elections have been more eloquent than the recent vote by workers at Lemoore Naval Air Station (NAS) in Southern California. In a June 19 contest that pitted the IAM against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the IAM received a decisive 158 of 181 votes cast, with the employer receiving six votes and the Teamsters a mere 17 votes.

The workers at Lemoore NAS are employed by a civilian contractor with pay and benefits defined by the Service Contract Act (SCA). The IAM is widely regarded as an expert in the SCA field, with a track record that includes hundreds of contracts negotiated on behalf of tens of thousands of contract employees.

 

September 12th, 2013:

IAM District 166 organized 15 employees at Tropical Wellness Center, a certified drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility near the shores of Palm Bay, FL.

After the employees signed Authorization Cards requesting the IAM as their choice for representation, the employer voluntarily recognized the Union without hesitation. The IAM is looking forward to a long and rewarding relationship.

“These new members provide an important service to this community and our society,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Mark Blondin. “They do what unions do on a daily basis, help people and improve their lives. Congratulations to District 166 and Organizer Javier Almazan for a great job.”

Tuesday, September 17^th, 2013:
 If you want job security and fairness in the workplace, joining the IAM is the way to get it. That's just what our 40 new members from Stratas Foods did by joining IAM District 9, Local 822 in Quincy, IL.
According to District 9 Organizer Dwight Terry, our new members were sick and tired of the company playing games with workplace fairness and holding their jobs over their heads continuously.
Terry praised our new members saying, "They stood together and were solid in their desire for the Job Security and Workplace Fairness that an IAM District 9 contract brings."
Dwight also thanked all those who helped saying, "We sincerely appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Local 822 Retirees and the Local 822 Organizing Committee. They truly made the difference in this win."
Business Representative Ross Miller from IAM District 9 will be working with our new members seeking a first contract.


 In an election conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB), the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) won exclusive representation
rights for nearly 18,000 Passenger Service and Reservation Employees at the new United Airlines.
The IAM received 8,305 votes during the seven‐week election, while 5,865 votes were cast
for no representation. The NMB determined there were 16,720 eligible voters. Winners in NMB
elections are determined by a simple majority of ballots cast.

What can happen when the company and union employees work together:

Quincy Compressor recently received an award from the Illinois Employer Association as the "Mid Size Employer of the Year."  Quincy Compressor located in Quincy, IL and employs 132 members of IAM Local 822. The company and union have entered into a *HPWO partnership.

At the award dinner, Quincy Compressor Plant Manager John West told the group which totaled over 450 people, "That if not for the partnership the Company now has with the Machinists Union and the HPWO system we work under where everyone works together as equals, we would not have survived the economic problems this country has now."   The HPWO steering committee has meetings every two weeks and the shop has meetings every morning and every afternoon to go over where they are at with production. The union members on the shop floor now schedule their own work as need and also schedule overtime as needed. The machine shop currently runs without a supervisor.

*HPWO is High Performance Work Organization that the IAM offers that by empowering workers and bringing them into the decision making process it pays dividends for both the union workers and the company.