IAM Local 1782

141 Report for Jan 29th 2021

CAN AIRLINES REQUIRE EMPLOYEE VACCINATIONS? 5 THINGS TO KNOW Jan 29, 2021 Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby raised eyebrows when he said in an intervie...w that he would like to see mandatory vaccinations for employees at the airline. Here are a few facts to keep in mind: Read the full sorry here: https://iam141.org/can-airlines-require-employee.../ See more

PHILLY RAMP LEAD, JOE WASHBURN, NAMED EAP REGIONAL COORDINATOR Jan 25, 2021 Joe Washburn, a Lead Ramp Services Agent for United Airlines at Philadelphia Interna...tional Airport, has been appointed East Coast Regional Peer Coordinator for the District 141 Employee Assistance Program (EAP). He will be responsible for helping union members in Baltimore, Washington DC, Orlando, and Philadelphia. The District 141 Employee Assistance Program provides a vital resource that thousands of airline workers can rely on to provide meaningful help in times of crisis, said District 141 President Mike Klemm when he announced the appointment. I can’t think of a more solid guy to have in our corner than Joe, he added. Joe Washburn began working at United in 1991 as a Cabin Services Agent at Washington Dulles International Airport. He had viewed himself as unemployable at the time because of a series of personal issues he had been dealing with at his former job. When he was leaving that job, Joe was approached by an EAP Rep, who helped him find the stability he needed to land his new job. When Joe began his new career at United, only 50 Cabin Service Agents were working at Dulles. Within six months, the company had hired 100 more. That fast growth allowed Joe to move to the United ramp and attain full-time status. In 1995, he was recruited by Al Abromitas to join the IAMAW District 141 Employee Assistance Program. Al Abromitas was a principal figure in the EAP, and his patient activism had a significant impact on Joe. He’s a great guy. He took the time to listen, to learn about what I was going through, and he let me know how important my journey would be to other people going through the same things. It was a debt that I wanted to repay, Joe said of his decision to join the EAP. And, Al was the right guy to bring me into the program after I started at United. According to Joe, mentorship is an essential aspect of EAP training, and Al Abromitas was a pivotal instructor. It’s important to find someone that you respect in this role and who you would want to emulate and learn from, he said. There’s a lot that goes into EAP advocacy: Ethics, expectations, confidentiality there are so many things that have to be considered. It’s so much easier to learn these things from someone that’s already been there. Today, with his trademark cigar and rock-solid work ethic, Joe Washburn has become a regular fixture at Philadelphia International, where he has also served as a Shop Steward and Grievance Committeeman. But his work with the EAP is undoubtedly one of his proudest accomplishments. It’s personal for us, Joe said.Let me be very clear. Without this EAP program, I would not be an employee. When I left my old job, I was unemployable. I was a wreck. But, now, I’ve given United Airlines nearly 30 years of service. Many of us in the EAP have been on the other side of the fence. A lot of us came to the EAP seeking help, and ended up joining the program out of gratitude and obligation. That’s part of what makes the EAP such a successful program, Joe said. If you need help, we’re not going to judge you. A lot of us know firsthand what you’re going through. This is personal for us. The IAMAW District 141 Employee Assistance Program offers free and confidential help to union members seeking professional counseling and crisis intervention services. By partnering with hundreds of caring and trained professionals, the IAMAW District 141 EAP can quickly connect members to a wide range of mental health and wellbeing services. If you would like to learn more, please contact an EAP Representative at IAM141.org/141EAP. https://iam141.org/philly-ramp-lead-joe-washburn-named-eap/

IAMAW IP Martinez, GVP Sito Pantoja, and District 141 President & Directing General Chair, Mike Klemm led a virtual round table discussion on the need for Airli...ne Worker Relief with Senate Majority Leader and longtime friend of the Machinists & Aerospace Union, Senator Chuck Schumer. https://iam141.org/machinists-aerospace-union-ip-martinez-/ See more

This week we are in the heartland, speaking with Tiffany Lopez, President of IAM Local 141 in Dearborn, Michigan. Local 141 is an amalgamated Air Transport Lodge that represents United Airlines Reservations Agents and Southwest Airlines Airport Customer Service Agents. Sister Tiffany is a 22-year veteran at United who became a Shop Steward shortly after joining the IAM in the year 2000. She expanded on her work as a union activist when she became the chair of the Community Se...rvice Committee, later serving as Recording Secretary. She has served as president of the 200-member local for 3 years. Members of the small but mighty Local Lodge 141 are active in community service activities in the Dearborn and Detroit areas and hold regular training sessions to stay engaged and up to date. Local 141 also has a very active Organizing Committee led by Vice President Jeff Toms and an effective Grievance Committee led by Andrea Myers, who also serves as Vice President of District 141. See more