On July 1, 2013, Machinists
Union International President Tom Buffenbarger re-assigned Southern Territory
GVP Bob Martinez to IAM Headquarters to fill the vacancy created by the recent
retirement of former GVP Rich Mchalski, and assigned newly-elected GVP Mark
Blondin to take the helm as General Vice President of the Southern Territory.
GVP Martinez spent a decade as
the Southern Territory GVP, having assumed the office after the untimely
passing of GVP George Hooper in July 2003.
GVP Mark Blondin joined the
Executive Council in 2012 as the Aerospace Territory General Vice President.
Blondin's IAM career started in 1978 while working at an IAM-represented
machine shop in Seattle, Washington. He hired on at the Boeing Company in 1979,
and worked in the tooling department at the Renton facility. As a member of IAM
Local 751C, he held numerous Local Lodge 751C positions through the years,
including Shop Steward, Auditor, Trustee, Financial Secretary, Recording
Secretary, Vice President, and Local 751C Delegate to the District Council.
Blondin has always been a champion for workplace health and safety and served
for many years on the Renton Site Safety Committee.
In 1996, Blondin was elected as
a Business Representative for District Lodge 751, and later elected President
and Directing Business Representative in 2000. Blondin has been the chief IAM
negotiator for Boeing contracts at District Lodge 751 since 2002. Blondin was
also elected to the IAM Law Committee and served during the 2004 Grand Lodge
Convention. In addition to serving as President and Directing Business
Representative at DL 751, Blondin also held the position of Secretary Treasurer
of the Washington State Machinists Council.
Blondin was assigned as an IAM
Aerospace Coordinator in 2007, with the primary responsibility of negotiating
agreements between the IAM and Boeing throughout the United States and Canada.
Blondin became the General Vice President assigned to the Aerospace Territory
in 2012. As of July 1, 2013, Blondin will lead the Southern Territory, which
has nearly 100,000 aerospace industry workers.
Blondin assists the community
as a board member and fundraiser for the Guide Dogs of America, the Salvation
Army and Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims.
"It will be tough leaving
the Southern Territory," said GVP Martinez. "The last decade has been
one of great change, and our territory has moved forward and progressed through
it all. I'm so proud of the men and women of this territory. Mark Blondin is a
smart and capable leader, a strong colleague on the Executive Council, and a
personal friend of mine for many years. Mark will be a great fit to keep this
territory moving forward, and I urge everyone to do everything they can to
support GVP Blondin."
"It's exciting to be given
the opportunity to lead the Southern Territory," said GVP Blondin.
"GVP Martinez assembled a great team with a strong work ethic, and I look
forward to working with the staff, representatives and membership throughout
the territory."
