Why Join?

A union-"things or individuals coming together as one to achieve common goals and to become something larger than themselves." The 13 colonies formed a union to become "The United States of America", for power and protection.

 

Brothers and sisters at Pheonix Paper,

your co-workers are trying to form a union because they recognize that their goals are not the same as the company's goals. As a worker, we show up so that we can have a home, food, a vehicle, and hopefully afford to do something nice with our families on the weekends. Are your goals the same as the executives of Pheonix Paper? Do they have the same worries as you do in their daily lives? This isn't about your supervisor... that person is trying to pay the bills just like you. This is about joining together with your co-workers who share the same goals and helping each other achieve them. This is about working together to make a better life for all of you.

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What is the company legally required to negotiate?

Wages Jury duty pay, Shift premiums, Bereavement pay, Overtime, On-call pay, Premium pay, Severance pay,
Longevity, Pensions, Pay for training, Health insurance, Holidays, Leave of absence, Sick days, Tuition reimbursement, Hours of work, Seniority, Work schedules, Job duties, Grievance procedure, Probationary period, Workloads, Testing of employees, Vacancies Rest and lunch periods, Promotions, Bargaining unit work, Transfers, Subcontracting, Layoff and recall, No strike clause, Discipline and discharge, Non-discrimination, Waiver/zipper clause, Dues check off, Mandatory meetings, Mileage and stipends, In-service trainings, Evaluation procedures, Parking, Health and safety, Bonuses, Clothing and tool allowance, Incentive pay, Management rights clauses, Equity pay adjustments, Dental and vision plans, Legal services, Work rules, Bulletin boards, Meals provided by the employer and more.

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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 

Our great union currently represents 20,000 workers in the wood, pulp, and paper industry. If you've set foot in your home, used the bathroom, read a paper, or used the lights to watch your favorite television show, you can thank one of our amazing woodworkers. From toilet paper to telephone poles, the IAM stands proud to be part of the heritage and history that our IAM woodworker locals bring to our union. Our power combines these 20,000 workers within the largest defense union in the country. These workers overwhelmingly choose the IAM because we are the only union in existence that fits the values of the common woodworking shop. We have the largest density of veterans of any union in the U.S.

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Who are the IAM Woodworkers?

"The IAM Woodworkers Department represents wood, pulp, and paper workers in the United States. These workers are in every phase of the forest products sector from harvesting trees to making the products used to build your house and package your food. Our members work for Weyerhaeuser, International Paper, Georgia Pacific, Atlas Roofing, Ikea, Graphic Packaging, Potlatch Deltic, Westrock, Sappii, Woodland Pulp, Cascades, Rayonier, Roseburg Forest Products, Timber Products, and almost every major newsprint company. In addition to these private sector employees, we have contracts covering every federal agency, most significantly the Forest Service, but also with the Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Treasury. In total, our department helps to coordinate the servicing of 174 collective bargaining agreements covering over 20,000 members."-Billy Barnwell, Grand Lodge Representative to the IAM Woodworkers Department

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Our History

The IWA (International Woodworkers of America) was formed in 1937 after a dispute caused a split within the Carpenters Union. Fast forward to 1994, the IWA and the industry was devastated by the outlawing of logging federal lands. Thousands of jobs were lost and a decision was made to seek a merger. The IWA entertained propositions by numerous unions and in the end, it was decided that the IAM fit the values held dear by the IWA membership. From that moment on, the IWA was called The IAM Woodworkers.

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IAM Woodworker Representation

The IAM is arguably the most prestigious labor organization in the U.S. and backed by over 6,00,000 rank and file members. Despite representing 20.000 members, we are also the largest defense union in the United States of America. Known as the Machinists Union, Fighting Machinists and The Aerospace Workers, we have members at almost every military base in the country. This brings power to fight regulation that could harm our Woodworkers, and power to fight back against plant closures. We plan on welcoming the workers at Phoenix Paper into the IAM, but the first step is to sign the A-Card.

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