AUSTIN, Texas, April 4, 2024 – Today, Austin Pets Alive! (APA) animal shelter employees have filed a Representation Petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) requesting recognition of their Union, Austin Pets Allied Workers (APAW).  After collecting signatures from a majority of approximately 200 APA workers on union cards with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 776, with support from the National Veterinary Professionals Union, APAW is proud to take this first step towards creating the largest animal shelter union in the country–a historic event for both animals and their advocates.

In a statement issued by the Organizing Committee, APA employees wrote, “APAW’s priorities are to ensure a just and sustainable workplace at APA, because we believe that APA can and should be a model for equity, stability, and safety in the animal care field. By giving workers on the frontlines of animal care a real seat at the table, we believe we can create a better and more just APA for pets and people alike.”

APAW has asked that APA management and the Board of Directors voluntarily recognize the staff Union so that they can more quickly begin the process of collective bargaining. Contract negotiations will cover issues such as workplace policies concerning the well-being and safety of both animals and employees, wage increases, benefits, and fair employment practices. 

The IAM, with support from the National Veterinary Professionals Union, recently organized animal shelter workers in Chicago.

Ryan Martinez, APA worker: “I want to join with my co-workers to form a union because workers like me who are on the frontlines of animal care deserve to feel safe and supported in our mission-fulfilling work at APA. I know that a strong union contract negotiated by affected employees is the best way to make that happen, which will ultimately improve conditions for the animals in our care.” 

Ellis Avallone, APA worker: “I look forward to this new chapter where my co-workers and I, through unionizing, can have a real seat at the table and a more democratic workplace. I hope that APA management and the Board of Directors respond positively to our request for voluntary recognition so that we can move swiftly and directly to the bargaining table.”

Keith “Chub” McCrory, District Organizer with IAM District 776: “The IAM is very excited about the filing of this petition. This marks an important and necessary milestone in building worker power in an underrepresented industry. Animal care workers deserve safe, dignified jobs with living wages.” 

Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, Austin City Council District 9 Representative: “I applaud the organizers and members of APAW for coming together to not just advocate for animals, but for their fellow workers, as well. Austin is a Labor city, and I’ll be proud to see another Union workplace call District 9 home.”

Austin Pets Allied Workers (APAW) is the worker-created and worker-led union of Austin Pets Alive! Started in 2023, its members seek to ensure their workplace and the animal welfare industry as a whole adopts more sustainable, safe, and equitable practices. The organization boasts a diverse membership, with representation from across varied departments and species. All members share in common the love and care they have for our animals past, present, and future which fuels their hope for a better future. While growing stronger every day, the Organizing Committee works to invite more workers into the fold.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.

The National Veterinary Professionals Union was established in 2017 with the primary goal of making veterinary support a sustainable, life-long career.  In order to fulfill this goal, we are working to build collective power among workers in the veterinary health and animal care profession.  We believe in the power of collective action and healthy collaboration with veterinary and animal care employers to create improvements in workplace safety, training, benefits, and pay. We believe that taking good care of veterinary and animal care workers allows them to provide the best care for animals and the people who love them.

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The IAM joined U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Michael Turner (R-Ohio), John Larson (D-Conn.), and John Rutherford (R-Fla.) in a letter urging chairs and ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee and House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to fully invest in the IAM-built F-35 Lightning II program for Fiscal Year (FY) 25.

“The F-35 is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, and continued investment in this program is essential to our national security and ensuring the United States maintains its air dominance,” wrote the lawmakers. “In addition, the F-35 provides for tens of thousands of high-skilled, Machinists Union jobs and supports more than 218,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.” 

“I appreciate Reps. Veasey, Turner, Larson, and Rutherford for fighting for investment in the F-35 program,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The IAM will work with these lawmakers and other allies in Congress to uplift the national security and economic benefits of the F-35 program.”

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Recently, six IAM Local 219 (District 1888) members on the negotiations team for Lockheed Martin in Lexington, Ky., met at the IAM’s William W. Winsinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md., to begin negotiations preparations for upcoming first contract talks.

The team will negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for more than 332 members who voted to join the IAM back in October 2023. During the intense education-filled week, members were trained on various aspects of contract negotiations. 

Several speakers came to the Winpisinger Center during the week to teach on many topics, some of which were how to cost out employees and account for contracts from each day, hour, and benefit provided. They were also briefed by an IAM attorney, who advised them on what to look for while at the table. IAM Aerospace Coordinator Benji Sullivan and Southern Territory Special Representative Jason Schroeder were on hand to assist the group.

The team was provided material to help them prepare for the contract discussions. IAM Local 219 negotiator Lamar Adams gives his comments in this video report.

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A group of IAM Local 135 (District 171) members who maintain aircraft simulators for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-46 program recently saved the program from serious catastrophe when a facility malfunction contaminated training simulator bays at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. 

The group said they were just doing their job, but after the incident, the Air Force had estimated to spend millions of dollars using an outside contractor for the necessary cleanup work over the course of 18 months. 

Instead, IAM Local 135 members had all of the simulators back in working order for training less than three months after the incident.

“All simulators that were certified previously are recertified and operating right now,” said IAM Local 135 Steward Jeffery Houtchens. “We cleaned and took care of devices that weren’t even turned over to us to maintain. Everything is back to normal. We definitely exceeded expectations with this.”

The KC-46 training program was established as a Service Contract Agreement program in 2022. The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is a U.S. military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft that presently flies in support of combat operations. 

IAM Local 135 represents schedulers and simulator technicians for the Altus’s KC-46 Aircrew Training System.

“These union members saved the day,” Tony Valerio, Altus Flight Training Unit Site Manager and prior IAM member, said about the group.

“The best part is that these guys didn’t think that they were doing anything out of the normal,” said IAM District 171 Business Representative Roger Betz. “But they really came through and saved the Air Force a lot of time and money. They also helped out the instructors, pilots, and everyone who works in the program who were unable to use the simulators.”

IAM Local 135 simulator technicians who worked on the cleanup effort include Jeff Houtchens, Zachary Martin, Terry Gilbert, Jared Lingal, Brady Davis, Ryan Davis, Tanny Mungaven, Jay Roberts, Karen Hoska, Judy Branstetter, Tracy Dickens, Jean Olson and Allen Hearthen.

IAM Local 135 Schedulers who rescheduled instructors and training to keep training on track include Carmen Morris and Linda Wells.  

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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.

IAM District 776 recently conducted a comprehensive presentation at Texas State Technical College (Harlingen, TX) as part of its union education and outreach program.

The aim of the presentation was to educate students about the importance of unions and provide them with an in-depth understanding of IAM and its role in representing workers’ rights and interests.

During the session, representatives from IAM District 776 and IAM Local 2916 spoke about the numerous benefits of union membership, including job security, improved wages, better working conditions, and access to healthcare and retirement benefits. The session was designed to help students make informed decisions about their careers and future employment prospects.

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Recently, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) officers who recently voted to join the IAM in San Juan, P.R., were honored as part of Puerto Rico’s “Week of the Police Officer and First Responder” by First Response Emergency Medical Services (F.R.E.M.S.), a nonprofit organization that donates equipment to First Responders in the island.

As part of a recent initiative, members of the ARFF were presented with a complete emergency medical bag. The aim of this initiative is to ensure that all ARFF members have the necessary tools and supplies readily available to assist in any emergency situation that may arise. It is expected that ARFF members keep this emergency medical bag in their personal vehicles at all times.

“The ARFF members’ commitment to serving their community is truly inspiring. They are a shining example of the selflessness and dedication that is required of those who serve as first responders,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “Their tireless efforts have undoubtedly saved countless lives, and they are truly deserving of this recognition.”

When F.R.E.M.S. approached the ARFF members for recognition in collaboration with AEROSTAR, the ARFF members politely expressed their desire to receive the award as union members as they voted to join the IAM in November of 2023. They are currently negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement for a better life.

“It is heartening to hear that the ARFF members politely expressed their desire to receive the award as IAM members,” said IAM Southern Territory Special Representative John Vigueras. “This is a testament to their strong sense of solidarity, as they strive to uphold the values of the union for the betterment of the community.”

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IAM International President Brian Bryant, Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin and Chief of Staff Vinny Addeo joined IAM Florida State Council President Mike Phillips and members from across Florida at the state’s council.

Other featured speakers included former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, Florida AFL-CIO President Dan Renolds, Florida State Rep. Tom Keen (D-District 33) and Florida State Rep. Victor Torres (D-District 25).

The Council discussed pending anti-worker legislation moving through the Republican super majority in the state, including:

• Funding the Florida’s Unemployment Insurance Program with internet sales tax funds instead of employer contributions

• Modifying state child labor laws to allow 16 and 17 year olds to work until midnight on school nights

• Require every voter in Florida to re-enroll to vote by mail each election cycle. 

A rally was held to support the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voters Right Act (S.B. 1522/ H.B. 1035). The bill aims to counter actions to restrict voting in the state, and improve upon the provisions of the 1965 Voters Rights Act that were recently gutted by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court.

The post Florida State Council Fights Back Against Anti-Worker Legislation appeared first on IAMAW.

ESPAÑOL

A group of 51 IKEA warehouse workers in Carolina, Puerto Rico voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday, Feb. 20 to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

The IAM Southern Territory campaign began late last year when IKEA workers reached out about improving their work life, including fair treatment and pay. Workers at the facility were notified last year that they would not be receiving an annual holiday bonus.

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome Puerto Rico IKEA workers into our IAM family,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “We look forward to giving them the respect on the job they deserve. Our special thanks go out to Southern Territory Special Representative John Vigueras and Associate Organizer Jean Carlos Hernandez Ocasio for their tremendous work on this campaign.”

The IAM, which also represents IKEA distribution center workers in Illinois, Georgia, Maryland and New Jersey, relied on the IAM Woodworkers Department’s international relationships with Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), a 12-million member global union federation, and corporate IKEA contacts to put an end to local management’s anti-union campaign.

Workers at the Carolina, P.R., warehouse will soon be transferred to an IKEA facility in Bayamon, P.R., as the furniture retail company continues to expand on the island.

The IAM and its new members at IKEA will soon begin preparing for first contract negotiations with the company.

Trabajadores de IKEA en Puerto Rico votan para afiliarse a la IAM

Un grupo de 51 trabajadores de bodega de IKEA en Carolina, Puerto Rico, votó abrumadoramente el martes 20 de febrero para unirse a la Asociación Internacional de Maquinistas y Trabajadores de la Industria Aeroespacial (IAM).

La campana del Territorio del Sur de la IAM comenzó a fines del año pasado cuando los trabajadores de IKEA contactaron a la unión con el fin de mejorar sus condiciones laborales, incluyendo un trato y un salario justo. El año pasado la empresa notificó a los trabajadores que no recibirían un bono de vacaciones anual.

“No podríamos estar más emocionados de darle la bienvenida a los trabajadores de IKEA de Puerto Rico a nuestra familia de la IAM”, dijo el vicepresidente general del Territorio del Sur de la IAM, Craig Martin. “Esperamos poder brindarles el respeto que se merecen en el trabajo. Nuestro agradecimiento especial al Representante Especial del Territorio del Sur, John Vigueras, y al organizador asociado, Jean Carlos Hernández Ocasio, por su tremendo trabajo en esta campaña”.

La IAM, que también representa a los trabajadores de los centros de distribución de IKEA en Illinois, Georgia, Maryland y Nueva Jersey, se basó en las relaciones internacionales del Departamento de Trabajadores de la Madera de la IAM con la Internacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción y la Madera (ICM), una federación sindical global de 12 millones de miembros, y contactos empresariales en IKEA para poner fin a la campaña antisindical de IKEA en Carolina, P.R.

Los trabajadores de la bodega de Carolina, P.R., pronto serán transferidos a una instalación de IKEA en Bayamón, P.R., a medida que la empresa minorista de muebles continúa expandiéndose en la isla.

La IAM y sus nuevos miembros en IKEA pronto comenzarán a prepararse para las primeras negociaciones del convenio colectivo con la empresa.

The post Puerto Rico IKEA Workers Vote to Join IAM Union appeared first on IAMAW.

The Georgia State Council of Machinists recently held a meeting in Atlanta that brought together delegates from across the state to discuss pressing issues facing workers and their families. Over two days, attendees engaged in legislative and political discussions and heard from prominent speakers dedicated to advocating for labor rights in the Peach State.

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