Machinists Union Leaders Join Strike Line at Triumph

May 19, 2016 | By Business Wire News

SPOKANE, Wash.

National leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today marched in solidarity with IAM members of Local 86 in Spokane, WA, who are in the second week of a strike at Triumph Composites Systems.

IAM International President Bob Martinez and Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen also met with local union representatives to assure them they will have the support and resources they need to prevail.

“The strike at Triumph matters to workers across the U.S.,” declared IAM President Martinez. “Any time a profitable company outsources good jobs and hollows out the ones that are left, it’s a clear signal for other companies to do the same. These workers, this community and this country all deserve better.”

On May 9, members of Local 86 voted by 94 percent to reject a contract offer from Triumph that failed to restore deep concessions granted by workers in 2013. The company further angered workers by stating it would continue to send work to Mexico.

“Triumph management guaranteed this strike with proposals designed to pit new hires against long-term employees and create a divisive and hostile work atmosphere,” said Western Territory Vice President Gary Allen. “I salute these members for having the courage to stand up to corporate bullying and demanding to be treated with the basic respect all American workers deserve.”

IAM District 751 President Jon Holden, who joined Martinez and Allen on the picket line, called on Triumph to immediately suspend its use of strikebreakers and resume good faith bargaining. “This dispute will be settled once management recognizes the hard work and dedication of the skilled workers who earn Triumph millions of dollars every day,” said Holden.

The IAM is one of the largest industrial trade unions in North America, representing more than 600,000 active and retired members in dozens of industries.