On April 18, 2016 MTD President Ron Ault presented the newly formed Rhode Island Metal Trades Council delegation with their official Charter from the Department. In attendance were President Ault, Michael Sabitoni/LIUNA, Roy Coulombe/Ironworkers, Justin Kelley/IUPAT, Michael Daley/IBEW, Tim Byrne/UA and Scott Duhamel/IUPAT.
The Metal Trades Department conducted Steward training on March 24th & 25th at the Portsmouth MTC. Topics covered included steward responsibilities, grievance preparation and handling, had a hands-on contract exercise for stewards with follow-up on CBA fundamentals, Metal Trades Department policies and brief history, some union history, introduced and explained the MTD internal organizing program, basic organizing, how to talk to workers one-on-one, did role play for new worker organizing, provided tools for stewards to explain what it means to be union with handouts, provided an introduction to speaking in preparation for them to be successful in the actual role play done in the classroom, and leadership training.
Ft. Benning, Georgia – The Columbus Metal Trades Council and community members from Columbus held a “Fair Contract Rally” outside Ft. Benning, Georgia this morning, Monday, December 7, 2015.
The Columbus Metal Trades Council represents employees who support our men and women in uniform at Fort Benning by providing logistics support. The Columbus Metal Trades Council has represented these workers for the past 9 years. During that time, the Council has negotiated collective bargaining agreements that provide good wages and benefits, providing a middle class standard of living to those employees and their families.
Recently, VS2 and its subcontractors became the employers of the employees at Fort Benning. The Columbus Metal Trades Council is currently in negotiations with these employers for a new collective bargaining agreement. However, the negotiator for VS2 and its subcontractors has made it clear through their proposals that the employers intend to take away the current benefits and protections of the employees.
“These Employees are not asking for additional raises. They are not asking for additional benefits and conditions. They are in a fight to maintain what they have had in previous contracts. The purpose of this rally was to inform the soldiers, the base Leadership and the public that these employees stand united in this fight. There is nothing more un-American than to take away what the employees have worked so hard to achieve. We are asking the soldiers, the base leadership and the public to support the efforts of these employees to maintain their terms and conditions of employment, just as they support our men and women in uniform as they defend our country.”, David Clegg, Columbus Metal Trades Member and Spokesperson
The Columbus Metal Trades is a group of locals consisting of IBEW Local 613, SMWIA local 85, LIUNA Local 515, IUOE Local 926, IAM Local 2699, and UA l.u.52
For Immediate Release: October 3, 2015
Contact: Ron Ault, 202-508-3705 or Tara Landis, 410-991-6615
Amarillo, TX–After more than a month on strike, the Amarillo Metal Trades Council (MTC), a 10-union coalition representing nearly 1,200 workers at the Pantex Nuclear Weapons facility, and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) have reached a tentative agreement.
The MTC struck after more than seven months of bargaining when, on August 28, CNS-Pantex presented its “best, last and final” offer. At that time, 87 percent of the unionized workers voted to strike the Amarillo facility.
In late September, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) Director, Allison Beck, called the two parties back to the table to resume talks. The proposed agreement is a direct result of those new negotiations.
Highlights of the agreement include improved medical coverage with controlled out-of-pocket medical costs and contained premium increases for current and future employees; maintenance of the defined benefit pension plan for current employees; maintained sick leave earnings and bank; and improved short-term disability benefits.
“This was a hard fought battle,” says MTC President Clarence Rashada. “This strike was never about wages. It was about holding onto hard-won benefits and protecting our member’s future. In this agreement were able to improve several problem areas in the offer that was rejected. It will now go back to our members to vote on, ultimately, they have the final say.”
Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO President Ron Ault is pleased with the proposed agreement and thanked FMCS Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh, who acted as mediator. “I am very happy that, with the assistance of Federal Mediator Beckenbaugh, the parties were able to come to an fair and equitable agreement that restores the workers hard earned benefits,” said Ault.
In addition to the benefits package, the tentative agreement also gives employees annual wage increases of two percent. MTC represented employees will vote on the proposed agreement on Sunday, October 4.
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The Metal Trades Department is a trade department of the AFL-CIO. It was chartered in 1908 to coordinate negotiating, organizing and legislative efforts of affiliated metalworking and related crafts and trade unions. Seventeen national and international unions are affiliated with the MTD today. More than 100,000 workers in private industry and federal establishments work under contracts negotiated by MTD Councils. Workers retain membership in their own trade unions.
The Amarillo Metal Trades Council is a 10-union Council within the Metal Trades Department that represents roughly 1,200 Pantex workers. The unions include: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE); United Association (UA); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers(IBB); Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU); International Association of Fire Fighters.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) announced today that labor negotiations between Pantex/Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) and the Metal Trades Council in Amarillo, Texas have been temporarily recessed at the request of the federal mediator overseeing the talks to give the parties an opportunity to review new information and engage in internal discussions.
“The parties met this past week and spent many hours in meaningful talks, focused on their mutual efforts to bridge their differences” said FMCS Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh. “This temporary recess is necessary in order to allow the parties to assess the new information provided and explore additional avenues for possible resolution. The parties will reconvene next week at a time and location to be determined.”
Because of the sensitivity and the critical importance of the discussions, both the employer and the unions have agreed to a request by FMCS to refrain from commenting to the news media regarding the status and substance of the talks. In keeping with Agency policy and practice, the FMCS will also have no further comment regarding the status and substance of the talks.
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The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and more than 60 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies
CORRECTION: The original post of this release stated that the meeting would be held September 28, that date is incorrect. No date has been decided upon at this time.
For Immediate Release: September 16, 2015
Contact: Ron Ault, 202-508-3705
Or Clarence Rashada, 806-674-1763
Amarillo, TX—In a somewhat unusual move, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) Director Allison Beck has called DOE contractor Consolidated Nuclear Services and the Amarillo Metal Trades Council (MTC) back to the bargaining table in an effort to resolve the dispute that led to a strike at the Pantex nuclear weapons facility in Amarillo, TX.
In a statement released by the FMCS, Beck states: “While FMCS has been monitoring the situation closely and mediation is normally a completely voluntary process, we cannot stand by and let this critical nuclear weapons facility continue to experience a work stoppage.”
Beck has assigned Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh as the Federal Mediator.
The move is welcome news to Metal Trades Department President Ron Ault and Amarillo MTC President Clarence Rashada, however both are cautious in their optimism that a resolution will be met.
“This strike has never been about wages,” says Rashada. “It has always been about maintaining the benefits that we have earned and bargained for in previous collective bargaining agreements.”
“I’m pleased that the FMCS has stepped in to assist us in these negotiations,” says Ault. “These workers deserve a fair and equitable contract that includes benefits commensurate with the service they provide our nation.”
Metal Trades Council-represented workers at Pantex are responsible for the nuclear weapons life extension programs: weapons dismantlement; development, testing and fabrication of high explosives components; and storage and surveillance of plutonium pits. This is the only facility in the U.S. responsible for the assembly, disassembly and replacement of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
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The Metal Trades Department is a trade department of the AFL-CIO. It was chartered in 1908 to coordinate negotiating, organizing and legislative efforts of affiliated metalworking and related crafts and trade unions. Seventeen national and international unions are affiliated with the MTD today. More than 100,000 workers in private industry and federal establishments work under contracts negotiated by MTD Councils. Workers retain membership in their own trade unions.
The Amarillo Metal Trades Council is a10-union Council within the Metal Trades Department that represents roughly 1,200 Pantex workers. The unions include: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE); United Association (UA); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers(IBB); Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU); International Association of Fire Fighters.