Negotiations for America’s next job-killing trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), are underway. The massive trade deal, which the White House hopes to conclude by year’s end, would link the United States and 11 other countries. Just like NAFTA, TPP has the potential to destroy hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs, erode workers’ rights, undermine […]
IAM Wins Election for Spirit Airlines Ramp Agents
In a hotly contested election overseen by the National Mediation Board (NMB), nearly 220 Spirit Airlines ramp agents voted overwhelmingly, by 80 percent, to be represented by the IAM. The victorious ramp agents, who work at airports in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Detroit, Atlantic City, NJ and Myrtle Beach, SC, began their campaign for IAM representation […]
New Poll Shows Success of ‘Right-To-Work’ Deception
A majority of Americans, 53 percent, approve of labor unions, yet more than seven in 10 say they would vote for a so-called “right-to-work” law, according to a newly released Gallup poll. The contrast shows how organizations such as the National Right to Work Committee, backed by corporate political advocacy groups like ALEC, the Koch […]
Tell Congress VA Nurses and Doctors Deserve Meaningful Collective Bargaining Rights
Over the last several years, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare professionals have seen their collective bargaining rights practically eliminated. Agency management’s improperly broad interpretation of a certain provision in federal labor law, Sec. 7422 of Title 38, has allowed them to circumvent the bargaining process on numerous critical issues. The effect is taking its […]
Machinists Win Back-to-Back Organizing Drives in Texas
The IAM scored a second important organizing victory, this time for 475 office and clerical personnel employed by L3 at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) in Corpus Christi, TX. This follows an April organizing win for 450 helicopter mechanics and technicians at the same facility. The L3 employees voted on June 12 for IAM […]
United States And Japan Hit Bumps On The Road To TPP Agreement
One of the main concerns for the United States is Japan’s agricultural tariffs. Japan is fighting to maintain tariffs on five key farm product categories: rice, wheat, beef and pork, dairy products, and sugar. Japan currently imposes a 778 percent tariff on imported rice, a 252 percent tariff on imported wheat, and a 360 percent […]
IAM 610 Negotiates New Contract for FBM Workers
Negotiators for the IAM 610 FBM workers have successfully negotiated a new four-year contact that will extend to March 3, 2018. Highlights of the new contract include: * Lump Sums totaling 8 percent. * GWI of 2.5 percent. * $2,700.00 ratification bonus. * $800.00 annual COLA supplement * 8 percent pension increase for current employees […]