Long Shoremen New District Office Grand Opening Today, Space Center Issues Discussed with Congressman

I had the good fortune to be a guest at the ILA Texas District "New" Office Grand Opening.  It is quite a nice facility (as all New facilities are).  It is at the corner of Hwy 3 and Clear Lake City Blvd (FM2351) in Webster, Texas.  As it turned out, there were some distinguished guests invited to the event including Congressman Gene Green, Congressman Al Green, and County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia was expected, Even got to see Judge George Riesner, Justice of the Peace in Pasadena (he married my wife and I).  I had the opportunity to talk with Congressman Gene Green about the Machinists and NASA.  I mentioned the problems that we are having with Integrity International and their antics with the Custodial group as well as the seemingly endless "Put-off's" of CSC and the Special Purpose Maintenance group regarding jurisdictional issues at the center.  We are to meet up again to discuss these points of interest and the key personnel that are the root of the issues between Labor and the contractors they support for the Space Center and the Center personnel responsible for the continuing issues and the lack of "Step Up Resolution" that you would expect from a government agency. The BBQ was outstanding and the conversation interesting, I believe the event was a complete success.  All the best to our Union Brothers with the ILA, Congradulation on the "New Diggs"

Integrity International Forced to "Pay UP"

In a TOTALLY bogus refute to NOT pay the Custodial Staff for the Space Center including JSC, SCTF, and Ellington their Contractually agreed upon annual pay increase, the Labor Board sided with the workers on this "NO BRAINER" and made it retroactive (Of Course).  This "Integrity International" Group has displayed anything but a scarce morsel of "Integrity" from the very first day of their awarded contract.  It has been nothing less than "HELL" for the fine men and women of the time honored custodial staff of the Johnson Space Center and associated facilities. This company has displayed and exuded the very reason Unions where conceived in the first place.  Constant badgering and belittling of the staff for doing their job and attempting to stand up for themselves.  This bunch has to go! They have no place in this family.  Or we can show them some "Real Southern Hospitality".
I remain....

Galveston Co.AFL-CIO and the Galveston Co. Democratic Party to sponsor Picnic Rally

To Find out the details of this event please log onto http://iamawdl37.blogspot.com/
this is an important event as stated in the Blog, Please follow the link to some very important information regarding this event.
DJH

"Save Our Jobs" Rally Hosted By the IAMAW International

It was quite an impressive show at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston, all the key players were there, IP Buffenbarger, GST Warren Mart, All of the GVP's.  There were guest speakers; Congressman Pete Olsen, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Brother Johnny Walker, DBA for the IAM at the Cape.
Both IP Buffenbarger and GVP Martinez opened with rousing speeches, "Who's going to tell the President we will not accept these changes to the space program?!", with a hearty reply, "We Are!".  There was a good 30 to 40 minutes of this, chanting and very boisterous reply.  I am sure that the other hosted events in the adjoining ball rooms that had nothing to do with our event were quite disturbed.
But then I looked around, all (or most) of these people were there for the staff conference (that is taking place this week) anyway.  Everybody knows that a good Union Member loves a good rally,no matter what the cause.  But the cause this time was for us.  I bet I could count on less than the number of fingers on my two hands the number of members from my local, the folks that this rally was for.  They were there to rally for us, and to make noise as far as they can to support us and save our jobs.  So when the chant is raised, "Who is going to stand up and shout to save our jobs?!".....It damn sure needs to be US!!
I witnessed it myself, last year when the USA brothers and sisters were on Strike over the contract they couldn't ratify at the Cape.  Word around the site was "it really sucks not being able to go to work, hope something happens for those poor bastards soon", what sort of attitude is that?!!  we should have been rallying in support of our brothers and sisters, to let them know we were behind them.
I tell you what, if we don't get up off of our butts, start writing letters, sending emails, and generally making our selves visible to those that make the decisions, we won't have to worry about saying "Gee, I wonder when those folks are going to get to go back to work", because there won't be any job to go back to.  that project or program will have been abandon, done away with, and nothing plausible to replace it.
click on this to see what you missed:  http://iamawdl37.blogspot.com/ and view the video "Houston we have a message"

I will be posting information about another rally to SAVE OUR JOBS sponsored by the Galveston Co. AFL-CIO, on the 14th of next months (May), lets see if we can do better, and show these key people that we are worth the fight, and that it DOES matter what happens to the space program. THIS IS OUR FUTURE!!

I remain....

Galveston Countoy AFL-CIO Christmas Dinner was a Hit!

Having this be my first casual encounter with the Galveston County AFL-CIO directly I was most impressed. The dinner was held at the Fishermans Wharf at pier 21 in Galveston, where it has been held for many years aside from last year following Hurricane Ike. The food was great, and the company, an impressive lot. From Texas State AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller to the distinguished speakers Hank Gilbert (running for the head Agriculture office) and Mayor Bill White. The hard work that Galveston Co. AFL-CIO President Lee Medley and his staff turned out certainly paid off and made for one heck of a good party. I personally would like to thank the Local for sponsoring my attendance, the room was filled with some of the most influencial people in Galveston County and the State for that matter. I very much look forward to attending again next year.

November Meeting to be Held Wed. November 4th

Because of National Elections being held on Tuesday November 3rd, we are forced to change our Monthly meeting day to the 4th of November. This is very important because it is the meeting that Local Lodge Officers are nominated for the next 3 year term. Officers include:
President, Vice-President, Secretary Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Conductor Sentinal, Trustee's, Auditors, Deligates, and Sterwards. This is a big deal, it will be held at the regular place, American Legion Post 490, across from Ellington Field on Hwy-3 (just north of hwy 1959).
Please get the word out. Look forward to seeing all of you there.

Congradulations CSC Ellington Aircraft Mechanics

Negotiating Committee


Brother Terry Smith, Grand Lodge Rep.



The Gallery

at 10:05 on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 you ratified your contract for the next 3 years 78 to 20. Good work! the efforts of your negotiating team: Luther Levan, Richard Phillips, Jim Whitmore, Michael Brown and Brian Wooley, along with your DBR Preston Brown and Grand Lodge Rep. Terry Smith, you were able to secure what would be termed the best contract available. For those of you that were in attendance you know that the best job possible was presented to you for the vote and you acknowledged that with your acceptance vote of the contract. Your negotiating team worked long and hard for you to get the best possible benefits available. Congratulation on the next three years and "Good Work" for all those responsible.