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Solomon and de la Fuente to Lead Legislative and Political Department

Hasan Solomon

IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger has announced that Assistant Legislative and Political Action Department Directors Hasan Solomon and Rick de la Fuente will lead the Legislative and Political Department as co-directors. Solomon will head the legislative duties of the department, which involves working to pass legislation on Capitol Hill and in state governments that benefits working families. De la Fuente will lead the department's efforts to support the IAM's allies in office and elect worker-friendly candidates to legislative positions.

"Hasan Solomon and Rick de la Fuente have years of experience working in legislative halls across the country on behalf of IAM members," said Buffenbarger. "As co-directors, they will be able to enhance the department's legislative and political roles to ensure what we achieve at the bargaining table isn't undone by politicians in Washington, D.C., and across the nation."

Solomon is regarded as one of the top labor lobbyists on Capitol Hill. Last year, he was named "Labor Leader of the Year" by the National Black State Legislators Association. In 2004, the Washington Bar Association made him their "Young Lawyer of the Year." Maryland Governor-elect Martin O'Malley called on Solomon to chair his Labor, Licensing and Regulations transition team in 2004. He is a native Washingtonian.

Rick de la Fuente

De la Fuente, an IAMAW member for 34 years and an assistant political legislative director at the Grand Lodge for 12 years, sits on the executive boards for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the Union Veterans Council. In 2003, he was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Paul E. Patton. By trade, he's a licensed air frame and power plant aircraft mechanic. De la Fuente is a member of District 837 Local B and has held positions ranging from shop steward to business representative. He's a veteran and is married with two children and three grandchildren.

Current Legislative Director Matt McKinnon is returning to the Western Territory as a Grand Lodge Representative.

"Matt has done a terrific job as legislative director," said Buffenbarger. "He has led the department through some of the toughest legislative battles in our union's history and he deserves all of our thanks for doing a terrific job."

FAA Invites Recipes for Recovery

March 11, 2010 - "Without a serious commitment to protecting jobs, without new limits on unrestrained outsourcing and without a second stimulus program that is equal to the crisis this nation is facing, the airline and aerospace industries will continue to struggle, even if the rest of the economy recovers," said International President Tom Buffenbarger, who spoke as the sole labor representative at the FAA 35 th Annual Aviation Forecast Conference in Washington, D.C.

The��two-day�conference, titled "Looking Ahead in Aviation:�Rational Rebound or Irrational Instability," was hosted by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and included panel discussion with experts in aviation, aerospace and business aviation.

In response to a question about the future of the aerospace industry, Buffenbarger called for a serious commitment to training and securing jobs for the next generation of aerospace workers, who would replace the current crop of precision metalworkers, avionics technicians and mechanical engineers. "The current workforce in this industry is second-to-none, but�they are rapidly approaching retirement age," said Buffenbarger. "If we fail to recognize and react to this crisis, we will invite more, not less outsourcing."

Buffenbarger was joined by Bryan Bedford, Chairman, President and CEO, Republic Airways; Scott Kirby, President, US Airways; Gary Chase, Managing Director, Barclays plc and Robert Wilson, President, Business & General Aviation - Honeywell Aerospace.

The panelists were questioned if the industry-wide downturn would lead to further consolidation in the airline industry. While some cite the current recession as a rationale for further consolidation, the IAM points to the industry's record since 1978, which includes more than 40 airline mergers, 162 bankruptcies and 150 low-cost start-ups, with less than a dozen still operating.

"Mergers and consolidations have been a fact of life in this industry for nearly four decades," said Buffenbarger. "Unfortunately, they have rarely benefited passengers, employees, shareholders or the traveling public. We simply cannot afford to continue promoting mergers as the answer to every cyclical downturn."

When asked what labor's role might be in the emerging recovery, Buffenbarger called the current situation an opportunity to forge labor-management partnerships that transcend the traditional collective bargaining relationships. "We need to look beyond the adversary method of reaching new contracts," said Buffenbarger. "We are prepared to sit down and broker long-term agreements that provide security for our members and stability for the companies that employ them. It may require a leap of faith on all sides, but I believe we cannot allow this opportunity to pass."

Machinists Leaders Vote to Oppose Health Benefits Tax

NMB Rule Change Draws Broad Congressional Support

December 8, 2009 - The National Mediation Board's (NMB) proposed change to its current election process is gaining wide bi partisan support in Congress. On December 7, 2009, James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, led 178 Democratic members of the House of Representatives in sending the NMB a letter in support of the agency's proposed rule change that would end its practice of counting eligible voters who do not cast a ballot as voting against unionization.

"We believe such an election system is inappropriate for any industry," wrote the House Democrats. "The process is all the more flawed in a setting where voter rolls include significant numbers of furloughed employees who are not in regular communication with other voters." Their complete letter with all signatories is available here.

Thirteen House Republicans sent the NMB their own letter of support, stating "We believe it is a fundamental matter of fairness for workers governed by the Railway Labor Act to have the same opportunity to determine the question of representation through the same democratic method practiced in other industries and throughout our society." The House Republicans December 1, 2009 letter is available here.

Dozens of United States Senators also agree with the Machinists Union that now is the time to ensure workers have a fair chance to express their true feelings in union representation elections. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and John Rockefeller (D-WY), Chairman of the Commerce Committee and 36 other Senators also sent a letter to the NMB in support of their proposed change on December 7, 2009.

"We strongly believe that the same democratic process that governs other elections - requiring a simple majority of those who cast a ballot - should be extended to workers covered by the Railway Labor Act," wrote the Senators. "Aviation and rail workers should not be subject to a different and more onerous process when deciding whether to choose union representation." The Senate letter is available here.

Machinists Fight AFSS Reductions by FAA

December 8, 2009 - The IAM has lodged a protest with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over plans by contractor Lockheed Martin to reduce the number of Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) in the United States. AFSS Specialists provide preflight weather briefings, in-flight radio services, issue notices to airmen, handle flight plans for general aviation and initiate search and rescue efforts when needed. AFSS Specialists voted for IAM representation last spring and achieved their first contract in August, 2009.

"We are distressed about the continued downsizing of high wage, high skill jobs at a time in our history when our nation can least afford more job losses," said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger in a letter to the DOT and FAA, "especially when the cuts will endanger public safety and put the safety first reputation of the U.S. air transportation system at risk."

Lockheed Martin took over administration of the AFSS system from the federal government in 2005 in the largest non-defense service contract award in history. Lockheed downsized the AFSS from 58 facilities in 2005 to 13 in 2009 and in November announced plans to close another seven stations. The closures resulted in job losses from a high of 2,100 employees in 2002 to 810 in 2009. If the announced closures go through, there will be just 600 employees at six facilities.

Lockheed wants to close facilities in Seattle, WA; Kankakee, IL; Honolulu, HI; Lansing, MI; St. Petersburg, FL; Columbia, MO and Nashville, TN. Further consolidation of service centers would mean a loss of AFSS specialists with years of expertise in local area weather and geographic conditions, concentrating AFSS services in just three hubs and three stand-alone facilities.

Click here to send a letter to your senators, representative and the FAA to stop the closure of AFSS stations.

President Urged to ct on Pratt Factory Closure

December 8, 2009 - The IAM is welcoming the unanimous support of Connecticut's Congressional delegation in the fight to prevent Pratt & Whitney from closing a pair of aircraft factories in Connecticut and eliminating more than 1,000 high-skilled jobs.

In a joint letter to President Obama, the delegation took the unusual step of urging the president to become directly involved and "use every measure at your disposal" to block the decision by Pratt & Whitney to shutter the two factories and move many of the defense-related jobs to overseas locations.�To read the full letter, click http://www.goiam.org/publications/pdfs/12_07_2009_Pratt_POTUS_12_09.pdf.

"This is a jobs issue, a national defense issue and a matter of common sense," said IAM Vice President Rich Michalski. "Too much of our manufacturing capability has already been sacrificed in the name of short-term corporate profits. If our economy is to recover, we must take extraordinary steps to preserve the fundamental drivers of economic growth and there is no better example than Connecticut's home-grown defense industry."

The letter to Obama, signed by Senators Christopher Dodd and Joe Lieberman as well as Representatives Rosa DeLauro, John Larson, Joe Courtney, Christopher Murphy and Jim Himes, cited previous unsuccessful efforts to prevent the closure. "Since Pratt & Whitney first announced these closures in July, the workers at the affected plants have offered $80 million in concessions," said the delegation's letter. "Additionally, the Connecticut Congressional delegation worked closely with the State of Connecticut to come up with an additional $100 million to keep the plants open. Unfortunately, Pratt & Whitney's parent corporation, United Technologies, has rejected these generous offers."

The appeal to the president is the latest move in a state-wide campaign that has included widespread support from area labor unions, community groups and state officials, including Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who recently filed a friend of the court brief in support of an IAM lawsuit aimed at blocking the move.

For�additional information about the dispute at Pratt & Whitney, visit http://www.goiam.org/publications/pdfs/12_07_2009_PR_Delegation_POTUS.pdf.

Federal Employees to Receive Retirement Credit for Unused Sick Leave

November 2, 2009 - Last week, President Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. �While a full repeal of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) dominated headlines, one largely underreported aspect of the bill - and arguably one of the most important for federal employees throughout the civil service - was a provision extending credit for accrued sick leave to federal workers enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). �Under the new law, FERS employees will receive a boost to their retirement annuity based on the amount of sick leave they have saved over the course of their federal careers. Like their counterparts in the Civil Service Retirement System, covered employees will have their accrued leave factored in their annuity calculation upon retirement.�Here's how it works. Once an employee becomes eligible to retire, their accrued sick leave will be credited toward his/her years and months of service. For example, before the benefit was signed into law, if a federal employee worked for the federal government for 30 years, earning a "high three" of $70,000 and garnering 6 months of sick leave, his/her retirement annuity would be 1.0% x 30 x 70,000, or $21,000 per year. �With this new benefit included, the same employee would have their annuity calculated 1.0% x 30.5 x 70,000 or $21,350 per year. That's an extra $29.17 cents in his/her pocket every month upon retirement.�There is a catch, however, but only in the short term. Though the sick leave benefit will go into effect immediately, it will not do so in its fullest capacity. There will be a four-year phase in period during which retiring FERS employees will receive only half credit for their unused sick leave. Federal employees can expect to retire with the full benefit on or after January 1, 2014.�"We are very pleased that FERS employees will finally be given credit for their unused sick time," said IAM-NFFE Legislative Director Randy Erwin.� "Establishing this good government benefit has been a top priority for us.� Now our retirees are going to have a little more money in their pocket because they were dutiful in their service and rarely used sick time.� They earned that benefit, and now they will get something for it."�

NSPS Officially Repealed as President Obama Signs Defense Bill

October 28, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Today, President Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.� Included in the bill was a provision to repeal the controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS).� The bill also contained several provisions impacting retirement benefits for the federal workforce. ��"We applaud President Obama and Congress for their bold decision to repeal this anti-worker personnel system," said IAM-NFFE Federal District 1 President William R. Dougan. "This shows that they are seriously committed to building a stronger, more just workplace at DoD."�The NSPS provisions in the bill dictate a repeal of the system, and a conversion of the over 200,000 covered employees back into existing pay systems by January 1, 2012.� NSPS workers will be guaranteed the full annual GS pay adjustment over the transitional period. �Also included in the Defense Bill are provisions offering employees enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) credit for their unused sick leave upon retirement, and extending locality pay to workers stationed outside of the mainland United States - both critical IAM-NFFE priorities.

"We are pleased to see that these crucial federal pay and retirement benefits have finally been extended to everyone in the federal workforce," said Dougan. "These are common sense policies that are going to make a real difference for employee morale and the performance of federal agencies."�The most important development, however, is undoubtedly the demise of NSPS. IAM-NFFE and its sister unions in the federal sector have fought vigorously for over six years to bring an end to the anti-union, anti-worker personnel system. Now that the system is repealed, both federal employees and their unions can breathe a sigh of relief.�"We had to pull out all the stops in this NSPS fight because we knew that we were fighting for our very existence," said Dougan.� "NSPS is clearly an unjust system.� This system has harbored discriminatory pay practices and it is the least transparent pay system we have ever seen. We knew we had to beat it, and today we finally did.� This is a proud day for Defense workers."

Full NSPS Repeal and Other Key Federal Workforce Provisions Included in Defense Authorization Conference Report

October 7, 2009 - Today, in a news release issued by the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain announced the contents of the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act conference report.� The report contained several key provisions impacting the federal workforce. The highlight of the report, and a great development for federal workers, is language that would repeal the controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS).�"The conference report repeals the authority for the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and requires the transition of NSPS employees to previously existing civilian personnel systems, while providing DOD with new personnel flexibilities - in the areas of hiring and assigning personnel and appraising employee performance - that would extend across the entire DOD civilian workforce," said the Committee's news release. "The Secretary of Defense would be afforded an opportunity to propose additional personnel flexibilities, if he determines that such flexibilities would be in the best interest of DOD."�According to the report, NSPS will be abolished, and the over 200,000 employees enrolled under the flawed system must be moved back to existing pay systems by January 1, 2012. Furthermore, any "personnel flexibilities" the Secretary of Defense might choose to ask for would require a proactive act of Congress to be authorized.� The Secretary would also have to provide draft regulations of the flexibilities being proposed.� Altogether, these would be difficult obstacles to overcome in the wake of a failed NSPS system.�Also included in the conference report were favorable provisions that would do the following:

�� Provide federal employees enrolled under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) credit for their unused sick leave upon retirement, similarly as their Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) counterparts do. This benefit will be phased in.� FERS retirees would have 50 percent of their unused sick leave time added to their time of service in calculating their retirement annuity through FY13.� In FY14 and beyond, FERS retirees would have all their unused sick leave added to their service time.

�� Phase out cost of living allowances for federal employees working in Hawaii, Alaska, and other non-foreign U.S. territories, and would phase in locality comparability pay in place of the allowances.

�� Allow former federal employees who receive a federal annuity from other than the Civil Retirement and Disability Fund to retain their annuity if reemployed by DOD.

�� Allow former federal employees under the Federal Employee Retirement System who withdrew their contributions to the retirement trust fund, thereby waiving retirement credit for those years of service, to redeposit their earlier contributions, plus interest, upon reemployment with the federal government.

�� Allow employees under the Civil Service Retirement System to take their highest salary, including their deemed full-time salary for years of part-time work, to be used in computing benefits derived from a pre-1986 salary.

�The conference report will now be sent to both houses of Congress for a vote.� Once cleared by both chambers, the legislation will be sent to the President for his signature.