The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ District Lodge 141 today announced ratification of a forty-three month agreement with US Airways covering 7,700 Fleet Service employees.
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Machinists Oppose Northwest-Delta Merger
“Airline industry consolidation will come at tremendous public expense. The Machinists Union’s Merger Committee has examined the Northwest-Delta merger proposal, and we firmly believe this merger is not in the best interest of passengers, employees or the communities these airlines currently serve.
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Machinists Call for Airline Re-regulation
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers urged lawmakers to resist appeals to approve additional airline consolidation, calling instead for measured re-regulation of fares and capacity as the only way to ensure safe and reliable air transportation in the United States.
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The IAM has prepared this page to help you and your family learn about us and the benefits of union representation. If you have further questions, you can call 1-800-998-3554 to speak to an IAM representative.
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What's the difference between a company Employee Involvement Team and the IAM?
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When I join the IAM, how will I know what's going on in the union?
1. What is the IAM ?
The International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is a union of more than
700,000 active and retired members employed in 200
basic industries in the United States and Canada. The IAM was
founded in 1888 by 19 railroad machinists in Atlanta, Georgia. The
IAM negotiated the airline industry's first union agreement in 1939.
Today, the IAM represents more than 120,000
air and rail employees, more than any other union.
In its 68 years in the airline
industry, the IAM has negotiated top quality contracts for airline
members in mechanic & related, ramp
& stores, flight simulator technician,
customer service,
cargo, reservation
agent, flight attendant, flight dispatcher and office
& clerical positions. The superior wages
and benefits in IAM agreements make airline jobs the most sought
after of any industry.
2. What does the IAM do?
The IAM's primary role is to negotiate
collective bargaining agreements, or contracts, with employers.
Agreements are legal documents that establish wages, shifts, working
conditions and benefits for all workers under its jurisdiction. Once
negotiated, the IAM enforces the agreement by representing members
having day-to-day problems with management; problems such as
discipline, work rule or seniority violations, harassment, or
discrimination. The IAM also addresses issues such as workplace
safety and community services.
3. What are the benefits of joining the IAM?
Unions are one of the few organizations
in America that represent the interests of workers on the job, in
politics and in the community. As a union member, you do not
face your employer alone. IAM-represented workers benefit by
being treated with respect on the job and earning more on average in
both hourly rates and benefits than do non-union workers in similar
jobs.
Other benefits of IAM membership include access to IAM Scholarships and the AFL-CIO's Union Privilege Program. Each year, the IAM awards a number of college scholarships to eligible members and the children of members. The Union Privilege Program offers union members exclusive benefits such as a home mortgage program, legal services, life and accident insurance, personal loan programs and much, much more..
4. Who runs the IAM?
The members do. Every level of the IAM
operates on the democratic principle of majority rule. IAM members
have the right to participate in local lodge meetings, vote for
local and international officers and vote on contracts and
convention delegates. The Grand Lodge Convention, which convenes
every four years, is the highest governing body in the union.
Elected delegates set union policy and have the power to amend the
IAM Constitution.
5. How is the IAM structured?
The IAM operates on three levels:
local, district and international. All members belong to a local
lodge which has jurisdiction in their city, town, or area. Members
elect their own local officers and conduct their own day-to-day
business. Every local must hold at least one monthly meeting for
members to vote on expenditure of union funds, conduct local
business, and discuss member concerns. Most locals are organized
into districts covering a particular type of industry. All
locals and districts come under the jurisdiction of the
International, or Grand Lodge.
The International maintains a headquarters near Washington, D.C. to
administer the union and to implement programs and policies mandated
by the Grand Lodge Convention. Headquarters departments handle
administrative functions and provide special services to the
membership, including Collective Bargaining; Communications;
Community Services; Human Rights; Legal; Organizing; Strategic
Resources and the Women's Department. The Transportation Department
has its own general vice president and office at headquarters that oversees agreements in the
airline and railroad
industries. The IAM also has five general vice presidents
with regional offices in the Eastern, Midwest, Western, Southern and
Canadian territories.
6. How are IAM officers elected?
International officers are
nominated and elected by the membership every four years according
to the terms spelled out in the IAM Constitution. In the airline
districts, officers and assistant general chairmen are also
nominated and elected by the members of their respective districts
according to the terms of their district bylaws. Local lodge
officers, grievance committee members and shop stewards are
nominated and elected by the members of their local, also according
to the terms of their local bylaws.
7. What's the difference between an Employee Involvement Team
and the IAM?
Companies use Employee Involvement
Teams (EIT's) and similar Employee Roundtables to avoid unions. By
design, they give well-meaning employees the illusion of
representation. Management prefers EIT's because management retains
control over your working life. In the IAM, you have an independent
voice. You get experienced, professional representation at the
bargaining table whose job is to protect your interests.
8. How are new agreements negotiated?
For new airline agreements, or
contracts, the appropriate district lodge assembles a negotiating
committee consisting of experienced IAM negotiators and members of
the newly organized group. Before negotiations begin, all fleet
service workers can submit contract proposals to the negotiating
committee concerning the issues they want addressed during
negotiations.
9. How long do negotiations take?
Airlines operate under the
jurisdiction of the Railway Labor Act. The Act does not set any time
limits on negotiations. How long it takes to negotiate a new
contract depends on the complexity of the issues involved, the
resolve of the members, and the willingness of the company
to bargain in good faith.
10. Do I get to vote on the agreement?
Yes. Once negotiations are
complete, the negotiating committee will provide the membership with
a tentative agreement for their review prior to voting to accept or
reject it. A simple majority of members must vote to approve the
tentative agreement before it becomes valid.
11. How much are dues?
Dues rates are approximately two
times your hourly rate of pay. Generally, what it costs a union member in dues is paid
back many times over by higher wages and more company-paid benefits
than non-union workers.
The IAM believes that all members have a duty to pay their fair
share of the costs of operating the union. Everyone gets the
benefits of the contract, it's only fair that everyone shares in the
cost.
12. How are IAM members' dues spent?
Dues pay for all the operating
expenses of the union, including contract negotiations, grievance
handling, and arbitration. In addition, dues cover the cost of union
publications, legislative activities on your behalf, the IAM's
William Winpisinger Education and Technology Center, community
service programs and many other member services.
13. What about strikes?
In the
IAM, strikes are a last resort, used only
when all other means of reaching an agreement fail. The IAM
negotiates more than 99% of its contracts
without a strike. In the IAM, you can't go on strike unless
you and your fellow members vote to do so. Strike approval requires
a two-thirds majority vote of the
membership in a secret ballot election.
14. What is the grievance procedure?
When you have union representation,
whenever you believe that management has violated your rights, the
contract, or subjected you to harassment or discrimination, you can
file a grievance. You and your shop steward reduce the case to
writing and file a grievance with management. That way the
dispute is resolved in a professional
manner and doesn't become a personal fight between you and
management. Both the company and the union agree to make an
earnest effort to ascertain the facts and seek a fair and equitable
settlement.
15. What if I have a grievance?
Resolving a grievance starts with your
shop steward. The shop steward is your IAM representative in the
work area. When you have a problem, talk to your steward as soon as
possible. The steward will determine if a contract violation
occurred and will try to resolve the matter with your immediate
supervisor. Where the company refuses to settle a
valid grievance, a neutral arbitrator may be necessary to resolve
the issue.
16. Is the IAM affiliated with other labor organizations?
Yes. The IAM is part of the American
Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
(AFL-CIO), a federation of 52 national
unions with a combined membership of 9
million workers. The IAM is a recognized leader in the fight for
worldwide labor rights. It maintains close ties with several major
international labor organizations such as the 25
million member International Metalworkers Federation, the
International Labor Organization and the Confederation of Free Trade
Unions. The IAM holds leadership
positions in the International Transport
Workers' Federation (ITF), which unites
624 unions representing 4,500,000 transport workers in 142 countries.
The Chair of the ITF's Civil Aviation Section is an IAM member.
17. Is the IAM involved in politics?
Yes. Legislation at the federal and state level has a tremendous
impact on our members. The IAM has a very effective Legislative
Department that monitors pending legislation in Congress that could
affect the lives of our members and their families.
The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) raises voluntary contributions to assist pro-worker candidates and defeat those who consistently vote against the interests of our members.
18. When I join the IAM, how will I know what's going on in the
union?
You can stay informed by going to union
meetings and participating in your local's activities. Your steward
and local officers can answer your questions about specific IAM
policies and programs. In addition, you can read local, district and
international union publications. Every member gets the IAM Journal,
a publication from headquarters that covers air transport and other
issues of concern to working families. The IAM also maintains an
Internet web page at
www.goiam.org
and a twice-weekly
I-mail that is sent directly to members by email.
All Air Transport District Lodges maintain their own websites mail
newsletters to their members. All Local Lodges are also required to
have a Communicator who oversees the locals website, newsletter and
other member communications.
19. I want IAM representation, what do I do?
The first step is to sign, date and return an
IAM Authorization Card to an
IAM organizer or mail it directly to the Machinists Union. When an
election is called
the most important thing to do is vote in
an election is to vote
and urge your fellow workers to vote, too. The election
rules are governed by the Railway Labor
Act and administered by the National Mediation Board (NMB).
Under these rules, a majority (50% +1) of eligible workers must vote
to make a valid election. That's why management will
make every effort to discourage voter turnout.