Services for Gary Kenny

Gary B. Kenney, 50, of Merritt Island, devoted husband, father, and son, died suddenly on Monday evening, June 16, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Sharon, a daughter, Amanda; sons, Darryl and Joshua; his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. John Kenney Jr., of Merritt Island; his brothers, Craig, John and Ronald, and his sister, Denise. Visitation at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home Friday June 20th, 6 - 8 p.m., with a memorial serv ice at Wylie-Baxley Chapel on Saturday, June 21st at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers please send dontatons to Garys nephew, Jason Kenney, who is a missionary to Chile, c/o Macedonia World Baptist Missions, Inc., PO Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517.

NASA Awards Kennedy Space Center Institutional Services Contract

From Nasa's website ; http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/jun/HQ_C08039_KSC_Installation.html

WASHINGTON -- .NASA has selected EG&G Technical Services Inc, of Gaithersburg, Md., to provide institutional services at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The contract begins Oct. 1, 2008, with a five-year base period, followed by five one-year options. It is a cost-plus-award-fee contract. The maximum potential value of the contract is approximately $1.5 billion.

EG&G Technical Services will perform facilities operations, maintenance and engineering; propellants and life support operations; logistics; transportation; and laboratory management for Kennedy.

Selected services also will be provided at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. The company will furnish resources, including management, personnel, equipment and supplies to support Kennedy's work at those locations.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov

American Jobs are important and our Government is starting to wake up to the fact.

"In a blow to Northrop Grumman Corp's hopes of building a new aerial refueling tanker for the Air Force under a $35 billion contract, the General Accountability Office Wednesday said Boeing Co. -- the competitor for the deal -- deserves another chance to bid on the project.

The Northrop Grumman contract would add jobs on Long Island and elsewhere in New York State, but the GAO said the Air Force made "a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition" between the two companies."

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bztank0619,0,4502205.story


This only happened because people across the country complained about our jobs being sent overseas. The fight is not over yet but atleast there will be a chance to keep our defense and jobs in the USA.

Thank You to all the members who have taken the time to email our reps and ask for a review of the contract award. It's all of us collectively who have made a difference. Our children depend on what we do now to secure a good life in the future. It's nice to know Americans still have the guts to say NO to shipping our manufacturing away.

RALLY TO SAVE OUR JOBS

Brothers and Sisters;

Come join Union members from all over the state in a rally prior to and during the U.S. Senate Committee hearings on the future of OUR JOBS at KSC (see prior blog post). The rally will begin at 8:00am, Monday June 23rd at the Canaveral Port Authority building (formerly the Premier Cruise Line headquarters) at Port Canaveral. Parking will be at Lot 1 (PortFest parking area) at the port. Follow the signs. Shuttle will be provided. Also, water and portable restrooms will be on site. Bring your signs and noisemakers (NO fireworks) and wear your Union tee shirt. Senator Nelson will address the rally prior to the hearing. Let's show the U.S. Senate and the rest of the country how important our jobs are to our families, our community and our country. Our jobs are worth investing four hours of personal leave. Come join us. If you have any questions, call me at 321-446-7092.

Lew

Rest in Peace Brother Gary Kenney

Gary, our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Your brothers and sisters from LL2061 are deeply saddened by the terrible news of your passing. You will be missed by all of us.

U.S. Senate Hearings on Shuttle Workforce at Port

Sub-Committee Chairman Bill Nelson (D,FL) will conduct a hearing of the U.S. Senate sub-committee on Space, Aeronautics and Related Sciences (a sub-committee of the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee) to examine issues surrounding the retirement of the Space Shuttle and the transition to the Orion/Ares system. This hearing will focus on workforce related challenges at Kennedy Space Center and analyze potential solutions to mitigate the transition's effects on the community. The hearing will be Monday, June 23rd at the Canaveral Port Authority Commission Room, Port Canaveral Maritime Offices, 445 Challenger Road, Port Canaveral beginning at 9:00 am.



Witnesses;



Michael Griffin, Administrator, NASA

William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator, NASA

Doug Cooke, Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA

Steve Kohler, President, Space Florida

Randy Berridge, President, Florida High Tech Corridor Council

Lisa Rice, President, Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc.

Lynda Weatherman, President and CEO, Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast



Sub-Committee Members;



Bill Nelson, Chair

David Vitter, Ranking Member

John Kerry

John Sununu

Byron Dorgan

Roger Wicker

Mark Pryor

Ted Stevens

Daniel Inouye

Limited Edition Knife Raffle

See your steward for tickets, drawing to be held at the July 1st membership meeting. Also, you can email iamwebsteward@gmail.com if you would like to get tickets. You do not have to be present to win the knife, the tickets require a name and phone number to contact the winner.

Your ISC Negotiating Committee

Last night there were nominations and then an election to set the representatives for the ISC contract negotiations. The meeting was a little hot due to a vehicle accident taking power out at the hall, which led to some members leaving before the vote results were known. So without further delay, your elected committee is as follows;

Murray Caldwell
Phil McPherson
Linda Donahoe
Steve Ching
and
Meri-Beth Chewuk

Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday June 3rd with Dues presentation

Regular monthly membership meeting will be held at the district hall on June 3rd at 4:30PM.
During the meeting there will be a presentation on the new dues structure the International is proposing. We urge members who have questions and concerns about the proposed changes to attend the meeting. We will have a voice in the matter during the Grand Lodge Convention, this coming September.

On May 6th, the membership held an election to set 9 delegates who will represent the Local Lodge at the upcoming convention. The delegates will need to hear our concerns so they can present them during the convention. There will be time to ask questions after the presentation. Please try to carpool if possible to save on parking spaces.

The address for the hall is: 271 Taylor Ave. Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.

Fired Waste Pro workers to get labor hearing

"Four former Waste Pro employees in Daytona Beach who cried foul for being fired will appear in a hearing before an administrative law judge of the National Labor Relations Board in June.
Led by Keith Massey, the employees attempted to become part of a union because of perceived contract violations.
But it wasn't long before they were fired for their efforts, according to Massey, Kevin Brown, Tyrod Williams and Tremale Morgan."

Full story can be found at this link from the Daytona Beach News-Journal :

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST05050308.htm

Apparently we can expect more of this from big business.

A story in the Las Vegas Sun states "Businesses scurry to build defenses for possible unionizing onslaught"

"Big business is taking steps to fend off an expected flood of unionizing drives if Congress approves legislation making it easier for workers to organize.
In a trend being followed closely in Las Vegas and other strong union communities, businesses across the country are moving to improve relations with workers in anticipation of the Democrat-supported Employee Free Choice Act. It would for the first time in 60 years allow workers to organize without putting the issue to a secret-ballot vote."

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/05/businesses-scurry-build-defenses-possible-unionizi/

In the article there are statments from law firms involved in lobbying to prevent the Employee Free Choice Act.
One states: "Unionization drives generally emerge from issues of dignity and respect, lawyer Mark Ross said. “Unions don’t organize employers,” he said. “Bad supervisors organize employers.”"

He also states:
"If the legislation is passed, “employers are headed for a big hurt,” Smith said.
Employers, he said, should mobilize the business community. “Tell them how awful life could be if this thing gets written into law,” Smith said."

I have a hard time understanding the hurt employers will feel, other than providing employees what they deserve with fair wages, good benefits, and equally fair treatment. Companies would rather pay Lawyers, Lobbyists, and Political Action Committiees, than pay fair wages to employees.
Certainly if the Employee Free Choice Act were to pass and be signed into law by the next President, it would not mean every employer would instantly have a Union. Some employers would not have Unions because they pay well and offer good benefits. The only employers who should worry about the act are the ones who have been taking advantage of employees and treating them poorly.

Remember to support candidates that support our needs the next time you vote. Seems our elected officials only understand the public, when we show them by ballot, how we feel.

Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday May 6th

Regular meeting tomorrow night at the District Hall at 271 Taylor Ave. Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
Don't forget the election will be taking place all day for selection of the delegates to be sent to the Grand Lodge Convention.

Polls will be open from 8:00AM and will close at 6:00PM.

Hope to see everyone there.

Grand Lodge Delegate Election Notice.

Nominations for the 2008 Grand Lodge Convention took place at the Regular Membership meeting on April 1st, 2008.

This list of Nominees are:


Johnny Walker

Lew Jamieson

Murray Caldwell

Karen Houston

Murray Hill

Mike May

Steve Ching

Jay Blair

Lynn Beattie

Linda Donahoe

Tim Cooper

Chris Cassidy

Ryan Kiechle

Bill Farina

Robert Livingston

Dave Lovell



The Election to choose the 9 Delegates to represent our Local Lodge will be held on May 6, 2008 at the regular meeting place located at 271 Taylor Ave. Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Polls will be open from 8:00AM and will close at 6:00PM.



Those requiring an absentee ballot are required to return the request to the Recording Secretary, Karen Houston no later than April 26th, 2008.



Ballots were mailed out via postal mail and you should have it or receive it shortly.

There are conditions for absentee ballots:


Live more than 25 miles from polling place

Confined because of verified illness

Away on vacation or official IAM business

On company travel assignment

On reserve military leave


If you meet any of the conditions, please forward your request to Karen Houston in person or by mail to the local lodge.

Address:

Local Lodge 2061 c/o

Recording Secretary

Karen Houston

P.O. Box 3603

Cocoa, FL 32924-3603

Nominations for Grand Lodge Convention

Nominations for Grand Lodge Convention Delegates will be made at the Tuesday, April 1 meeting. The convention will be in September in Orlando. Delegates will be elected at the membership meeting in May.

Boeing Tanker Battle Continues

"The fight to reverse the $40 billion tanker decision enters its third week with union members contacting lawmakers and demanding hearings on the process that allowed Europe’s Airbus and its U.S. front company, Northrop Grumman, to walk away with one of the largest U.S. defense contracts in history."

Now we can support out Brothers and Sisters employed by Boeing. The MNPL (The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League) has setup a webpage that makes it easy for us to contact our representation in Congress and let them know how we feel about sending jobs to other countries. The airframe of these planes will be built overseas and that means the United States will depend on a foreign company to supply us with our military aircraft. Our Government has run amok outsourcing our jobs but for OUR Government to outsource military hardware is mind-numbing.

When will it end, if we the people don't demand our representatives stop this?

We have a voice in our votes and it's time we speak out.

Contact your local Congressmen through this link: http://capwiz.com/iamaw/issues/alert/?alertid=11106876

It only takes a minute to let them know we will not stand by while our jobs and security are shipped away. Tell your friends and family they can use the same link, where ever in the country they may be.

Our kids are depending on us to protect their future.................we cannot not let them down.

Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday April 1st.

Regular Membership meeting starts at 4:30PM on 4-1-2008 at the District Hall.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&q=271++taylor+ave.+cape+canaveral++&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

271 Taylor Ave.
Cape Canaveral , Florida

John Thomas Benefit March 22nd, 2008

Brother John Thomas's shop is having a benefit auction and dinner to help him in his time of need.

Lunch will be served from 11:00AM till 1:00PM and will feature Chicken Cacciatore.

They are asking for a donation of $5.00 for the meal. They are also having an auction starting at 1:00PM and are asking for donated items for the auction.

The Lunch and Auction will be at Eagles M.I. #4257 at Shore Lanes, located at 600 North Courtenay Parkway in Merritt Island. Google Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=600+N+Courtenay+Pkwy,+Merritt+Island,+FL,+US&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

If you need more information, contact Kenny Bays at Wiltech 1-2486.

Congratulations to Tony Sasso !

Supporting candidates like Tony Sasso is what our country needs. It's nice to see an election we can all feel as winners over. Mr. Sasso will soon enough need our support again, since this was a special election to replace Bob Allen.

Remember, we can make a difference!

Union member Tony Sasso in Florida HD 32

The Special Election in Florida House District 32 is Tuesday, February 26th. Machinist Union members have the opportunity to help send a fellow union member to Tallahassee. Tony Sasso is a member of the ITF (International Transport Workers Federation). Tony understands the issues and concerns of Machinist Union members and is committed to serving working families in House District 32. Tony's opponent is a man who owns and operates a day labor business. COULD THE CHOICE BE ANY CLEARER? The polls are open 7am to 7pm.

Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday March 4th

Regular Membership meeting starts at 4:30PM on 3-4-2008 at the District Hall.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&q=271++taylor+ave.+cape+canaveral++&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

271 Taylor Ave.Cape Canaveral , Florida 32920

Hope to see you there!

IAM Photo Contest 2008

http://www.goiam.org/publications/photocontest/index.htm

Winning photos will be featured in the 2009 IAM calander.

In 2006 Brother Ed Griffith placed third with this photo of Robert Hemric, during the rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery.

You can download a form for submissions from this link:

http://www.goiam.org/publications/photocontest/2008%20PHOTO%20CONTEST_ENGLISH.pdf

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for viewing).

With the interesting jobs we have, certainly a member of this local can get featured again!

Get those cameras snapping!