gonzo
Veteran
- Oct 17, 2005
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A Brief History of the IAM
Several official IAM publications have featured articles concerning the history of the Machinist Union. As might be expected, the chronicles offered by the industrial unionists are self-serving accounts and ignore unsavory areas of the Machinists’ past. A few items unearthed during a recent visit to a local library, and unlikely to appear in any edition of The IAM Journal follow:
1888 - Thomas W. Talbot and eighteen railroad machinists organize a union in Atlanta, GA. The IAM emerges from this organization. Membership is limited to white males.
1892 - Thomas W. Talbot, IAM founder and first leader, shot to death defending his daughter’s “good name.†Witnesses testify that Talbot shot first and assailants declared innocent.
1893 - J.J. Lamb, Machinist Grand Treasurer, disappears. So does the entire union treasury.
1910-1911 - Evidence surfaces that IAM official George Warner, a close friend of International President James O’Connell, has taken bribes from the Erie Railroad.
1911 - William H. Johnston, avowed socialist, becomes IAM International President.
1919 - IAM delegates introduce the following resolution at a Canadian labor conference: Full acceptance of the principle of proletarian dictatorship is sufficient for the transformation of private property into public or communal wealth.
1920s - IAM goes into business. The union buys and operates ship repair yard, printing plant, several machine shops and bank. All businesses, including bank, fail.
1945 - American Federation of Labor (AFL) awards another union jurisdiction over mechanics and machinists in certain fields. The IAM sulks and refuses to pay per-capita tax to the AFL. The AFL suspends the IAM and the Machinist remain independent for five years.
1945 - The IAM begins publication of “The Machinist†newspaper in order to keep “union communications under Grand Lodge control.â€
1948 - IAM removes racist language from membership ritual. The action was taken only after the NLRB questioned the Machinist Union’s right to use its’ services while discriminating against black citizens. IAM policy had also been questioned in Virginia and Texas.
1959 - Landrum-Griffin Act becomes law. Unions are required to file disclosure forms detailing finances, including officers’ salaries and expenses. The legislation also imposed federal penalties for officials who misuse union funds or violently prevented members from exercising their legal rights. Union members are guaranteed protection against discrimination, the rights to freedom of speech and assembly, and right to sue. IAM opposed law.
1966-1967 - Members lose right to veto most decisions, including constitutional changes, of Grand Lodge Conventions. IAM officials claim voting is “time consuming and costly.†IAM literature later admits the action “radically altered the IAM’s governing process.â€
1967 - IAM attempts to permit baggage-handlers to vote in airline mechanic representational elections. Machinists claim baggage-handlers and airline mechanics are “related in talents.â€
1977 - IAM again urges the NMB to allow baggage-handlers to vote in airline mechanics’ elections, insisting “Ramp Servicemen and Customer Service Agents preponderantly perform recognized Mechanics†duties.
1977 - William Winpisinger, a self-proclaimed socialist, becomes IAM International President.
1980 - The IAM, led by a socialist, uses members’ dues to purchase Learjet for use by Machinist officials.
1992 - IAM business agent and IAM organizer indicted in New Jersey. The two were charged with demanding cash payments in exchange for sweetheart contracts.
1992 - The IAM admits that only 35.1% of the Machinist Union’s members are skilled craftsmen or apprentices.
1993 - President of IAM District 751 (Boeing), sentenced to prison for embezzling members’ dues totaling $33,500.
References
THE FIGHTING MACHINISTS by Robert G. Rodden, Kelly Press, Inc., Washington D.C.
THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA 1994, by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Volume 7.
ACADEMIC AMERICAN ENCYCLOPEDIA 1989, by Grolier Incorporated, Volume 12.
DETERMINATIONS OF CRAFT OR CLASS OF THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD Volumes 5 and 6.
THE MACHINIST October, 1992.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL December 21, 1993.
STAR-LEDGER - Newark, NJ, June 13, 1992.
Several official IAM publications have featured articles concerning the history of the Machinist Union. As might be expected, the chronicles offered by the industrial unionists are self-serving accounts and ignore unsavory areas of the Machinists’ past. A few items unearthed during a recent visit to a local library, and unlikely to appear in any edition of The IAM Journal follow:
1888 - Thomas W. Talbot and eighteen railroad machinists organize a union in Atlanta, GA. The IAM emerges from this organization. Membership is limited to white males.
1892 - Thomas W. Talbot, IAM founder and first leader, shot to death defending his daughter’s “good name.†Witnesses testify that Talbot shot first and assailants declared innocent.
1893 - J.J. Lamb, Machinist Grand Treasurer, disappears. So does the entire union treasury.
1910-1911 - Evidence surfaces that IAM official George Warner, a close friend of International President James O’Connell, has taken bribes from the Erie Railroad.
1911 - William H. Johnston, avowed socialist, becomes IAM International President.
1919 - IAM delegates introduce the following resolution at a Canadian labor conference: Full acceptance of the principle of proletarian dictatorship is sufficient for the transformation of private property into public or communal wealth.
1920s - IAM goes into business. The union buys and operates ship repair yard, printing plant, several machine shops and bank. All businesses, including bank, fail.
1945 - American Federation of Labor (AFL) awards another union jurisdiction over mechanics and machinists in certain fields. The IAM sulks and refuses to pay per-capita tax to the AFL. The AFL suspends the IAM and the Machinist remain independent for five years.
1945 - The IAM begins publication of “The Machinist†newspaper in order to keep “union communications under Grand Lodge control.â€
1948 - IAM removes racist language from membership ritual. The action was taken only after the NLRB questioned the Machinist Union’s right to use its’ services while discriminating against black citizens. IAM policy had also been questioned in Virginia and Texas.
1959 - Landrum-Griffin Act becomes law. Unions are required to file disclosure forms detailing finances, including officers’ salaries and expenses. The legislation also imposed federal penalties for officials who misuse union funds or violently prevented members from exercising their legal rights. Union members are guaranteed protection against discrimination, the rights to freedom of speech and assembly, and right to sue. IAM opposed law.
1966-1967 - Members lose right to veto most decisions, including constitutional changes, of Grand Lodge Conventions. IAM officials claim voting is “time consuming and costly.†IAM literature later admits the action “radically altered the IAM’s governing process.â€
1967 - IAM attempts to permit baggage-handlers to vote in airline mechanic representational elections. Machinists claim baggage-handlers and airline mechanics are “related in talents.â€
1977 - IAM again urges the NMB to allow baggage-handlers to vote in airline mechanics’ elections, insisting “Ramp Servicemen and Customer Service Agents preponderantly perform recognized Mechanics†duties.
1977 - William Winpisinger, a self-proclaimed socialist, becomes IAM International President.
1980 - The IAM, led by a socialist, uses members’ dues to purchase Learjet for use by Machinist officials.
1992 - IAM business agent and IAM organizer indicted in New Jersey. The two were charged with demanding cash payments in exchange for sweetheart contracts.
1992 - The IAM admits that only 35.1% of the Machinist Union’s members are skilled craftsmen or apprentices.
1993 - President of IAM District 751 (Boeing), sentenced to prison for embezzling members’ dues totaling $33,500.
References
THE FIGHTING MACHINISTS by Robert G. Rodden, Kelly Press, Inc., Washington D.C.
THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA 1994, by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Volume 7.
ACADEMIC AMERICAN ENCYCLOPEDIA 1989, by Grolier Incorporated, Volume 12.
DETERMINATIONS OF CRAFT OR CLASS OF THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD Volumes 5 and 6.
THE MACHINIST October, 1992.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL December 21, 1993.
STAR-LEDGER - Newark, NJ, June 13, 1992.
