International Association Of Machinists News

New legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) will codify the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking mission on the Great Lakes and increase the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes fleet.The Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act aims to increase Great lakes icebreaking capacity, which the lawmakers say will help the businesses and workers that rely on the maritime industry to transport their goods to market and grow the regional economy.“In recent years…

General Dynamics announced today that the negotiating teams from Bath Iron Works and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local S6 reached agreement last night on mutually acceptable terms to end the ongoing strike by shipyard workers in Bath, Maine. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service deputy director Rich Giacolone and IAM International President Robert Martinez helped to facilitate the tentative agreement.“We are pleased to have reached agreement with our union partners and look forward to getting back to the job of building ships for the U.S. Navy,” said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council (PMTC) and local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), United Federation of Special Police and Security Officers (UFSPSO) and Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) approved an extension of the collective bargaining agreement with the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division. "This collaboration between management and labor is another example of how we continue to work together to ensure we provide the best opportunities for our shipbuilders and at the same time position our shipyard to compete for future contracts," said Edmond Hughes, Ingalls' vice president, human resources and administration.

Leaders of the new coalition say they are fighting for the survival of the Canadian Maritime Industry, and explained their significant worries concerning the Canadian-European Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and the lack of transparency that government has had when making this deal. This free trade agreement will allow EU beneficially owned Flag of Convenience (FOC) vessels and so-called European National Flag to trade freely between Canadian ports without any restrictions on origin of the crew, or level of wage and working conditions. What we can be sure about is that this agreement will completely halt the Canadian maritime transport sector's growth. Moreover, the communities and regions that depend on this industry will be destroyed.

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) announced today it has officially started construction on a new Cable Ferry for BC Ferries. The 78.5 meter ferry, slated for delivery in Spring 2015, will accommodate up to 50 vehicles and 150 passengers, while servicing the Buckley Bay to Denman Island route. This newbuild will engage all VSY unions, including Marine and Shipbuilders Local 506, International Association of Machinists Lodge 692, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213…

The Manitowoc Company, Inc., announced that approximately 120 unionized employees at Manitowoc Cranes walked off their jobs after rejecting a five-year labor agreement, which was proposed by the company. The affected workers at the Manitowoc, Wisconsin facility represent 9 percent of the North American workforce of Manitowoc Crane Group and are represented by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local 516. The previous contract for IAM Local 516 expired on October 31, 2003. Following a series of meetings with a federal mediator, the union’s bargaining committee presented the company’s settlement offer to its members. After rejecting the offer, Local 516 initiated a walk-off, which began at midnight on November 18, 2003.

The Manitowoc Company, Inc., announced today that the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local 516 has ratified a new five-year contract with Manitowoc Cranes. Under the terms of the agreement, workers will receive cash bonuses in the first year of the contract and wage rate increases in the second through fifth years. The approximately 120 IAM Local 516 members, based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, walked off the job at midnight on November 18. The previous contract for the Local expired on October 31, 2003. The union bargaining committee and the company returned to the negotiating table yesterday and reached a tentative agreement, which was ratified by the Local 516 membership earlier today.