Jun 20, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
The Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists recently conducted its 78th annual convention in York, Pa. Over 120 delegates, officers, guests, and politicians, including IAM International President Brian Bryant, gathered to discuss issues that concern Pennsylvania IAM members and fellow Machinist members from around the country.
Obie O’Brien, the president of the state council, was very pleased with the turnout, as this state council continues to grow bigger and larger every year due to the involvement of members who want better pro-labor representation in the halls of Harrisburg and Washington, DC.
Watch the video report here.
A highlight of the three-day conference was the presence of Pete Buttigieg, who delivered a powerful speech on behalf of the impactful Biden-Harris election campaign. His 20-minute address outlined President Biden’s pro-labor agenda and significant achievements, such as the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Buttigieg also announced the creation of nearly 15 million jobs over the past three years under the Biden Administration.
Pete Buttigieg praises Pennsylvania union members at Machinists convention Keystone Newsroom
Buttigieg meets with Pennsylvania Machinists Union Fox 43
Buttigieg brings Biden’s reelection message to union members in York WITF
As the 2024 November elections will soon be upon us, it is imperative that we educate the membership about who is supporting us on state and federal worker issues. This information on electing the pro-labor politicians will have a direct impact on our working conditions and rights that will help workers in the state.
Talking to the packed conference room, IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon addressed the delegates.
“Don’t you ever forget that the people in the statehouse in Harrisburg or Washington DC work for all of us,” said Solomon. “We can send them home if they don’t do the right thing!”
The post IP Bryant, Pete Buttigieg Fire Up Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 20, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
The IAM has officially wrapped up its 2024 Legislative Conference. Held in the nation’s capital, the conference serves as a vital platform for IAM members to strategize and amplify their voices in the halls of Congress. Throughout the three-day event, IAM members engaged in productive discussions with lawmakers, advocating for policies supporting working families nationwide.
More than 300 delegates representing diverse industries participated in legislative plenaries, equipping themselves with the necessary tools to advance a pro-labor agenda.
WATCH: National Political Leaders Praise IAM at Legislative Conference
Among the event’s highlights were the speeches a diverse group of speakers delivered. These included elected officials from various levels of government and supportive allies from the labor movement. Their messages underscored the importance of solidarity and collective action in fighting for workers’ rights and dignity.
“The IAM 2024 Legislative Conference has been a resounding success,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We have joined together to make our voices heard, to learn from each other, and to strategize on the best ways forward. We are leaving this conference more united and determined to push for policies that uplift all workers.”
WATCH: IAM International Brian Bryant, Jr. Opening 2024 IAM Legislative Conference
Delegates met with many lawmakers and urged them to address critical priorities to protect working people. These meaningful interactions not only helped to close the gap between IAM members’ realities and the policymakers responsible for meeting their needs.
During their meetings, IAM delegates emphasized vital issues critical to our members, such as:
- Right to organize through the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act
- National security, job creation and defense funding
- No tax breaks for union-busting
- Restoring a union dues tax deduction
- Railway Safety Act
- Prioritize rail workers in federal appropriations and policies
- Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Reauthorization
- Fair and equal trade policy
- Support for Delta Air Lines’ workers seeking a voice on the job
- Support for protecting negotiated pensions for federal contract workers
- Protection and strengthening of a modern federal workforce
- And more.
READ: 2024 IAM Legislative Conference Begins in Nation’s Capital with a Strong Focus on Workers’ Rights
“The IAM restated its commitment to continue advocating and taking grassroots actions needed to ensure a prosperous future for the labor movement,” said IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon.
PHOTOS: 2024 IAM Legislative Conference Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
These are some of the members of Congress and allies who provided remarks during the third day of the Legislative Conference:
- U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
- U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
- U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.)
- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
- Greg Regan, Transportation Trades Department President
- Carla Siegel, IAM General Counsel
- Shane Brinton, IAM Healthcare Director
- Randy Erwin, NFFE-IAM National President
- David Arouca, TCU/IAM National Legislative Director
See social media coverage below (Thread):
https://x.com/MachinistsUnion/status/1803415366099509643
The post IAM Concludes 2024 Legislative Conference with Strong Call for Pro-Labor Agenda appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 18, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
The 2024 IAM Legislative Conference started on Monday, June 17, in Washington, D.C. This significant conference is bringing together more than 300 delegates from districts and locals across the United States to discuss critical legislative and political issues affecting our members and the labor movement as a whole.
The conference opened with impactful speeches from IAM International President Brian Bryant and IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon. They welcomed IAM delegates and outlined a proactive agenda for the week, emphasizing legislative priorities and strategies to enhance workers’ rights and protections.
“Our power comes from you – the membership. It comes from our unity, our diversity, and our power in numbers,” said Bryant. “It comes from aerospace workers, defense workers, airline workers, railroad workers, manufacturing workers, federal workers, healthcare workers, and so much more… standing together as one to demand respect.”
WATCH: IAM International President Brian Bryant Opening 2024 IAM Legislative Conference
The IAM Legislative Conference is a crucial event for the union. It provides a platform for members to interact with policymakers, deliberate on policy, and advocate for an agenda that upholds workers’ rights and advances working people’s priorities.
“Through our advocacy, we safeguard and champion the rights of our members, making it known to Congress that our union embodies not merely the work we do but the spirit of American workers,” said Solomon.
PHOTOS: 2024 IAM Legislative Conference
The first two days of the 2024 IAM Legislative Conference included important speakers such as:
- Brian Bryant, IAM International President
- Hasan Solomon, IAM National Political and Legislative Director
- U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.)
- U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
- U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
- U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)
- Amit Bose, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator
- Owen Herrnstadt, Export-Import Board of Directors Member
- U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Ca.)
- Jody Calemine, AFL-CIO Director of Advocacy
- Lori Wallach, Rethink Trade Director
Twitter Thread: https://x.com/MachinistsUnion/status/1802731219211165967
The post 2024 IAM Legislative Conference Begins in Nation’s Capital with a Strong Focus on Workers’ Rights appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 12, 2024 | Politics & Legislative News
YORK, Pa., June 12, 2024 – Pete Buttigieg spoke today in York, Pa., at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists, the political body in Pennsylvania for the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the nation’s largest aerospace, airline, transportation and defense labor union.
The conference brings together hundreds of IAM activists from across Pennsylvania who are mobilizing for the 2024 election. In 2023, the IAM overwhelmingly endorsed President Biden for a second term through a rank-and-file membership vote.
The IAM represents tens of thousands of airline, manufacturing, aerospace, defense and other workers in Pennsylvania.
“As someone who has been engaged in Pennsylvania and national politics my entire life, I’ve never seen a more pro-worker White House than the Biden Administration,” said Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists President C.A. “Obie” O’Brien. “We’re so grateful to Mr. Buttigieg for joining on us on his own time as IAM members in the Commonwealth do everything we can to win a second term for President Biden and Vice President Harris.”
IAM members are benefitting from the Biden Administration’s historic investment in infrastructure and manufacturing, while making large corporations adhere to Buy American requirements. President Biden’s signature legislation victories, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, are laying the groundwork for the creation of thousands of good union jobs. Dozens of IAM-represented plants closed during the Trump administration.
“The IAM is gearing up to launch the largest political mobilization effort in the 136-year history of our union,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant, who also serves on President Biden’s Export Council. “In battleground states like Pennsylvania, we are using every resource necessary to return President Biden to the White House and continue to remake this country for working families and the unions that fight for them.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transportation, automotive, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
The post Pete Buttigieg Fires Up Pennsylvania IAM Union Members as Election Efforts Ramp Up appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 11, 2024 | Machinists On The Hill
Click Here to view this edition of Machinists on the Hill.
The post Machinists on the Hill: Bryant joins Biden To Protect IAM Jobs — FAA Reauthorization — Delta Neutrality appeared first on IAMAW.
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