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The Caucus
No. 62
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Page A-8
ISSN 1522-5968
News
Airlines
Teamsters Oust AMFA in Its Campaign
To Represent United Airlines' Mechanics
        CHICAGO--For the second time in five years United Airlines' mechanics have switched their union affiliation, choosing the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as their exclusive bargaining representative, the National Mediation Board reported March 31.

        NMB spokesman Don West said United's active and furloughed "mechanic and related" personnel voted to oust the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and seek representation by the Teamsters. The United employees selected Teamsters representation by a vote of 4,113 to 2,631.

        West said 8,631 United employees were eligible to vote in the representation election. He added that the board likely would certify the vote April 1.

        Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said he was gratified by the mechanics' vote of support. He attributed the Teamsters' win to an aggressive two-year organizing campaign and his union's commitment to stand up to United following an unprecedented period of outsourcing.

        "We're thrilled that United mechanics voted to join our union by such a large margin," Hoffa said in a statement. "United mechanics will now have the Teamsters strength behind them in their fight against outsourcing to foreign repair stations."

        In a statement, United said it looks forward to working with the Teamsters. The airline's current contract covering the bargaining unit expires in December 2009.

        "We look forward to working with the Teamsters to ensure United's position as a strong, profitable and competitive airline," the carrier said in a statement.


        Turbulence at Airline During AMFA Representation

        AMFA had been the mechanics' bargaining representative since July 2003, when the craft-focused union won representation rights away from the International Association of Machinists. AMFA served as the bargaining unit's representative during an unprecedented period of turbulence in United's history.

        UAL Corp., United's parent company, declared bankruptcy in December 2002 and did not regain its financial footing again until February 2006. During this period, the carrier went through several waves of layoffs, which cut more than 20,000 employees from its payroll. The airline also transferred its pension liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

        AMFA National Director Steve MacFarlane expressed disappointment with the outcome of the representation vote, but applauded his membership's active participation in a democratic process.

        "AMFA will always support the right of workers to choose and we wish our departing membership at UAL the best of luck with their new direction," MacFarlane said in a statement distributed to union members. "The Teamsters have made many promises and guarantees of results due to their size, power, and resources. The campaign is over and it is now time to see the Teamsters turn their promises into action."

        Hoffa said his union would seek to curb efforts by United to outsource aircraft maintenance activities to providers in China and South Korea. He noted that the airline had outsourced 45 percent of its aircraft maintenance expenses to foreign jurisdictions in 2006--three times the volume outsourced in 1998.

        Hoffa also stressed the Teamsters' commitment to improving the bargaining unit's retirement rights. The union leader also said he would oppose "excessive management compensation" systems.

        "We'll stand shoulder to shoulder with United mechanics as they try to rein in management greed and hold them accountable for foisting their pension obligations on U.S. taxpayers," Hoffa said.End of article graphic



          By Michael Bologna

 

T-uesday, March 11, 2008 • The Sacramento Bee

D5

Boeing to protest rivW's Pentagon contract

ByPeterPae

Air Force officials have not yet and Space Co., and is currently asBelote said the new estimates

Los Angeles Times

detailed how Northrop won the sembled there. But Northrop were based on revised data from

contract, but Northrop officials plans to assemble the tanker verits suppliers, about 230 of which said it was told in a briefing Monsion in Mobile, Ala. are U.S.-based, and new Labor day that its tanker was selected On Monday, Northrop shot Departme~t figures. As such, its because it was "more advantaback and said that its tanker is tanker program would create geous" than Boeing's offer in four just as "American" as Boeing's 14,000 direct jobs and another of the five key measures. Those proposal, which would have 34,000 indirect ones, which inincluded cost, the company's been assembled in Everett, clude such jobs as janitors and past performance with other deWash., and Wichita, Kan. . truck drivers. fense contracts and mission capaNorthrop spokesman Randy Boeing's challenge would bility. Belote said that its tanker procome as the award heads for a

The decision has prompted a gram is now expected to create showdown in Congress, where flurry of outcries, particularly 48,000 jobs, a vast majority of Pentagon officials are expected from lawmakers from states with them in the United States. to be grilled over the next several big Boeing payrolls who say that The new estimate would be days as lawmakers consider withthe contract would send U.S. jobs nearly double the initial projecholding funds to buy the planes. overseas and hurt the nation's detions of 25,000 jobs made two A pivotal meeting is scheduled fense industry. years ago, before the competition Tuesday, when a House defense

Northrop's tanker is based on a began. The latest figures would subcommittee is expected to re-passenger jet that was developed top Boeing's projections that its ceive a detailed but confidential in France by Airbus, a subsidiary tanker program would have crebriefing from Air Force officials of European Aeronautic Defense ated 45,000 jobs. on how they chose Northrop.

• Escalating the fight over the bigge&t defense contract in years, Boeing Co. said Monday it would challenge the Pentagon's decision to place an aircraft order potentially worth $40 billion with rival Northrop Grumman Corp. and its European partner, Airbus.

Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, plans to file a formal protest today to overturn what is likely to be the nation's last big new weapons contract for at least a decade.

"Our team has taken a very close look at the tanker decision and found serious flaws in the process that we believe warrant appeal," said Jim McNerney, Boeing's chief executive. "This is an extraordinary step rarely taken

by our company, and one we take chose Northrop and Airbus 9ver very seriously." Boeing to build 179 aerial refuel

Northrop Grumman

f..orp.

Apillustration showsaKC-45Arefuelingan F-22 Raptor.Northrop Grumman haswonacontractto build AirForceaerial refuelingtankers.

In one of the more intense coming tankers for the Air F~rce. petitions whose outcome has They would replace the E~enriled "buy AmerIcan" propohower-era tankers that were ~uilt nents, the Air Force on Feb. 29 in the late 1950s and ~arly I%Os.

Brothers and Sisters,
 
Below is a link to a video that I showed to the AFL-CIO's Executive Council meeting in San Diego. The video is a compilation of Sen. John McCain, in his own words, proudly declaring support for policies that have been a disaster for working families throughout the country.
 
Of course, along with his words, we give you the facts issue by issue.  It's a powerful video and we hope you can share it with union members widely.  The video can be watched here:
 
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1446831562
 
In Solidarity,
Karen Ackerman
 Please sign the petition.  Thank you for all your efforts so far; why they did not consider everything is incomprehensible.
Stacy
 
 

To All Union Members and American Citizens:

 

The Machinists Union is asking members and friends to email the White House with questions and statements concerning the U.S. Air Force decision to purchase the European built Airbus tanker.  This betrayal of America will transfer $40 billion of technology, jobs, military and economic security to our nation's rival in the aerospace industry.  This decision is wrong because it gives away jobs, manufacturing technology, and adds to a trade deficit (with a weak U.S. Dollar vs. the Euro).  It also places our national sovereignty at risk by giving France and others decision making power over whether or not to produce our military hardware if they disagree with military action by our government. 

 

We have formulated a few questions/statements that need to be asked.  Members and friends are asked to email the White House because Dept of Defense/Air Force is under the Executive Branch.  We also are asking that you cc Senators Murray and Cantwell.  We know you will also have statements and questions of your own.  If you also cc webmaster@iam751.org  on what you send, we can track the activity to ensure we are effective in this effort. 

 

Once again, thanks for your help as we try to reverse this wrongheaded decision. 

 

Message examples include:

 

1)  Our military hardware should be labeled "Made in the U.S.A.” NOT made in France

 

2)  In the future, if France disagrees with our military action will they continue to deliver our tankers? 

 

3)  With our economy teetering on the edge of recession why would our government ship $40 billion worth of defense jobs overseas?

 

4)  It is wrong to give away America's aerospace manufacturing jobs at a time when our nation has a record trade deficit?

 

5)  With respect to the air refueling tanker contract, why did the U.S. Air Force decide the location of the jobs created by the contract was of no importance?

 

 6)  Why is the U.S. Government granting a $40 billion contract to Airbus for Air Force tankers while suing Airbus through the World Trade Organization for unfair and illegal developmental subsidies?    

 

 Email address as follows:

 

To:       comments@whitehouse.gov

 

cc:        patty@murray.senate.gov

 

            maria@cantwell.senate.gov

 

Please log onto http://murray.senate.gov/tankers to sign the tanker petition.

 

 

Larry Brown

Legislative & Political Director

Aerospace Machinists 751

 

p.s. With the wide distribution we are attempting, you may get duplicate messages.  I apologize for any inconvenience

 

Jobs with Justice Solidarity Calendar  April 2008


 

The idea is to list all the information that is shared at our monthly Steering Committee—now it’s all here in one place, for folks to use in their union newsletters, church bulletins, email lists, or just to stick up on the fridge.

(Apologies in advance for any accidental omissions; please check with event organizers to confirm any details, or call JwJ 503-236-5573) For more information visit http://www.jwjpdx.org.


 

JwJ Dinner: April 26th, Teamster Hall, 1860 NE 162nd, 6 pm: Join us for fun and our largest fund-raising event of the year. Celebrate the year of work and our victories! The theme this year is Si Se Puede! Yes we can! Individual tickets are $50. Call JwJ for more information or to volunteer.


Full Mobilization for May Day:

Thursday May 1, 2008 South Park Blocks, SW Park and Salmon. Rally at 4 pm, March at 5 pm. A Day of Solidarity for Workers' Rights and Immigrants' Rights. Stop the war on working people at home and abroad. Sponsored by the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, 503-780-3672. Post-march guelaguetza (gathering), at the First Unitarian Church (SW 12th and Salmon) sponsored by Olin. Free food, music, games, and more, for the whole family.


 

Upcoming Actions:

(See below for JwJ meetings and other events)

  • Leafleting to support Legacy nurse organizing with AFT: several dates in April. Contact Rob Painter-Johnson to help, 503-288-6608

  • Thursday, May 1st : ILWU stop-work to protest the war with flowers in the river at noon.  details to follow

Upcoming JwJ Committee Meetings:


 

Wednesday, April 16th, 6 pm, JwJ Health Care Committee, 6401 SE Foster


 

Thursday, April 17th, 7 pm, JwJ Immigrant Rights Committee, location TBA


 

Monday, April 21st , 5:30 pm, Executive Board 6025 E Burnside


 

Wednesday, April 30th , 12:00 pm Faith Labor Committee Meeting, 6025 E. Burnside


 

Monday May 5th , 5:30 pm, JwJ Steering Committee. 6025 E Burnside


 

Other Events

  • Monday, April 14th 7 to 9 pm, Central Lutheran Church: Roots of Migration: Free Trade, Debt and Survival in Nicaragua. Featuring Yamileth Perez, Nicaraguan community leader who will share first-hand the impact of free trade and debt, resulting in increased migration and poverty for the people of Nicaragua. 1820 NE 21st Ave.

  • Thursday, May 1st: Marquez Brothers union election (possible rally)

  • Saturday, May 31st: Immigrant Issues: Working Class Solutions: a forum for JwJ member organizations. 1 to 4 pm at SEIU 503, 6401 SE Foster


 

JwJ National Conference May 2-4, The 2008 JwJ National Conference will attract a diverse group of more than 1,000 labor, community, student, and religious activists from across the U.S and the world for sessions on building power for workers, health care for immigrant rights, the campaign for a floor wage in Asia, student and youth organizing, low-income worker organizing, music, art, fun, and more! Check out more details about the conference including highlights of the agenda, issue areas, and more: http://jwj.org/projects/conference.html For more information on how to join the Portland Delegation to the National Conference Call us at 503-236-5573

 
 
Brothers and Sisters:
We have the contract books finally.  Frank and I will be bringing them
around starting Wednesday morning.  The Company has also agreed to send the
Union a letter specifying that the contract remains in effect, despite the
change of the name of the plant to Western Star.

The second point of this message is to double check that I have your correct
email address.  I have sent the same message to your work email, if you have
one.  If you did not receive this same message at Western Star, please let
me know and we will straighten out the address.

Joe Kear
Business Representative
International Assoc. of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers District Lodge 24
503-238-5550x111

 

 List of  Officers and Delegates for Local Lodge 1005 for 2007-2010   

President :                    Frank Rouse

                                  

Vice President :            Ray Simonis

 

Recording Secretary :   Fred MacKenzie

 

Secretary-Treasure :     Gene McGlothlin

 

Conductor-Sentinel :     Mike White

 

Auditors                       Jose Canul

                                    Marcia Keck

                                    Shellia Dedmon

 

Trustees                       Ray Simonis

                                    Cheryl Rouse                                  

                                    Richard Brandt

 

NOLC Delegates         Britt Cornman

                                    Frank Rouse

                                    Joe Kear

.                                   Joe Estes

                                    Gene McGlothlin

                                    Cheryl Rouse

 

OMC  Delegates            Britt Cornman

                                    Joe Kear

                                    Fred MacKenzie

                                    Frank Rouse

 

District 24 Delegates     Joe Estes

                                     Marcia Keck

                                     Fred MacKenzie

                                     Gene McGlothlin

                                     Joan Miller

                                     Tony Mims

                                     Gil Robles

                                     Chris Taylor