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Summer 2020 In this issue... • COVID-19 hits hard at the airline industry • Elections are crucial, and so is the Census • Congratulations to our scholarship winners • Beware of misinformation spread through social media! COVID-19: Stay informed! This issue of the 142 Observer includes information that was current as we went to press. For up-to-the- minute information on the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.cdc.gov . For current information on the IAM’s response, visit IAMDL142.org. 3 8 9 2 - 6 1 1 4 6 O M , y t i C s a s n a K . t S d n 2 3 . E . N 0 0 4 2 4 1 e g d o L t c i r t s i D t r o p s n a r T r i A Page 2 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Summer 2020 Secretary-Treasurer’s Report By Ian Scott-Anderman Elections are crucial, and so is the Census ew things are certain in this It is more important than ever for all mine how billions of dollars will be al - election year, but we do know of us to accept our responsibility to located to schools, childcare programs, that your vote will play a sig - Not a single citizen, elect leaders who are actively commit - affordable housing, road maintenance nificant role in determining let alone a union ted to reason and respect for all who are projects, social assistance programs Fthe future course of the country. member, can afford coping with COVID-19, regardless of and more. Beyond the presidential contest (as who they are or where they live. By filling out the form, your data important as that is!), the outcomes of to leave these choices To achieve this, we must all discern will help officials decide where new congressional and Senate elections for others to make. between facts and emotionally-charged hospitals are built, health programs are everywhere will have a significant im - rhetoric and misinformation. And we enhanced, and jobs and business oppor - pact on national policy on every con - must vote for those who are aligned tunities are strengthened. ceivable issue, from labor rights to COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed with the aspirations and interests of Many communities have been un - workplace safety, from environmental more than 191,000 Americans so far working Americans. derrepresented or undercounted in past protections to support for public edu - and sickened millions more. It has Not a single citizen, let alone a Censuses. An undercount means we are cation and more. caused additional economic hardship union member, can afford to leave not getting our fair share of funding The power of your vote also extends for millions of others. these choices for others to make. This and representation. to your state, county and local levels, There’s plenty of blame to spread is not a time to be passive or indecisive. Is there any risk in participating where decisions made by our represen - around for our country’s inability to Please be sure that you are registered fully in the Census? No! tatives in government have direct ef - take control of this pandemic from the to vote. And while polling places will Information collected during the fects on our everyday lives. outset. On the federal level, we can be open on Election Day, Nov. 3, you 2020 Census may not be shared or used point to failures in preparing for a po - can avoid long lines and their potential against you in any way. Your informa - Leadership against COVID-19 tential public health crisis and mar - health risks by requesting an absentee tion is only used to generate statistics. shalling the resources necessary to (mail-in) ballot. It may not be shared with immigration In these times, there is no issue that confront it when it arrived. Don’t let apathy or lack of informa - or law enforcement agencies and it affects our lives more directly than the Even now, eight months into the pan - tion deprive you of your right to partic - may not be used to determine your eli - demic, our response remains hampered ipate in this historic election. Too much gibility for government benefits. Your by a widespread distrust of science and is at stake. privacy and security are taken seri - ously. https://www.census.gov. the trained experts on whom we must Everyone should rely for accurate information and advice. The 2020 Census is an opportunity This distrust is actively encouraged by participate in the Census for everyone to shape our future. Take some individuals in public office. The 2020 Census will help deter - advantage of it! Official publication of the International Association of Machinists and EAP Report Aerospace Workers, By Paul Shultz, EAP Chair District Lodge 142 AFL-CIO Editor-in-Chief Our time to shine Dave Supplee Helping ourselves and our communities in this time of crisis Headquarters ow, what a tough year it • If you can afford to pay your mort - been in this pandemic for seven months. 400 N. E. 32nd St. has been so far! gage or rent payment, you should do so. Some signs of stress are: Kansas City, MO 64116 Let us sit back and take a If not, you may be able to get relief or • A noticeable change in your energy couple of deep breaths. defer rent or mortgage payments due to level, whether it’s an increase or de - (816) 452-6646 WCOVID-19 has taken a lot from us being affected by COVID-19. If you crease. and changed our daily lives and rou - cannot pay, contact your mortgage com - • Increased irritability with abnormal Fax: (816) 455-4793 tines, so here is a brief recap of some of pany or landlord right away and explain outbursts of anger. You’re more argu - www.iamdl142.org the resources and tips we have to help your situation. mentative than usual. you cope with the crisis. • If you can afford to pay your car • Excessive worrying, difficulty payment, do so. If you cannot make General financial tips sleeping or excessive sleeping. your payments, contact your lender as • Difficulty relaxing or having a good • If you cannot pay all of your bills, soon as possible. Also, do not let your time. then prioritize. Food should be first. insurance lapse. The same with required • An increase in your alcohol or to - There may be food banks and or chari - maintenance, as that may save a larger bacco use, and/or using illicit sub - table organizations in your area that will expense down the road. stances and self-medicating. help you to maximize your food dollar. • If you can afford to pay your utility Some ways to relieve stress and cope bills, do so. If not, contact the utility and with the current events are: social services right away. Some relief • Take the time to breathe. In almost IAMAW Employee Assistance Program may be available. These programs vary any stressful situation, you will have the National Contact Information from state to state and sometimes by lo - time to step back and breathe deeply for Paul Shultz, Director cality. a minute. lAM EAP Services Coping with stress • Keep things in perspective. Get the Air Transport District 142 facts from trusted and reliable news (704) 907-3563 This pandemic has been incredibly sources, company and union bulletins, [email protected] stressful for most of us, including your the CDC, and state and local agencies. family and your sisters and brothers at • Get enough sleep, eat as healthy as work. Stress is cumulative and we have (Continued on next page) Summer 2020 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Page 3 President’s Report By Dave Supplee COVID-19 hits hard at the airline industry ince our previous issue of the Observer , our industry has been devastated by the effects of COVID-19. Most of our carriers have issued Worker A note of sympathy... Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) to S ur union is a big family bound together by solidarity. This unity is the source of our thousands of our members. As I write this article, American Airlines is issuing more than 17,000 fur - strength. When we win together, we celebrate together. And when we feel loss, we share lough notices to their employees; more than 800 of our sadness together. As the union slogan goes, “An injury to one is an injury to all.” them will be sent to our members. OWith this in mind, I want to give voice to the compassion we all feel toward those in our Our foreign flag operators, British Airways, El Al union family who have been touched by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 virus. and Aer Lingus, have either stopped all flying to the Too many of us have loved ones, friends and colleagues who have been sickened in the past United States or are operating minimal flights be - several months. Some of these have become debilitated for long periods of time. Some have cause of travel restrictions in place across the world. even died. And many more have lost their jobs, their businesses, and their piece of mind. For those working for the major U.S. carriers, you To all who have been affected, IAM District Lodge 142 expresses its deepest sympathy — are fortunate that Congress passed the CARES Act, which included the Paycheck Support Program and solidarity. (PSP) that provided funding to airlines to keep all Sincerely, workers employed. Unfortunately, that program ex - Dave Supplee pires on Sept. 30. President and Directing General Chair, IAM District 142 If you have not contacted your legislators to en - courage them to pass the extension of the CARES Act, please do so now! Check the District website on how to send your message to your representatives.