Machinists (IAM) member and ExpressJet flight attendant Sandra Hinojosa was honored last week for her heroism and quick response to avert a potentially catastrophic event on an August United Airlines flight operated by ExpressJet.

In a dramatic demonstration of how deadly the global supply chain really is, Scott Nova, director of the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), opened a panel on workers' rights in Bangladesh during the recent AFL-CIO Convention with this observation:

Of the four deadliest factory disasters in history, three of those four happened in the last 12 months.

Some 200 golfers took part in the 21st annual Guide Dogs of America Charity Golf Tournament, which raised nearly $15,000 for the charity.

The team of Ryan Gjersee, Kyle Havener, Matt O’Brien and Kyle Wenger won a one-hole playoff to win the best-ball tournament, which was held July 21 at Willows Run.

The Machinists (IAM) sends us this update:

In a contest overseen by the National Mediation Board (NMB), the IAM today won the election to represent nearly 4,600 Mechanic and Related employees at US Airways. The IAM received 1,903 votes, or 58% of all votes cast in the five-week election, while the Teamsters (IBT) received 1,418 votes, less than 42%.

This week, leading up to July 4, we're highlighting American products and services. What are your favorite Made in America products? 

If there was a union for dogs—and if they had opposable thumbs—I’m sure my two German Shepherds would sign authorization cards and I would respect their majority sign-up choice. But until non-traditional alt-organizing takes a major step outside the box, our pets will have to find solidarity and some tasty treats in a variety of pet products that carry a Made in America union label.

As previously reported, 60 workers at Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group in Auburn, Wash., went on strike after they made concessions that would save the company $20,000 per month and the company refused to share a portion of the savings with workers through increased salaries. The workers, members of the Machinists (IAM) Local 79, rejected the last offer from the company on May 10, and the company has hired replacement workers to fill 39 of the 60 jobs.

After watching the continued decline in the number of Oregon workers winning a voice at work, the Oregon AFL-CIO “decided to do something different,” says state federation President Tom Chamberlain. That something different was unions working together. Since late 2011, Oregon unions have been able to craft a number of significant victories for workers who want a voice on the job. Says Chamberlain:

By working together, we have achieved something phenomenal.

On March 24, 60 workers at Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group in Auburn, Wash., went on strike after they made concessions that would save the company $20,000 per month and the company refused to share a portion of the savings with workers through increased salaries.  The workers, members of the Machinists (IAM) Local 79, rejected the last offer from the company on May 10, and the company has hired replacement workers to fill 39 of the 60 jobs.

Three members of Machinists (IAM) Local 264 in Boston were honored for their bravery and quick thinking in response to the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. John Foley, Dave Litif and Mike Rown, who were volunteering at the finish line of the marathon, immediately moved to tear down barricades around the blast site to help people leave the area and began treating the wounded.

The Machinists (IAM) and the Transport Workers (TWU) have reached a partnership to jointly represent nearly 30,000 ground workers at the “new” American Airlines following the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.