Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Senate H.E.L.P. Committee January 22, 2007 - The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing this week to talk about soulutions for working class Americans who are having trouble making ends meet.

Changing The Future January 22, 2007 - The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It's a saying that's at least 100-years old and according to the Economic Policy Institute, one that still holds true today.

Will Your Vote Count? January 22, 2007 - In addition to changing the look of Congress, Election Day 2006 did something more. It brought to the forefront a variety of voting problems experienced across the country.

Senator Kennedy On Iraq And Healthcare
January 17, 2006 - In a speech meant to focus onn America's health care crisis, Senator Ted Kennedy instead took the time to criticize President Bush's plan to surge troop levels in Iraq by 20,000.

America’s Most Wealthy Bask in Bush Tax Cuts
January 11, 2007 - Reaffirming what middle class families know all too well – the Bush tax cuts primarily benefit America’s wealthiest families.

New Speaker Of The House, Nancy Pelosi
January 10, 2007 - In the first full week of the 110th Congress, House Speaker Nanacy Pelosi has taken her place as the unquestioned leader of the 435-member body. But the IAM was one of the few unions to recognize her potential long ago.

Surviving On Mimimum Wage
January 3, 2006 - As you stroll down city sidewalks, you're bound to see poverty, pain, strife and struggle.

Mayor Ray Nagin Talks About Rebuilding New Orleans January 3, 2007 - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin discusses the obstacles facing the city since the devistation of Hurricane Katrina.

The Employee Free Choice Act
December 19, 2006 - The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a piece of legislation for the middle class that limits an employer's ability to prevent workers from forming unions. If passed it could ultimately improve the lives of working men and women across the nation.

Middle Class Squeeze
December 19, 2006 - Median household incomes for families headed by non-retirement age, or working age folks incomes are down about 5.4% which translates into about $3000.

Bush Administration Signs Another Faulty Trade Deal
December 11, 2006 - Despite calls from the incoming Democratic Congressional leadership to strengthen labor protections in current and future trade agreements – the Bush administration has signed the U.S. – Columbia Free Trade Agreement - without including adequate worker protections.

Machinists Take Back Ohio December 7, 2006 - Machinists canvassed all 88 counties in Ohio, educating union members about the candidates who care about American Workers.

Video: Working Families Expect Results from Governor Elects
November 20, 2006 - Thanks to a critical push by working families – Democrats picked up six governor seats across the country last week.

Video: Voters Offer a Clear Mandate for Minimum Wage Increase
November 20, 2006 - Voters in six states voted overwhelmingly to increase the minimum wage last week – a clear sign that Americans are ready for Congress to finally raise the federal minimum wage.

Video: 2007 Day of Action
From air and rail to auto and trucking, transportation is essential to our lives. But the industry has fallen on tough times over the last few years, leaving its workers unsure about the future.

To view these videos you will need to download the free Windows Media Player 9

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February

Machinists Slam Harley ‘Betrayal’

More than 2,700 Machinists union members at Harley-Davidson in York, PA, were forced out of their workplace today after voting to reject a contract that union leaders called a betrayal to workers at the iconic company.

“Harley-Davidson has no business behaving like they’re on the brink of bankruptcy,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “When Harley was flat on its back in the 1980’s, it was union members who refused to let it die. Harley went on to become an international success story but they’ve obviously forgotten how they got this far.”

“They don’t respect workers as much as their stock options,” declared District 98 Directing Business Representative Tom Boger about company leaders who reported record revenue of more than $1.6 billion for the third quarter of last year.

Harley proposed pay increases that would go into effect in 2008 and 2009, but only if workers agreed to pay more for health care costs.

“These workers build pride into every motorcycle Harley sells and they deserve a fair contract that reflects the success they helped create,” said Buffenbarger. “Instead, this company’s management is risking a successful 26-year partnership for a few cents more in profits. It’s incredibly stupid and shortsighted.”

The contract with Harley-Davidson expires on February 2 at 12:01 am. Strike preparations are underway.

District 751 Member Wins ‘Trip of a Lifetime’

District 751-member Scott Karelsen with one of the two caribou from his “Escape to the Wild” trip of a lifetime.

District 751-member Scott Karelsen recently won the trip of a lifetime, receiving an all-expense paid hunting trip to the tundra of Quebec. The trip was filmed as part of the Versus Network’s “Escape to the Wild” series and will be broadcast Feb.2 on channels that carry Versus programming.

Karelsen entered the contest last spring after seeing the ad in the IAM Journal. The IAM got involved in the project because of their affiliation with the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Project (TRCP), which partners with the Versus Network.

On the whirlwind trip, he traveled to Montreal, Kuujjuaq and the Nunavik region of Quebec before setting up shop in the Leaf River area of Quebec. In 3 ½ days, Karelsen got two caribou, caught numerous brook and lake trout and also hunted tundra grouse known as Ptarmigan.

“It was everything I hoped it would be, but at a frantic pace,” said Karelsen. “This place was so remote. It was a trip I couldn’t have made on my own.”

Between Feb. 2-7, the Escape to the Wild episode featuring Scott’s trip will be featured on Versus.

Bush Pitches Fast Track Renewal

President Bush took a break from mismanaging foreign policy this week to promote an equally disastrous domestic policy agenda, including an extension of fast-track trade authority, which allows him to submit trade pacts to Congress for a straight up-or-down vote. The current authorization expires June 30 unless Congress extends it.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone being unaware or indifferent to the damage and hardship that’s been done in the name of free trade since the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) took effect in 1994,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “Millions of jobs and thousands of companies that once provided a strong economic foundation for the U.S. middle class are gone forever.”

The newly-elected Democratic leaders in Congress are pledging to oppose a renewal of trade authorization authority until the agreement includes international worker rights and enforceable environmental standards.

In a hearing held this week by the House Education and Labor Committee, Chairman George Miller (D-CA) said that strengthening America’s middle class would be the top priority for his committee this year. “While the business pages across America report that profits and productivity are up for many corporations, we know that’s only half of the economic story,” said Rep. Miller. “The other half is the story of how middle class Americans are struggling to make ends meet.”

Colorado Set to Remove Organizing Barrier

The Colorado House of Representatives passed the Labor Peace Act this week, legislation that would remove an archaic provision of Colorado law that provides an unnecessary barrier to workers seeking collective bargaining rights.

Currently in Colorado, all union representation elections must be voted on by employees twice before they receive the benefits of a union contract. The second vote must pass by a simple majority of all those employees eligible to vote or by 75 percent of those who voted, whichever is greater. The Labor Peace Act removes this provision.

Colorado’s Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee has approved the legislation, sending it to the full Senate for a full vote later this week. Newly elected Gov. Bill Ritter (D), who leads a Democratic-controlled statehouse and Governor’s mansion for the first time in 40 years, is expected to sign the bill.

Oil Giant Racks up Record Profits

For the second straight year, Exxon Mobil Corp. recorded the largest annual profit ever by a U.S. company. The oil giant’s profit for 2006 was $39.5 billion, up from last year’s record $36.13 billion.

Exxon’s record year came in a year when working families continued to be battered by skyrocketing gas prices that topped $3 a gallon at one point last year.

The burden of high gas prices on working families, coupled with record profits by oil companies, is causing Democratic lawmakers to take action. The newly Democrat-led House recently voted to cut $14 billion in federal oil and tax breaks doled out to corporate giants such as Exxon, instead investing the money in renewable-energy programs. The Senate has yet to take up the bill.

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The goal of the USA is to create an outdoor hunting and fishing club exclusively for union members and their families. TRCP Launches Union Sportsmen’s Alliance

IAM members can now purchase union gear online at the IAM Store. Members can buy a variety of IAM related products such as t-shirts, jackets, jewelry and caps — all emblazoned with the IAM logo.

IAM Journal
Fall 2006

Gridlock in Washington, D.C. makes state capitols the place for innovative action working families care most about.

Get Ready for the Day of Action.
The Transportation Department is preparing for a major March and Rally on May 17, 2007, in Washington, DC. Thousands of working men and women from every state of the Union will join us on that day to say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
For more information, visit 17may07.org

The 2008 Convention website is online. The site features updates, travel tips, convention news reports, info for the media, and official convention gear. Check it out.

IAM Member Benefits mean money-saving discounts for IAM members and their families.

Enter member ID: PS16626766 when ordering online or call 1-877-289-9437. When ordering, you must reference code: PS16626766 to receive your union discount.

See who works for you, how the IAM is structured, and what services the IAM offers.
Go to: IAM2007

FlatRateTech is an organization “created for and by Ford and Lincoln Mercury service technicians solely to speak as one loud voice rather than 50,000 smaller voices.” according to their website The fast-growing site offers forums for Ford customers, technicians and dealers to exchange information.

IAM
Executive Council

Tom Buffenbarger
International President

Warren L. Mart
Secretary-Treasurer

Lee Pearson
GVP Western Territory

Dave Ritchie
GVP Canada

Robert Roach,Jr.
GVP Transportation

Lynn Tucker
GVP Eastern Territory

Robert Martinez
GVP Southern Territory

Richard Michalski
GVP Headquarters

Philip J. Gruber
GVP Midwest Territory