Organizing – IAM District Lodge 54

AWP Employees Join IAM District Lodge 54

By iamdistrict54 on February 7, 2020

Cleveland, OH February 7, 2020 – Nineteen employees working for Area Wide Protective (AWP) in Detroit, MI, joined the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), District Lodge 54 at the beginning of February. The company has indicated that the unit could increase to as high as 50 by the end of the year.

The 19-recently organized members will belong to Local 439. The parties have reached a first contract that reflects the current collective bargaining agreement for AWP locations represented by IAM District 54 throughout Ohio and West Virginia. Highlights of the agreement for our new members in Michigan include wage and benefit increases, quarterly safety bonuses, and more.

“We are proud to have our first organizing victory of the year and look forward to welcoming our new Brothers and Sisters into the IAM Family,” said DL54 President & DBR T. Dean Wright, Jr. “Jerry Espy and Regina Wright did a great job on this campaign. I’d like to thank Local 439’s organizing committee for their support and assistance.”

1st Contract Organizing

Members at ARTi Ratify First Contract

By iamdistrict54 on December 9, 2019

Congratulations to our new members at ARTi in Heath, OH, on ratifying their first agreement on December 5th. Our recently organized Brothers and Sisters fall under the Service Contract Act (SCA) guidelines, which allow for wages, benefits, and working conditions to be set by union bargaining.

Members received substantial wage increases of more than $2.00 an hour. Hourly wages range from $17.75 to $30, and include paid benefits previously unprovided.

The new agreement will be bridged into the current Bionetics Corporation collective bargaining agreement. Members currently under the Bionetics contract are represented by IAM District 54, Local 1471. Members will now receive a $1.00 per hour contribution into the IAM National Pension Fund (IAMNPF). In addition, the new agreement includes secured contributions to healthcare and a 401(k) Savings Plan.

“It’s a great way to wrap up the end of the year by securing a strong first agreement and bettering the livelihoods of our new members,” said District 54 President & DBR T. Dean Wright, Jr. “A special thanks to Business Representative Jim McClelland and shop negotiating committeemen Doug Diss and Jeremy Clift on their work negotiating a first contract, and Local 1471 for their assistance.”

“It doesn’t cost to belong to the IAM, it pays!”

Organizing