Organizing Campaigns
IAM NEWS
Machinists Ratify Final US
Airways Agreement
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.
view more...
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.
view more...
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.
view more...
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.
view more...
How to Win IAM Representation
When airline or railroad employees want to win union
representation, they must follow the rules specified in the
Railway Labor Act (RLA). Congress passed the RLA in 1926 and
extended its jurisdiction to airlines in 1934. It was the first
federal law to recognize that employees have a right to join the
union of their choice.
Authorization Cards - the first step.
The Railway Labor Act designates the National Mediation Board (NMB) to set the rules and administer the process for employees to choose union representation. Employees must first circulate authorization cards (A-cards) and return the signed and dated cards to the union. A-cards are good for one year from the date of signing. The cards or their signers are not disclosed to the company at any time.
Employees must gather sufficient cards from their classification (system-wide) before the union can use them to petition the NMB. When the union submits the cards, the NMB checks them by validating the signatures, dates, and status of the employees.
When employees collect enough cards for the union to petition the NMB, three things can happen:
1. The company can voluntarily recognize the union.
2. The union can submit the cards to a neutral party for a "card check." If the neutral party finds that there are valid cards from more than 50% of the employees, the company can agree to have the NMB certify the union as the bargaining agent, foregoing an election.
3. If the company refuses voluntary recognition, the union can request an election by submitting valid cards to the NMB from a minimum of 35% of the employee group.
The Election
If the NMB determines that the union submitted enough valid cards and an election is necessary, they will schedule one. Only employees who were part of the craft or class at the time the union submitted the cards to the NMB are eligible to vote. The representation election process normally takes less than 90 days, concluding with a telephone or Internet election. All correspondance are secret and handled only by the NMB and the US Postal Service.
After the close of the election period, the NMB tallies the votes. If a majority (50% + 1) of the eligible voters cast votes, the Board certifies the union receiving the majority of votes as the bargaining agent for the entire employee group.
Authorization Cards - the first step.
The Railway Labor Act designates the National Mediation Board (NMB) to set the rules and administer the process for employees to choose union representation. Employees must first circulate authorization cards (A-cards) and return the signed and dated cards to the union. A-cards are good for one year from the date of signing. The cards or their signers are not disclosed to the company at any time.
Employees must gather sufficient cards from their classification (system-wide) before the union can use them to petition the NMB. When the union submits the cards, the NMB checks them by validating the signatures, dates, and status of the employees.
When employees collect enough cards for the union to petition the NMB, three things can happen:
1. The company can voluntarily recognize the union.
2. The union can submit the cards to a neutral party for a "card check." If the neutral party finds that there are valid cards from more than 50% of the employees, the company can agree to have the NMB certify the union as the bargaining agent, foregoing an election.
3. If the company refuses voluntary recognition, the union can request an election by submitting valid cards to the NMB from a minimum of 35% of the employee group.
The Election
If the NMB determines that the union submitted enough valid cards and an election is necessary, they will schedule one. Only employees who were part of the craft or class at the time the union submitted the cards to the NMB are eligible to vote. The representation election process normally takes less than 90 days, concluding with a telephone or Internet election. All correspondance are secret and handled only by the NMB and the US Postal Service.
After the close of the election period, the NMB tallies the votes. If a majority (50% + 1) of the eligible voters cast votes, the Board certifies the union receiving the majority of votes as the bargaining agent for the entire employee group.