Dyncorp (Ellington) Contract Negotiations Begin

The aircraft support contract at Ellington Field is currently underway and will continue through Friday 8/24/2012 with the Ratification vote on Saturday 8/25/2012 at a location to be announced. We will be posting updates each day for all to see. Good Luck to the Negotiation Committee, DBR Byron Williams, and Grand Lodge Rep. Tony Blevins.

NRDInc. Custodial Contact

Native Resources Developent Inc. assumed the Custodial Contract at the JSC complex on 8/1/2012, including the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab), and Ellington Field. As all new contracts go at the NASA complex, they made some changes to the everyday routine and day to day schedules. It has been a learning experience for both sides of the fence. The Bridge Negotiating sequence has been carrying on yesterday and today (8/15-16/2012), there have not been any leaks as to how the talks have been progressing (or not). The ratification vote will be held at the facility warehouse tomorrow (8/17/12), which depending on the ratification vote and possible strike vote will determine the future of the custodial staff and their constant fight between NASA and the resident contractors. They have been enduring a constant barrage of chastising allocations of frivalous wage variance in so far as the government agency filing federal charges against this dedicated union strong group of hard working individuals. The IAM has supported the defense of this group to the tune of close to $200K in legal defense including the "win" of the initial charges and three subsequent appeals by the government. The current administration is claiming union support, but their actions are far from any sort of support. If the wage variance case was to be lost by the IAM it would open the door for ALL union support contract to fall under the same scrutiny and possible federal demise. This is a presedent setting event. The Federal government Union Busting. Who would have thought?? This is just what is happening, and no one is reporting it. It started with the USA group at Cape Canaveral a couple of years ago, just no one was blaming the Fed's, it was the Federal Government causing the ruckus. The Government thought that the Custodians would be an easy mark, The IAM showed them otherwise, but yet we still have to be on point ever watching their movement to be diligent in our cause. They are to be watched and kept at bay.

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.