It’s been a pretty good summer for the IAMAW. $15.00 an hour
wage protests are popping up all over the country and the president is handing
out concessions to labor all over the United States in the form of overhauled
overtime requirements, modification of infractions policy for companies that
outsource work to contractors, and expanded sick leave rights.
Fast forward to Raytheon Contract Negotiations, scheduled to
kick off this fall. For starters, it looks like the local lodge is falling
behind! Most unionized workers are working for 3 dollars an hour less than
they should be, a result of the failed contract of 2003. Your union never did
go get that lost pay raise back for you. This will be the fourth contract since
then and it doesn’t look like they will fix it this contract neither. As a
matter of fact, it doesn’t seem like your union is doing much of anything. They
plan to fold their hand with the company again, just like last time. But could
you cough up 3 hours a month?
Has your steward come around to you asking you to join? Ask
him when he plans to get you that pay raise they “redistributed” 12 years ago. Ask
for back pay from the union. They owe you 10% of your wages cumulatively since
2006. Ask him why hamburger flippers are worth $15 an hour, but your wages
stagnated? Why do our custodians make less than fifteen dollars an hour?
Why do we keep believing in this good for nothing union?
They’re all about the money. Your money.
