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2003 Archived District 725 Events
UFCW Strike/Lockout Enters Third Month
For the latest update from the California Federation of Labor, Click here. This Holiday season we ask that you take a moment to remember the men and women on the picket lines. You can help by donating an hour of your time to walk to the picket line with UFCW members (wear your IAM colors!), donating bottled water or doughnuts to the striking/locked-out workers, or adopting a UFCW family through your local AFL-CIO central labor council.
UFCW Strike/Lockout Continues October 23 2003
For the latest update from the California Federation of Labor, Click here. Respect all pickets. For the latest list of alternative union stores in Southern California Click here (sorted by city). For the latest update from Microsoft Money to see how much Steven Burd, CEO of Safeway has made by selling his stock during the strike/lockout, Click here. District 725 Delegate Body Meeting Saturday October 18, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA 11:00 a.m. The final regularly scheduled District Lodge 725 Delegate Body meeting will be held on Saturday October 18, 2003 in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. District 725 Executive Board Meeting Friday October 10, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA 10:30 a.m. The District Lodge 725 Executive Board meeting will be held on Friday October 10, 2003 at the Area 3 Office in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. District 725 Organizing Election Vertex Aerospace LLC - U.S. Customs Contract NAS North Island - Area 1 Thursday September 25, 2003 
Employees from Vertex Aerospace LLC - U.S. Customs Contract at NAS North Island voted "Union YES" by an overwhelming 91%margin in their National Labor Relations Board election on Thursday September 25, 2003 in Area 1. These Service Contract Act employees maintain a variety of aircraft for the U.S. Customs Department based in San Diego, CA. "This organizing victory was the result of hard work and determination of the employee organizing committee," Senior Organizer Brian Miller said. "They remained strong following the unsuccessful NLRB election in 2002. The committee held the bargaining unit together through the long 12 month election bar and produced the overwhelming majority vote on September 25th." The bargaining unit is in high spirits following this victory and a meeting will be scheduled in the near future to elect a negotiating committee member. IAM Joins Ford Techs in Class Action Law Suit The IAM is supporting automotive technicians in a planned class action suit that accuses Ford Motor Company of maintaining pay rates under its warranty compensation program that cost auto repair techs thousands of dollars a year in lost income. The Ford repair technicians, under the banner of a group called “Flat Rate Tech”, claim the Detroit-based auto maker sets unrealistically low repair times for technicians to perform warranty work, leaving it up to the techs and dealers to make up the difference. Technicians are paid a “flat rate” set by Ford for warranty repairs,
regardless of how much time it actually takes to make the repair. “Their fight is our fight, too,” International President Tom Buffenbarger said. “Ford’s tactics are bad for all auto technicians, including the 45,000 who are IAM members.” Flate Rate Tech 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 http://flatratetech.com. The fast-growing site offers forums for Ford customers, technicians and dealers to exchange information and has a sign-up form for Ford technicians to join the planned class action suit. Editor’s Note: District 725 has been given jurisdiction to represent Southern CA auto technicians. Please contactDirector of Organizing Rod Weigand for more information. LL 946 Members Ratify First Contract with Yulista Monday August 25, 2003 LL 946 members employed at Beale AFB in Area 6 ratified their historic first collective bargaining agreement with Yulista Management Services on Monday August 25, 2003. These brave Service Contract Act employees voted for union representation on July 28, 2003. “These highly skilled simulator technicians delivered a 100% YES vote on election day,” Director of Organizing Rod Weigand said. “Their solidarity carried them through negotiations and helped them achieve this historic first contract.” Highlights of the new agreement incluce:
The Local Lodge 946 Negotiating Committee was composed of Leroy Guptil and DL 725 Director of Organizing Rod Weigand. District 725 Organizing Victories Yulista Management Services - Area 6 Vertex Aerospace LLC C-12 Program - Area 4 Monday July 28, 2003 District Lodge 725 Director of Organizing Rod Weigand reported a victory for nine workers at Yulista Management Services at Beale Air Force Base on July 28, 2003. “These workers recognized that the only way to improve their standard of living and get above the Area Wage Determination was to organize,” Rod Weigand said. “Their determination and solidarity delivered a 100% YES vote on election day.” Brother Weigand also reported an election for aircraft mechanics employed by Vertex Aerospace at NAS Lemoore on July 23, 2003. This election was the result of an NLRB hearing to determine whether or not the leadman was an hourly bargaining unit position. Rod Weigand successfully represented District 725 in this hearing, and the election date was set, but Vertex appealed the decision and the ballots were impounded on election day. The issue was resolved in favor of the Union and Business Representative Dan Reed has been assigned to negotiate their first agreement. District 725 Mourns GVP George Hooper Thursday July 3, 2003 “The trade union movement and working families around the world lost a tireless advocate and a fierce champion for worker's rights,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger as he paid tribute to General Vice President George Hooper, 61, who died early this morning in an Austin, Texas hospital. “George Hooper was truly a respected and much-beloved officer of our union and, at all times, exemplified the highest ideals of a trade unionist,” he added. Buffenbarger recalled that his keen sense of humor and joy of living made him a treasured personal friend as well as a colleague in union affairs. “He had a zest for living that made him a pleasure to be around,” he said. “He will be greatly missed by all of us.” Click here for more on the passing of GVP Hooper. District 725 Members Win! Business Representatives in all six Areas of District Lodge 725 have been working hard defending our membership on the shop floor and at the bargaining table. DL 725 P/DBR Gary Holt reported that our Business Representatives have negotiated 9 new contracts between January and July of 2003 that resulted in significant economic and non-economic gains for our members and their families. During this same period of time our Business Representatives resolved 469 grievances worth $173,559.52 in grievance and arbitration settlements for our members! LL 964 Members Vote to Accept Agreement with CTI On Tuesday July 29, 2003 the members of Local Lodge 946 employed by Crew Training International (CTI) at Beale Air Force Base in Yuba City, CA voted to approve a new 3-year agreement with their employer. “We are a small Service Contract Act bargaining unit of 11 members and we did not have a lot of issues on the table,” DL 725 Business Representative Dan Reed said. “The wages were right and we corrected some language from our first agreement.” Highlights of the new agreement included 14% General Wage Increases (GWI’s) over the life of the agreement; 6% 1st year, 4% the 2nd year & 4% the 3rd year. The Negotiating Committee consisted of Dick Panzica and Bill Williams with assistance from DL 725 BR Dan Reed and Director of Organizing Rod Weigand. LL 2231 Members Ratify Contract with Lockheed Martin On Thursday July 24, 2003 the members of Plant Protection Local Lodge 2231 in Area 5 voted to accept Lockheed Martin’s last best and final offer. Highlights of the new four year agreement are as follows: The LL 2231 Negotiating Committee was composed of Kathryn Coryell, Chuck Gullo, Howard Cox, Maurice Driscoll and DL 725 Area 5 Director John Fox. District 725 Delegate Body Meeting Saturday July 19, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA 11:00 a.m. The third regularly scheduled District Lodge 725 Delegate Body meeting will be held on Saturday July 19, 2003 in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. LL 727-N Members Ratify Contract with LESI On June 7, 2003 Local Lodge 727-N members employed by Lockheed Employee Services Incorporated (LESI) in Valencia, CA voted to reject the Company’s proposed contract but did not produce enough votes required under the IAM Constitution to authorize a strike. This second vote was taken after the initial contract ratification meeting held on May 31, 2003. The membership rejected the Company’s proposal by 100% and voted to authorize strike action by a 99% margin. The strike was scheduled to begin June 9, 2003. On June 5, 2003 Federal Mediator Phyllis Case asked the parties to meet with her and resume bargaining. During a 4 hour meetingin Glendale, CA on June 6, 2003, the Union negotiating committee presented 4 issues that would avert the strike, 3 based on wages and 1 on job classifications. The Company took them under advisement and came back with 3 of the 4 issues and asked the Union committee to recommend the proposed contract. The committee said they wouldn’t recommend the proposal but they wouldn’t recommend a strike. Their previous agreement expired on June 5, 2003. Highlights of the new agreement are as follows: “The Negotiating Committee did an excellent job,” DL 725 BR Mike Palazzo said. “They worked together and stayed focused during a difficult round of negotiations. Thanks to the tremendous support from our President/DBR Gary Holt we got a contract.” Defense Bill Attacks Workers Rights Friday June 6, 2003 More than 700,000 workers are in danger of losing their rights at work if a bill, currently in joint committee, is passed that includes a Donal Rumsfeld supported overhaul of the civilian personnel system. HR 1836 and S 1050 have both been passed, but the Senate version did not include the provisions to strip employee rights, by overhauling Title 5 of the U.S. Code Check out the link below, and get the word out. Removing the rights of workers is not the answer to building a strong America. Click here to e-mail your representatives 
The IAM's i-Mail is an Internet based communication tool that was launched recently. IAM members can receive a short email containing a hyperlink to the most recent news items involving IAM members, Local Lodges and District Lodges. Published once or twice a week, i-Mail also highlights the best web sites in the labor movement. Don't delay, sign up for i-Mail today! LL 575 Members Ratify Contract with Northrop Grumman On Thursday, May 1, 2003 Local Lodge 575 members employed by Northrop Grumman in Azusa, CA ratified a new four year Agreement by majority vote. The new contract provides for General Wage Increases, a signing bonus and many other improvements. Highlights of the new contract are as follows: Other improvements in the new contract included changes to Grievance Procedure time limits for each part of each Step which will allow settlement in a reasonable amount of time. The penalty for exceeding any time limit without mutual agreement is a "win" for the other party. Bargaining Unit employees achieved parity with Salaried employees in the Educational Reimbursement Program and all Medical Insurance options will include Vision Care. All Regular Part-Time employees will receive the same benefits for the same cost as the Regular Full-Time employees (they formerly had to pay double!) In the event of lay off members will receive two weeks notice instead of just one week and will also receive a Severance Payment of one week's pay for every year of service up to a maximum of twenty-six weeks. “We were able to bring these improvements back to our members because of the hard work from our very informed and aggressive Negotiating Committee,” Business Representative Al Rosales said. “I’ve been on the Union Negotiating Teams for the last six contracts and I consider this Agreement as having the most gains”, Chief Steward Ron Kinney said. “I am very proud to have been part of a great committee that brought this package back to our very deserving Membership.” District 776 On Strike April 29, 2003 Fort Worth, TX Members Vote to End Lockheed Strike IAM members at Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth, TX voted to end their two-week walkout and return to work after winning caps on prescription drug costs and preserving the integrity of the 40-hour worweek. The 3-year accord includes a $1,500 signing bonus, General Wage Increases of 4%, 3% and 3%, a pension rate of $58 per month per year of service, and caps on the costs of prescription drugs. “The cap was crucial,” said Pat Lane, District 776 President and Directing Business Representative. “We have to have some control of how much drugs are going to cost our members.” “The membership at District 776 has a strong voice,” said
John Crowdis, Aerospace Coordinator for Lockheed Martin. “They let
Members at the Fort Worth facility build the F-16 and a major part of the F-22. Production will begin next year on the Joint Strike Fighter. LL 1125 Members Ratify New Agreement with Raytheon Aerospace Your Union Negotiating Committee met with the Company from April 23, 2003 through April 26, 2003 to renegotiate the entire agreement. The following is a summary of negotiated items of interest. Full text of your labor agreement will be provided upon approval and acceptance of the membership. Three year Labor Agreement Wages: Working Conditions: Retirement: General Improvements: Wages:
Your negotiating committee extends their appreciation for your unwavering support during this process. In Solidarity, Your IAM Negotiating Committee: Virginia Cobb, Area 1 Director District 776 On Strike Monday April 14, 2003 Fort Worth, TX In response to a company proposal to dump a greater percentage of health care costs on to its employees, IAM members working at Lockheed-Martin’s Forth Worth, Texas facility walked off the job Monday morning. A 2,380 to 432 strike vote by District 776 members sent a clear message to management. “The members are very unhappy with the company and the contract offer.” said Pat Lane, President and Directing Business Representative for District Lodge 776. “They have no reason to do this to their employees. This is a profitable company with the largest military contract in history.” “This contract puts a huge burden on the workers. Deductibles went up 50 percent, and prescription drugs were a real killer. That's a deal breaker," said Steve Sleigh, Director of the IAM’s Strategic Resources Department. "Drugs used to be capped at $5 for generic and name brand. Now, it's a percentage, and if it's a very expensive drug it could cost hundreds of dollars. The uncertainty meant we did not know what we were signing on to. Employee co-pay for prescriptions could be as much as 40 per cent." “Lockheed presented their last, best and final offer 4 hours before the vote,” said John Crowdis, Aerospace Coordinator. “There was not time for anyone to really know what was in the package. It was unfair of Lockheed, and the members sent a clear message to Lockheed.” Keep up to date with the events on the picket line in Fort Worth by clicking the following link: http://www.776iam.org/ District 725 Organizing Election Friday April 4, 2003 Carson, CA
Workers Memorial Day Message April 28, 2003 These words spoken over 92 years ago still ring true today. Click here to read the speech given by Organizer Rose Schneiderman to a crowd that gathered at the New York Metropolitan Opera House following the horror of the Triangle Fire. Workers Memorial Day April 28, 2003 Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year more than 60,000 workers die from job injuries and illnesses and another 6 million are injured. The unions of the AFL-CIO remember these workers on April 28, Workers Memorial Day. The first Workers Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. Every year, people in hundreds of communities and at worksites recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Trade unionists around the world now mark April 28 as an International Day of Mourning. Here are some materials and information to help you participate in Workers Memorial Day: Here are some other ways we honor workers who have been killed or injured on the job:
LL 1125 Approves Successor Agreement with Lockheed Martin Systems Management On Friday March 7, 2003 employees from Lockheed Martin Systems Management at Naval Submarine Base San Diego voted to accept a successor agreement by majority vote. These Service Contract Act bargaining unit members maintain the Submarine Simulators (including fire fighting simulators) for the U.S. Navy, and were formally employed by Cubic Worldwide Technical Services (CWTS). These proud new members voted 80% "Union YES" on Friday June 14, 2002 in their National Labor Relations Board election and ratified their first labor on Wednesday August 7, 2002. Lockheed Martin Systems Management assumed their contract with the U.S. Navy in December of 2002 and a transition agreement was reached in a very short period of time. This successor agreement preserves the wage rates and benefit levels that were negotiated with Cubic and includes improvements in education reimbursement programs and other employee benefits. Highlights of this historic first agreement are as follows: Three Year Labor Agreement -- Expires
August 6, 2005.
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL: $0.50 cents per hour to employees assigned to second shift and the third shift effective December 1, 2002 in addition to their base rate shown above in wages. SHIFT LEAD: Each shift will continue to have one Lead and the Lead will be compensated in addition to their base rate an additional $0.50 per hour. An employee designated to serve as an acting shift Lead in excess of 1 day will be paid the Lead pay for the entire period for which they served as Lead. SAVINGS PLAN: Effective January 1, 2003 hourly employees covered by this Agreement will be paid $1.00 per hour in addition to the rates listed above. The $1.00 per hour should be deferred into the 401(k) pre-tax savings plan. TUITION ASSISTANCE: The tuition assistance program has been improved by removing the cap of $2,500.00 per year to cover all incurred educational expenses. Company agreed to up to four hours of make-up time during a pay period. New provision regarding alternate workweek schedules to be implemented as necessary to meet mission requirements. Other negotiated items include: Bereavement pay; paid Jury Duty up to 10 days; 10 paid Holidays per year; education reimbursement, paid vacation; seniority for layoff; travel pay, etc. Your negotiating committee extends their appreciation for your unwavering support during this process. In Solidarity,
District 725 Delegate Body Meeting Rescheduled Saturday May 3, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA 11:00 a.m. The second regularly scheduled District Lodge 725 Delegate Body meeting originally set for April 26, 2003 has been rescheduled. Dispensation has been granted by the International President to conduct the meeting on Saturday, May 3, 2003 in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. District 725 Mourns Loss of Space Shuttle Columbia Saturday February 1, 2003 While returning from orbit on Saturday February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia and all seven STS-107 crewmembers were lost over north central Texas. Columbia was returning from a 16-day scientific research mission. Click here for the latest information from the NASA web site regarding the investigation. Gary Holt Re-elected President/DBR Saturday January 18, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA On Saturday January 18, 2003 delegates representing the 23 affiliated Local Lodges of District 725 met in Huntington Beach, California for the first District 725 Delegate Body Meeting of the year. One of the most important items the newly elected delegates were tasked with was the election and installation of President and Directing Business Representative for District Lodge 725. Gary Holt won the election by an overwhelming majority vote (83%) and Western Territory General Vice President Lee Pearson administered the oath of office to District 725's third President/Directing Business Representative.
Gary Holt has been a full-time Business Representative since 1986. In 1995 Gary was appointed by then President/DBR Calvin Duncan to serve as Area 4 Director. In November of 1999, the late President/DBR Nick Bacon appointed Gary to serve as District 725 Assistant Directing Business Representative. During this time, Gary led over 40 successful negotiations at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Lockheed Plant Protection, Lockheed Employee Services, HR Textron, Weber Aircraft and Guide Dogs of America as well as many other smaller bargaining units in Area 4. Gary Holt was first elected District Lodge 725 President/DBR in a special election held on May 20, 2000 following the death of Nick Bacon. Under Gary Holt’s leadership the Delegates and District Lodge Staff have worked closely together to control expenses and adopt a budget that eliminated our deficit spending problems and put the District back on track financially. Because of these and many other cost saving measures the District Delegates voted to allocate one million dollars to create a District Organizing Department and hire three more full-time organizers. “I’d like to thank the Delegates who elected me to serve as President and Directing Business Representative," Gary Holt said. "I look forward to serving in this capacity and I look forward to a prosperous new year for our membership.” District 725 Delegate Body Meeting Saturday January 18, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA 11:00 a.m. The first regularly scheduled District Lodge 725 Delegate Body meeting will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2003 in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. District 725 Executive Board Meeting Thursday January 9, 2003 Huntington Beach, CA 10:30 a.m. The District Lodge 725 Executive Board meeting will be held on Thursday January 9, 2003 at the Area 3 Office in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. |
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There
is an unprecedented assault being waged on 70,000 striking/locked out UFCW
brothers and sisters in Southern California and there is no end in sight.
District Lodge 725 members and Staff continue to support striking and
locked-out UFCW members on picket lines throughout California but as
Christmas looms near more support is needed. 
Grocery
Workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) from
San Diego to San Louis Obispo are either on strike or locked out by their
employers. District Lodge 725 members are holding rallies and walking the
picket lines all over Southern California to support these workers in their
struggle maintain their standard of living. All IAM members are encouraged
to assist the UFCW members on the picket lines (please wear your IAM jackets
& hats). For more information contact your local AFL-CIO central labor
council. 
Employees
from Siemens Corporation in Carson, CA 75% "Union Yes" for IAM
representation in their National Labor Relations Board election on Friday
April 4, 2003 in Area 3. These bargaining unit members manufacture light
rail cars for commuter rail lines such as the L.A. MetroLink & Orange/San
Diego County Coaster. The bargaining unit is in high spirits following this
victory and a meeting will be scheduled in the near future to elect a
negotiating committee member. Congratulations to Organizers Mike
Bellestri & Calixto Tapia and Organizing Director Rod Weigand for their hard
work to help these proud new IAM members achieve this definitive victory!
Gary Holt has
been a member of the Machinists Union since 1969, when he was hired by HR
Textron at the age of 18. Shortly thereafter, he completed a four-year tour
of duty as a member of the United States Air Force. Gary returned to HR
Textron and became active in the Union. Over the years, Gary has held the
following positions: Local Lodge 758 President, Local Lodge 758 Vice
President, Group Steward, Senior Steward, Local Lodge Negotiating
Committee, Cal Conference Delegate, Grand Lodge Convention Delegate and
District Lodge 727 Delegate.