New members
Understand Your rights as an iam union member
Right to Participate
All union members have the right to participate in union activities, including meetings, voting, and the nomination and election of union officers. All members may also elect to hold an open appointed position within their abilities.
Right to Free Speech
All members have the right to freely express their opinions and dissent withing the union without fear of retaliation or discrimination. All IAM members will have a voice when setting rates of dues, fees, and assesments to the membership.
Right to Fair Union Elections
All members have a right to fair and democratic union elections, including the rights to a secret ballot, to nominate candidates, run for any elected office, and protest any election.
RIGHT TO RECIEVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Members have the right to access detailed financial reports and records, allowing them to evaluate the union’s financial status, including income sources and expenses.
RIGHT TO EQUAL TREATMENT AND FAIR REPRESENTATION
Members have the right to equal treatment and fair representation by their union, free from discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics.
RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS
All Members have the right to due process in disciplinary proceedings, including notice of charges, a fair hearing, and the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses.
These summaries are derived from the full texts of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), found in 29 U.S.C. Sections 401 to 531, and the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) Standards of Conduct, located in 29 C.F.R. Sections 457.1 to 459.5.
understand the history of the iam
Founding
The IAM union was founded in 1888 by a meeting of 19 machinists in Atlanta GA, who voted to form a trade union to fight for fair and equal working rights and pay. At the time, machinists earned 20 to 25 cents an hour for a 10 hour day. In 1889, 34 machinists held the first ever convention the the Georgia State Senate Chamber and elected Tom Talbot as the first “Grand Master Machinist” or what we call president today. Shortly after in 1890, the IAM headquarters was established in Richmond, VA with a membership count at 4,000 machinists. Within a only a few years of organizing, the IAM managed to score victories at the negotiating tables, earning pay increases and reduced working hours per day.
WWI and WWII
Throughout the first and second world wars, the IAM provided job protections, wage increases, and post-war support for it’s membership. When the Railway Labor Act was passed by congress in 1926, the IAM was finally able to represent its members at the negotiation table, and prevent discrimination towards its members from employers. The began organizing the Aircraft industry in 1935, when the National Labor Relations Act was signed into law, which allows for the right to organize, and requires employers to bargain in good faith. The first IAM union agreement in the Air Transport industry was signed on 1939 with Eastern Airlines. During the second World War, the IAM signed a no-strike pledge to help support war efforts, and had over 76,000 members serving in the armed forces across the world.
Post War Efforts and into the 1970's
By 1946, the IAM had managed a victory for its members by earning paid vacations for 88% of its contracts. The IAM represented employees at 85% of airlines by 1952, in which 92% of contracts provided paid holidays for its members. The IAM name was officially changed to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in 1964 with a membership of over 800,000 machinists. Throughout the remainder of the 1960’s and 1970’s the IAM membership topped over 1,000,000 members, while they fought for proper back-pay for locked out employees, negotiated more benefits for its membership, and earned its membership higher wages.
The 1980's and Onwards
In the 1980’s the IAM supported several political endeavors to help curb the weakened economy for its workers as the effects of Reaganomics gripped the nation. Throughout the 1990’s the IAM fought tooth and nail in several strikes to earn new contracts at Boeing, USAir, and several others. The IAM expanded in these years to better represent its membership by creating the IAM woman’s department, the Blue Ribbon Commission, and established the Communicator and Educator positions for its members. The 2000’s and 2010’s were a more political time for the union as they worked hand in hand with legislators to endorse and create Acts to better help the working and living conditions of its members.
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