Solidarity with Boeing Charleston Flight Line Workers
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VOL. 73 NO. 9 OCTOBER 2018 Solidarity with Boeing Charleston Flight Line Workers IAM District 751 continues to stand in solidarity with the Flight Line workers at Boeing South Carolina in their quest to gain rights on the job. These workers voted overwhelmingly to have IAM representation on May 31st. Unfortunately, Boeing continues to 1st Shift Seattle Flight Line IAM 751 members raise their unity wristbands in solidarity with Boeing Charleston Flight Line workers. refuse to recognize the legal rights of these workers (even after the NLRB ruled in the workers’ favor). The fact is Boeing should agree to meet and begin negotiating a first contract. IAM District 751 leadership, as well as our membership, support Boeing South Carolina Flight Line employees in their fight for representation. 751 members working on the Seattle, Renton and Everett Flight Line are wearing solidarity wristbands to show their unity with Charleston workers in their efforts to gain a first contract. The wristbands also send a message to Boeing, we stand with the workers in Charleston as they fight for their federally-protected right to have a union contract. IAM District 751 leaders attending the IAM Aerospace Continued on Page 3 Second shift Renton Flight Line crew shows solidarity with Charleston by wearing their unity wristbands. Membership Solidarity Conference Saturday, Oct. 13 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the power you have when you stand with • How the Membership Bill of Rights is Working fellow union members! Register online today to attend • Educational Benefits (EA/LTP); Employee Requested the Membership Solidarity Conference on Saturday, Transfers; October 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Seattle Union • Free Online College to IAM Members AND their Hall (9135 15th Pl. S.). Checkin begins at 9:30 a.m. This Family Members conference will present valuable information covering • Safety On the Job; Using the SHEAR Form; your rights on the job, new benefits, educational Imminent Danger Clause resources, and how we are challenging pay disparity, as • Understanding Your Rights; 7 Tests of Just Cause well as giving you an opportunity to interact with union Discipline Lunch will be provided and leaders and other members. Knowledge IAM International President Robert Martinez and is Power! Plan those attending will receive Business Rep Garth Luark (r) thanks Steward Kristi Western Territory GVP Gary Allen will also address to attend, a free union t-shirt. Reserve Kidrick for her efforts to protect our members. participants. increase your your t-shirt and seat at the knowledge conference by registering Workshops will cover topics such as: and our Steward and BRs • Challenging Pay Disparity at Boeing collective online at www.iam751.org. • The Power of Solidarity with Concerted Activity power! Protect Members’ Upcoming Opportunities for Union Classes Privacy Information Union education classes and “Introduction to your members understand that nothing in our contract was a Our Union Stewards fight daily to protect rights of Union” seminars are offered on an ongoing basis. Visit gift from the company and every provision was obtained our members on the shop floor with the full backing of www.iam751.org (resources tab, class registration) to through unity from the members who came before them. Union Business Reps. sign up for education classes. Continued on Page 2 Sometimes protecting members’ rights extends beyond Union classes rotate between the contract language to basic rights. That was the case union halls and the class topic changes, recently in Everett, when Union Steward Kristi Kidrick as well. (with assistance from Business Reps Howard Carlson and The fourth week of each month we Garth Luark) ensured our members were not intimidated offer a 90-minute “Introduction to Your into complying with an unreasonable management Union” Seminar at the Auburn, Everett request that would put their personal information at and Seattle Union Halls for our newer risk. A member from a different shop approached Kristi members. The workshop gives a brief questioning a request from management. overview of our union so our newest Members and stewards attending a union class in Seattle. Continued on Page 4 New Option ★ ★ ★ ★★ Help with Inside Index President’s Message ...................2 for Retirees Home Buying Nothing Is a Gift .........................3 New discounted, in the General Election Unique union programs Service to the Community .......6 guaranteed-issue Medigap ★ ★ TUESDAY ★ ★ offer rebates to help Retirement News .......................9 members buy and sell Want Ads ...................................10 plans for our Medicare- November 6th eligible retirees their homes 7 Eastern Washington News ...... 12 3 See Voting Recommendations, page 4 Page 2 751 AERO MECHANIC October 2018 REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT Increase Our Collective Strength with Your Participation By JON HOLDEN Several months back we at the Auburn Union Hall (2 sessions 10 together working toward a common goal. IAM 751 District President began offering a 90-minute new a.m. and 3:30 p.m.). Again, knowledge is power and Knowledge is power is member introductory seminar Stewards and members will leave this recognizing these company tactics makes certainly true in our union. as a way to reach out and share class able to identify when a workplace it easier to combat. That is why we continually information with our newer issue is a contract violation, and therefore Our collective power grows as more look for ways to involve and members. Attendance has steadily grievable. The role of stewards in the members take advantage of our classes, educate our members so we increased as participants tell their grievance procedure will be reviewed workshops and conferences to make our can increase our collective co-workers about this experience. as well as how to investigate a worker’s Union stronger. So consider taking part strength. This seminar gives a good issue or complaint. Participants practice in these union educational opportunities. Labor history and the overview of membership rights, investigating and presenting a grievance We will continue to look for new power of worker solidarity is not taught contractual language, and our history. The to management with an emphasis on ways to engage, unite and educate in a traditional textbook, but from lessons goal is to help members understand that problem solving. our members so each member clearly in life handed down from one generation nothing in our union contract is a gift from Union Steward Coordinator Ed Lutgen understands the power they have when of union members to the next. the company. Every word, provision and and Chief of Staff Richard Jackson do a they stand together for a common cause. In October, our members have several benefit was gained because of the solidarity great job with these classes presenting Lessons from the past apply to the future, opportunities to expand their union of the members who came before us. We the information, leading discussion and the actions we take today will affect knowledge, which in turn increases our also point out that contract language is and answering questions. I hope more future generations of our members. collective power. our building block for a stronger future. stewards and members will sign up on First, we are holding a Membership Language is changed and improved our website (www.iam751.org) for these Solidarity Conference on Saturday, District Lodge 751, contract by contract so what we have classes going forward. October 13. This 4-hour conference International Assn. of today was not gained in a single contract In September, more than a dozen 751 will be packed with useful information negotiation. members took part in the first Race and Machinists and on a variety of subjects: The Power When members know their rights, Labor Summit hosted by the Washington Aerospace Workers of Solidarity with Concerted Activity; contractual language and understand our State Labor Council that emphasized there How the Membership Bill of Rights is history, we are all stronger. Respecting is no room for racism in unions. Participants Working; Understanding Your Rights Jon Holden our Union’s past; protecting our brainstormed ideas on how to keep this and the 7 Tests of Just Cause; Free Online President, Directing members’ future is more than a slogan. It topic visible and make others aware that Business Representative College for IAM members AND family is a guiding principle of our union. racism is just another way companies try to members and so much more. We continue to offer union classes to divide our collective power. Paul Schubert This Conference will also provide Vice President learn more about our union, our contract Since the beginning of the labor our members an opportunity to hear with Boeing and the labor movement in movement, corporations have done their from IAM International President Bob Susan Palmer general. We rotate between the various best to split up workers and play different Secretary-Treasurer Martinez and General Vice President of union halls so members throughout Puget groups against each other. Those groups can the Western Territory Gary Allen. Sound have a chance to attend at a hall be based on race, religion, language, age Rob Jones Those who attended last year’s that is convenient. or time with the company – but whatever Sergeant-at-Arms conference appreciated the useful Our next union class on grievances the companies use to divide workers, it is information presented and benefitted Steve Warren (Eastern WA) and representation will be on October 16 designed to prevent workers from standing from the knowledge they gained. Dan Swank Paul Veltkamp 751 Takes Part in Race and Labor Summit Dena Bartman IAM District 751 took part in the breakout groups to identify, discuss and if we allow companies to divide us, Greg Campos Washington State Labor Council’s first tackle stress points regarding race and which then impacts our position at the Garth Luark Race and Labor Summit Sept.