Updated: 11/04/08

Local Lodges elections are around the corner

Ladies and gentlemen nominations for elected positions will be held on 18th of November at the Local Lodge Business meeting at 1:00pm. If you would like to nominate anyone or yourself please attend. Once the nominations have taken place; your ballots will be mailed to you at your house. Check with your representatives to get an address change form if your address has changed. Just mail your ballot back in the return envelope and place a stamp on it. The polls will be open on December 19th and the times will be announced at a later date. Place your vote and have your voice heard!

Stephanie Crews

2339H Educator

DOJ Approves Northwest/Delta Merger

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. today issued the following statement in response to the United States Department of Justice's approval of the Northwest Airlines-Delta Airlines merger.

"After eight years of disastrous economic decisions by the Bush Administration, this comes as no surprise. It is another opportunity for executives to stuff their pockets at the expense of working-class Americans.

Delta and Northwest management have separately bankrupted their individual airlines. Together, they will have more than $28.8 billion in combined debt and $15.6 billion in unfunded pension liabilities that could be forced onto the American taxpayer if the airline defaults.

The Machinists Union will fight to ensure that workers at the combined airline will be protected by the guarantees that can only be found in a union contract.  The days when Delta could ride roughshod over their employees is coming to an end. Delta is creating the world's largest airline. The Machinists Union will Northwest and Delta employees make it the world's largest unionized airline."

The Machinists Union is the largest airline union in North America and represents 12,500 Northwest Airlines ground employees. More information about the Machinists Union is available at www.goiam.org/mergers (http://www.goiam.org/mergers).