DATE:                        October 30, 2007

TO:                  All IAM Members Working at ASIG Seattle

Subject:           Company’s refusal to recognize the IAM as bargaining agent

Yesterday you were informed by the company that they would effective with the expiration of the current labor agreement, (October 31, 2007) no longer recognize the IAM as the legal bargaining agent for their employees.  The company is doing this based on decisions from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the National Mediation Board (NMB).  Both of these labor boards have ruled that ASIG is not properly under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), but is in fact under the jurisdiction of the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

Under the RLA a union cannot be certified as the legal bargaining agent for a single location of the employer.  The union must be selected by a majority of the employees at ALL the locations of the employer commonly called a system wide basis.  The company is taking advantage of the current political environment since the members of these boards are presidential appointments, and given their current make-up seldom do they issue decisions favorable to labor.

Currently there are no grounds for the union to challenge the company’s decision not to recognize the union.  Effective November 1, 2007 you will no longer be covered by a union contract.  The company will be free to make any changes to your wages, hours and working conditions the law will allow.

Remember it is the company causing you to lose your union contract, the union still wishes to represent you and work with you to improve your working conditions.  It is recommended that union members apply for withdrawal cards from the union this will protect you from having to pay a reinstatement fee should you work for another IAM employer in the future. 

It is unfortunate the company has chosen this course of action.  Further the company’s decision to inform the work force without giving the union advance notice speaks to their character. 

Sincerely,

Daniel R. Morgan

Assistant Directing                                                                                                                                            Business Representative