Long-awaited contract negotiations for 32,000 IAM members at Boeing in the Pacific Northwest have begun in Seattle. The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 12:01 a.m. PT on Sept. 13, 2024.

After years of input from membership, and 16 years since the group’s last full contract negotiations with the Boeing Co., the IAM District 751 and District W24 negotiating committee is pushing for many priorities, including:

• Increasing wages at least 40 percent over three to four years.
• Quality and safety measures that restore and grow quality control personnel and oversight of aircraft manufacturing.
• Restoring retirement security by reinstating the defined-benefit pension plan the company took away in 2014.
• Lowering out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
• Easing mandatory overtime and other work rules that negatively impact work-life balance.
• Ensuring that Boeing’s next airplane is built in the Puget Sound region.

“We need jobs for 50 years, not four years,” said IAM District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Jon Holden. “The fight for future work is not just for members, but for the betterment of all. This collective effort will benefit current and future members, engineers, other Boeing employees, the supply chain, our communities, and generations to come. We are fighting for everyone.”

Watch District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Jon Holden’s press conference following the Friday, March 8 contract opener.

“This is the first contract for almost half of our members, and it’s the most important one for all of them. We want to ensure their involvement from the beginning and educate them about what we’re doing on their behalf,” said IAM District W24 President and Directing Business Representative Brandon Bryant. “The membership is the lifeblood of our union and our districts. This contract negotiation is one of the most important things that we do for them. This is our future, this our fight. We are truly fighting for the best future we can get.” 

A strike sanction vote, which authorizes a strike if a collective bargaining agreement is not reached, will take place on July 17, 2024.

“Our members – and no one else – will guide this process and be the ultimate deciders on their future,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Our membership has made it very clear that they will accept nothing less than a fair and just contract that will make us the leading compensated aerospace workers in the world because we deserve nothing less than that. This is about building back the reputation of Boeing as the best, most dependable, most cutting-edge aerospace company on Earth.”

Click here for IAM District 751 updates throughout the collective bargaining process.

“Ultimately, the goal of these negotiations is to win fairness and justice for our members. This means ensuring that the contract reflects the values and priorities of IAM members and provides the means for a prosperous future for them and their families,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Achieving this goal will require a collective effort from all our members to come together in unity and fight for what they believe in, the IAM Western Territory is confident that, together, we can win a contract that sets the standard for the aerospace industry and raises our members and their families’ standard of living – Boeing has made billions and our members deserve to receive their fair share!”

IAM District 751 represents more than 30,000 Boeing production workers in the Puget Sound region, while District W24 represents about 1,200 who work at Boeing’s parts plant in Portland, Ore.

“The IAM and our membership are expecting Boeing to come to table ready to reach a fair and just agreement,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “Our membership deserves a contract that treats them as the best and most skilled aerospace workers in the world, because that’s exactly what they are. We will be fair, but firm, on all our priorities – especially on delivering job security to our membership.”

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Every journey starts with a first step. No one did the math on how many steps it took to travel the 1 million kilometers or 680,000 miles for the Odysseus spacecraft to travel to the moon’s surface. Still, members of IAM District 166 in central Florida were involved in many of those steps to get there.

“Our members have vital roles in each launch. Be it SpaceX, ULA, or these newcomer rocketeers – if Kennedy Space Center shoots it, they make it happen,” said Directing Business Representative IAM District 166 Kevin DiMeco. “These first steps of progress in the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program are just a start. The build up to the Artemis Moon missions means steady work for this District.”

DiMeco pointed out key IAM players in the successful February 15th launch of Innovative Machines’ IM-1 Odysseus spacecraft: 

• Base Operations Spaceport Services, who work for Amentum, operated consoles providing critical launch support. Most of the KSC launch range infrastructure is operated and maintained by these IAM members. They are responsible for monitoring the power grid, water systems, and HVAC systems for conditioned launchpad air and gasses. 
• Propellant Life Support Services II program- other IAM members who also work at KSC are responsible for the pipelines and fueling of rockets with hypergolic propellent and oxidizers – literally rocket fuel. Union members at the Converter Compressor Facility control high pressure helium and nitrogen supplies critical to rocket fueling just seconds prior to launch. 
• IAM members also service life support SCAPE (Self Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble) suits for the NASA team members and contractors who work on the launch pads around these hazardous fuels. Their use is rigorous and inspected frequently.  

Watch the IAM work that launches the IM-1 Odysseus here.

The first machine, owned and built by a private company, to land “softly” on the moon has twelve payloads on board, but it carried the work of thousands of IAM members who built the components and maintained the launch facilities. Neil Armstrong had one small step for man, but the Amentum Kennedy Space Center workers and various subcontractors on Florida’s Space Coast are working for all humanity.

The pace of rocket launches is picking up. Last year, the U.S. launched 72 space vehicles out of Kennedy. The reported goal is 300 launches a year by 2031.

“Space is a competition these days,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “And the fight to keep America on top in space is worthy of a skilled unionized workforce. That means huge growth in an industry where our members already have strong ties.” 

Machinists also do important space industry jobs like: 

•  Local 971 members in Jupiter, Fla., build rocket engines, like the RL10 engines on the new second stage Centaur 5e from L3 Harris – Aerojet Rocketdyne. The RL10 engines successfully functioned in space on the first Vulcan Rocket mission in January. These versatile engines are also used for the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy Rockets and the Space Launch System (SLS). Vulcan Rockets are scheduled to have a 14-day interval between launches when fully operational.
• Local 610 members that work for RgNext service and run equipment that tracks space vehicles launched from KSC heading “down range” to space using equipment in Florida and on Ascension Island, 1000 miles off the shores of Africa, below the Equator. Other Local 610 members manufacture and assemble rockets and missiles for United Launch Alliance (ULA) near the spaceport in Florida.
• Local 44 members in Decatur, Ala., and Local 2786 members at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California also manufacture and assemble rockets and missiles for ULA that launch out of Space Ports on both U.S. coasts.

Days after landing on the moon, engineers at Innovative Machines discovered that Odysseus had tipped over on its side sometime during the landing, breaking a leg of the lander. Most of the data and experiments will be completed, but the team waits to see if the spacecraft’s batteries survive an arctic cold 17 day long “moon night”, and continues transmitting data in three or four weeks. But Odysseus survived the “soft” landing and lasted long enough to check off accomplishments, which at least five other private commercial missions have failed to do in the past 18 months.

The work doesn’t stop. And IAM members who work at the bleeding edge of space technology on Florida’s Space Coast and throughout the U.S. know that these tiny steps – even missteps, are the costs for the giant leaps forward in exploring space.

The post How IAM Members Made Our Return to the Moon Possible appeared first on IAMAW.

Nearly 600 members of IAM Local 971 (District 166) in West Palm Beach, Fla., have recently ratified a new three-year contract with Pratt & Whitney. This latest agreement includes various enhancements concerning wages, increased 401(k) multiplier, and other benefits.

IAM members at Pratt & Whitney are employed in various roles, including inspectors, machinists, machine operators, A&P Mechanics, and others. Their work supports the production and maintenance of jet aircraft engines.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• The new agreement provides IAM members with a 4% increase in 2024. In 2025, they will receive a 3.5% increase, followed by a 3% increase in 2026. 
• One-time equity wage adjustment of $2.00.
• $1,500 ratification bonus.
• Increases in progression rate and promotion.
• Pension multiplier increase.
• Improved medical and dental plans beginning 2025.
• Strengthened benefits related to bereavement, severance, and recall rights.
• And more.

“Pratt & Whitney has established itself as a leading player in the aerospace industry, and it is only fitting that the people who have contributed to this success in various ways be recognized and rewarded accordingly,” said IAM District 166 Directing Business Representative Kevin DiMeco.

“The new agreement is a significant win for the IAM members at Pratt & Whitney, and it will provide them with greater financial stability and long-term job security,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Robert Barnwell. “I congratulate our negotiating committee and all members for negotiating an excellent contract, as evidenced by the overwhelming majority who voted in favor of it.”

The negotiating committee received invaluable support from the IAM Aerospace Department, IAM District 166 Directing Business Representative Kevin DiMeco, and Business Representative Ed Grabowski. The committee was also aided by IAM Strategic Resources Department Senior Research Economist Gwendolyn A. Camp, who provided crucial and real-time comparative data during the negotiation process.

The three-year agreement took effect on Feb. 5, 2024.

“The IAM Local 166 negotiating committee’s tireless efforts and solidarity have paid off and resulted in a new contract that not only recognizes the exceptional skills of our members but also guarantees them better wages and benefits,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “It is truly a proud moment for the IAM, and we are grateful to the negotiating committee and membership for their remarkable contributions in achieving this milestone.”

The post Florida Local 971 Members Ratify Strong Contract with Pratt & Whitney appeared first on IAMAW.

IAM International President Brian Bryant has announced the appointments of Denise Heath, Shannon Stucker, William Sullivan, and Gary E. Allen, as Aerospace Coordinators. 

“These appointments to the Aerospace Department will put the department on solid footing for years to come,” said Bryant. “With these additions to the Aerospace Department, the IAM will continue to lead the way in the aerospace industry, while making sure our members have the industry-leading contracts their families deserve.”

The team will join Tony Wirth, who assumed the position of Aerospace Chief of Staff on Jan. 1, 2024, and Aerospace Coordinator Robert Barnwell.

Denise Heath
Heath, an Arizona native, began her IAM journey as a charter member of IAM Local 2009, which later merged with IAM Local 519, while working as an air traffic controller for Lockheed Martin. Throughout her tenure, Heath held various positions within her local, from Shop Steward and Recording/Secretary to Vice President, showcasing her commitment to her fellow members, and her appointment as an IAM Business Representative in 2019. In 2021, she was elected IAM Local 519 President/Directing Business Representative. Health was appointed as an Aerospace Department Special Representative last year.

Shannon Stucker
Stucker began his career in the IAM in May 1993, as a machinist with Hub City, Inc. in Aberdeen, S.D. Throughout his 17 year tenure at Hub City, Stucker operated various machine centers such as manual, NC, and CNC lathes and mills.

In 2010, after serving in a number of elected positions, Stucker was elected by the Delegates of District Lodge 5 to serve as Directing Business Representative. Stucker was then again re-elected Directing Business Representative in 2011 and served in that capacity until June 30, 2015.

In 2015, Stucker was appointed Special Representative with the Midwest Territory. In 2018, he became a Grand Lodge Representative and served in that role until his appointment as Aerospace Coordinator.

William Sullivan
Sullivan initiated into the IAM Local 2452 in 1997 as a Maintenance Technician. He served his Local Lodge as Shop Steward, Grievance Committee, Negotiating Committee, Vice President and eventually President.
 
He was appointed as a Business Representative for District 73 in 2009 and elected to the position of Directing Business Representative in 2012 until being appointed to Grand Lodge Representative in the Southern Territory in 2020.
 
He also served as a Representative of the Local Metal Trades Council in Mississippi as well as Southern States Conference of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Vice President from 2017 to 2018 and President from 2018 to 2020.
 
Gary E. Allen
In September 2018, Allen was appointed IAM Associate Organizer and in January 2019 he was appointed as the Communication Representative for the Western Territory. Later in 2019, he was appointed as a Grand Lodge Representative. During his time with the IAM, Allen has been involved in some of the toughest Territory assignments involving Aerospace and Service Contract Act, amongst other sectors and industries. While on assignment, Allen’s commitment to the membership along with his tenacity in defending the rights of our members has made a remarkable impact on the IAM.

Previously, Allen started his union career in 2006 representing the public sector in Albuquerque, N.M. In Allen’s prior roles in New Mexico, he served in every capacity from Steward to Representative where he serviced, organized and handled arbitrations.

The post Denise Heath, Shannon Stucker, William Sullivan and Gary E. Allen Appointed Aerospace Coordinators as IAM Continues to Strengthen Core Industry appeared first on IAMAW.

As the new year of 2024 opens, so does a new chapter in the 135-year history of the IAM. Members of the IAM Executive Council on Friday, Jan. 5 took part in an officer installation ceremony at IAM Headquarters in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Watch the full installation ceremony here.

“From the bottom of my heart, I could not be more humbled to have taken this oath to become your 15th International President,” said IAM International President Bryant. “It is time to not just improve the state of working people, but to fundamentally transform the way working people live. We demand not just a seat at the table, but a chance to call the shots.”

Retired IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. administered the oath of office to the Executive Council.

“Brian Bryant knows what it means to lead,” said Martinez. “He has a vision for the future to engage and inspire our membership.”

Bryant, a 34-year IAM member, initiated into the IAM in 1989 when he joined Local S6 while employed at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.  A pipefitter by trade, Bryant became active in his local and district before being appointed to the Eastern Territory staff. Bryant held three positions on the IAM Executive Council before becoming International President.

IAM Executive Council as of Jan. 1, 2024:

The Executive Council is preparing to review the report of the IAM Committee on the Future, which held dozens of town hall style meetings with members across North America. The report will drive the changes and new ideas used within the organization. 

“We know that the world is changing, and that our union must not simply change with it, but lead that change,” said Bryant.

The post IAM Installs Executive Council as International President Bryant Outlines Vision for Strong, Growing Union appeared first on IAMAW.

IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has announced that Aerospace Coordinator Tony Wirth will assume the position of Aerospace Chief of Staff, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Wirth joined the IAM in 2003 as a member of Niceville, Fla., Local 20, at Eglin Air Force Base. He served as the local’s Secretary-Treasurer and on its Negotiation Committee from 2003 to 2008. Wirth was elected District 75 Business Representative in 2008, became a Special Representative in 2015 and a Grand Lodge Representative to the Southern Territory in 2016. Wirth has served as an Aerospace Coordinator since January 2020.

“Tony has been a constant figure at the negotiating table for thousands of IAM members at the world’s largest and most powerful aerospace and defense companies,” said Martinez. “He works tirelessly on behalf of our membership, and Tony’s experience, strategic thinking and industry relationships are going to continue to achieve the best contracts possible for our proud aerospace membership.”

Wirth takes the position of Aerospace Chief of Staff as Jody Bennett joins the IAM Executive Council as Resident General Vice President on Jan. 1, 2024.

“With Tony leading the way, the IAM is going to continue to chart the future of the aerospace industry and its workforce,” said Bennett. “Working side by side with Tony and the aerospace team for years has shown me that we are better positioned than ever to represent our membership and grow our presence in this critical sector.”

The post Tony Wirth Appointed IAM Aerospace Chief of Staff appeared first on IAMAW.

KINGSTON, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2023 – Members of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1562 at Howmet Aerospace have been on strike since Nov. 1, 2023, at the Kingston Business Park. IAM members operate CNC lathes and mills and are essential to producing industrial fasteners for various applications, including freight trains and Airbus aircraft. The members are on strike to highlight the wage disparity compared to workers in similar roles nationwide.

IAM Local 1562 members rejected the latest offer from Howmet Aerospace, which lacked wage increases or adjustments for overtime pay. IAM Local 1562 members remain on strike, with no scheduled return to negotiations. In the latest meeting, the company conveyed that the wages or overtime pay was non-negotiable, citing financial constraints. As a result, IAM Local 1562 members remain on strike, with no scheduled return to negotiations.

Howmet Aerospace’s total annual revenues for 2023 are projected at $6.545 billion. 

“Our members worked through the pandemic and helped create record-breaking profits for Howmet Aerospace,” said IAM District 15 Business Representative Kevin Weidman. “We are just seeking an agreement recognizing our members’ contribution to their record-breaking profits. Our members are tired of struggling and working paycheck to paycheck. We are committed to ensuring the company sees the value of its workforce.”

The IAM Local 1562 members on strike remain resolute in pursuing a fair contract and will continue to picket until an agreement that addresses their concerns is reached.

“Our members at Local 1562 are determined to fight until they get the respect and dignity they deserve,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “Our union is grateful for the community support of our members on the picket line. We will stand strong until we get a contract addressing wages, benefits, and working conditions.” 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

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Dear IAM Family,

One of the core tenants of our union is to fight for a dignified retirement for every member. We also believe in the great importance of mentoring the next generation of leaders – and passing the torch to the right person at the right time.

That’s why after 43 years of membership, two decades on the IAM Executive Council, and eight years leading our union as International President, I have announced that I will retire on Jan. 1, 2024.

Since initiating into IAM Local Lodge 776A as an aircraft mechanic in my hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, fresh out of the U.S. Navy, it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve this great union. And as the first Latino international president of a major international union in the history of the American labor movement, the first Latino elected to the IAM Executive Council, and the first international president of color in the history of the IAM, I’ll always be proud of the work we’ve accomplished together.

We are now putting unprecedented resources into growing our union, winning campaigns in new and emerging industries, like healthcare and the gig and green economies, while strengthening our presence in our core sectors, too. We navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, doing everything we could to keep our members safe while saving the jobs of hundreds of thousands of members in the airline, defense, aerospace, and other industries. We launched many first-of-their-kind programs to help IAM women lead, assist our military veterans, place members with drug and alcohol addiction in treatment, and more. We continued our bold calls to keep our jobs here at home and won critical Buy American expansions.

We also strengthened our tradition of union democracy. At the two Grand Lodge Conventions I chaired, delegates passed the Membership Bill of Rights, expanded strike benefits, officially recognized women’s committees, launched the Committee on the Future, and more. We are better positioned for the challenges to come more than ever before, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for North America’s best and strongest union.

Together with your Executive Council, we have unanimously selected Resident General Vice President Brian Bryant to become the IAM’s 15th international president upon my retirement. Brian’s 34-year IAM career includes seven years on the Executive Council after rising through the ranks of Local Lodge S6 in Maine, District Lodge 4 and the Eastern Territory. A Navy ship pipefitter by trade, Brian brings his shop floor experience into every decision he makes and connects with our members on a personal level while having a strong vision for our union’s future.

As I enter this next chapter, I want to again thank the best membership, staff, and Executive Council in the labor movement. Under your guidance, I know that the IAM will continue its 135-year legacy of adapting to a changing world.

Together, united, we will make life better and create a world with security, dignity, and opportunity for all.

In solidarity always,

Robert Martinez Jr.
International President

The post IAM Journal – Winter 2023-2024 appeared first on IAMAW.

TUCSON, Ariz., October 22, 2023 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), North America’s largest aerospace and defense labor union, has ratified an agreement with Raytheon covering approximately 1,000 members in Tucson, Ariz.

The three-year agreement covers IAM Local 933 members at the Raytheon facilities, southern Arizona’s largest private employer.

IAM members at Raytheon manufacture missiles and other advanced arms vital to the U.S. military worldwide to ensure America’s security and leadership.

The IAM negotiating committee recommended accepting the agreement, which includes significant wage increases, improved retirement security and preserved healthcare benefits.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• The agreement provides IAM members with a 4% increase in 2023. In 2024, they will receive a 3.5% increase, followed by a 3.25% increase in 2025. 
• $3,000 ratification bonus.
• Two lump sum bonus payments totaling $2,800 (First payment of $1,500 in January 2024 and second payment of $1,300 in January 2025).
• Non-contributory pension increase for currently enrolled employees.
• Protected pension contribution until January 2026.
• Implementation of the 9/80 work schedule, which will provide at least 25 additional days off allowing employees more flexibility in their workweek and a better work-life balance.
• Shift differential increase.
• Rate minimum increases for multiple occupations.
• CEP education payment increases for all classifications.
• Enhanced automatic wage progression schedule.
• Strengthened grievance and arbitration procedures.
• And more.

“This new contract is a testament to the collective power of a united workforce,” said IAM Local 933 Directing Business Representative Rick Vargas. “Congratulations to all our members at Raytheon for voting overwhelmingly to ratify the new three-year agreement, specifically designed to improve the quality of their lives.”

“I applaud the IAM Local 933 negotiating committee for the ‘Fighting Machinists’ spirit that has led to a solid agreement with notable wage hikes. This offer is a true demonstration of the collective strength of the membership of Local Lodge 933,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “We are proud to support our Raytheon members and excited for this contract’s positive impact on their lives.”

“The negotiation process can be challenging, but I want to congratulate the committee for their hard work and commitment to bring this agreement across the finish line,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Tony Wirth. “This three-year contract is a crucial step in guaranteeing fair and satisfactory working conditions for aerospace and defense industry workers.”

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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

IAM Local 933 Negotiating Committee and IAM Grand Lodge Staff

The post Arizona IAM Members at Raytheon Vote to Approve Strong New Labor Agreement appeared first on IAMAW.

Nearly 350 members of IAM Local 2171 (District 98) in Johnstown, Pa., have ratified a strong new contract with Lockheed Martin.

Members will see an immediate average pay increase of 11.5% in the first year for members in the wage progression and an 8.3% for those not in the wage progression, as well as yearly general wage increases of 4%, 3% and 3% through the new contract’s expiration in 2027. Over the contract’s life, the average wage will increase by 19.5%.

Other improvements include a ratification bonus of $4,000 and an increased supplemental wage payment from $600 to $1,000 per year. The contract also includes improvements to differential pay, paid time off, short-term disability, call-in pay, retirement security, and the medical plan.

“The IAM Eastern Territory and all of its resources were available to the Negotiating Team,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “They utilized those tools to bring back an agreement worthy of our membership’s work. This is a great victory for the membership and their families.”

“The Negotiating Committee stood strong and tall under unbelievable pressure from the membership,” said IAM District 98 Business Representative Mike Wentzel. “The Negotiating Committee helped deliver the best economic gains in the history of the Johnstown location.”

The four-year deal expires in 2027.

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