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Watchdog Washington Online with new IAM Scorecard

There is a new way for IAM members to keep an eye on their representatives in Washington. The IAM has launched a new information site called the “Scorecard.” At this site you can see how your congressperson or senator voted on issues important to the interests of the IAM. After studying the results you can write and print out a letter on the issue ready to sign and send to that particular legislator. If you don’t like the hassle of sending letters you can send email from the site as well. Don’t know quite how to word that letter? Scorecard offers you the option of a pre-formatted letter or the ability to compose your own letter. It’s as easy as making a phone call. The Scorecard is part of the ongoing process to improve the communications tools used to inform members of issues and events that may effect their way of life. Here’s how to get there. Go to http://www.iamaw.org. Click on the button called Political and Legislative Activity. Then click on button that says Be Informed. Check out "Scorecard". See you online.

 

 

District Delegates

• Mike Burleigh

• Becky Ledbetter

• Ralph Stout

Election Results Winners District 70 Business Representative's   Mark Love Rita Rogers Becky Ledbetter Terry Carrington Steve Groom Mike Burleigh Tony Larkin To All members and American Citizens:                                      Home The Machinists Union is asking members and friends to email the White House with questions and statements concerning the U.S. Air Force decision to purchase the European built Airbus tanker. This betrayal of America will transfer $40 billion of technology, jobs, military and economic security to our nation's rival in the aerospace industry. This decision is wrong because it gives away jobs, manufacturing technology, and adds to a trade deficit (with a weak U.S. Dollar vs. the Euro). It also places our national sovereignty at risk by giving France and others decision making power over whether or not to produce our military hardware if they disagree with military action by our government. We have formulated a few questions/statements that need to be asked. Members and friends are asked to email the White House because Dept of Defense/Air Force is under the Executive Branch. We also are asking that you cc Senators Murray and Cantwell. We know you will also have statements and questions of your own.                                                  If you also cc webmaster@iam751.org on what you send, we can track the activity to ensure we are effective in this effort. Once again, thanks for your help as we try to reverse this wrongheaded decision. Message examples include: 1) Our military hardware should be labeled "Made in the U.S.A. NOT made in France   2) In the future, if France disagrees with our military action will they continue to deliver our tankers?   3) With our economy teetering on the edge of recession why would our government ship $40 billion worth of defense jobs overseas?   4) It is wrong to give away America's aerospace manufacturing jobs at a time when our nation has a record trade deficit?   5) With respect to the air refueling tanker contract, why did the U.S. Air Force decide the location of the jobs created by the contract was of no importance?   6) Why is the U.S. Government granting a $40 billion contract to Airbus for Air Force tankers while suing Airbus through the World Trade Organization for unfair and illegal developmental subsidies? Email address as follows: To: comments@whitehouse.gov. cc: patty@murray.senate.gov. maria@cantwell.senate.gov. Please log onto http://murray.senate.gov/tankers to Sign the Tanker Petition. Larry Brown Legislative & Political Director Aerospace Machinists 751 16 cent (COLA) Effective March 7, 2008, a 16 cent cost-of-living adjustment  (COLA) will be added to the hourly wage rate for IAM members at Boeing. This brings the total hourly COLA gain under the current contract to $1.09.The new 16 cents was generated for the quarter November and December 2007 and January 2008. COLA is generated quarterly under the IAM contract and is based on the federal government’s Consumer Price Index. The next quarterly COLA payment will be June 6, 2008

Voluntary Layoff Letter Amended and Form Approved

President/DBR Steve Rooney has met with the Boeing Company and amended the Voluntary Layoff letter, agreed to in the 2005 Contract Negotiations, to comply with changes in federal laws. The change to the letter is that if you take a voluntary layoff you cannot take paycheck continuation. You must take a lump sum. Please remember that you give up Category A rights if you accept a voluntary layoff. To see a pdf copy of the amended letter and the approved form click on the links below.

  Amended Layoff Letter                  Approved Voluntary Layoff Form                                                                   (Should be Available at Boeing Personnel)

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Contract Books Now Available at Local Lodge 834

The new contract books are now available for members to pick up at Local Lodge 834 or contact your Union Steward who will be happy to provide you with one.

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Article 23 - Income Continuation or Lump Sum?

Many members have had questions regarding their layoff benefits as defined in Article 23. In the event that you are laid off, you will have two options with regards to you negotiated layoff benefit.

Income Continuation - Income continuation would allow you to receive your negotiated layoff benefit every two weeks, just like a paycheck, until you have exhausted your benefit. You must choose income continuation to keep your Cad A recall rights intact if you wish to ever be recalled to Boeing.

Lump Sum Payment - A lump sum payment would allow you to receive your negotiated layoff benefit as one lump sum payment. Please remember, anyone who accepts a lump sum payment at the time of layoff will lose their seniority rights under Article 14 and recall rights under Article 22.

Question and Answer - Many Union members have asked what would happen if we go on strike? Would I still receive my negotiated layoff benefit or would my payments be cut off? If the Union and the company cannot reach an agreement and the Union goes on strike, there would be no contract agreement after the expiration date of the contract. There is a possibility that the company could decide to cut off the negotiated layoff benefit at that time but it would strictly be a company decision.

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COBRA

In 1985, Congress enacted continuation health care coverage requirements in the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA). COBRA requires that employers which sponsor group health plans with 20 or more employees provide continuation coverage to employees when those employees would otherwise become ineligible for group medical coverage. This continuation coverage must be identical to the coverage provided to employees under the plan. Qualified beneficiaries under COBRA include the covered employee as well as his/her spouse and dependent children.

The group health plan is required to notify the employee and spouse of their rights under COBRA at the time coverage commences with a qualifying event. Qualified beneficiaries have at least 60 days to elect COBRA coverage. If COBRA coverage is elected, medical expenses incurred during the gap between the qualifying event and the end of the election period must be paid or reimbursed by the group health plan. COBRA coverage extends for at least 18 months after the qualifying event.

Qualified beneficiaries pay for COBRA continuation coverage through premiums. For any period of COBRA continuation coverage, a group health plan can require a qualified beneficiary to pay an amount that does not exceed 102 percent of the applicable premium for that period.

Click below to read about the COBRA Act.