Category: NEWS

Congratulations to all the winners! (To see the full list of winners please see attached document.) Thank you to everyone who supported the Guide Dogs of America (GDA) and Tender Loving Canines (TLC) by playing the Spring Raffle. This event would not have been a success without your support. Our collective action has raised thousands of dollars for a worthy cause, in just 30 days. Every year, our district raises thousands for GDA and TLC. This is what’s possible when working people organize and work together to build the world we want to see instead of just accepting the world […]

We recognize that our members are the union, and without our active members we would not have a union at all. Thank you, to all the active members past and present, who have served and sacrificed to keep District 837 rocking and rolling over the years. Let’s honor the sacrifice of those who came before us by building our district up and passing it on to the next generation of IAM members better than we found it. Every year, District 837 hosts a Service Awards Dinner for members who have been in good standing for 25 years or more, in […]

President – Leo Jones Vice President – Larry Hunter Recording Secretary – Chris Vangel Secretary Treasurer – Steve Engelmann Trustee – Steve Ellis     Veronica Randall     Josh Geisling Conductor Sentinal – Samantha Njenga District Delegate – Chris Vangel                      Steve Engelmann                      Joshua Arnold St. Louis Labor Council – Frank Maniaci                                         Joshua Arnold Local Lodge Auditor – Frank Maniaci                                            Peggy Flynn                                            Josh Geisling Illinois State Labor Council – Peggy Flynn                                               Josh Geisling Joshua Arnold Midwest State – Larry Hunter                                 Frank Maniaci Industrial Conference – Steve Engelmann Missouri State Labor Council – Larry Hunter                                                 […]

President: Todd Calhoun Vice President: Tony Scott Recording Secretary: Dan Forbes Secretary Treasurer: Mark Hankley Conductor Sentinel: Tommy Carosone Trustees: Jeremi Walton, Ron Lay, Jason Pierce District Auditor: Paul Homan District Delegates: Yasmine Greene, Joe Blanke, Shanika Patton Missouri State Labor Council: Marsha Mason, Will Bryan Local Auditors: Brad King, Justin Shaw, Cody Morgan Missouri State Council of Machinists: Robert Fritz, Bob “bobcat” Montgomery St. Louis Labor Council: Joseph Nobbe, Tami Aguilera. Illinois Stat Council of Machinists: Carvin Evans, Nathaniel Gnau.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to represent approximately 50 LMI Aerospace employees in St. Louis.LMI Aerospace supplies structural assemblies, kits, and components for aircraft. They provide design engineering services to the commercial, business, regional, and defense aerospace markets, supporting aircraft product lifecycles from design to fleet support.READ: St. Charles LMI Aerospace workers to hold union election St. Louis Post-Dispatch“Aerospace workers see the value in having a stronger voice in their workplace,” said IAM District 837 Business Representative and Organizer Dan Forbes. “They are machinists and […]

A federal complaint has been issued against the Boeing Co. for unlawfully firing and disciplining IAM supporters at the company’s North Charleston, SC plant. The National Labor Relations Board is moving forward with charges that Boeing wrongly fired five flight line employees and disciplined union supporters more harshly than other workers. The complaint comes eight months after an NLRB regional director had found merit in the IAM’s cases. A group of 176 Flight Line Inspectors and Technicians voted nearly 2-to-1 in May 2018 to join the IAM and had to deal with threats due to their union support. Claims that Boeing SC […]

St. Louis, Thursday, April 9, 2020 – Members of Machinist Union (IAM) District 837 employed at Boeing in St. Louis are volunteering to work overtime in order to help build face shields needed by health care workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The more than 2,000 workers – who build F15 and F18 fighter jets and other defense equipment – will be using eight hours of volunteer overtime each week to assemble medical-grade face shields, which will then be packaged and shipped directly to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Boeing announced it is activating its additive […]

Members of the Washington state congressional delegation sent a letter to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, urging the aerospace giant to accept relief from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. The letter expresses hope that the Boeing Company will consider making full use of the CARES Act’s economic relief provisions to support tens of thousands of aviation and aerospace machinists, engineers, electricians, technicians and other frontline workers in the U.S. aviation and aerospace industry. The IAM represents more than 30,000 members at Boeing and thousands more at Boeing suppliers. The pandemic has forced Boeing and many […]

The IAM, utilizing an unprecedented democratic process that included a general membership vote open to all U.S. members in good standing, has endorsed Joe Biden for president of the United States. The IAM’s endorsement is the majority will of the IAM’s membership and its state councils, who voted online through an independent third party in early March. More about the IAM’s endorsement process is available at iam2020.org. Cumulative General Membership Vote (March 4-6, 2020) Democrats (66%) 1. Joe Biden – 36%  2. Bernie Sanders – 26%  3. Elizabeth Warren – 2% 4. Michael Bloomberg – 1% 5. Tulsi Gabbard – […]

The IAM scored major legislative victories at the end of 2019. These victories included the repeal of the 40 percent Cadillac health care tax, the reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and the signing of the $738 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).   ‘Cadillac Tax’ Repeal Vital legislation repealing the Cadillac Tax, a 40 percent health benefits tax on employer-sponsored healthcare, was included in the end-of-year appropriations and tax bill. “The Machinists Union has been fighting for years to end the 40 percent Cadillac Tax on working peoples’ health care plans,” said Machinists Union International President Robert Martinez Jr.  […]

IAM District 837 recently helped a local church in need of a facelift in the St. Louis area. Nearly 20 volunteers traveled from all over the District for the district’s first “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” event. The event took place at the Greater St. Mark Family Church in Ferguson, MO. Union members did a range of work including power washing the church’s exterior, debris removal, weed and plant removal, laying weed barrier, mulching, planting, and painting the exterior handrails. “The facility is 49 years old,” said IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Earl Schuessler. “The congregation purchased the building […]

The Machinists Union stands with the thousands of UAW-represented General Motors’ workers who are walking the picket lines. The IAM supports the union’s pressure to ink a collective bargaining agreement that provides these GM workers with good pay and benefits. IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has voiced his support for the picketers.   Myself and 600,000 Fighting @MachinistsUnion members are proud to stand with @UAW members on strike fighting for fair wages, affordable health care and job security. Stop your corporate greed and do the right thing, @GM. #UnionStrong #StandWithUS pic.twitter.com/ofc1Z02OKX — Robert Martinez Jr. (@IAMBobMartinez) September 20, 2019 […]

The IAM scored a major win in its complaint that Boeing Co. unjustly fired workers at its North Charleston, S.C. campus for support of the union. A National Labor Relations Board regional director recently concluded there’s merit to the IAM’s charges that Boeing South Carolina officials violated federal labor law when they fired the workers shortly after the union won a representation election there. The director’s finding advances the cases to trial in front of an administrative law judge.   BIG NEWS: @Boeing has been found GUILTY of firing workers for their support of the IAM in South Carolina. #BeBetterBoeing […]

Brother Ken Kellogg was unjustly terminated from Boeing in August 2017. Through the unrelenting efforts of his Union, Brother Kellogg returned to work in May 2019 after the union won his grievance in arbitration. He has also been made whole with settlement of $150,000. This is a great example of the “never give up, never surrender” attitude that makes our union so great. After battling against the company for a year and nine months, we would like to say CONGRATULATIONS TO BROTHER KELLOGG AND ALL OF THOSE THAT WORKED TIRELESSLY ON HIS BEHALF! We are still working hard on other […]

The Summer 2019 IAM Journal will be hitting the doorsteps on IAM members by late May. Here’s a first look at one of several articles in this edition. The opioid epidemic is sweeping across the United States. It’s affecting young and old, men and women, rich and poor. It doesn’t discriminate or care about your race, gender, income or upbringing. Chances are you know someone affected by opioid addiction. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency regarding the opioid crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an average of 130 people […]

A recent New York Times report on safety concerns in the 787 Dreamliner production line prompted Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) to write a letter urging Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to reconsider the company’s approach to quality control and safety lapses. Brown’s letter also called on Boeing to adopt card check neutrality for all workers at the South Carolina plant as part of their response to the Dreamliners’ safety concerns. READ: Ohio senator calls for union as solution to alleged Boeing SC production issues Charleston (SC) Post and Courier An alarming report from The Daily: Boeing pushed its workforce to quickly […]

A bipartisan group of 177 members of the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Rick Larsen (WA), sent a bipartisan letter urging Boeing Co. to respect the decision of Flight Line Technicians in South Carolina who voted to join the Machinists Union. In August, 23 U.S. Senators urged Boeing to drop its appeal and immediately begin collective bargaining with its workers. Boeing has refused to negotiate with 178 workers at its North Charleston, S.C. manufacturing facility who chose by a 2-1 margin to join the IAM on May 31, 2018. The National Labor Relations Board in May struck down Boeing’s legal argument and ruled […]

New Machinists Union members at Boeing South Carolina are standing strong despite the company’s attempt to silence their voice. The Boeing Co. on Tuesday issued an appeal with the NLRB challenging the decision of Boeing Flightline Workers in North Charleston to join the IAM. The Flightline workers voted nearly two-to-one for the IAM. IAM International President Bob Martinez wrote a letter to the editor in the Wall Street Journaladvocating for the South Carolina Flightline workers’ right to join the IAM. “The Boeing Co. should respect the workers’ freedom to choose their own union at Boeing in South Carolina and support efforts […]

  Guide Dogs of America (GDA) honored the IAM Midwest Territory and members of St. Louis IAM District 837 for their 2017 contributions to the organization’s mission of providing the blind and visually-impaired with the gift of sight. Pictured from left to right: Chief of Staff Steve Galloway, General Vice President Philip J. Gruber, IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Steve McDerman, and IAM District 837 Secretary-Treasurer Dewitt Darity. Guide Dogs of America (GDA) recently honored IAM General Vice President Philip J. Gruber, the IAM Midwest Territory, and members of St. Louis IAM District 837 for their 2017 contributions to […]

The Machinists are joining U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (CT) in a push to increase Buy America provisions for defense products made for the military to 100 percent. The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would bolster economic and national security and create good, middle-class jobs. TAKE ACTION: Call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and ask that they support Sen. Murphy’s 100 percent Buy America amendment. “The Machinists Union applauds Sen. Murphy for taking this step to ensure that our tax dollars used on defense are spent as they should be—on products manufactured with 100 percent domestic content produced […]

Bob Martinez, Machinists Union International President: “The South Carolina Flight Readiness Technicians at Boeing have spoken loud and clear. They want to be a part of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. I commend them for the courage and integrity they have demonstrated through this contentious process. I am asking Boeing to respect their freedom to choose and not retaliate against them for expressing their rights. The historic votes cast by the 176 Flight Readiness Technicians are not a collective vote against Boeing; it was a vote for the return of American prosperity. Unions are the best mechanism for protecting […]

Proposed ‘right to work’ constitutional amendment heads to Missouri Senate Protestors line the street outside the abandoned Amelex warehouse in Springfield, Mo. where Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens held a ceremonial signing of “right-to-work” legislation on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. The governor and other backers of right to work say it will bring business to the state and give workers the choice not to pay into a union if they don’t want to join. (Nathan Papes/The Springfield News-Leader via AP) By SKy Chadde St. Louis Post-Dispatch JEFFERSON CITY • A proposed constitutional amendment to make Missouri a “right to work” state is […]

iMail April 5, 2018 Marching among thousands in Memphis to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death was Teddy McNeal, an African-American man and 37-year Machinists Union member who grew up on the unpaved end of a segregated street in the rural South. “Marching in the footsteps of Dr. King gives me a tremendous sense of pride,” said McNeal, 65, who is now president of the North Carolina State Council of Machinists. “I really truly believe that it was one of the highlights of my life.” McNeal, along with hundreds of IAM members and thousands more in […]

The IAM pledged $1 million to support “Vote No on Prop A” – a multi-million dollar effort to repeal Right to Work in the state of Missouri. The Machinists presented Missouri AFL-CIO President Mike Louis, third from left, with a check for $250,000 back in February. IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Philip J. Gruber, left, presented Louis with another $250,000 Monday. The remaining half-million-dollars will be used to cover boots on the ground.   The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) have announced a $1 million pledge to support “Vote No on Prop A” – a multi-million […]

By TIM ROWDEN Editor Jefferson City – Republican lawmakers who giddily passed the phony anti-worker, anti-union “right-to-work” (RTW) legislation last year only to have working Missourians turn in 310,567 petition signatures to halt its implementation and force a public vote, have now introduced legislation that would move the statewide referendum on Proposition A (RTW) from the November general election to the August primary, when statistically fewer people turn out to vote. In the House, Rep. Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston), the sponsor of the House version of last year’s RTW legislation, has introduced a bill to move the vote from November to […]