iam journal - choices

www.goiam.org

Fal l 2007Fall 2007

Choices

The IAM Journal (ISSN 1083-0413) is published quarterly by the InternationalAssociation of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 9000 Machinists Place, UpperMarlboro, MD 20772-2687. PHONE: 301-967-4520 FAX: 301-967-4586. The IAMJournal is mailed to every member in accordance with convention and referendumaction. Subscription price $10 per year. Printed by Kelly Press, 1701 Cabin BranchRoad, Cheverly, Maryland. Postmaster: Change of Address Form 3579 should be sentto: IAM Journal, 9000 Machinists Place, Upper Marlboro, MD. Periodicals postagepaid at Upper Marlboro, MD and additional mailing offices.

IAM WEBSITE: www.goiam.org

Richard S. Sloan, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Bill Upton, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

EDITORIAL STAFF: Donna Georgallas, Cornel Dunmore, Frank Larkin, Valana Reid, John Lett, Jason Woodward, Deirdre Kaniewski, Bobbie Sullivan and Kiley Hernandez.

R. Thomas BuffenbargerInternational President

Warren L. MartGeneral Secretary-Treasurer

GENERAL VICE PRESIDENTS:Lee Pearson, 620 Coolidge Drive, Suite 130,Folsom, CA 95630

Dave Ritchie, 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 707,Toronto, ONT M3C 1Y8

Robert Roach, Jr., 9000 Machinists Place,Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-2687

Lynn D. Tucker, Jr., 135 Merchant Street,Suite 265 Cincinnati,OH 45246-3730

Robert Martinez, Jr., 1111 W. MockingbirdLane, Dallas, TX 75247

Richard Michalski, 9000 Machinists Place,Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-2687

Philip J. Gruber, 1733 Park Street, Suite100, Naperville, IL 60563

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTSAND AEROSPACE WORKERS, AFL-CIO

IAM JOURNAL

Commentary

Our Conversation with the Candidates proved enlight-ening. For forty-five minutes, each presidential candidatewas grilled by CBS correspondent Erin Moriarty.

Gone was the 30-second sound bite. Gone was theCliff Notes version of their stump speech. Instead, these leaders defended their policies and explained their thinking.

This IAM Journal captures what Hillary Clinton, JohnEdwards, Mike Huckabee and Dennis Kucinich said. You can see how they han-dled themselves on www.goiam.org.

Too bad you cannot see how each candidate related to our members afterthose Conversations ended. But I did. I watched Mike Huckabee crack jokes andmake each member feel special. And I saw Hillary Clinton chat with some prettyhard-nosed guys and pose for photographs until the entire room emptied.

Both candidates felt completely at home with us. And our brothers and sisters felt totally comfortable approaching them. There was a special chemistry –a level of mutual respect – that impressed me greatly.

Our choices – Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and Governor Mike Huckabee for the Republican nomination – will be our partners in the months and years ahead. We can take great pride in this historic,dual endorsement.

But now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and help them secure their party’snomination.

R. Thomas BuffenbargerInternational President

2 IAM JOURNAL Fall 2007

ContentsFEATURES

IAM Member Elected to Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

IAM Local Lodge 1930 member Laura Richardson ofLong Beach, CA is the newest Member of Congress.

Cover Story: Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Working family issues such as trade, job security,health care, manufacturing and education willshape the race for president and led to the IAM’shistoric endorsement of both a Republican andDemocratic presidential primary candidate.

Liberty Ships Union Built to Last . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Union members built the vast fleet of Liberty shipsduring World War II and the IAM is helping keepone of the last of the fleet in service.

IAM Fights for Bankruptcy Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

The IAM is leading the fight to reform bankruptcylaws that allow companies to strip wages and benefitsfrom workers.

DEPARTMENTSNoteworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

TCU News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Cover Story: ChoicesPAGE 10

Volume 13

Number 3

www.goiam.org

Fall 2007

IAM Member in CongressPAGE 8

Union Built to LastPAGE 22

Fall 2007 IAM JOURNAL 3

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Cover Photos by Bill Burke, Page One Photography

N O T E W O R T H Y


Local 2462 membersGene Reed and Kim Kandelwere honored by the City ofScranton, PA, for their“unselfish act of courage”when their quick thinkingsaved a woman from herburning home.

Reed and Kandel weredriving a city lift truck earlyJuly 16 when they saw ahouse on fire and a womanon the roof trying to escapethe flames. Reed instantlydrove the truck onto thefront yard and hopped intothe bucket.

Kandel took the controlsand lifted Reed to the roofwhere he pulled KathleenFarley to safety. Still trappedinside, however, was Farley’s11-year old son, DavidBradshaw. Within seconds,firefighters arrived andrushed David out of the

burning house.Reed and Kandel

received a prolonged ovation at the special cere-mony honoring them andthe firefighters. Whileappreciative of the recogni-tion, both were concernedfor young David, who isstill recovering from

second and third degreeburns. “Our thoughts andprayers are with Ms. Farleyand her little boy,” saidKandel.

“I believe we were meantto be there,” reasoned Reed.“Kim and I were the rightpeople at the right place atthe right time.”

City of Scranton Dept. of Public Works employees Kim Kandel and Gene Reedof Local 2462 stand by the lift truck they used to save a fire victim.

IAM MembersRescue Fire Victim

An IAM-made, custom-painted, Pro-Street, one-of-a-kind motorcycle has beenrolling through towns acrossAmerica raising funds for theIAM-sponsored charity GuideDogs of America (GDA). Thebike, which has been seen bythousands of IAM membersand the general public alikeat bike shows and otherevents, will be raffled off at

GDA’s annual banquet onNovember 17, 2007.

Local 700 member RonWendt and his brother ChuckWendt of Local 1746, both of Rowe Machine inWallingford, CT, performedmost of the work buildingthe bike. For informationabout the custom bike andthe raffle to benefit GDA, goto www.iamawbikebuild.com.

GDA Rep Steve Cohan, left, gets help fromDistrict 75 DBR Steve Pridgen and Local 449member Tim Tolle as they spiff up the IAM-mademotorcycle that is on tour to raise money for theIAM-sponsored charity Guide Dogs of America.

Custom Bike Built for Charity


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Visionary leader and for-mer IAM InternationalPresident William W.“Wimpy” Winpisinger(1924-1997) fought hard forworking men and women.

His legacy continueswith a new housing facilityin Cleveland, OH. TheWinpisinger Apartments isa joint effort by the IAM,the City of Cleveland, stateand federal agencies andOhio’s Elderly HousingDevelopment andOperations Corporationthat will provide 42 seniorhousing units, making asecure retirement possibleafter a lifetime of work.

“There are now twoextraordinary facilities thatbear Wimpy’s name,” IAMPresident Tom Buffenbarger

told the crowd at the open-ing ceremony. “The IAMEducation and TechnologyCenter in Maryland andnow these apartments forseniors here in Cleveland.Both are fitting tributes for

a man whose life was dedi-cated to improving educa-tion and making the livesof working men andwomen better both on thejob and after they retire.”

Wimpy’s Legacy Lives on in Housing for Seniors

With the IAM’s help, a Cleveland-area building was transformed into affordablehousing for seniors and named after the IAM’s legendary president, William W.Winpisinger.

For four years, Local 2202member Hetty Gaeb ofSeattle, WA, was on the kid-ney transplant waiting list.On dialysis three days a week,Hetty still came to work atAlaska Airlines reservationscheerful and ready to go, buther health was seriouslydeclining.

Fellow agent CarolynJenkins was deeply moved byGaeb’s struggle and startedresearching organ donation.After talking it over with herfamily, Jenkins decided to

donate one of her kidneysto Gaeb.

“Words can’t express whatI feel for Carolyn,” said Gaebafter the successful transplantsurgery. “Besides giving methis fabulous second chanceat life, she’s also become alife-long friend.”

Gaeb and Jenkins hopetheir story will encourageothers to donate. “You don’thave to be a complete matchto donate, like it used to be,and it feels so good to give,”said Jenkins.

More than 97,000 peoplein the U.S. are waiting for anorgan transplant. To learnmore about organ transplan-tation and donation, go toUnited Network for OrganSharing at www.unos.org.

Local 2202 Member GivesGift of Life to Fellow Worker

Alaska Airlines reservations agent CarolynJenkins, left, donated one of her kidneys tofellow agent Hetty Gaeb, right.

Organizing took centerstage on the opening morningof the 2007 IAM National StaffConference in Orlando, FL. In 2003, IAM InternationalPresident Tom Buffenbargerand the Executive Councilissued a challenge to all IAMdistrict and unaffiliated locallodges: Do your part in grow-ing the IAM by organizing 250new members a year.

“At each Staff Conference,we want to honor those whoaccepted the challenge, met it,and even surpassed it,” saidBuffenbarger. “Each of theselodges made a commitment,worked hard and workedtogether.”

Receiving special honors

for organizing more than 250new members were: Local1943, Middletown, OH;District 1, Philadelphia, PA;NFFE/IAM Federal District 1,Washington, DC; District 4,Brunswick, ME; District 96,Savannah, GA; District 140,Richmond, BC; and District947, Long Beach, CA.

Also receiving specialrecognition were District 947,District 190, District 725members and WesternTerritory staff for their out-standing efforts with the Cityof Long Beach workers elec-tion that brought in 1,800IAM members.

“As you can see, this wastruly a team effort and a great

example of going outside thenormal boundaries to bringnew members into the IAM –both in regard to the occupa-tions of the workers organized,and in the jurisdiction of therepresentatives and volunteerswho made the campaign suc-cessful,” said Buffenbarger.

Organizing Initiatives The opening session also

saw IAM Headquarters GVPRich Michalski, along withOrganizing Director LarryWasham, AutomotiveCoordinator BoysenAnderson and Grand LodgeRepresentatives Steve Hantzis,George Myers and DonBarker, give a presentation


Local, District and Western Territory members were recognized for their efforts in a campaign for 1,800 Long Beach Cityworkers. Back row, from left, BR Frank Brito, District 947; GLR Ray Rivera; GLR Joel Ochoa; Western Territory GVP LeePearson; GLR Steve Cooper; Asst. DBR Linda Amparan and Pres./DBR Richard Sanchez, District 947; SR Kevin Cummings.Front row, from left, BR Jose Lara, District 947; Organizer Joe Young, District 725; BR Janet Wright, District 947; BR AlLopez, District 190; Organizer Felix Osuna and BR Chris Ward, District 947; and Western AA Gary Allen. (Not in photo,Organizer Mike Bellestri, District 725, BR Gloria Carter, District 947 and GLRs Matt McKinnon and Don Whitaker.)

Organizing Takes Center Stage in Orlando

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about organizing initiativesthe IAM is undertaking.

“When it comes to organ-izing, we must strategicallytarget potential members andrun the kind of campaignsthat will grow the union andspread the benefits of IAMmembership,” said Michalski.

“Directly Speaking” is acampaign in which theIAM is utilizing the latestin print and web technolo-gy to communicate withIAM members via directmail and personal websites.In the mailings, membersare being asked to volun-teer with organizing drivesor send in contact informa-tion for anyone interestedin joining the IAM.

The IAM is also pursuingopportunities to organize15,000 FedEx Ground dri-vers in 500 locations and

1,200 LockheedMartin FlightService Specialistsin 19 locations. Foryears, FedEx hasimproperly classi-fied their grounddrivers as “inde-pendent contrac-tors” rather thanemployees. Now,recent court deci-sions coupled withpotential rulings inthe near future,could lead the wayfor FedEx drivers to pursueunion representation.

Michalski also pointedto new efforts for in-plantorganizing, emphasizingteamwork between districtand local lodges and theOrganizing Department,leading to successfulefforts in the public sector

and in “right-to-work” (for less) states.

“History has come fullcircle. We now must be likethe early railroad ‘boomers’who organized more than100 local lodges in our firsttwo years,” IAM OrganizingDirector Larry Washam toldthe participants.


GVP Rich Michalski outlined several IAM organizing initiatives, including FedEx Ground, Lockheed MartinFlight Service Specialists and in-plant organizing in thepublic sector and right-to-work states.

District and unaffiliated Local Lodges were recognized for meeting the goal of organizing 250 or more new membersin a year. Representing their lodges were, from left, Pres./DBR Rick Brown, NFFE/IAM Federal District 1; BR RickCompher and DBR Tony Provost, District 4; Eastern GLR Jim Smith; Pres. Dan Lawwill, Local 1943; Eastern AADale Hartford; Pres./DBR Tony Wilson, District 96; Organizers Ian Morland and Robert Savoie, District 140; andPres./DBR Richard Sanchez, District 947.

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Labor Day is a time tohonor working Americans, butthis Labor Day ended on aspecial note for working fami-lies when House SpeakerNancy Pelosi administered theoath of office to IAM LocalLodge 1930 member LauraRichardson of Long Beach,CA. Richardson prevailed ina tough 18-candidate pri-mary battle last June andthen a runoff election inAugust to fill the unexpiredterm of former Congress-woman Juanita Millender-McDonald.

Richardson will representCalifornia’s 37th District,which includes Compton,Carson, much of the City ofLong Beach and parts of SouthLos Angeles. Richardson firstjoined the IAM in 2000 as a

Long Beach City Councilemployee. She went on to wina seat on the Long Beach CityCouncil where she serveduntil her election to theCalifornia State Assembly in2006.

Just days before her swear-

ing in, Richardson wowed acrowd of Machinists at theNational Staff Conference inOrlando, FL. Wearing aMachinists shirt, Richardsondisplayed the heartfelt con-cern for working families thathas marked her politicalcareer. “I’m proud to be aMachinists union member,”Richardson declared. “It’s aspecial day for me, but it’s aspecial day for you as well.”

The daughter of a unionmember, Richardson remem-bers vividly the tough deci-sions her single-parent motherhad to make to keep the fami-ly afloat. After starting work at12-years old and working herway through UCLA,Richardson grew up to be anoutspoken champion forworking people.

IAM Member Elected to Congress

Surrounded by family members, IAM Local Lodge 1930 member Laura Richardson, third from right, of LongBeach, CA is sworn in by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the new Congresswoman for California’s 37th District.

Congresswoman Laura Richardson

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Richardson credited mem-bers of her local lodge, District947 and the Western Territorywho helped her throughmany tough races. During herprimary bid, union volunteersmade house calls, mannedphone banks and distributedmore than 160,000 pieces ofliterature.

Richardson is a strongadvocate for reformingflawed trade laws, providingdecent health care, creatinggood jobs, bringing backquality vocational educationand getting the EmployeeFree Choice Act passed andsigned into law.

“I want to talk about thewar that is ongoing inAmerica. And that war is hap-pening because we don’t havepeople who have decent jobsthat can take care of their fam-ilies,” said Richardson. “We’regoing to continue to raise theminimum wage, we’re goingto bring back jobs and we’regoing to make sure we haveadequate and accessible healthcare.”

Richardson also pledged toco-sponsor the Employee FreeChoice Act, which will

strengthen workers’ right toorganize. “Organizing is criti-cal to all our successes,” saidRichardson. “No one is goingto give us anything. We haveto reach out, we have to fightand we have to insist on thebasic rights and principles thatall working people deserve.”

After graduating fromUCLA, Richardson earned amasters degree in business. Aformer job took her to China

where she saw firsthand theproblems of unfair trade.“We’re reaping the [conse-quences] of these flawed tradedeals. They are not workingfor the American people,”said Richardson. “We weretold that these agreementswould benefit us. Tell me,who have they benefited? Ilive in the Long Beach areaand I certainly see more con-tainers coming in than goingout. It has to stop.”

“Laura Richardson knowsthe issues that matter toAmerica’s families,” said IAMPresident Tom Buffenbarger.“She will be a strong voice forall of our nation’s workingmen and women.”

Just days before taking office, new Congresswoman Laura Richardson proudlydisplayed her IAM membership at the IAM National Staff Conference whereshe pledged to fight for working families.

IAM members in the WesternTerritory helped CongresswomanLaura Richardson through manytough elections. From left, GLR SteveCooper, Richardson, WesternTerritory GVP Lee Pearson andDistrict 947 BR Janet Wright.

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Choices set our Democ-racy apart. Americans canchoose to register to vote –or not, select a political partyor remain independent; fol-low the campaigns closely ortune in later; switch off thedebates or debate with

friends over the merits ofvarious candidates; and,finally, choose to cast a ballot or stay home.

In November 2008, over220 million Americans willmake that final choice. Over140 million will go vote.

And they will con-front stark choices.Two major partycandidates – andmaybe an inde-pendent – will beon the ballot in allfifty states.

The winnow-ing process – thechoices made bycandidates, theircampaigns and thevoters themselves –has started already.

Historic DualEndorsement

A score of can-didates seek thepresidency of theUnited States.Twelve Repub-licans and eightDemocrats vie fortheir party’s nomi-nation. Most have

been raising money, visitingthe early states of Iowa andNew Hampshire and partici-pating in candidate forums.

Given the early start –and the strong possibilitythat nominees will be cho-sen by early February 2008 –the IAM Executive Councildecided to make an historicdual endorsement. For thefirst time in its 119-year his-tory, the IAM would recom-mend to its membership oneRepublican and one Demo-cratic candidate for the pri-maries and caucuses.

On May 23, 2007, tencandidates – five Democratsand five Republicans – wereinvited to participate in theIAM’s Conversations with theCandidates scheduled forAugust at the National StaffConference in Orlando, FL.

Moderated by ErinMoriarty of CBS News, thesein-depth Conversations wouldfocus on domestic issues:jobs, trade, health insurance,schools, manufacturing andenergy. To be considered forthe IAM endorsement, candi-dates had to participate.

Almost immediately, the

CHOICES’08

Senator Hillary Clinton earned the IAM’s endorsementfor president in the Democratic primary.

Conversations with the Candidates


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candidates began to makechoices. Among theDemocrats, CongressmanDennis Kucinich, SenatorHillary Clinton and formerSenator John Edwardsaccepted. Senator BarackObama and Governor BillRichardson declined citingscheduling conflicts.

Republican Congress-man Duncan Hunter accept-ed the invitation but, at thelast moment, chose toattend a forum in NewOrleans. Former GovernorMitt Romney, former NewYork Mayor Rudy Giulianiand Senator John McCainsent their regrets. FormerArkansas Governor MikeHuckabee chose to alter hisschedule and activelysought the IAM endorse-ment.

Since January 2007,presidential candidates hadsubmitted to forums thatdemanded 30-second soundbites, made them wait tenminutes for a turn to speak,and saw them raising theirhands like school children.Now they had an opportu-nity to explain their posi-

tions on the issues in detail. Over 700 Machinists

were anxious to learn aboutthem and what they woulddo for working families.

Conversation withHillary Clinton

Four individual Conver-sations were held – two onAugust 27th and two thefollowing evening. Eachlasted about 45 minutes.

Senator Hillary Clintonwent first. She argued that“My job as president will beto make sure that every sin-gle American does have a

good job with a risingincome, with health careguaranteed that is highquality and affordable, andwith pension security nomatter what happens.” Shethen promised “to protectSocial Security, to get backto where unions can orga-nize to work and fight forworkers.”

When asked by themoderator how unions fitinto her plans, Clintonresponded that “our coun-try worked best when wewere creating a thrivingmiddle class, when we werecreating millions of new


S’08

Former Governor Mike Huckabee earned the IAM’s endorsement for president in the Republican primary race.

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jobs, when people did feelthey could take care of theirson or their daughter andhave a better future for them-selves. I want to get back tothat shared prosperity. Themiddle class is the engine thatmakes America great. And theunion movement has beenthe catalyst for that engine.”

Support Middle Class“I want to take health care

off the table for negotiations,”explained Clinton. “We needguaranteed, affordable, univer-sal health care.

“In addition to healthcare, we need to incentivizemanufacturers to keep manu-facturing here in America.Right now, our tax code actu-ally promotes the outsourcingof manufacturing jobs.”

Moriarty then probeddeeper on trade and tax poli-cies. Clinton replied, “We’llclose all the loopholes, fornumber one. Why on earthshould we give a tax advan-tage to a company thatwants to take a job overseas?If they want to take a joboverseas, they have to payfor it and not get subsidizedby the American taxpayer.We also need to figure outhow we’re going to havetrade agreements that areactually enforceable when itcomes to not just what isusually dealt with in a tradeagreement, but labor andenvironmental standards.

“We need to invest ininfrastructure again. We arefalling way behind. We cannothave a strong economy if

we’re not building up moreroads and bridges, tunnels andsubways and airports, and allthe things that we need tomaintain our economy.

“And we also need to domore for kids who don’t go tocollege, like apprenticeshipprograms and more commu-nity college programs, moreskills programs. We’ve got tohave more apprenticeshipprograms. Where are yougoing to get the next genera-tion of airline workers?Where are we going to get thenext generation of peoplethat are going to work on theassembly lines? Where are wegoing to get these people ifwe don’t start training themnow,” Clinton asked.

“And we need to respectthe dignity of that work, but

Because of outsourcing, Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner production will not create as many U.S. jobs as prior Boeingaircraft models. Key components are being produced offshore and shipped to Boeing for final assembly, costing notonly U.S. jobs, but critical manufacturing skills.

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we’ve got to recruit youngpeople into it and give them asense that there’s a futurethere,” she added.

Asked if she thought wewere in the middle of a tradewar with China, SenatorClinton answered, “well, if weare, we’re losing it.”

The New York Senatorexplained that the Chinese“have to understand that myfirst obligation as presidentis to protect American jobsand to protect Americanhealth and safety. If theywant to have access to ourmarket, they have to play bynew rules.”

Senator Clinton used herclosing statement to make adirect appeal for the IAMendorsement. “I would loveto have your support. I’d loveto have your partnership, notjust during this campaign,but when the hard work real-ly starts, when I get inaugu-

rated,” Clinton said. “I wantyou there with me. Together,we’ll change America and getour country back on the righttrack.”

Leaving the stage to astanding ovation, Clintonshook hands, had her picturetaken with IAM membersand signed autographs untilthe room emptied. Later she

met with the IAM ExecutiveCouncil and PresidentBuffenbarger to again ask forthe IAM’s support.

Huckabee Enters the Lion’s Den

Next up was formerArkansas Governor MikeHuckabee. As the onlyRepublican candidate inOrlando, he knew he neededa direct but humorousapproach.

“I am here to ask for yoursupport and endorsement,”Governor Huckabee said,“which may seem a littleunusual. I know that to a lotof people, quite frankly, aRepublican coming to a unionmeeting seems about as out ofplace as Michael Vick at ameeting of PETA.”

While Huckabee’s linedrew laughs from the audi-ence, if not from the Peoplefor the Ethical Treatment ofAnimals or the Atlanta

Resources for skills training, such as this Cleveland-area high school course onCNC machine programming, are critical for keeping America’s manufacturingbase strong.

After her remarks drew a standing ovation at the National Staff Conference,Senator Clinton greeted an enthusiastic IAM crowd.

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Falcon’s quarterback, hequickly explained his bluecollar roots.

“My father was a fire-man and worked as amechanic on his days offfixing car generators, backwhen cars had generators,”said Huckabee. “My dadnever had a day of his lifethat he didn’t have thework of the day still on hishands when he camehome.”

Better FutureThen Huckabee turned

serious. He explained that he“was the first male child inmy entire family lineage toeven graduate from highschool … the 44th governor ofArkansas, who stayed in thatjob for 10 and a half years …lived a life that mostAmericans lived, a life thathasn’t always been easy.Here’s what I worry about,”continued Huckabee. “How

many of you are living bettertoday than you everdreamed you would be livingwhen you were a kid? Myguess is every hand in thisroom would go up. But if Iask, how many of you haveconfidence that your grand-children will be living aneven better life than you?My fear is that nobody’shand would go up.

“I’m here because Ibelieve that, whether we’releft, right, liberal, conserva-tive, you need to be thinkingabout what takes this coun-try up, not what’s taking usdown.”

Then Huckabee took ashot at the CEOs who keep“asking for huge concessionson the part of the peoplewho actually make up theday-to-day workforce.

“In many cases, theywent after the baggage han-dlers, their ticket agents, thepeople at the gate and thepilots … to take up the slack.The CEO gets a $100 million

bonus and the stock goesdown eight percent. Why onGod’s earth do we allow thatkind of disparity? And thereality is that we can’t.”

After a long discussion ofhis FAIR tax plan, his viewson health care and a spiriteddefense of Wal-Mart businesspractices, Huckabee turnedto the issue of trade.

“American companiesare going to try to find thebest way they can to survive,to bring products to the mar-ketplace,” said Huckabee.“Where we failed as a coun-try is by allowing the Chi-nese to buy up extraordinaryamounts of our currency, andthen use the manipulation ofthat currency to artificiallylower their prices and toforce things back into thecountry. We’re allowing anincredible trade deficit that… last year alone was over$232 billion.”

Asked by Moriarty howhe would define his politics,Huckabee responded, “I am

Former Governor Mike Huckabee pledged to be the president for all Americans.

Huckabee spoke out against companies demanding concessions while givingCEOs large bonuses. Above, Wall Street specialists trade shares of healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group, whose CEO left after investigations into $2.1billion in stock options granted him by the company.

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not a Wall Street Republican,and I’m not a K StreetWashington lobbyistRepublican. In fact, nobody’schallenging Wall Street andK Street like me in theRepublican party, nobody.I’m the only Republicanthat’s coming to this meet-ing here tonight. And thereason is because I know inmy heart I’m a Main StreetRepublican.”

Protect ManufacturingHis anti-establishment

role became obvious asHuckabee talked aboutAmerica’s ability “to fight forourselves. And that meanswe have to manufacture ourown weapons of defense. Wecan’t be dependent uponsome other government toprovide for our weapons ofdefense.”

Huckabee argued thatAmerica has to “stop allow-ing the Chinese to pillage uswith devalued currency,cheap unregulated goods,and force the American man-ufacturer to play by a set ofrules [that] you’re not forc-ing everybody else to playby. Secondly, if you makethis an issue, not just of theeconomy, but of nationalsecurity, then we need to dowhatever it takes to makesure that we are manufactur-ing our own weapons ofdefense. If we don’t, we areat the mercy of whoever ismanufacturing thoseweapons to be free.”

The candidate fromHope, Arkansas ended hisConversation with a powerful,poignant statement explain-ing why he was there. “Icame here because if I’m the

president, I’m going to bethe president of every singleAmerican, even the onesthat don’t vote for me. I’vegot to be the president ofevery Democrat who reallywanted somebody else towin. I’ve got to be the presi-dent of people who don’tshare my personal religiousfaith. I was that kind of gov-ernor. I didn’t please every-body. I never will.

“And I do understandwhen I look into the eyes ofsomebody who tells methey’ve lost their job. I knowwhat that feels like. And Iknow the terror in a person’sface when they say it. And itwill not be lost on me. I maynot have all the answers, butI’m still going to be the president of all the people.And I would give my utmostand my best to make sure

Using know-how gained from making components for U.S. plane manufacturers, China is producing its first com-mercial regional jetliner, the ARJ-21, that will flight test in 2008. China plans to produce large jets by 2020.

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that I never forgot where Icame from and I wouldnever forget where you camefrom. That’s the best I couldpromise you, but I promiseyou that.”

Edwards’ ClosingArgument

The following evening,August 28th, former SenatorJohn Edwards and Congress-man Dennis Kucinich bat-tled for the IAM endorse-ment. By prior agreement,Edwards went first. The for-mer North Carolina Senatorand Democratic vice presi-dential nominee was a manon a mission. Edwards metwith the IAM ExecutiveCouncil for five minutes andPresident Buffenbarger pri-vately for a few minutesbefore going on stage. Therehe wasted no time makinghis pitch.

“I want to be the presi-

dent of the United Stateswho ends the war in Iraq,but I also want to be thepresident of the UnitedStates who ends GeorgeBush’s war on working peo-ple in this country,” hebegan. “I want to be thepresident that stands up andfights for American jobs …And then finally, I want tobe the president of theUnited States that strength-ens and grows the unionmovement.”

Clearly John Edwardsknew what he wanted to be.What wasn’t equally clearwas what he would do aspresident. Repealing the fed-eral right-to-work law was acase in point.

Asked by Erin Moriarty ifhe would sign a bill repeal-ing section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, Senator Edwardstried to shift the question to“the rights of workers to bemembers of a union.”

But Moriarty zeroed in onright-to-work and asked, “IfCongress, in fact, enacted alaw … that said that [if] any-one who was in a unionshop, they would have to jointhat union; they’d have topay dues. Would that besomething you would sign?”

In the transcript, Edwardsis quoted as saying, “Yes.(stammers) Absolutely. I willdo anything. Here’s what Ibelieve. I believe we will notcontinue to have a strongmiddle class in this countryunless we strengthen andgrow the organized labormovement. It’s that simple.”

Asked about his signatureissue – poverty in America –Edwards responded, “I thinkthe greatest anti-povertymovement in American histo-ry is the organized labormovement. And to the extentwe can grow and strengthenthe organized labor move-ment, we will have a directimpact on poverty in thiscountry.”


The hollowing out of America’s manufacturing base threatens our ability to produce the products for national defense, such as ammunition, tanks,aircraft and electronic components.

Former Senator John Edwards focused onhealth care and fighting poverty.

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Health CareInitiative

Then it was on tohealth care. “My propos-al [mandates] that everyman and woman, every-body in America be cov-ered. It covers up cracksin the health care sys-tem. It bans pre-existingconditions … [gives]mental health parity,mental health is treatedthe same as physicalhealth. Preventive care,chronic care, long-termcare, all covered. Dentalcare and vision care arecovered. You can choosebetween either a privateplan or a governmentplan.”

Edwards explainedthat his plan lets Americans“take your health care withyou wherever you go. If you’relaid off, if you change jobs, ifyou just moved from one partof the country to the other,your health care can go withyou. And we actually have asystem for monitoring thequality of care and the qualityof choices that are available.”

“And I don’t believe youcan have universal health carefor free,” said Edwards. Myplan costs “90 to 120 billion ayear, and I pay for it by get-ting rid of Bush‘s tax cuts forpeople who make over$200,000 a year.

“I was against NAFTA andCAFTA, et. al. from the begin-ning.” And when asked if hewould get rid of those agree-ments, Edwards said, “I would

first try to redo them with reallabor standards, real environ-mental standards and realenforcement mechanisms. Ifthat’s not possible, yes, get ridof them.”

Edwards drew applausewhen he said, “I came fromnothing. I worked hard allmy life. All my work hasbeen on behalf of peoplewho are in this room, fight-ing big corporations, bigmultinational corporations,and their armies of lawyers. Ihave no apologies whatsoev-er for what I’ve done withmy life. I’ve worked hard.I’ve been there for my fami-ly, and my kids have had abetter life than I had. And Ido not back away from thatfor a second.

“I want your support,”

Senator Edwards concluded,“I’ve been with you in thecrunch. And I want you to bewith me in the crunchbecause I’m telling you thattogether we can strengthenand grow this movement. Andmost importantly, we canstrengthen and grow Americain the process.”

Edwards left the stage tothunderous applause, andimmediately plunged into afriendly crowd.

Kucinich Will CancelNAFTA and WTO

As members returned totheir seats, the final Conver-sation with the Candidatesbegan. Introduced byPresident Buffenbarger as aman who works tirelessly to

Workers at Cessna Aircraft defeated Cessna’s attempt to impose “Definity,” a substandardhealth plan. America’s health care crisis makes medical benefits a tough issue in contractnegotiations for both active workers and retirees.


better the lives of working-class Americans, OhioCongressman DennisKucinich told the audiencewhy the Machinists Unionflag flies in his congressionaloffice.

The IAM flag “was putthere after 1999 when Imarched with the Machinistsin Seattle. They were thereand they were so strong. Iwalked right next toPresident Buffenbarger. And Itold him in Seattle I wantthat Machinists flag right inmy Washington office sopeople can see whatMachinists stand for. Theystand for what’s good forAmerica.”

Kucinich then talkedabout his childhood. “Backin Cleveland, Ohio,” heexplained, “my familyfought every day for survival… had concerns about wherethe next check’s comingfrom … whether there was

going to be money to sendthe kids to school, whetherthere’s going be food on thetable, whether [they could]afford to pay the bills or not.I understand what people gothrough.”

Top PrioritiesIn a rapid-fire litany,

Kucinich went through hispriority to-do list. “First actin office, cancel NAFTA andthe WTO and have tradeconditioned only on work-ers’ rights, human rights andenvironmental quality prin-ciples. That’s the first act.

“Then I’ll send theCongress a bill for Medicarefor all: a single-payer, univer-sal, not-for-profit health caresystem. Today, the CensusBureau said 47 millionAmericans are withouthealth insurance. But youknow at the bargainingtable, health insurance is thekey issue. It’s been used to

squeeze unions for a coupleof decades.

“Under a KucinichAdministration, health careis no longer a bargainingissue because everyone’scovered, a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare system. I’ve written thebill. It’s H.R. 676,” he said.

“It’s time to free workersfrom the worries they haveof losing their job, not hav-ing portability with theirhealth insurance,” saidKucinich.

Asked if SEIU presidentAndy Stern was correct insaying the train had left thestation when it came tomanufacturing jobs,Kucinich responded, “Well,Mr. Stern, we’re going tobuild trains in America.We’re going to build newrails in America. We’re goingto have an American manu-facturing policy that saysthat the maintenance ofsteel, automotive, aerospace

Kucinich pledged to reform America’s health care system that enriches corporations but leaves millions of Americans uninsured and unable toafford prescription drugs.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich vowedto repeal NAFTA and protect Americanmanufacturing jobs.

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and shipping is vital to ournational economic securityand our national defense.”

Kucinich closed by remi-niscing about facing downthe banks as Cleveland’smayor. “In 1978, the bankerstold me to sign the papers tosell our local utility company.I thought of my parents.

“They were sitting in asmall apartment above 10712St. Clair Avenue ... I stood inthe hallway. They were count-ing pennies to pay utility bills... And when I saw that as achild, it had an indelibleimpression on me.

“So I’m sitting therewith this banker and think-ing ‘there are people that itreally matters to them whatthey pay for electricity, real-ly matters if they can getelectricity for $70 a monthinstead of $100 a month.And so I said NO to thesale,” said Kucinich.

The battle withCleveland’s bankers costKucinich his next mayor’srace. It would be fifteenyears before he returned topublic office, first as a statesenator and then as aMember of Congress.

His courageous standmarked him as a hero to themen and women at the IAMNational Staff Conference.

Extensive OutreachThroughout August, the

IAM conducted an extensivemembership outreach effort.In a random sample surveyof all IAM members andretirees, an online poll avail-

able to all members onGOIAM.org and on comput-ers set up for National StaffConference participants,over 3,000 IAM members lettheir voices be heard.

Members narrowly sup-ported the idea of a dualendorsement – endorsing oneDemocrat and one Repub-lican candidate in the presi-dential primaries and caucus-es. Independents andRepublicans were overwhelm-ingly supportive.

On the question of can-didate preferences, IAMmembers reflected theAmerican public almostexactly. Among theDemocrats polled, SenatorHillary Clinton won 38 per-cent; Senator Barack Obamaheld at 22 percent, Senator

John Edwards was at 13 per-cent and CongressmanDennis Kucinich drew threepercent.

Among members whosaid they were registeredRepublicans – roughly one-third of the sample, thesame pattern held. The lead-ing GOP contenders drewequivalent levels of supportas in national surveys.Governor Mike Huckabee,the only Republican to par-ticipate in the Conversations,drew support from sevenpercent, roughly double hisnational polling numbers.

In the survey, 72 percentof IAM members agreed thatthe union’s leadership shouldendorse the presidential candi-dates who best represented theinterests of working people

Workers assemble motorcycles in a factory in Shanghai, China. Without better trade laws, countries like China will continue to gain manufacturingskills and jobs.

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and the concerns ofMachinists union members.

Even among IAM leaders,the jury was still out. Theywere considering all the evi-dence, evaluating all the argu-ments, and assessing what wasin the best long-term interestsof its members.

Strategic EndorsementOn Thursday morning,

August 30th, InternationalPresident Tom Buffenbargerexplained the value of an IAMendorsement to the NationalStaff Conference.

“Our endorsement car-ries with it something price-less — a blue collar union’sseal of approval,” he said.“And make no mistake aboutthis. Blue collar families arethe key demographic battle-ground in 2008.”

“We cannot unify ourunion,” explained

Buffenbarger, “nor unify ourcountry unless we are pre-pared to face the hard facts,”he asserted. “A third of ourmembers vote Republican;two-thirds vote Democratic.And we need to find commonground – inside our ownhouse and in the larger bodypolitic – if we are to addressthe crises this country and thiscontinent are facing.” Findingthat common ground goeshand-in-hand with “findingreliable partners who will …work with us on the issuesthat matter most to our mem-bers,” said Buffenbarger.

Historically, the IAMendorsed the men whofought in the trenches along-side the Fighting Machinists.Those fights did not occur inthe few months before anelection, but in the years anddecades that led up to thosepresidential elections. Nor

did those fights end whenthe polls closed.

“The men we endorsedkept fighting shoulder toshoulder with us in the yearsAFTER the polls closed,” saidBuffenbarger. “Some like TedKennedy, Tom Harkin andDick Gephardt are still ouractive partners today. Betweenthem they have 48 years ofpartnering with us AFTERtheir campaigns for the presi-dency ended.”

So a strategic endorsement– one that aimed for a lasting,real partnership – was theobjective.

The Case for Huckabee“I was impressed with

former Governor MikeHuckabee,” explainedBuffenbarger. “He had theguts to tell us where he dis-agreed with us and thebrains to figure out where wemight work together.

“He didn’t tell us whatwe wanted to hear. He toldus what he believed, evenwhen not a single one of uswould have agreed with him.That took guts. That tookconviction – not a bad com-bination.”

When the vote was


More than 700 participants at the National Staff Conference had theopportunity to express their opinions online about the presidential primarycandidates and issues in the 2008 elections.

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called, the conference agreedto endorse former ArkansasGovernor Mike Huckabee.

Unanimous for ClintonTurning to the endorse-

ment for the Democratic nom-inee, Buffenbarger reiteratedthat the IAM was “looking fora strategic partner who willwork with our union over thelong haul, can amass over 70million votes in the generalelection, can compete for 350Electoral College votes, andcan govern this nation in atime of multiple crises.”

Buffenbarger remindedthose in Orlando that duringthe last Clinton Administra-tion, “this union had a friendin the West Wing – and afriend in the East Wing. Wefought with the Oval Officeon NAFTA and PNTR. Weworked with the East Wing onhealth care reform. Weworked with the White Houseon the Family Medical LeaveAct, a patients’ bill of rightsand the creation of 18 millionnew JOBS.

“Over the last seven years,the former First Lady keptworking for our brothers andsisters in New York. When theterrorists attacked, she wagedwar with our own bureaucracyto provide recovery monies, toaddress the respiratory ills ofthe union men and womenwho worked at Ground Zero –the World Trade Center coughwe highlighted in our docu-mentary Everyday Heroes.

“On CAFTA she was withus. On EFCA she was with us.She fought shoulder to shoul-der with us on legislation

impacting the airline industry.And she co-founded theSenate Manufacturing Caucus.

“She is campaigning tomake the Invisibles – the bluecollar men and women, theunion brothers and sisters –visible to the next president ofthe United States.

“Hillary Clinton is focus-ing on jobs, on OUR jobs, onOUR industries.

“I believe,” assertedBuffenbarger, “that SenatorClinton will make a spectacu-lar president. She’s smart.She’s tough. She’s focused.She’s a fighter. And with ourhelp – with the help of theFighting Machinists – she’sgoing to be the Democraticnominee for president.”

Again, the conferencevoted. The IAM endorsementdecision was unanimous. Nota dissenting voice was heard.

Choices had been made.Senator Hillary Clinton andformer Arkansas GovernorMike Huckabee were chosen asthe IAM standard-bearers inthe 2008 primaries and caucus-es. It was an historic momentfor a history-making union.

And now those choicesbelong to the IAM member-ship.

On the last day of the National Staff Conference, the IAM made an historic dualendorsement in the presidential primaries of Democratic candidate Senator HillaryClinton and Republican candidate former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

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Hillary Clinton


Labor’s handiworkcan be found onevery page of ournation’s history.During World War

II, union workers built thegreat fleet of Liberty ships,cargo freighters turned out atbreakneck speed that becamean enduring symbol of thiscountry’s industrial capacity.

Known as the “cargo-car-rying key to the allied victo-ry,” Liberty ships carriedtwo-thirds of all suppliesleaving U.S. shores duringWorld War II. The 441-footfreighters were a common

sight and a frequent targetfrom the North Atlantic tothe South Pacific.

Before the war ended in1945, more than 200 Libertyships were sunk by enemyplanes, ships, submarinesand shore batteries. Nearly7,000 American MerchantSeamen, all volunteers, losttheir lives in addition to1,801 Naval Armed Guardgunners who manned theship’s slender defensivearmaments.

Of the 2,710 Libertyships built at 18 shipyardsbetween 1941 and 1945,

only the SS John W. Brownand the SS Jeremiah O’Brienremain operational today.Moored in Baltimore Harborwhere it was launched onLabor Day, 1942, the JohnW. Brown holds added sig-nificance for union mem-bers. It bears the name oflabor leader John W. Brown,who helped organize Local 4of the Industrial Union ofMarine and ShipbuildingWorkers of America (IUMSWA) at Bath IronWorks in Bath, ME.

As a union organizer atthe turn of the century,Brown personally witnessedmany of labor’s early strug-gles, including the infamous1914 massacre of strikingcoal miners in Ludlow, CO.The IUMSWA went on tomerge with the IAM in 1988.

History Comes Alive“Standing on the rail of

the John W. Brown today andfeeling its massive steamengine come to life is tohave a taste of what so manyservicemen and women feltas they embarked for distantand dangerous shores,” saidEastern Territory GeneralVice President Lynn D.Tucker, Jr., who presented

Marine and Shipbuilding Workersunion members (IUMSWA) atBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard inBaltimore, MD, left, built theLiberty Ship John W. Brown in1942. The IUMSWA merged withthe IAM in 1988.

Liberty Ships: Union Built to Last

Project Liberty Ship with a$5,000 donation on behalfof the IAM. Project LibertyShip (www.liberty-ship.com)is a non-profit organizationdedicated to preserving theSS John W. Brown as amemorial to the men andwomen who built, sailedand defended the Libertyfleet.

Each year, hundreds ofveterans, students and fam-ilies sign up for one of sev-eral educational voyagesthe historic vessel makeson the Chesapeake Bay.This year, the Brown alsosteamed north to Portland,ME to take part in cere-monies honoring NewEngland’s union ship-builders who built 244 ofthe legendary Liberty shipsbetween 1941 and 1945.

The speed at whichLiberty ships were builtremains a testament to themotivation and productivity

of American workers.Members of IUMSWA Local43 at Bethlehem-FairfieldShipyard in Baltimore com-pleted construction of the

Brown in 41 days. The speed record

for building aLiberty ship belongsto the men andwomen wholaunched the SSRobert G. Peary froma Richmond, CA,shipyard in aremarkable fourdays, 15.5 hoursafter her keel waslaid. The honorbelongs to both men

and women shipbuilders. Ofthe 700,000 U.S. ship-builders in 1943, thirty per-cent were women.

The John W. Brown made13 wartime voyages across theAtlantic to the Persian Gulfand the Mediterranean Seaand took part in the 1944invasion of Southern France.

After the war, the Brownwas loaned to the City ofNew York, where it served asthe nation’s only floatingmaritime high school from1946 to 1982 before beingacquired in 1988 by the vol-unteers of Project LibertyShip who restored it to itsoriginal configuration.

The John W. Brown is one of only two World War II Liberty ships still in operation.Named after Shipbuilding Workers’ labor leader John W. Brown, the ship conductsseveral trips each year on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay to keep alive the legacy ofthose who built and those who sailed these historic ships.

Eastern Territory GVP Lynn D. Tucker Jr., right, presents a donation to Captain Jeffrey Moore, left, of Project Liberty Ship that will help preserve the union-built Liberty Ship John W. Brown.

to Last



TCU NEWS

By strong majorities of75 percent and 84 percent ofthose voting, TCU carmenand clerks at the major U.S.freight railroads ratifiedupdated contracts that willgenerate solid wage increasesand income gains.

The agreements for thetwo groups took effectOctober 1. Contract termsare retroactive to January 1,2005 and extend throughDecember 31, 2009.

On a compounded basis,wage increases will total 18.2percent. “The net moneygenerated by this agreementis significantly higher thanwhat’s been produced byrecent national contracts,”both TCU InternationalPresident Bob Scardelletti

and Carmen DivisionPresident Rich Johnsonreported.

Moreover, “this contractcontains no workrule conces-sions, despite carrierdemands during two years ofbargaining for sweeping roll-backs in employee protec-tion and expansion of con-tracting out.” Health andwelfare costs to members arefixed at 15 percent of thecarriers’ insurance costs.

Scardelletti and Johnsonnote that through much ofthe two and a half years ofnegotiations, the carrierswere “emboldened byRepublican control ofCongress and the WhiteHouse” in pursuing hard linebargaining tactics, but

progress began after theDemocratic congressionalvictory last November.

Contract Ratified atNew Jersey Transit

In other bargaining news,by a vote of nearly 85 percentin favor, members of Lodge626 at New Jersey Transit over-whelmingly ratified their newcontract. The agreement cov-ers employees in the clericaland TC-Division crafts.International RepresentativeRussell Oathout led the nego-tiating committee; AnthonyStevens is Local Chairman ofLodge 626.

Amtrak UpdateTCU continues to call on

the National MediationBoard to release us frommediation in negotiationsthat have stretched pasteight years for carmen andsupervisors and almost threeyears for clerical and on-board service members. Thisaction will start the clockrunning again, movingtoward the likelihood of aPresidential EmergencyBoard and the possibility ofa strike. “We are up against acarrier making radical con-cessionary demands and tak-

Carmen and Clerks Ratify NationalFreight Rail Agreements

ing an intransigent negotiat-ing position,” saidInternational Vice PresidentJoel Parker, a former Amtrakgeneral chairman. “It is longpast time to move forwardand we have urged the NMBto acknowledge that. Thenwe must do whatever it takesto bring home to the mem-bership what they deserve.”

Meanwhile, on the leg-islative front, Amtrak fund-ing is moving throughCongress. H.R. 3074, a fiscalyear 2008 Transportation-Housing and UrbanDevelopment appropriationsbill, passed the Senate by avote of 88-7 on September12 and at press time awaitedHouse-Senate conference.“The bill would give Amtrak$1.4 billion – $600 millionmore than requested byPresident Bush,” said TCUInternational Vice Presidentand National LegislativeDirector Bob Davis.

Bauman ElectedCarmen Division Board Chairman

The Carmen DivisionExecutive Board elected L. C.Bauman, InternationalRepresentative of Unit 320,as its Chairman and to serveas Grand Lodge Trustee afterthe retirement in August ofUnit 200 InternationalRepresentative J.V. Waller,who held both posts.

At Unit 200, also as aresult of Waller’s retirement,

Jack Wright is now theInternational Representativeand Roger Cain will serve asAssistant International

Representative. For moreinformation see the CarmenDivision section atwww.TCUnion.org.


TCU has endorsedSenator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in her primary elec-tion campaign for presidentof the United States. Theendorsement followed a‘Conversation with theCandidates’ forum where sev-eral candidates appeared dur-ing the IAM National StaffConference in Orlando, FL,which TCU officers attended.“This forum confirmed mybelief that the best candidate

for our members and all oflabor is Hillary Clinton,” saidScardelletti. “She givesAmerican workers the bestopportunity to have a friendand advocate in the WhiteHouse.” He encourages mem-bers and their families tobecome active campaignersfor Clinton. “She has earnedour support: She is right onAmtrak, she is right on pen-sions and she is right onworkers’ rights.”

Sen. Hillary Clinton Wins TCU Endorsement

TCU endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary afterher appearance at the IAM National Staff Conference in Orlando, FL.

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AEROSPACE

The financial skies overCessna Aircraft Company,the world’s largest light air-craft manufacturer, weregetting brighter. After sur-viving an industry-widedownturn after theSeptember 11 attacks,Cessna was back to turningout aircraft at full speed.

The 5,700 members ofLocal 774, District 70, inWichita, KS, who produceCessna aircraft looked for-ward to a new contract thaterased sacrifices they madewhen the company wasstruggling. They were deter-mined to protect their cur-rent health care options andto preserve hard-won retire-

ment benefits. Driving homethe point, Local 774 mem-bers voted by an overwhelm-ing 99.3 percent to authorizea strike if the company pro-posed an unsatisfactoryagreement.

On September 8, lessthan a week before the con-tract expired, theNegotiating Committeereported that the partieswere “miles apart.” Theprospect of a crippling strikedrew nearer each day. Overthe next two days, the com-pany submitted proposalsthat were more appropriateto a company on the ropes,rather than one with a back-log of orders.

On September 11, Local774 called for an old-fash-ioned rally and filled down-town Wichita with thou-sands of Cessna workers.“They rocked the city,” saidAerospace Coordinator RonEldridge. “The strong, unitedvoice of a very determinedmembership was heard loudand clear.”

New ProposalsWithin hours of the

rally, company representa-tives called the NegotiatingCommittee to schedule ameeting that night. Within24 hours, new proposalswere on the table.

Four days later, themembers of Local 774 rati-fied a new three-year agree-ment that preserved theirhealth care coverage withoutemployees being forced intothe company’s proposedhigh-deductible plan. Thenew agreement also providesannual wage increases of fivepercent, four percent andfour percent, a $3,000 ratifi-cation bonus and a pensionincrease.

“On behalf of the Local774 Negotiating Committee,I want to thank the member-ship for the support theyshowed at the rally andthroughout these negotia-tions,” said District 70President Steve Rooney.

Wichita Members RatifyCessna Contract

Thousands of Local 774 members tookto the streets in downtown Wichita,KS. Four days later, they had animproved agreement with Cessna.



Fighting a Battle on Two FrontsAfter United Space

Alliance (USA) proposed asubstandard contract offerlast June, Joe Tidwell andhis fellow members of Local2061 and District 166 inCocoa, FL, put down theirtools, climbed down fromtheir cranes and walked offthe job.

Tidwell has been walk-ing the line like mosteveryone else. Unlike mosteveryone else, however,Tidwell is also battling forhis life. Fighting prostatecancer since 1992, anddiagnosed with colon can-cer in 2004, Tidwell isundergoing chemotherapytreatments, but he stillwalks the picket line.

Tidwell’s forty-yearcareer with NASA goes backto the Apollo programwhere he was a swing-armmechanic. Since then, he’sworked for TWA, Bendix,Boeing Services Interna-tional, Lockheed and nowUSA, the launch servicejoint venture formed byLockheed Martin and theBoeing Company.

Stick TogetherWhen the strike at USA

was evident, Local 2061President Lew Jamiesonoffered Tidwell alternativestrike duty because of his ill-

ness. But Tidwell wouldn’thear of it. “After forty yearsand six strikes, it’s not in meto cross a picketline or not servepicket duty,” saidTidwell. “I wantto support andencourage the restof the folks. Iwant to tell themcompanies comeand companiesgo, and no matterthe outcome, westick togetherbecause all we gotis each other.”

“Every timewe see Joe out onthe line,” saidJamieson, “itmakes us proudto be a Machinistand proud to behis brother.”

As the IAMJournal went topress, the strike atUSA continued.Key issues includejob security andretirement con-cerns as NASAtransitions fromthe Space Shuttleto the Aries/Orionprogram.

“Joe Tidwell and hisfellow members are mak-ing a stand to win a con-tract that protects their

jobs, their families andtheir retirements,” saidSouthern Territory GVP

Bob Martinez. “Shoulderto shoulder, they’re stand-ing together and settingan example that willendure for years.”

Battling both cancer and the United Space Alliance, Local2061 member Joe Tidwell has been an inspiration on thepicket lines.

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

After more than sevenyears of negotiations, the IAMcontinues to press theNational Mediation Board(NMB) for a release frommediated negotiations.“Amtrak management hasproposed totally unacceptableconcessions,” said Transpor-tation GVP Robert Roach, Jr.“A release is long overdue.”

Under the NMB rulesthat govern rail and airlinenegotiations, a release signalsthe end of mediated negotia-tions and the start of a 30-day countdown. If no agree-ment is reached during that

time, the union would befree to strike unless PresidentBush intervenes and appointsa Presidential EmergencyBoard (PEB).

A PEB would trigger anadditional 30 days to investi-gate the dispute and issue itsnon-binding settlement rec-ommendations. After the PEBreports to the President, bothsides have a second 30-daycooling-off period to considerthe PEB's recommendations.

“We are fully prepared fora Presidential EmergencyBoard,” said GVP Roach. “Ourattorneys and economists are

primed to defend the positionsour negotiators have taken atthe bargaining table.”

Amtrak workers have been waitingmore than seven years for a new contract and are pressing for a release from mediated negotiations.

Amtrak Negotiations Inch Forward

The 7,500 Ramp workers atContinental Airlines (CAL) aregetting help in their bid to wincollective bargaining rights anda voice on the job. At majorhub locations in Newark andHouston, IAM-represented CALFlight Attendants are explain-ing the benefits of a lawful,binding union contract.

“The simple fact is that

IAM representation gives yourights on the job you can’t getany other way,” said RosalieCanton, a 38-year FlightAttendant and member ofLocal 2339H in Houston, TX.

“Without a contract, workrules, pension benefits and payschedules can all be changedwithout notice. In an industryas volatile as ours, it’s crazy to

expect a company to honorcommitments that aren’t in writing.”

In Newark, NJ, CAL Rampworkers welcomed the FlightAttendants’ support.

“A successful organizingdrive would be good for theRamp workers and good for theFlight Attendants,” said JamieHerrera, a 17-year Ramp workerat Newark. “We may work indifferent environments, but weshould be on the same side ofthe table when it comes to pro-tecting the jobs and careerswe’ve built with this airline.”

IAM-represented Flight Attendants atContinental Airlines (CAL) are work-ing together with CAL Ramp workersto win representation for the 7,500-member unit. Left to right: CAL Rampworkers Mitchell Buckley, JamieHerrera, Harrison Owens (FlightAttendant) and Jerome Richards.


Support Grows for Continental Ramp Drive

Union SportSmen’S AlliAnce • UnionSportSmen.org • 877-USA-2211

YouWork Hard. You Play Hard.That’s the UnionWay.

Now, when union membersplay hard in the outdoors,they can count on the USAto make their experience even better.More than 3.2 million membersof AFL-CIO affiliated unions hunt, fish and enjoythe outdoors. It’s about time we had our own club.Your union and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

(TRCP) think so. They havejoined forces to bring you theUnion Sportsmen’s Alliance(USA), a one-of-a-kindhunting and fishing clubexclusively for unionmembers, retireesand their families.

You AskedFor It,

You Got It!

Through the forum section of the USA website, union hunters and anglersnow have the opportunity to connect with their union brothers and sistersacross North America who share a common passion for the great outdoors.Thinking of buying the latest hunting or fishing gadget? Ask other unionhunting and fishing enthusiasts before you make a purchase. Trying to plana hunting or fishing trip? Ask your fellow USA members about guides andoutfitters they’ve used and avoid wasting money and valuable vacationtime. Got a photo of an impressive trophy or have a tried-and-true tip toshare? Post them on the USA website. Union members everywhere nowhave a home on the Internet at www.unionsportsmen.org.

Connect with Fellow Union Sportsmen

“I really enjoy the USAmembers-only forums, andI’ve already made lots offriends that I know will becomegreat Union hunting buddies.”Beau JencksIAMAWDistrict 60 Organizer

Hunt! Fish! UNION!Union SportSmen’S AlliAnceA New Club for Union Members

Union SportSmen’S AlliAnce • UnionSportSmen.org

The USAwebsite provides good, old-fashioned hunt-ing and fishing articles that are both entertaining andinformative. Much like kicking back with your favoriteoutdoor magazine, the next best thing to actually be-

ing out there inthe woods or on alake is reading agood story aboutit. Join a stalk fora mule deer buckwith a bow on arugged, westernmountain slope.Learn new tech-niques to outwit atrophy whitetail,catch fall transitionbass or learn touse stinger rigs fordoubling on wall-eye. The content at

unionsportsmen.org is updated regularly with articles bythe nations top outdoor writers like Larry Nixon, MarkKayser, Peter Mathiesen and many more. The articlesare organized by hunting and fishing categories, with funfeatures, tips and techniques, so you can quickly find justwhat you’re looking for.

Exclusive Accessto Outdoor Stories,Tips & Techniques Your USA

Membershipis Loaded

with BenefitsWhen you join the USA for an annual fee of just$25, you’ll receive a $25 gift certificate on Berettafield gear (no minimum purchase) and a one-yearsubscription to a top outdoor magazine. Plus, you’llbe entered to win thousands of dollars worth ofhunting and fishing gear, gift certificates and tripsthroughout the year. Members also receive a person-alized membership card, auto and hard-hat decals,a bundle of savings with deals and discounts on yourfavorite outdoor gear and a members website toshare ideas and discover new places to hunt and fish.For $15 more, you can become a Charter member ofthe USA and receive all the benefits from the basemembership along with a stylish Union Sportsmen’sAlliance hat (made in the USA) and a full hour ofaction-packed outdoor excitement with our exclusiveBig Bucks - Big Bass DVD. A membership in the USAmore than pays for itself with the benefits packagealone!

*Some membership premiums pictured require Charter membership.

Union SportSmen’S AlliAnce • 877-USA-2211

Save Big with the USA!The nations top outdoor companies wantto be a part of the Union Sportsmen’sAlliance, so they’re offering member-ship benefits that make a USA member-ship a no-brainer. Are you looking forsome great deals on hunting and fishingequipment from brands you know and

trust? The USA is working hard to identifygreat opportunities to save you money onproducts you need for the field and on thewater. And with our commitment to locatethe best offers from Union Made/U.S.Made manufacturers first and foremost,you’ll be impressed with what outdoor

companies are offering. There are evenmore deals and discounts on the website,and USA will continually update this sec-tion with new offers. Make sure you keepcoming back to see what new deals anddiscounts we have for you. Start savingbig with your USA membership today!

Ardent ReelsArdent is proud to be the only 100%American owned manufacturer of castingand spinning reels that are Made in theU.S.A. and backed by an industry best 3year warranty. USAmembers receive a 10% discounton all products purchased from the Ardent website.

Corwin KnivesCorwin Knives, proudly as-sembled by IAM Local 475members, offers their OriginalRifle Stock Hunting Knife withsheath to USAmembers at aspecial discount of $50 off all online purchases.

TruckVaultTruckVault, the industry leader in securein-vehicle storage systems to the outdoorand sport markets, is proud to present aspecial offer available only to membersof the Union Sportsman’s Alliance.

Great Deals just for USAMembersDrake andMcAlisterLooking for some great waterfowl andupland gear for the upcoming season?Look no further then Drake WaterfowlSystems and McAlister for all of yourapparel and accessories needs. No matter what MotherNature has in store for you this year, the Drake and McAl-

ister lines will deliver quality, comfortand style for your time in the field.The best part is that USAmembers canpurchase all of this great gear onlinefrom these two premium brands at a

15% discount! Visit the Union Sportsmen’s Alliancewebsite for more details.

American RodsmithsAmerican Rodsmiths is recognizedas one of the premier fishing rod manufacturers in thecountry, and we are pleased to offer a discount of 35%to all USAmembers on all catalog orders. With over 300different fresh and saltwater actions to choose from,American Rodsmiths has the fishing rod you want and need.

Union SportSmen’S AlliAnce • UnionSportSmen.org • 877-USA-2211

Unite for the Future ofOur Outdoor HeritageFor those of us who love to hunt and fish, there are few things we value more. Imag-ine life without watching the sun dissolve the morning mist with a fishing rod in hand or sitting in a tree stand amidst fall foliage attune to every rustle of the leaves. Imagine not being able to pass on your knowledge and passion of the outdoors to your children and grandchildren. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) understands that hunting and fishing are more than hobbies; they are a lifestyle that has been passed down from generation to

generation, much like the union brother and sisterhood. Protecting that lifestyle is the very heart of the TRCP. Inspired by the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of hunting, fishing and con-servation organizations working togeth-er to guarantee all of us quality places to

hunt and fish. The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance has the power to significantly strengthen the TRCPs efforts by uniting thousands of union sportsmen and giving them a voice to support and protect the future of our hunt-ing and fishing heritage.

“This club will continue to grow due tothe passionatedesire toconserve places to hunt and fish for my son and future generations.”Todd Heustis - Sheet Metal Workers Local #9

Start Enjoying the Benefits of Being a USA Member Today!THREE WAYS TO JOIN: 1. Log on to UnionSportsmen.org 2. Call toll-free 877-USA-2211 3. Mail this completed form to: Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, P.O. Box 79732, Baltimore, Maryland 21279-0732

YES! I want to Join the USA. q $25 Annual Membership q $40 Charter Membership (includes USA hat & DVD)

Choose your one-year subscription to:q Petersen’s Hunting q In-Fisherman q Guns & Ammo

$2 of your $25 dues will be applied to your one-year subscription.If you don’t want a magazine, you’ll be refunded $2.

Enclosed is my check/money order for $Charge my: q VISA q MasterCard q Discover q American Express

Credit Card #:

Expiration Date: / $0.00 Sales Tax. Tax Exempt

Name on Card:

Your Signature:

Name:

Address:

City: State/Prov:

Zip/Postal Code: q U.S. q Canada

Phone:

Union: Local:

Are you a union: q Active Member q Retiree q Family Member

Email:Do You: q Hunt q Fish q Both

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