Author Archives: Paul Hopper

Happy Thanksgiving!

Union-Made in America Thanksgiving

Happy 11_25_2014_thanksgiving2Thanksgiving to everyone!
Did you know that your cranberry sauce might have been made by fellow IAM members?  Check out the link below for a Union made Thanksgiving and help support your fellow union brothers and sisters. “As you prepare to head to the grocery store to pick up your Thanksgiving dinner ingredients, double check your shopping list to make sure your Turkey Day fixin’s are all union made in America.”  Union-Made in America Thanksgiving

Virginians Vote No on Anti Union Amendment

amendment_one_workingfamilies_1Voters in Virginia voted overwhelmingly against the anti union, anti worker Amendment 1. The proposed amendment was an attempt to enshrine part of Virginia’s existing right to work law in the state constitution. Amendment 1 was designed by big business to silence the voices of hardworking Virginians.

Important Information for Virginia Voters

Virginia Vote No on 1

Tuesday voters in Virginia will have the opportunity to vote on putting so called “right to work” in our state constitution. Virginia is already a “right to work” for less state.
median-weekly-earnings-of-full-time-wage-and-salary-workers-2015

As you can see this isn’t just a slogan Union workers make more than nonunion workers.rtw_updated_downloadpm32269_2-1

Proposed Amendments 2016

Virginia Department of Elections > Election Law > Proposed Amendments 2016

Proposed Constitutional Amendments to be voted on at the November 8, 2016 Election

Article I. Bill of Rights. Section 11-A. Right to work.

  1. Ballot Question

Question: Should Article I of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to prohibit any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership to the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any such enterprise?

Explanation

Present Law

Currently, Virginia’s right to work law, § 40.1-59 of the Code of Virginia, provides that any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership in the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any such enterprise is against public policy and illegal. This has been the law and the declared public policy of the Commonwealth since 1947.

Proposed Amendment

The proposed amendment places the provisions of Virginia’s right to work law into the Constitution of Virginia. While Virginia law may be amended by any future General Assembly, a constitutional prohibition can only be changed by a future constitutional amendment approved by the voters.

Full Text of Amendment

Amend Article I of the Constitution of Virginia by adding a section numbered 11-A as follows: (Proposed new language is underlined.)

Article I. Bill of Rights. Section 11-A. Right to work.

Any agreement or combination between any employer and any labor union or labor organization whereby nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, or whereby such membership is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or whereby any such union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any enterprise, is against public policy and constitutes an illegal combination or conspiracy and is void.

Tuition is a Drag. Apply for an IAM Scholarship.

The 2017 IAM Scholarship Competition is now accepting applications. The deadline for submissions is February 24, 2017.

Click here to download applications and see eligibility rules.

The IAM awards scholarships to:

      • Children of IAM members (parent or guardian) applying for college
      • Children of IAM members (parent or guardian) applying for vocational or technical School
      • IAM members applying for college

Since its implementation in 1960, the Scholarship Competition has continued to grow. This past year, 2015-2016, the IAM received 294 applications for scholarships. The 16 scholarships awarded were valued at $72,000.

By Convention Resolution, IAM delegates determined that voluntary contributions to finance the Scholarship fund be set at 50 cents per member, per year. To date, 224 of the IAM’s approximately 960 Locals have contributed. If your lodge has not adopted this resolution or has not contributed for this year, please give it serious consideration at your next lodge meeting.

You may call the IAM Safety and Health Department, which administers the scholarship competition, at 301-967-4708 to request an application packet to be mailed. Application packets have been sent to the local and district lodges.

Click here for details on the 2017 IAM Scholarship competition.

International President Bob Martinez’s Labor Day Message

A Labor Day Message from International President Bob Martinez

09_04_2016_MartinezAs always when we celebrate Labor Day, we have an important responsibility to honor the struggles and sacrifices of those sisters and brothers who secured the rights we enjoy today.

IAM members understand that child labor laws, safe work environments, health care and the eight-hour workday did not come from the benevolence of employers or government. These and many other worker protections are the result of many long hard fights. We must continue the fight to protect the rights those who preceded us secured for our benefit and the benefit of future generations. We have an obligation to pay it forward.

Right now, when we look at the actions of many corporations and right-wing politicians, it is obvious the fight for workers’ rights and human rights is far from over. Right-to-work (for less) laws are either on the books or proposed across the continent. Multi-national corporations are using their financial clout to push thinly veiled anti-worker trade deals, like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, down our throats.

But the good news is that we are using our power and working with allies in government and working people everywhere to defeat them. We are mobilizing and engaging younger workers and community groups to join with organized labor to protect and expand the rights our predecessors struggle and sacrificed secured for us. When we are unified and ready to fight, we are capable of great things.

The 39th IAM Grand Lodge Convention is in full swing this Labor Day – there is no better or fitting time for us to gather together and confront the challenges we face. The delegates will be using their voices to send a clear and unequivocal message to those corporations and right –wing politicians who seek to roll back the clock on the middle class – “Not now, not on our watch.” The delegates will also bring a positive message about the future of the IAM to their local lodges, families and communities.

From my family to yours, please have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

In solidarity,

Bob Martinez
International President