Participate in the discussions, rallies, surveys, and other events to show solidarity. Wear Union gear! Be Loud and Proud Union Members! Don’t shy away from speaking strongly about the issues on the shop floor, because solidarity works. Encourage everyone you know to become a member.

We will provide regular updates using our website, face-to-face shop floor meetings, the IAM2003 App and through our Union Stewards. Text messaging is also available to those who request them. It is important that our membership recognize that M1 Support Services emails do not reflect the Union's position.

Supervisors and other managers will be out in force trying to gage our members' support for various issues. They in turn send this information right up to the Company negotiators. The best way to win a good contract is to be strong and together on the shop floor. The Union negotiators are looking out for your best interest, while the Company is looking out for its own best interest. You can help support your co­workers (your Union) throughout negotiations by sending a strong unified message to Company management about better retirement plans, lower health care costs, job security and issues important to all of us. Tell the Company to do the right thing on these issues.

Face-to-face negotiations with the Company will start March 10^th, 2025.

Your Negotiating Committee gets advice and any help they need from the top leaders of the IAM during negotiations. We get help from various departments at Headquarters, such as Strategic Resources, Legal, Communications, and Community Services. Our local leadership relays to them our membership's needs and concerns. Only your elected Negotiating Committee will recommend accepting or rejecting the Company’s offer. If a recommendation to reject the Company’s offer is given, we will also recommend going out on strike. However, the final vote on both issues is up to the membership.

Your Negotiating Committee will inform you of its recommendation to accept or reject the Company's proposal and may recommend a vote to strike for a better agreement.

At the same time, the Company may launch their own campaign to sell the contract immediately following its delivery to the Union negotiators. They will include their reasoning and rationale of why it is a fair offer from their perspective.

Prior to the Negotiators meeting with the Company, a Union meeting will be called at which the membership will vote on whether to authorize a strike if it becomes necessary. A strike authorization does not immediately place the membership on strike. It is a signal to our International and the Company of our willingness to strike to achieve the best possible contract. There will be an announcement on when and where the meeting will take place.

LL2003 will be open for several days (dates to be determined) so that the members can meet with The GNC and also vote to ratify the contract.  The GNC will be present to answer any questions and concerns that may arise. If rejected, the membership will vote on whether to strike. There will be an announcement on when and where the meeting will take place.

There are two separate ballots. The first one is to accept or reject the Company’s Last, Best, and Final contract offer. The second ballot is a yes or no to strike. If a majority votes to accept the contract, negotiations end, and the contract goes into effect after signing between the two parties. If more than 50% vote to reject the proposed contract, but less than two thirds of the votes cast are in favor of a strike, the contract offer is accepted by default. If a majority of voting members votes to REJECT the contract and TWO-THIRDS of the members vote to strike, a strike and picket line can be called at 12:01 a.m., when the old contract expires.

Union members whose dues are current are eligible to vote.

The ballots will be counted immediately after the vote, by the tellers with witnesses. The results will be announced after the count is completed. We will also post the results on our website, and the media is likely to publicize the results as well.

Any time you go into a possible strike situation, you want to be sure that a majority of your membership support calling a strike. Going on strike with less than that results in a weak picket line. This is why the IAM Constitution requires a 2/3 majority to call a strike. If the majority of the membership—50% + 1—was all that was required to call a strike, our chances of winning a good contract through a strike would decrease dramatically.

The bottom line is: Calling a strike is serious business. The leadership needs to be sure that 2/3 of the membership is willing to walk the line before taking that type of action.

There is no way to know ahead of time how long a strike will last. When members vote to strike, their goal is to put pressure on the Company to negotiate a better agreement. 

No. The National Labor Relations Act protects your right to peacefully strike.

Yes, and they may threaten to do so. But, in reality, hiring 3400+ highly skilled and certified hourly workers would be a huge and extremely costly task. Also keep in mind that it can be very expensive to obtain a clearance for someone who has never had one, not to mention that the process takes about a year to complete.

Yes, if you are a bargaining unit worker covered by the collective bargaining agreement you can stay out and support the strike, and your action will be protected by law to the same extent as Union members.

Yes, we welcome everyone's support, including family and friends. The number of people allowed on the picket line at any one place and time, however, may be limited by a court order, and we will communicate those details to you.

The IAM's strike benefits are $250.00 per week.

At least 4 hours of time to a committee, i.e., picket, kitchen, etc.

If a strike lasts more than two (2) weeks, benefit payments are paid commencing with the 3rd week. Strike benefits shall continue to be paid through the last day of the week in which the strike terminates.

No.

You will be able to continue your medical coverage through COBRA.

The first and foremost is the Strike Committee itself. This committee serves as your overall coordinating center and works directly and closely with the Assigned Business Representative (BR) and Lodge President to provide leadership and direction to the other committees and to the members on the picket line. 

Other committees are:

• Picket Committee: It’s responsible for overall administration of the picket line, including organizing and scheduling picket teams, arranging for the equipment and supplies that will be needed and maintaining order on the lines.
• Strike Finance Committee: It makes up an overall budget, solicits donations from whatever sources possible, audits expenditures and helps keep financial records during the strike.
• Community Services Committee: It works to make sure that members get the full benefit of all of services they are eligible for from the public and private agencies in the community during the strike.
• Kitchen Committee: It helps to strengthen morale by preparing or arranging for hot coffee and other refreshments to be available to pickets and others carrying out strike duties.
• Public Relations Committee: It gets information about the Union's message and its goals to the media, the public and, above all, to the members and their families. This committee contributes to morale by keeping members informed and presenting the Union and the issues in the best possible light. This committee plays an important role in counteracting Company propaganda.

Please contact the Union Hall at (334) 598-6308

There are many jobs that don't require much physical strength which need to be done (i.e. clerical, phone, kitchen duties, etc.). The Union will work with our members with special needs.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) will protect what is in the 401k plan. What you should first try to get is a copy of the “Summary Plan Description” (SPD) to the 401k. You should be able to get that from either the Company or the Provider. You are entitled to a copy of the SPD, and refusing to give it to you may, by itself, be a violation of law. In any effort to get your money, the SPD will contain vital information. 

No.

Yes. The goal of this entire process is to get a good contract. Your Negotiating Committee will continue to meet with the Company to try and reach agreement.

Yes, as long as your dues are current.

The employer will stop short-term / long term leave benefits, but you can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. You would have to show that your medical leave was anticipated and arranged for before a strike started.

The Union website www.iam2003.org will also have the latest information. If you still have questions, contact the your GNC.