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.

Click on flyer for large size

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.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

...and as the sun goes down, keep those trick-or-treaters safe!

Family is what this day is about, and it's what our strike is about. You can bet that, when all is said and done, all that Mr. Carlyle gets in his sack is a rock!

BIG thanks for support!

Thanks go to Cecil E. Martin a retired member of Teamsters Local 480 came by the union hall with 10 lbs of barbeque, buns and sauce.

From Aeronautics Metalworkers CGT

This is a letter of support from the Union in France for Airbus. They know of our strike and are in full support. Solidarity is a strong thing, it can cross oceans.
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The latest from Vought...

Today, the company posted a letter that had been sent to Business Representative Chuck Killebrew last week. It was disregarded by the Union, as the offer was effectively taken off the table BY THE UNION MEMBERSHIP ON SEPT. 27TH WHEN THEY VOTED TO REJECT THE COMPANY’S LBFO.

They are welcome to take it off the table, because this membership is in no way ready to accept it.

In order for Vought to end this strike and return to producing product, our members are demanding OUR PENSIONS. We are demanding a contract WITH NO TAKEAWAYS. We are demanding, above all, a fair and equitable contract, which the LBFO was not!

When you get a chance, head down to Briley Parkway, and see “Mr. Carlyle” with his top hat and stogie, his pocket filled with money from trying to steal their employee’s retirement!

"Mr. Carlyle"

BIG thanks for support!

We were visited yesterday by Brenda Clanton of Waynesboro, who is the former President of LL 2325. She was laid off from her job two years ago, and has lost her seniority. She's obviously never forgotten her union roots, however. She dropped off four cases of water, and personally donated $200 for our hardship fund.

Thanks, Brenda, from the bottom of our hearts.

Also, District Lodge 711 has donated $500 to the hardship fund, and several of our members have donated their strike checks to help out.

Folks, that's what solidarity is all about. Thanks to EVERYONE!

International Support!

We are not alone! Our work for Airbus puts us in solidarity with unions in Europe, and International President Tom Buffenbarger has received several letters of support from our brothers and sisters in Europe. Thanks to Owen Herrnstadt, the IAM International Affairs Director, for his work in keeping in contact with the other unions.

Click on the pic for larger size, or click here for the Dansk Metal letter as a .pdf.

Click on the pic for larger size, or click here for the IF Metall letter as a .pdf.

Click on the pic for larger size, or click here for the Nordic IN letter as a .pdf.

Click on the pic for larger size, or click here for the Unite The Union letter as a .pdf.

A new sight on Briley Parkway!

When International President Buffenbarger visited us, he mentioned that the IAM had a corporate pig at headquarters, and he graciously sent it to us to let everyone driving by know that we are fighting corporate greed, to keep a pension for our retirement. Thanks to our International President for the pig, and be sure to honk your support as you drive by!

FLASH: Negotiations Will Resume

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IAM / Boeing Tentative Agreement

The IAM has a tentative agreement in Seattle, Portland and Wichita with Boeing. They've improved job security, improved pension, raises and bonuses, as well as frozen health care costs at 2005 levels. They will be voting on the proposal this weekend. Go here for more info on the contract.

Bottom line - this is a big improvement over the contract they rejected, and they were able to protect their job security.

Strike Update, Monday Oct 27

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IAM Local 735 Picket Line

A video by one of our members.

Boeing burns through cash

Well, since Boeing is a publicly-held company, they can't lie about how much the strike hurts them, via Bloomburg News:

Boeing Co., the second-largest commercial-plane maker and defense contractor, burned through $3 billion in cash last quarter as a strike by machinists halted aircraft production, hurting revenue.

The walkout shaved about 35 cents a share off third-quarter earnings, Chief Financial Officer James Bell said on a conference call today. That works out to about 1.4 cents a share for each day from the start of the strike on Sept. 6 until the end of the quarter. The strike is now in its 47th day.

We know that Vought is also losing money hand over fist. The only way they make money is if we're building assemblies.

District 751 President Tom Wroblewski issued the following statement in response to Boeing's 3rd Quarter Earnings Report:

"Obviously, this Company continues to have record backlogs, success, and sizeable profits - demonstrating Boeing has the ability to better share this success with Machinists Union members who generate the profits.

It would be a better business decision and a better investment to have made a fair contract offer with Machinists Union members. Partnering with the Union for the future is the best way to ensure success and to embrace the ideas our members can bring forward. There was no reason the Company needed to come at this Union with takeaways. These bad decisions contributed to this strike. Customers want their planes, shareholders want their value, and our members want to get back to building the best airplanes in the world.

We hope Boeing comes to the bargaining table tomorrow to resolve this strike, rather than simply giving the CEO a convenient answer to what this Company is doing to resolve the strike. McNerney should have to justify the lost revenue and answer why they continue to keep their employees on the picket line.

The Machinists were not involved in the decision to outsource the 787, which took airplane production out of Boeing's control. Although the strike might be a convenient excuse for production delays, these delays started 15 months ago because of global suppliers. The best way to get the 787 and Boeing back on track is to put the correct people to work, and that is the Machinists' Union members. Every time Boeing has problems, it is our Machinists Union members and SPEEA members who lead the way to success.

Our strike is about Boeing trying to bring outside non-union vendors they can't control into our workplace to replace our members. Many of their own managers have admitted this is not working, but Boeing continues on this path. The 787 is being delayed because of Boeing's flawed globally outsourced production system and has nothing to do with this strike.

There was no reason for the outsourcing, health care takeaways and other negative components to Boeing's best and final contract offer. In fact, this strike was unnecessary. With substantial profits and backlogs, our members expected Boeing to be fair and share the profits so they could grow with the success of the Company. Again, we hope that this new round of talks that begin tomorrow will be the answer to resolving this strike."

Update: Boeing returning to bargaining table

From the IAM District 751 website:

After 45 days on the line, your solidarity brought Boeing back to the bargaining table. Since talks adjourned last Monday, we have kept the lines of communication open and have agreed to pursue additional talks through the federal mediator. At the direction of the federal mediator, new talks will be held in Washington DC beginning Thursday, October 23rd.

We hope this marks a major step forward to resolve this strike. The Union will continue to do everything possible to bargain a contract that addresses the concerns our members have identified.

It is important as we move forward that we continue to stay strong on the picket lines. That's how we're going to secure a contract that will settle this strike.

In Solidarity
Your Union Leadership

Thank you!

Big thanks to brother David Mottern and Local 480 of the teamsters union for bringing water and supplies to our picker lines, and also to Jerry Lee and Eddie Bryant of the Tennessee AFLCIO for bring 7 cases of water to our picket lines!

It was very appreciated, and won't be forgotten!

SECOND ALERT

DON’T BE MISLED BY VOUGHT. On September 29^th, Vought said on its website that it had a way for IAM members to cross our picket line without being subject to union discipline. It said that members could change to being “financial core” members, which would release them from any responsibility to the union except payment of fees. The company’s explanation was legally WRONG, and the IAM immediately put up an Alert to make sure that our members were not taken in.

On October 20^th, Vought put up even more misinformation, including a letter for our members to use in supposedly changing to financial core membership. DON’T BE FOOLED. “Financial core” membership is a phrase that courts use to describe NON-members in states, unlike Tennessee, where unions are permitted to spread the cost of representation to all bargaining unit employees, whether they are union members or not. IT DOES NOT APPLY IN TENNESSEE.

The IAM establishes the IAM’s membership rules, not Vought. We do not have two tiers of responsibility. Either Vought does not understand the law, or they are trying to trick you. Don’t let them do it.

Strike Update, Monday Oct 20

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Strike Update

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Video from Seattle Strike

We aren't alone, there's a lot of other Machinists out there. We are all fighting the good fight for our families.

Short video of IP Buffenbarger's visit to the picket line

International President visits picket lines!

Our very busy International President Tom Buffenbarger made a quick visit today to Nashville and our picket lines early this afternoon. We'll have video up this evening.

Boeing Strike Update

Here's the latest news on the Boeing Strike in Seattle. The IAM Strikers are holding strong and are determined.

Strike Update - October 13, 2008

Statement by IAM District 751 President Tom Wroblewski

The Federal Mediators adjourned talks today between the Machinists Union and the Boeing Company without reaching an agreement. The Union had hoped Boeing would come to the table looking to resolve this strike, which is in its fifth week; however, this was not the case.

The Company is attempting to put the Union in an unacceptable position to bargain away our members' jobs. The Union currently has 2000 members involved in material delivery, inventory, distribution of parts, materials, equipment, etc. Throughout these talks and in earlier statements made by the Company, it has become apparent that the long-term strategy of The Boeing Company is to eliminate these IAM positions and replace the Union workers with outside suppliers. The words "flexibility" and "competitiveness" for Boeing appear to mean eliminating IAM jobs. It is a systematic attack on the employees who have generated unprecedented success for Boeing. If Boeing succeeds in their plan, it is our members' concern this will expand to other jobs in the factory.

The IAM is interested in bargaining a contract for the future, which provides success for Boeing and for our workforce -- but Boeing has a different agenda. We expect to be a part of the future of the Boeing Company and remain committed to achieving a resolution that protects our members and their families.

The fact is our members have bent over backwards for this Company to make them profitable. We have participated in every lean program, new initiative, fixed vendor mistakes and offered alternative ideas - all to make them successful. It is our members who consistently step up and get the job done for Boeing. We will continue to do that, but not at the price of our jobs. The Union will continue to look for ways to resolve this strike so that our members can return to building airplanes and making Boeing record profits, but it cannot be at the price of selling out thousands of our members' jobs.

Keep in mind other top issues are still not resolved, i.e. medical, wages, and pensions.

Strike Update - Mike Worrell Letter

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Local Lodge Meeting Reminder

Our monthly Local Lodge meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 4:15 P.M. at the Union Hall. Directions

IAM 735 LIVE on the Bill Press Show!

This morning, Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge was a guest on the Bill Press Show, a nationally-syndicated radio show that's heard on many radio stations across America, as well as Sirius Satellite Radio.

Ron was on to speak about our strike against Vought, and talked about our pension issues, and how it tied in with the current market meltdown.

Here's an mp3 of the seven minute segment. Our story is important, and it resonates in the news because of the stories of so many retirees that relied on their 401(k) to retire, and now they find they have to go back to work, or will never be able to retire because of the market meltdown. We are fighting for our future, and for a retirement that is safe and secure.

Bill said he wants to keep abreast of the situation down here, and we will certainly keep in touch with him as the strike continues.

Strike Benefit Checks

Strike Benefit Checks will be at the union hall Monday morning, the 20th, at 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Come in through the back door and have your photo ID ready. After you have been identified and have sign for it you will receive your check and then exit through the side door so we can keep an orderly flow.

Because of strict federal regulation, checks must be picked up in person at the union hall. If you don’t pick your check up during this time, it will be sent back to the Grand Lodge and returned the following week along with your next check. Your checks will begin to accumulate, week after week until you pick them up.

We know that this is not convenient for many who live out of town. One suggestion is to carpool with others in your area and another suggestion is to trade places with someone who walks the picket line on Mondays.

If you live close to Nashville, please consider changing places with someone who lives far away. Here are two lists where you can sign up.

Click here if you need to walk on Mondays
Click here if you can change from Mondays

Retirement Wreck

New article in the Washington Post:

For many Americans, 401(k) plans were supposed to be their own little golden parachutes into retirement.

Now, it seems, those parachutes may not open in time.

The global financial crisis that revealed the flaws of Wall Street has also exposed the vulnerability of America's retirement system. Employers have increasingly abandoned traditional pensions, forcing workers to rely on 401(k)s and similar plans that have a lot more exposure to the stock market. The assumption was that even if the market suffered short-term losses, over time it would rise, allowing workers to recoup their savings. But the steepness of this year's market collapse and the still-uncertain depth of the economic downturn has prompted lawmakers, academics and economists to question the wisdom of letting workers hitch their retirement fortunes to the precariousness of the stock market.

Read the entire article. It's unbelievable that Vought is STILL trying to say that it's a good thing they want to freeze the pension for everyone with 16 years or less and give us a 401(k) in it's place!

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Strike Update 10/09

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401(k)s meting down.

From yesterday's USA Today:

The financial meltdown has demolished Americans' retirement savings, wiping out $2 trillion — or about 20% of value — in the past 15 months, Congress' top budget analyst said Tuesday.

This estimate probably comes as no surprise to millions of Americans who have reviewed their 401(k) statements in recent weeks.

"This is a financial panic right now, and one reason it feels so bad is that everything is going down," says Kurt Brouwer, a financial planner in San Francisco.

The sharp drop in savings has led Americans to postpone contributing and, in some cases, delay retirement, Peter Orszag, head of the Congressional Budget Office, told the House Education and Labor Committee.

A new study by the AARP found that one in five workers 45 and older have stopped putting money into a 401(k), IRA or other retirement savings account during the past year.

Vought wants you to put your retirement security into the Vought Casino, and hope you have enough when it's time to retire.

Here's the AARP story, Retirement Dreams Falter as Economy Slumps. It links to the study.

This is our future we're fighting for. Let's make sure we can retire when it's time, instead of continuing to work until we drop.

Breaking - Boeing Returning to Bargaining Table

From the IAM DL 751 website:

After 33 days on the line, your solidarity brought Boeing back to the bargaining table. Tonight, District 751 President Tom Wroblewski announced that throughout the strike Union leaders have talked regularly with the mediator and had several conversations with Boeing.

Today, Tom Wroblewski and Mark Blondin met with Scott Carson and lead negotiators for Boeing to further outline your issues. At that meeting, it was agreed to return to the bargaining table. We are working out the details of the return to the table with the federal mediator.

We hope this meeting marks a major step forward. The Union will continue to do everything possible to bargain a contract that addresses the concerns our members have identified.

Boeing returned to the bargaining table because you stayed united on the picket lines. It is important as we move forward that we continue to stay strong on the picket lines. That's how we're going to secure a contract that will settle this strike.

This shows the simple fact, companies won't keep losing money when there's airplanes to be built. We'll keep you up to date as those negotiations continue.

Mind Games Flyer

Strike Update - Mike Worrell Letter

The Rat is here!

When a company forces it's workers out on strike with a contract full of takeaways, after calling them "family", then buses in scab labor to do their work, it's clear they've sunk pretty low.

So, the IAM has brought in the rat, and it now sits at the Briley Parkway gate to let the citizens of Nashville know what a rat this company is being to the very employees who create the wealth of Vought Aircraft. And, they scabs in the bus can see every time they are bussed in and out what THEY are, too.

Strike Checks Monday Oct 20

CORRECTION!!!

Strike Checks will be available Monday, Oct. 20, and every Monday thereafter. They can be picked up at the Union Hall from 10:00 AM - 5 PM.

Titans Solidarity!

In the comments today, walktheline said:

I thought it was cool today. Iwas walking on satuerday from 12 - 4 and was joking with the guy iI was walking with that since the Titans were in the players union that they need to stop by the line. Well not 5 minutes later Kevin Mawai, the center for the Titans came pulling up and said that we are all union brothers and sisters and needed to stick together. The Titans were loading on to a plane to go to the Baltimore game. Several of the players drove by and either honked and waved or gave us a thumbs up in a show of support.

GO TITANS

Now THAT is great! Something that everyone might not know is that in the seventies and eighties, our then-International President William W. Winpisinger helped nuture and support the then-fledging (and broke) NFLPA, the players union. The Union was headquartered out of the IAM HQ in D. C. for many of those years, and it was Machinists support that got them through tough times.

And Mawae is currently PRESIDENT of the NFLPA!

Did anyone get any photos???

Well, if the Titans will root for us, we will CERTAINLY root for them!

GO TITANS!!!

From the Comments!

This one deserves to be promoted to the front page:

Anonymous said:

Hey Vought!!!!!!!

We shot that contract down, got it?

Fact checkers or not, it's over. Time to make a brand new contract and give up on that garbage you presented already. No one wants that big pile of crap you called a contract. We voted and gave you your answer already on that last contract. Do you not understand that? It is already spoken for, a done deal, and it's time to put your money where your mouths are. I do have a suggestion on where to plant those lips too!

October 4, 2008 2:37 PM

EXACTLY RIGHT! Fantastic post, Anon!

Weekend Update

You'll be seeing a new face on the picket lines. Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge and GLR T.L. Smith will be working the Vought Assignment in South Carolina and Nashville, while Communications Representative Bob Wood will be staying here. General Vice President Bob Martinez is making sure there is plenty of Grand Lodge support for the strike, so he's assigned Special Representative Mark Love to assist in the strike.

Brother Love (yep, that's what we call him) is brand new to the Southern Territory staff, just assigned as of Oct. 1. This is his first assignment!

However, Mark is a highly experienced Aerospace Representative. Mark was a LL 834 Organizer in Wichita, KS from 1991 to 1997, then Business Representative at District 70 from 1997 to the present.

Mark was Strike Coordinator for the 1995 Boeing Strike and several other strikes in District 70, including the recent strike at Hawker Beechcraft. Mark is one of the experts in the IAM when it comes to running a successful strike. His knowledge and guidance will be very helpful during the strike.

As with all our Representatives from the Grand Lodge, Mark is here to help and to assist your very capable Negotiating and Strike Committee. Be sure to say hi when you see him on the picket line or at the Union hall!

Strike Update 10/03

Strike Update 10/02

The Scab

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue.

Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with.

Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

Judas sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver.

Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British army.

The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.

A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

Jack London (1876-1916)

NO SCABS!

Strike Update 10/01

ALERT!

ALERT!!!

The company's latest update "Fact-checker #2: Retiree Health Care Costs" is currently under legal review, and will be responded to appropriately.

Blog Comments will be Moderated

Your comments on this blog will be going through a moderation step, and will have to be okayed by the administrator before it appears on the post. We believe in freedom of speech, and we've not deleted any comments before now, even when they are negative, or even those from management.However, speculation about names of those who have crossed the line is inappropriate, and can't be allowed. What if someone said YOU were crossing, when you weren't? Such comments cannot be allowed, and have been deleted.

There have been a few posts that show up "deleted by author." Once posted, you can't edit a comment, and some have deleted their own comment and started over. Posts we deleted say "This post has been removed by a blog administrator."

Thanks for the comments, it keeps the blog lively and interesting, and we want you to keep them coming. We hope you understand the need to make this change. We will be sure to check often to have your comments posted in a timely manner.

IMAIL

Yesterday's imail led with a story and photo of our strike. The imail is the twice-weekly news email from the International. Click here to subscribe.

Strike Update 9/30

Alert

ALERT!

On the Vought website, the “Working During The Strike” pages give WRONG information about union membership. Don’t make a BIG mistake.

Vought says that you can be an IAM member and still cross an IAM picket line and not be subject to Union fines and discipline. The company says that by becoming a “financial core” member, you can retain IAM membership but only owe dues and fees with no other responsibility. The company is WRONG. There is no two-tier IAM membership.

Here is the real story. Many other states allow unions to collect dues or fees from everyone covered by a CBA, whether they belong to the union or not. Members pay union dues, and non-members pay what is called an agency fee. Courts sometimes call this second group “financial core members” to highlight the fact that their only obligation or responsibility is to pay that fee. But don’t be confused by the wording. The law is absolutely clear that such fee payers do not belong to the union and are not union members. In saying otherwise, Vought is flatly WRONG.

Even worse, the concept of “financial core” membership does not even apply in Tennessee, where unions are only allowed to collect from members. If an employee does not want to belong to the union, he or she can freeload on the backs of union members and collect the benefits of having a CBA for nothing. They owe no “financial core,” so there is no such thing as being a “financial core” member in this state. Vought is either ignorant of the law or trying to mislead you. Either way, Vought is WRONG.

Strike Update 9/29

Press Statement

Tennessee Machinists on Strike Over Pensions

September 27, 2008 - Nearly 1,000 Machinists began a strike at Vought Aircraft Industries in Nashville, TN, after voting by a large margin to reject an offer from the company that would have frozen the existing pension plan for employees with less than 16 years seniority and replace it with a risky 401(k) plan.

IAM members of Local 735 in Nashville, TN, assemble wing and tail structures for commercial and military aircraft customers, including Airbus, Gulfstream, Cessna and Lockheed Martin.

Additional demands in the proposal that triggered the strike included minimal wage increases, increased out-of-pocket health care costs for employees and work rules that ignored basic seniority principles.

Like Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita, KS, where Machinists union members recently concluded a successful strike, Vought is a highly successful aerospace company, with numerous contracts to fill and additional work on the way.

Despite Tennessee's status as a right-to-work (for less) state, the bargaining unit at Vought is keenly aware of the value of full membership, with more than 90 percent taking full advantage of their collective bargaining rights.

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

News coverage

Here's the NewsChannel 5 Coverage from last night:

You can find WZTV Channel 17's video here.

STRIKE!

Yep, it's a strike. Our membership spoke loud and clear - 77% to reject, 94% to strike.

The strike begins tonight at 12:01 A.M.

Watch the website and blog for updates and strike information.

From the incomparable Billy Bragg:

Who runs this Union? THE MEMBERS!

Vought's latest, entitled "Communication Meeting" is something else.

Vought just doesn't get it. Our Union is a DEMOCRACY, as we've already said. The "International Reps" don't give orders to the members, the members are PROUD AMERICANS, and the International Reps and local leadership works FOR them!

The strength of this Union is the MEMBERS. The shop floor RUNS this Union, and it's the Shop Floor that will WIN this strike. You have the POWER to control your destiny. You have the power of Solidarity, that is far more powerful than anything the company has.

If you don't build airplanes, Vought doesnt make money.

You have their attention! Be at the vote tomorrow, we'll answer ALL questions, and you, the membership, holds your future in your hands.

FACT CHECK!

In their latest flyer on the Vought website, the company posted a comparison between Hawker Beechcraft and Vought.

Clarification - Vought Management doesn't get it - GVP Martinez, in his letter to the Local Lodge 735 membership, was talking about the ability for the Union to achieve their goals when they stick together. Hawker Beechcraft workers certainly DID believe the strike was worth it, they had improvements on all their issues. You have already heard from their Negotiating Committee on this website.

Here's the bottom line: Hawker management demanded takeaways, just like Vought. When the strike was over and the dust had cleared, Hawker workers had a contract with absolutely NO TAKEAWAYS IN IT.

Something to think about.

Vought acts like they know so much about the inner workings of our Union, but they say "after the International led them on a 28-day strike?" (bolding theirs)

They don't understand this is a DEMOCRATIC UNION. The contract is negotiated by YOUR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE - who YOU elected - with the ASSISTANCE of the District and International. The decision whether to recommend or reject the offer was made by the Committee alone - the District or International did NOT have a vote. They won't have a vote tomorrow, either. Neither will Maxie or Mr. Tharp.

Vought is NOT a democracy, and they don't know how to deal with a democracy.

Why were we offered the contract to freeze a pension for those with less than 16 years seniority? We were told across the table by Maxie that they were demanding to freeze the pension to "bring them in line with the rest of Vought".

Who are the REAL outsiders? Those who came here to assist us, or the ones who came here to order the local management to shove this 401(k) down your throat?


Vought's only REAL competitor is Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, KS. C'mon, Vought. Give us the comparison with Spirit's contract. Put up a side by side comparison, their wages, our wages. Their $60 month Pension, and the bonuses THEY have!

Let's compare apples to apples. Let's do a REAL "Fact Check", Vought.

For your enjoyment

Words from the Red-Headed Woodpecker!

Negotiator, Mike Lawrence

Retiring on a 401(k)?

Will it be enough to Retire under Vought’s proposal for Current IAM Members with less than Sixteen Years of Experience and New Hires?

The value of a traditional guaranteed pension is well understood: they provide a secure, predictable retirement income that cannot be outlived. Employees know in advance of making the decision to retire.

However, Vought is proposing to end the traditional pension plan for its current workers with less than sixteen years of seniority and new hires with the proposed Vought’s Savings and Investment Plan (SIP).

Under Vought’s proposal, current workers with less than 16 years of seniority and new hires are kept out of the Vought traditional plan and instead are only eligible to participate in the SIP plan, severely limiting their chance to reach an adequate retirement benefit. In fact, the likelihood that he or she will reach an adequate retirement income with a three percent of salary contribution to the plan is approximately zero percent.

Given financial market uncertainty, varying contribution levels to the SIP, and investment return on defined contribution balances, the resulting savings can vary significantly, for instance:

• If the typical 30 year old receives an employer contribution of around 6% of their salary during their working life then he or she will have about a 1% chance of reaching a sufficient retirement benefit.

• With a 10% contribution, the likelihood that he or she would have enough to retire is about 32%.

• In order to almost guarantee sufficient savings for retirement, annual contribution of 25% or more is required.

Therefore, as we can see with the recent downturns in the financial markets and other uncertainties your savings may suffer and not provide sufficient retirement income.

However, the SIP plan is important to the retirement security equation if it is a supplement to the current pension plan, but it is not designed to stand on its own. So be careful of the proposal that Vought is putting out to eliminate the pension plan and replacing it with a savings plan for members with less than 16 years of service and new hires.

Thanks, Fact Checker!

Well, Vought "fact-checked" our flyer we put out today, and we sure appreciate it!

Yep, we messed up. We pointed out the BIG takeaway on prescription drugs from new retirees, the FACT that the company has capped the prescription benefit at $425 a month, not a year.

That was a mistake we made in our haste, and we admit it.

The prescription benefit was uncapped until now, and we all know with the cost of prescription drugs these days, and the fact that retirees often need expensive drugs, it's a HUGE takeaway, that could affect a retiree's ability to live on their fixed income.

I wonder what they are going to say to a retiree that has multiple drugs that could easily come to over $1,000 a month?

Tough luck?

They pointed out on the "Fact Checker" that the Temporary Transfer Language, where they can put you ANYWHERE in the plant for ninety days, regardless of seniority, they say "For explained production reasons only".

That means for whatever reason they want to explain. The worker has NO PROTECTION in the contract. It's all up to the company.

We just wonder, when will the Fact Checker check THEMSELVES???

From Your Negotiating Committee

The company dropped their Last, Best and Final on us this morning and immediately went to the shop floor with it. Understand it takes some time for us to put a full explanation together, while the company had all day yesterday to put as much perfume on it as they could. We are working on a full explanation, but here’s the main lowlights:

Ratification Bonus: $3,000 sounds great, but about a third of it will go to taxes! We asked for REAL raises, that pays off year after year, and would move your top pay up. The company’s raises are far below the industry standard.

Pension: the pension should be for EVERYONE. A 401(k) means that you have to take a lot of money out of your pocket to hopefully have a decent retirement. A pension costs NOTHING out of pocket. It is a classic divide and conquer strategy. Those with the frozen pension have it frozen at $43. We must STAND TOGETHER, and not leave those with 16 years or less behind. If we accept this, on the next contract it’s very likely they will demand to do away with the pension for EVERYONE.

Health Care: Increased premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. It eats up your raises. Both Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft’s IAM contracts FROZE premiums for the life of the contract, so their raises (Cessna: 5%, 4%, 4%, Hawker: 4%, 4%, 4%), were REAL raises. But, you’ll be paying for more insurance, plus the 16 yrs and under people will have to make 401(k) contributions, too. What happened to that bonus and raise???

Spouses Health Care: If your spouse works elsewhere and the employer pays more than 50% of health care, your spouse will have to purchase insurance there, too. This is not a rule from either provider, this is from Vought.

Retiree Prescription Drugs: $425 a month (edit, changed from year) cap for retirees.

Random Drug testing for everyone!

40 hour rule: You have to work 40 hours to get overtime pay.

Seniority: Temporary transfer language: At the company’s will for up to 90 days.

You have made too many sacrifices for this company to accept this contract. Your Negotiating Committee stands together unanimously in recommending REJECTION and STRIKE.

From the shop floor

This is a comment on our blog. We thought that EVERYONE should see this, and we're posting it on the front page of the blog.

MrLogical said...

From the perspective of the companies previous actions, one could conclude that it's a bluffing game that is being played in hopes of making the Union workers feel that somehow, we will accept the paltry contract that they have ready when it goes to vote this Saturday.

Need both sides be reminded of the past?

1. The fact that Dallas could NOT perform the specialty work that Nashville does.

2. The fact that the Gaining Ground program that gave management a lump sum, for a management mistake, that left the Union workers with the short end of the stick.

3. The fact, that thus far, the negotiations are nothing more on the companies behalf, to make the hourly people contemplate a strike, in hopes that they will accept a low ball offer that has no merit to the accomplishments of the Union workers.

4. The fact that management is playing nothing more than mind games in this whole negotiation, when it was stated that they wanted a to offer fair contract.

When the definition of fair equals dividing the pension plan between Union workers, it's nothing more than trying to divide and conquer techniques being used on every level, in order to weaken any contracts in the future.

We as the Vought Nashville Site, must also know that with the Cessna program coming in to our facility, have an impression to make to them (Cessna) and when the management team doesn't want to play fair with the Union, what message will that send to Cessna, if they see us on strike.

Clearly another poor decision is being made by the upper elitist in management at Nashville, that could effect any future business with other perspective programs that would be considered by Dallas' board of directors.

Stop playing management mind games and do what is going to benefit all of us in the years to come, or ruin any chances of having a promising future here, at the cost of having all the buildings torn down. Was that a subliminal message that was trying to be sent as a display that you could level a building and create fear? Will you be impressed when your salary is leveled from making bad judgement calls and you are gone from being hard headed and causing discontent, even in lower management?

Look beyond our Southern accents and stereotypes, oh Great Ones in the upper tiers and make a proper contract that will reward you with the work force having a higher moral, which will also profit the shop floor managers, that are your sacrificial lambs in the past.

In closing, this has been an indicator of the sloppy and shoddy work done on managements behalf once again. That has resulted in overtime refusal and productivity lost. IT IS TIME. Time to rethink your arrogant strategy.

Sincerely,

Some shop floor hillbilly

Lipstick on a Pig

The company gave us the proposal, and now they are trying to bargain with each and every one of you - doing a hard sell, telling you how WONDERFUL the contract is, and how you should vote for it.

Make no mistake - they are putting lipstick on a pig. This is the worst proposal in the industry. We are now crunching the numbers, and will have explanations out as soon as we can.

REJECTION!

At 10:00 AM, Vought negotiators presented your Committee with the Last, Best, and Final offer. Your Negotiating Committee has unanimously recommended a rejection of the contract and a vote to

STRIKE!

We will be posting and distributing more information through the day.

The news is, there's no news!

The company has told your Negotiating Committee they are working issues within the offer, and informed us a short while ago we would not be meeting today. Plans are for a meeting tomorrow morning.

The Corporate Sell Job

Great Video about the Employee Free Choice Act, but it also shows the management attitude towards the workers. They'll tell you giving up your pension for a 401(k) is a great deal, when it's not. Don't take the slick talk - they have an agenda, and it's not in you or your family's best interests.

Letter of Support from LL 839

To the Sisters and Brothers at Local Lodge 735;

I am Kathy Petersen, President of Local Lodge 839 in Wichita, KS at Spirit AeroSystems. I write to forward the support of the members of our Local Lodge. We have received information that Vought Aircraft is demanding to freeze the pensions for employees with less than 16 years of service, and we urge you to reject these demands in the strongest terms possible. Every contract we fight to keep and improve our pensions, and Machinists in the aerospace industry have NOT been giving up pensions, and we should not start now.

Like your facility, we are a subcontractor, and we are in the same market as you are. Good wages and benefits at our facility and dependent upon BOTH contracts are strong contracts with good wages and benefits. We can lift each other up, on successive contracts. Our companies may be competitors, but we are in the boat together; we are sisters and brothers.

We went through a painful time three years ago when the Commercial Aircraft portion of Wichita's Boeing facility. During the sale, our Local fought hard for our pensions, and while our Boeing pensions were frozen, our Solidarity won us the IAM Pension Plan for the future, at $60 per month per year of service. We had a five-year contract with a economic opener this year, where we couldn't strike. The company essentially gave us nothing, and this was a valuable lesson, one we hope you will take to heart.

Companies will GIVE you nothing. You get ONLY what you are strong enough to TAKE. We are gearing up for what we consider will be a likely strike in 2010, and our local WILL NOT roll over for corporate greed.

If they are trying to sell you a 401(k) for giving away your pension, IT IS A SCAM, one that you shouldn't accept. We are all the Fighting Machinists, and if you need to fight, we will be standing with you. Good luck to you all.

Kathy Petersen,
President,
Local Lodge 839
Wichita, KS.