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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Pittsburgh Labor Collects Busloads of Gifts for Families

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Pittsburgh Labor Collects Busloads of Gifts for Families Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. On Dec. 5, the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council held its annual "Stuff the Bus" toy drive for families in need. Hundreds of new toys were loaded by volunteers onto double buses driven by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 85 members and delivered to distribution centers around the Pittsburgh area. This charitable event has grown over the years, providing thousands of local families with gifts to put under the tree. Santa Claus himself even made an appearance this year and posed with labor council volunteers in front of a standing-room-only bus.  Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 12/11/2024 - 10:13Continue reading→

Union-Made Holiday Gift Guide

Union-Made Holiday Gift Guide Buying union-made is an important act of solidarity that helps support good union jobs in America.Working people value the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into the products and services we make and provide. That’s true during this holiday season and every day of the year.That’s why we’re pleased to share our annual Union-Made Holiday Gift Guide. Check It OutNo matter what you celebrate or how, we want to help you find the perfect gift for your friends and family that you can also feel good about buying. The gifts listed in our guide are made by workers who stood together for family-supporting wages and good benefits.And these workers’ contracts helped other nonunion workers, too. When union members secure higher wages, it influences employers in the same industry to raise wages for nonunion employees in order to stay competitive. When you buy union, you’re supporting workers everywhere—and lifting their communities.This is a big, comprehensive guide with a newly added video game section, in light of big recent organizing wins in the video game industry, as well as our very own AFL-CIO Union Store.Here is the full list of categories in the 2024 guide:Apparel and AccessoriesBeauty ProductsBig SpenderBooks, Stationery Stores and SubscriptionsGames and ToysHomemade GiftsKitchen and HomewareSports EquipmentStocking StuffersTicketsVideo GamesWine, Beer and SpiritsHappy shopping! And remember: If you’re shipping gifts this year, our letter carriers, mail handlers and postal workers at the U.S. Postal Service are union members, too. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 12/11/2024 - 10:48Continue reading→

IAM Rail Division Members Help Amtrak Achieve Record-Breaking Ridership

Amtrak has set a historic milestone with an all-time ridership record of 32.9 million passengers during Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This milestone was achieved due to the hard work and dedication of IAM Rail Division members from IAM District 19 and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), who are committed to providing the highest level of The post IAM Rail Division Members Help Amtrak Achieve Record-Breaking Ridership appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

Washington State Council of Machinists Host Final Political Conference of the Year

The Washington State Council of Machinists, led by State Council President Steve Miller (District 160 President and DBR), wrapped up its fourth and final political and legislative conference of the year in Tacoma, Wash., by bringing together IAM members and elected officials from across the state. The conference featured a packed agenda of speakers from The post Washington State Council of Machinists Host Final Political Conference of the Year appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

Locals Encouraged to Apply for the Chris Wagoner Memorial Leadership Grant

We are excited to announce the Chris Wagoner Memorial Leadership Grant. Brother Wagoner, 30-year member of the IAM and retired director of the Winpisinger Center, believed that expanding opportunities for Leadership training was critical to our future growth and strength as a Union. The Grant provides financial support for locals that want to send current and emerging The post Locals Encouraged to Apply for the Chris Wagoner Memorial Leadership Grant appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

Chuck Bennett Appointed Southern Territory Special Representative

IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Chuck Bennett, a longtime IAM activist and leader, as an IAM Southern Territory Special Representative, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Bennett is currently the President and Directing Business Representative of IAM District W2021 in Lake Charles, La., and President of the Machinist Wood, Pulp, and Paper Council. He is The post Chuck Bennett Appointed Southern Territory Special Representative appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

IAM Thanks Rick Mickschl for Career of Service, Welcomes Terry Kimmel as Midwest Territory Chief of Staff

The IAM is bidding farewell to IAM Midwest Territory Chief of Staff Rick Mickschl, who has announced his retirement. IAM International President Brian Bryant has announced the appointment of Terry Kimmel as the Territory’s incoming Chief of Staff. Both moves are effective Jan. 1, 2025. Mickschl had served as Directing Business Representative of IAM District The post IAM Thanks Rick Mickschl for Career of Service, Welcomes Terry Kimmel as Midwest Territory Chief of Staff appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

Maine Congressman Jared Golden Visits IAM Headquarters

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) recently visited the IAM Union Headquarters, restating his commitment to labor rights and Maine’s working families. Why it matters: Golden, a champion for workers and an ally of the IAM, has always worked with our Union to strengthen labor protections for workers in Maine and nationwide.  WATCH: Rep. Golden Visits The post Maine Congressman Jared Golden Visits IAM Headquarters appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

SC-NC-GA Tri-State Convention

Room rate: $199/night. Call 1800-876-0010 Group Code: APW/APU or visit https://book.passkey.com/gt/220204650?gtid=84507bd563c535413ad18738f9b7bc31. Registration: $100. For more information, email zelgill10@gmail.com March 27, 2025 - 8:00AM to March 29, 2025 - 9:00PMHilton Myrtle Beach Resort1000 Beach Club Resort Myrtle Beach SC 29572 LocalNoYes2024-12-09 00:00:00SC-NC-GA Tri-State ConventionHotel Information Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort 1000 Beach Club Resort Myrtle Beach SC 29572 Rates $199 Per Night Call 1-800-876-0010 (Group Code APW/APU)To Book Room or use This Linkhttps://book.passkey.com/gt/220204650?gtid=84507bd563c535413ad18738f9b7bc31   Registration Registration Fee: $100. More information forthcoming.  For more information, email zelgill10@gmail.com 10Continue reading→

Bargaining Update 4 – September 21, 2024

Negotiations aren't over yet - the APWU and USPS have agreed to "Stop the Clock" on the expiration of our current contract (set to expire at midnight on September 20). The APWU will continue to keep the members updated as we continue to bargain for a new union contract, including regular messages on the negotiation “hotline” at (202) 642-9049, our website (apwu.org), and on our social media channels. 7-NzhMk7jBk&tBargaining Update 4 - September 21, 202400Continue reading→

APWU President Mark Dimondstein Provides Contract Negotiations Update as of December 4, 2024

December 4, 2024Read the full transcript of APWU President Mark Dimondstein's Contract Negotiations Update as of December 4, 2024 Contract NegotiationsPresident Contract Negotiations Update as of December 4, 2024. Full transcript below APWU President Mark Dimondstein updates members on the status of contract negotiations with USPS management, including new factor such as the NALC tentative agreement. Share this video Facebook Outline Twitter_Outline Mail_Outline Full Transcript Below: Union greetings, APWU family. I hope everyone had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. At a time of giving thanks, it is good to reflect on how fortunate we are to be unionized postal workers and to have the right to negotiate with postal management as we continue to bargain for a new union contract. What follows is a brief update on the status of our negotiations.  As you know, our main union contract expired on September 20th. We stopped the clock, meaning that we were not done, but we felt we were making some positive progress. By stopping the clock, as we call it, it ensures that all of our benefits stay in place. You can feel secure that our bidding in seniority, our grievance procedure, just cause protections against unjust discipline, health and safety provisions, conversions of non career to career status, Guaranteed hours of work, along with so many of the hard won benefits won over generations of struggle, remain fully in place.  We continue to make slow but steady progress, and are meeting with management at least once a week.  We remain steadfast in our goals. We want good and fair wage increases to reflect the hard work that you do for the people of the country. We strive to end the gap between the divisive tiered pay structure. We want to secure more career work. We want to expand postal services for the people of the country. And of course, we want to protect the great gains that have passed, such as full COLA, no layoff protections for the career workforce, guaranteed hours of work, and the 50 mile limit on accessing.  The process so far is taking a similar path to the last round of bargaining. In 2021, we also stopped the clock. Three months later, we reached a tentative agreement that went out to a vote After approval by the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee.  This round we have a new ingredient.  The NALC has recently reached a tentative agreement with Postal Management, and their ratification vote is currently underway.  The APWU Negotiating Committee has done a deep analysis of its terms, as it potentially has an impact on our negotiations as well.  Our goal remains to achieve a good tentative agreement. If we don't get there, we'll be ready for what's called interest arbitration. We are already working on choosing a national interest arbitrator in order to keep the process moving forward.  We will continue to give regular updates through our website, magazine, news service bulletins, social media videos like this, and podcasts.  In the meantime, stay union strong. When you wear your union gear, you were telling management we are indeed united in our demands for good new contract. Union proud. Say it loud. Solidarity forever. APWU President Mark Dimondstein Provides Contract Negotiations Update as of December 4, 20240Continue reading→