Notice

Monday when you pick up your checks, we'll have sign-in sheets for everyone to let us know how many children you have, and what age and sex, up to 18 years of age, for the upcoming holiday season.

'Tis the season

... to help

families in need.

We will be accepting donations Monday at the Union Hall when you come to pick up your Strike checks. Please take this opportunity to make sure everyone is able to enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner this year. Donations will be used to buy Kroger Gift Cards for our members who need a little help to provide a thanksgiving meal for their families.

Your help is deeply appreciated
and we wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.

Write to your elected official!

Help support a fair contract for workers at Vought Industries Nashville, TN who have been on strike since September 27, 2008. Send a message to your Senators and Congresspersons to ask them to stop Vought's unfair tactics against their workers and demand that Vought bargain an equitable agreement.

Here's the link. A letter is pre-written for you if you wish, or you can add to or change the letter as needed. You can tell them your story and how this has affected your family. At the bottom of the page, there is also a "tell-a-friend" button, where you can let your friends and family also ask for the support. Let's shower them with emails!

Let your elected officials know that they need to support the working families of Tennessee.

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Something to think about

From the late, great Tennessee Ernie Ford - This is how workers lived in the past, and this is how Carlyle and Vought wants the worker in Tennessee to live in the furture.

This is what we are fighting for, the future for our families and our coworkers. Tennessee Ernie embodied the pride and fight in Tennessee workers. Carlyle has misjudged us.

From the Tennessean 11/19

To the Editor:

George Reynolds, in his letter, “Vought workers are lucky to have jobs,” Nov. 15, makes several statements that simply are not true.

When a company has made money because their workers are highly skilled and committed to producing quality products and satisfying their customers, it is not luck that they have a job.

Then, when that same company takes advantage of a down economy and record unemployment to try to take benefits from those same workers who had made them profitable, then it does matter what we are striking for. Mr. Reynolds then tries to lay the blame for this nation’s failed trade policies on labor unions.

My heart also goes out to workers who have no jobs to go to because of the greed of corporations who have moved their jobs out of our country and exploited workers around the world.

If there ever was a time when labor unions are needed, it is now.

Mike Worrell,
President, LL 735
IAMAW

Strike Update

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Monday Morning!

All hands on deck Monday morning at 6 AM for a show of strength to the arrogant Vought management and the scab workers. We will show them we aren't going anywhere, and they won't have any production until we have a contract. Be sure EVERYONE comes out to show our determination and Tennessee Solidarity! Let Vought know they can't divide us - because United We Bargain, Divided We Beg.

And WE DON'T BEG!

Strike Update

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Vought Story

From the Channel 4 website:

Vought Strike Continues

Negotiators Were Armed, Union Officials Say

POSTED: 11:10 am CST November 13, 2008

UPDATED: 12:09 pm CST November 13, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Federal mediators didn't work out any contract issues Wednesday at Vought Aircraft Industries.

According to union officials, Vought negotiators arrived armed with guns.

Federal mediators tried to keep the peace by attempting to hash out the unsettled issues between the company and union officials. The two sides never spoke face to face.

The strike began at the end of September. About 800 union workers are now on strike but have been replaced by temporary workers.

One word, folks. Priceless.

IMF support

We just received this from the participants of the International Metalworkers World Conference for union representing workers at Airbus and its supply chains. Delegates attended from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

Click letter for large size.

Press Statement

Machinists Determined to Address Pension

November 11, 2008 – As the IAM met with a Federal Mediator today, company Negotiators arrived at the hotel where mediation was being held with armed guards that accompanied the company officials into the meeting room. The Union met with the Mediator separately. The Federal Mediator asked both parties to a meeting, and they often use ‘shuttle diplomacy’ to attempt to reach a deal during a strike. This is how the mediator handled this situation.

“This was certainly an insult to both the IAM and the Vought workers, who have conducted a peaceful strike in the face of outrageous tactics by Vought management, using strikebreakers instead of negotiating in good faith,” said Local Lodge 735 President Mike Worrell. “This shows a complete lack of respect for their workers who have given years of loyal service to this company. It is shameful to demand that workers give their pensions up to a highly profitable company at a time like this.”

"This strike was triggered when Vought tried to walk away from its pension obligations," said Worrell. "It will be resolved only when Vought responds to the very legitimate concerns of its workforce."

IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger said “Our Union is democratic, and the elected negotiators of the Local Lodge are in charge of the negotiations. Vought obviously doesn’t understand how our union operates. We are working with the Local Lodge to keep the Carlyle Group from committing grand larceny in their immoral attempt to steal the pensions of hard-working Americans who have made Vought a highly profitable company,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger. “Vought was unwilling at this time to bargain to keep the pension for all the employees on strike, so the mediator ended the meeting.”

“The tactics of Vought and Carlyle are NOT good-faith tactics. Armed guards and attacks in the press is no way to come to an agreement,” said Buffenbarger.

Additional information about the strike is available at www.iam735.blogspot.com

LET THERE BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING !

Our Intrenational Representatives are here for our support. The people that were elected by you are making the decisions in these negotiations. We have been and will continue to rely on the experience and expertise of our International support.

We feel that the company is using the same type of tactics that have been used in other recent negotiations. We know you will not fall for this. We want to thank each and every one of you for your support. Obviously, the Company hasn't heard the membership!

Your elected Negotiating Committee.

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Mediation Unsuccessful

Brothers and Sisters,

We met this afternoon with Federal Mediation. The mediator worked with each of the parties separately, and after several back-and-forth trips, the mediator released both parties, saying, “Federal Mediation was not successful at this time.”

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee

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Winpisinger Negotiations Class

Here's an IAM video from earlier this year of the negotiations class our negotiators went through at the Winpisinger Center. This was with a different group, but it explains the process well.

IAM video on Negotiations

This is a great video the IAM made on negotiations. Although it's an overview, much of it applies to our contract. Our negotiators went through the Negotiations class at the Winpinsinger Center, and it educated our committee to stand strong for a good contract.

We're always pushing harder for good contracts across the nation. Our International has worked hard to give our locals the tools they need to be successful, whether it's at the negotiating table, or on the picket lines.

Strike Update

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Support Letter from IG Metall

Click for large size. IG Metall is one of the largest labor unions in the world. We certainly appreciate their international solidarity for our strike.

57-day strike at Boeing ends

Machinists in Wichita, KS, Portland, OR and Seattle, WA voted by 74% to ratify the contract proposal. Of course, this was yet another big Aerospace win for the Machinists.

No Boeing strike vote tally yet

Voting didn't end in Seattle until 6 PM Pacific Time, or 8 PM our time. It'll be much later tonight, so you can always got to District Lodge 751's website to get the count when it comes out.

Hardship Committee and Jobs Committee

Announcing the Hardship Committee and Jobs Committee

And the companion Blog Spot

http://www.iam735help.blogspot.com/

Go here to assist others with job leads, clothing, food, and money or in whatever way you can.

This is also a place to find assistance.

There are many job leads posted on this blog.

Also visit www.iam735.com/help to contact the committee members.