Nearly 30 IAM Union members were delegates at the New Mexico State Council (NMSC) conference in Santa Fe in late January. The two-day event, organized by Council President John Dyrcz and Council Secretary Treasurer Tina Davis, included speeches by politicians such as State Rep. Christine Chandler, IAM leadership and union members. The conference also included the election of council officers, an opportunity to lobby at the state level and meet with political candidates.
“This is a great opportunity to engage IAM members on a grassroots level and set a political agenda for the new year,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “This is a big year because the election cycle will include the midterms in November.”
A bipartisan group of gubernatorial candidates, including Democrats Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman, addressed the council and shared their plans for a pro-union agenda if elected.
“I am impressed with slate of candidates in attendance who are running for New Mexico governor,” said IAM Resident Vice President Jody Bennett. “The fact that those candidates took time out of their busy schedule to visit us shows the political power of the New Mexico State Council and the IAM voting bloc.”
During the conference, Delegates lobbied at the Roundhouse in favor of a bill that would support and protect medical professionals, especially those who serve rural areas.
“We lobbied in support of a bill that would reform New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice laws to attract and retain medical professionals throughout our state, especially in rural communities, said NMSC President John Dyrcz. “We had one-on-one meetings with legislators and visited offices to inform them of Machinist Council support for this critical legislation. The day after we lobbied, that bill passed its first committee hearing on a bipartisan vote of 7-3.”
The next NMSC conference will be June 26 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the council will officially announce its endorsement of statewide candidates.
“We are a politically diverse State Council, and despite these ideological differences, we can engage, debate, and learn without losing sight that we all want what’s best for New Mexicans and our IAM families,” said Dyrcz. “Our mutual respect for one another makes us stronger.”
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