Cameron Compression Systems & International Association of Machinists Receive Cornell ILR Champions @ Work Award

With the sun shinning, over 2,000 people enjoyed the employee open house at Cameron Compression Systems held on Sunday, August 24th.  A family event, the open house featured tours of the facility, interactive games for all ages, children's activities a wonderful picnic lunch and the German American Musicians Band.

A special highlight of this year's open house was the presentation of the 2008 Champions @ Work award to Cameron Compression Systems and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Niagara Lodge 330, District 65.  Presented by Cornell University ILR School, the award honors high performance workplace systems and practices which result in good jobs, good wages and benefits and high quality products.

Cameron Compression Systems in Buffalo engineers and produces high quality, reliable and innovative compression equipment systems that have come to be associated with the Cameron name.  Started as Joy Manufacturing in 1955 by four engineers, the current facility includes the original building.  Today, the workforce is over 800 strong, with approximately 300 hourly represented by the IAMAW.  Engineers make up over half of the salaried workforce.  Planned investments over the past few years in new machinery have supported the competitiveness of the workforce at the 270,000 square foot facility.

"In a time of great debate about America's competitiveness in science, technology and workforce skills, Cameron and the IAM stand out as proof of what can be accomplished by teamwork, ingenuity and a commitment to excellence,"  commented Lou Jean Fleron, Director, Workforce, Industry and Economic Development (WIED) unit of the ILR School.

In accepting the award on behalf of the company, Mahesh Joshi, Vice President, Centrifugal Compressors, recognized the great teamwork that enables the company to compete in the global marketplace with such customized products and services.

Ed Fik, President, IAMAW Niagara Lodge 330, emphasized the change in labor-management relations over the years.  "Candid communication" with each other and respect for each other were cited as the main drivers of the change.  President Fik has been with the IAMAW for 44 years.

The Honorable William Stachowski of the NYS Senate who represents the 58th District congratulated Cameron and the IAMAW on their receipt of the award.  Erie County Executive Chris Collins, unable to attend the award ceremony, sent proclamations for the company and union in recognition of the award.  James Johnson, International Representative for the Easter Territory of the IAMAW, offered congratulations to the company and union on behalf of Lynn D. Tucker, Jr., General Vice President of the Easter Territory.  Peter Cooney, Business Representative for District 65, also offered his congratulations.  NYS Assemblyman Jack Quinn, III was also in attendance.

Education and train are important to both Cameron and the IAMAW.  Cameron's training center in Buffalo designs curriculum and delivers training on compression systems globally.  The IAMAW is a leading partner in a national program called America's Edge: Our Skills, Our Kids, emphasizing technical and vocational education in schools and career paths in industrial and information technology.

The Compression Systems group is part of Cameron's worldwide operations of 15,000-plus employees in 260 locations.  One of the oldest trade unions, the IAMAW represents 730,000 members across North America.  Niagara Lodge 330 is over 100 years old.

"When you stop and think about the technological changes over the past 50 years -- the engineering tools and manufacturing methods -- you realize the knowledge, skills and commitment every member of the workforce contributes to this world-class operation," said Reggie Grogan, Cornell University ILR, WIED.  Reggie, along with Gerry Skrzeczkowski, Tom Wisniewski and Veronica Moore, coordinate the Champions award project.

The Champions @ Work award was established as an outgrowth of the ground-breaking study conducted by Cornell University in 2000, which found clear evidence of high-performance workplace practices, workforce quality and constructive labor relations in the region.

The award was first given in 2004 to United Auto Workers Local 897 and Ford Buffalo Stamping Plant.  Since the, the award was presented in 2005 to the Communications Workers of America Local 14177 and New Era Cap Company and in 2007 to the United Steelworkers Local 2604 and Mittal Steel USA -- Lackawanna, now known as ArcelorMittal -- Lackawanna.