IAM strike sanction vote passes with 99.15 percent approval

Contract negotiations between L-3 Communications (parent company of Army Fleet Support) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) are getting under way in preparation for the expiration of the current contract on April 28.

Contract renegotiation takes place between the union and AFS every three years.

Part of the preparation process includes a strike sanction vote, which is required by the IAM Constitution.

The vote, which passed with 99.15 percent approval from 2,223 voters, provides advanced legal notice to the Grand Lodge, so members will be able to receive strike benefit checks without delay if they vote to strike after voting on the contract offer.

The vote is an opportunity to demonstrate solidarity among union members of Local Lodge 2003 in order to persuade the company to bargain earnestly and reduce the chances of a strike.

General concern has been placed on this contract renegotiation due to continued cuts to defense by the federal government and restructuring of Army aviation.

Fort Rucker is experiencing a 20 percent reduction in the 2014 fiscal year in the number of aviation soldiers trained, which, in turn, has a substantial impact on the civilian workforce that supports the Army's mission.

Members of IAM, a union that has been at Fort Rucker since 1955, gathered Feb. 13 for the strike sanction vote at the Local Lodge in Daleville.

The polls were open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m., and 2,242 members of the more than 3,100 total members participated in the vote.

The only way a strike would take place is after the IAM membership has looked at the final proposal and a majority votes to reject the proposal, as well as a two-thirds, or about 66 percent, vote to reaffirm the strike sanction.

"We're the most experienced, most highly-trained group of aircraft maintenance professionals on these specific airframes found anywhere in the world. Our workforce is simply not something that you can duplicate," said Jonathan Kruse, IAM Young Machinists and strike committee member. "We fully support the Army and their mission, whatever it might be, and we always will. It's something that we're very proud of."

Kruse said the strike sanction vote shows support for negotiators going into the contract negotiation process and that the members are actively involved in seeing a positive outcome.

"Nobody wants to strike. That's something that nobody would ever want, but it has to be something that we're prepared for," Kruse said. "We're showing our upper leadership that we're willing to strike if need be. It's a show of solidarity that we are behind our grievance negotiating committee, led by Mr. Steve Crumb. We're basically putting International on notice that we're willing to take those steps."