Machinists Union Launches Ambitious New Campaign

[Omaha Steve]

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/15559/ambitious_organizing_campaign_launched_by_machinists_union/%C2%A0

Monday Sep 9, 2013 2:14 pm

By Bruce Vail



Downtown Klamath Falls, Ore., where the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers is organizing employees of the local Jeld-Wen factory as part of a farther-reaching campaign. (Llywrch / Wikimedia Commons)


One of the most ambitious new union drives in the country is gathering momentum from its starting point in the Pacific Northwest. The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) has launched a campaign to organize thousands of industrial workers employed by a leading multinational manufacturer of doors, windows and wood millwork.

IAM is embarking a long-term effort to unionize some 5,600 workers at 23 North American plants run by Jeld-Wen, an international company with additional factories in Europe and Asia. The union's interest was raised after being approached by pro-union workers anxious to establish higher wages and safer working conditions, particularly at plants in Chiloquin and Klamath Falls, Ore., says Bill Street of IAM.

The campaign kicked off in February when union organizers began leafleting at five widely separated plants in Oregon, Washington and California. Organizing outposts were established at about the same time in 13 other states and two Canadian provinces, says Street.

The effort is unusual in its size and scope. Organizing new members at IAM typically involves much smaller bargaining units on a single site, or small number of sites. It's an ambitous undertaking for the 720,000-member union, which is risking significant resources in a environment where many organizing drives fail.

FULL story at link.

[mountain grammy]

1. Way to go IAM! My husband's union for years..

the main reason we have a decent life and retirement today.