INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS

 SERVING THE MAJOR AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS IN NEW ENGLAND    
  

                                                                       

Happy Holidays!

Back in the day during this time of the year it was Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year but today with the PC police lurking around every corner it's a safe non-offending Happy Holidays. Well you know, in my opinion, maybe we have become a little too safe and a little too non-offending to the point that we care little for anything that does not directly benefit or effect ourselves. Examples of this are abundant in organized labor where absent the willingness to self sacrifice and concern for the condition of others little gets accomplished. Union leaders are routinely criticized for contracts that do not measure up to the memberships expectations or for the unions inability to put management in it's place. Yet we see union positions go unfilled at the local level, we see very few candidates running for elected office and my pet peeve we see a minimum number of members at union meetings. As we say monthly in our newsletter, "Unionism is not a spectator sport".  As companies draw plans to consolidate we seem to split further apart. The next round of airline mergers could very well prove fatale for airline unions if we have not decided to stop playing it safe and make ourselves heard. Lets keep it a season to be jolly for many generations to come. Enjoy the holidays and with the new year set a goal to become involved and let your voice be heard. Do this before there is no one left to listen.

Jack Powers

President Local Lodge 1726

Where Are You?

Here we are in the merry month of May. The fifth month and so far we have five no quorums for the morning meeting and three no quorums for the afternoon meetings. No quorum means no business is conducted. At the afternoon meeting the pizza that is provided for the members after the meeting goes to waste. The donuts provided for the members at the morning fair a little better, doughnuts last a couple of days. The business of the local, your business is severely hampered when the members fail to meet and vote. I know there is enough going on at UAL to at least fill half a meeting. Gate Gourmet is a constant problem, we need a bilingual steward to attend meetings with a group of co-workers to appraise the membership of the constant harassment that occurs on that property. (Gate Gourmet es un problema constante, nosotros necesitamos un auxiliar de vuelo bilingüe asistir las reuniones con un grupo de colegas para valorar la asociación del acoso constante que ocurre en esa propiedad) What's up at USAir? We don't really know because there is no one to tell us. This is your local, your building, the officers and staff are here to serve you. the meeting hall is here for your use all we need is you! To the members on the night shift, May 22, 8:30 AM Tuesday morning grab a co-worker and spend an hour with the rest of us. Hola, El martes, el 22 de mayo 8:30 de la mañana viene a la reunión, gasta una hora y trae a un colega.

Jack Powers

President, Local Lodge 1726

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe, 2007, It seems like yesterday we were all concerned about the millennium bug and the turn of the century. Yes time does fly and with that observation comes the realization that situations change rapidly as well. Happy New Year, a great thought, full of purpose and promise, of a new beginning, a fresh start, a chance to change that which needs changing. Or it can be just an automatic response to a calendar event. Just a continuation of events, same ole, same ole. As always is the case it is up to us. State wise we have a new Governor who shows promise of bringing fairness to the workforce, nationally we have a new deal which could roll back more than twenty years of republican anti-labor actions. The words promise, may and could are key because nothing will happen without a push from the people, you and I. So with that enjoy the holiday and on Tuesday January 2, begin to fulfill that resolution to become involved and to those of us who are involved become more involved. We have an opportunity to make substantial gains in the things that mater to working people, we can't afford to waste it. You can find me either on the field or at at the hall, let's talk.

Jack Powers

President, Local Lodge 1726

Happy Holidays!

The Holiday Season is upon us. In the newspapers, on the radio and TV everywhere you look Christmas Spirit abounds, it seems it's everywhere, but as far as we can see it's everywhere but the airline industry. That being said, I wish all success to the labor leaders involved in keeping the labor ship off the rocks in the coming year. Perhaps with the change of scenery in Washington the tide will turn for labor. Realistically that's the way it is but personally I feel the Christmas Spirit is within each and every one of us and these outside influences will only dampen it if we let it. With that I want to wish the members and many friends of Local 1726 a happy and joyous holiday season and a very happy, pros pours and productive New Year.

Jack Powers

President, Local Lodge 1726