Jun 25, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
More than 400 IAM Union delegates from across the United States gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 IAM Union Legislative Conference, bringing the voices of working people directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
WATCH: Bipartisan, Pro-Worker Messages Headline IAM Legislative Conference
Throughout the three-day conference, delegates met with members of Congress and their staffs to advocate for policies that strengthen the labor movement and create greater opportunities for working families. Key issues discussed included strengthening collective bargaining rights, protecting federal workers, advancing fair trade policies, revitalizing the domestic shipbuilding industry, supporting national defense manufacturing, reforming the tax code, and ensuring continued investment in transportation and aviation.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant challenged delegates to remain engaged beyond the conference, emphasizing the importance of holding elected officials accountable and ensuring that working people have a strong voice in the political process.
WATCH: IAM Union International President Brian Bryant Remarks
“Continue to hold politicians accountable,” said Bryant. “Whether you’re meeting with a member of Congress, attending a town hall, or talking with your neighbors, make sure elected leaders hear directly from working people. Our voices matter, and our civic engagement makes a difference.”
A highlight of the conference was the IAM Union’s Workers vs. Billionaires Rally, where delegates joined together to call on Congress to put working families ahead of corporate greed and growing economic inequality.
WATCH: IAM Union Members at Workers vs. Billionaires Rally
The rally included remarks by IAM International President Bryant, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith and Ed Markey, and laid-off IAM Union members from Apple, Whirlpool and Spirit Airlines who shared firsthand accounts of corporate greed.
WATCH: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at Workers vs. Billionaires Rally
During the rally, the IAM Union announced its endorsement of the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) that seeks to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute more toward the nation’s future.
WATCH: Workers vs. Billionaires Rally with the IAM Union
VIEW: Workers vs. Billionaires Rally Photo Gallery
The conference highlighted the important role IAM Union members play in shaping public policy, demonstrating the power of workers coming together to make their voices heard on issues that impact their livelihoods and communities.
This year’s Legislative Conference included the following speakers:
- IAM International President Brian Bryant
- U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.)
- U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.)
- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
- U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
- U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)
- U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)
- U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.)
- U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.)
- U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
- U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.)
- U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
- U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D.Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.)
- U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)
- U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.)
- IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon
- IAM International Affairs Director Peter Greenberg
- IAM General Counsel Carla Siegel
- NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin
WATCH:
Day 1 Conference Recap
Day 2 Conference Recap
Day 3 Conference Recap
VIEW PHOTOS:
Legislative Conference Day 1
Legislative Conference Day 2
Legislative Conference Day 3
See X coverage below:
The post IAM Union Activists Take Workers’ Agenda to Capitol Hill at 2026 Legislative Conference appeared first on IAM Union.
Jun 25, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2026 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) welcomed a letter from U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth ( D-Ill.), urging Dana Inc. to engage in good-faith bargaining with the union over the closure of its Robinson, Ill., automotive gasket manufacturing plant.
Dana Inc. has announced it will permanently close the facility, which has anchored the Crawford County community since 1968. The closure will displace 69 IAM-represented workers, with layoffs expected to begin in June and the plant fully shuttered by Oct. 1.
“These are 69 families in Crawford County who built their lives around this plant, and Dana Inc. owes them more than a pink slip,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We thank Senators Durbin and Duckworth for standing with these workers and demanding that Dana come to the table and do right by the people who built this company’s success for nearly six decades.”
In their letter to Dana Chairman and CEO R. Bruce McDonald, the senators urged the company to “engage in meaningful and good-faith effects bargaining” with the IAM and to provide a “comprehensive transition package” for affected workers, including support for those seeking transfers to other Dana or IAM-represented facilities.
“Robinson isn’t just a factory town; it’s a community that Dana Inc. has leaned on for almost 60 years, and now it’s time for Dana to lean in for these workers,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “We appreciate Senators Durbin and Duckworth for adding their voices to this fight. The IAM will keep pushing Dana to negotiate in good faith and deliver the transition support these members have earned.”
Read the complete letter here.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
goIAM.org | @IAM_Union
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Jun 23, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
The IAM Union is calling on members and allies to speak out against NASA’s poorly defined workforce initiative, “Restoring NASA’s Core Competencies,” which could eliminate thousands of federal contract positions across the agency and replace them with civil service jobs.
For decades, highly skilled IAM-represented workers employed under the Service Contract Act have helped ensure NASA’s success through their expertise, dedication, and commitment to safety. The IAM is deeply concerned that disrupting this proven workforce model could create unnecessary risks, increase costs, and undermine the stability that has supported NASA’s missions for generations.
Send a letter to your members of Congress and urge them to oppose this reckless workforce overhaul and halt implementation until the facts are known.
NASA has provided few details about the plan, including which jobs would be affected, how many workers could lose their positions, and what impact the changes would have on mission safety, mission success, costs, and schedules. Despite these unanswered questions, implementation appears to already be underway at some facilities.
Congress must demand answers and halt this workforce restructuring. At a minimum, implementation of this initiative should be paused until NASA fully discloses its plans and conducts a comprehensive study of the impact on workers, taxpayers, and mission success.
Send a letter to your members of Congress and urge them to oppose this reckless workforce overhaul and halt implementation until the facts are known.
Take action today and tell Congress to protect NASA’s workforce and mission.
The post Take Action: Tell Congress to Protect NASA’s Skilled Workforce appeared first on IAM Union.
Jun 18, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2026 — The House Appropriations Committee has approved a Republican funding bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education on a party-line vote. The legislation would strip more than $3 billion from the Department of Labor, eliminate several labor-focused offices including those that protect American workers from unfair international trade competition, make deep reductions to worker safety enforcement and Job Corps.
Worse, the bill reduces funding for the already underfunded National Labor Relations Board by nearly $100 million. Members of the current administration, including NLRB General Counsel Crystal Carey and NLRB Chair James Murphy, recently decried the lack of funding to the agency in a House Education and Workforce subcommittee hearing. They testified that proposed budgetary amounts were “far below what we’ll need” and would require a “disastrous cut in agency operations” for the long-understaffed agency.
Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), issued the following statement:
“House Republicans are advancing a budget that asks working people to pay the price so the billionaire class can keep cashing in. After receiving the largest tax break in American history, wealthy corporations and billionaires are once again demanding more at the expense of working families.”
“These proposals would gut worker safety enforcement, slash Job Corps programs that help young people escape poverty and homelessness, and strip resources from the National Labor Relations Board. That’s not fiscal responsibility. That’s balancing the books on the backs of working people.
“Job Corps helps young Americans build careers and escape poverty. OSHA inspectors save lives. The NLRB helps level a playing field that is already tilted toward corporate power and against working families. Taking a sledgehammer to these programs doesn’t strengthen America — it weakens opportunities for workers while protecting the interests of those who need help the least.
“Elections have consequences. Working people are watching who stands with them and who stands with billionaires. We will remember these choices when we head to the ballot box this November.
“The IAM Union will continue fighting for investments in workers, strong labor protections, safe workplaces and pathways to the middle class. Working people built this country. They shouldn’t be asked to sacrifice so billionaires can get another handout.”
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.
The post IAM Union Blasts House Republican Budget Plan That Puts Worker Safety, Opportunity on Chopping Block appeared first on IAM Union.
Jun 17, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
TOWSON, Md., June 17, 2026 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) applauded Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott for his statement supporting the approximately 90 members of IAM Local 4538 at the Towson Town Center Apple Store, which Apple has announced it will close on June 20.
“My office stands in full support of IAM Union Local 4538 Apple workers at the Towson Town Center,” said Mayor Scott. “Baltimore is a union town, and we are known as the ‘Birthplace of American Railroading.’ We stand with the IAM Union, which began as a rail union and in 2022 organized the first Apple store in the nation, located at the Towson Town Center.”
Mayor Scott said the workers’ 2022 organizing victory carries forward a legacy built by generations of Baltimoreans, from dockworkers to railroad workers, who fought for fair pay and a path to the middle class.
Scott noted that many of the affected workers are Baltimore City residents who rely on public transit to reach the store, and he called Apple’s planned closure a blow to the broader region, not just the 90 workers who will lose their jobs.
IAM International President Brian Bryant praised Mayor Scott’s support and called on Apple to act before the store closure deadline.
“Mayor Scott understands what’s at stake here, not just for our members but for the city of Baltimore,” said Bryant. “Apple workers in Towson voted to join the IAM, fought for and won a contract, and are now being punished for it. Apple signed a collective bargaining agreement that requires equal treatment. It is time for Apple to honor that agreement and do right by these workers before June 20.”
The IAM Union recently held a rally in Towson in support of Apple workers that featured local, state and national elected officials, as well as labor and community allies.
IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, whose territory includes the Towson store, called the mayor’s statement another sign that elected leaders across Maryland are refusing to look away.
“Our members at the Apple store in Towson proved that organizing works. Our members built power, negotiated a contract, and created a model for Apple store workers everywhere,” said Sullivan. “Apple is now trying to make an example out of them. We will not allow that to happen. The IAM stands firmly with our members in Towson, and we are grateful to Mayor Scott and every elected official who has refused to look away.”
Mayor Scott’s statement comes as pressure on Apple continues to build from elected officials at every level.
The Congressional Labor Caucus letter is the latest in a growing series of actions supporting Apple Towson workers. It follows a recent Congressional Progressive Caucus letter signed by 40 members of Congress, a separate letter from the Maryland congressional delegation, public support from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and a community rally in Towson that brought together elected officials, labor leaders, and local residents.
Read Mayor Scott’s full statement here.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
goIAM.org | @IAM_Union
The post IAM Union Applauds Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott for Standing with IAM Local 4538 Members at Apple’s Towson Center appeared first on IAM Union.
Jun 16, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
A major labor reform championed by the IAM Union moved one step closer to becoming law this week as the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA), legislation designed to stop employers from delaying negotiations and denying newly organized workers the first contract they fought to win.
The IAM Union was a leading advocate for the bill, urging lawmakers to support a discharge petition led by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) that successfully forced a House vote on the legislation.
In an April letter to members of Congress, IAM Union International President Brian Bryant called on lawmakers to sign the discharge petition and advance the legislation, noting that workers often face years of delays after voting to form a union. Bryant warned that employers exploit the lack of bargaining deadlines to frustrate workers and undermine support for newly formed unions.
“The ability to collectively bargain a contract with their employer is central to why workers in growing numbers are exercising their right to form and join unions,” said Bryant. “Securing a first contract is perhaps the most important part of collective bargaining — and it is also often the hardest. Employers know they can drag their feet and demoralize workers. The Faster Labor Contracts Act changes that dynamic by making union-busting employers actually come to the table.”
The legislation would amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish clear timelines for bargaining. Employers would be required to begin negotiations within 10 days of workers voting to form a union. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the parties can move to mediation, followed by binding arbitration if necessary.
Workers currently wait an average of more than 458 days to secure a first contract, according to a Bloomberg analysis, often because employers intentionally stall negotiations after losing a union election.
“Workers don’t organize a union just to spend years waiting for their employer to negotiate a contract,” said Bryant. “The Faster Labor Contracts Act will help ensure that when workers vote for a union, they have a real opportunity to secure the wages, benefits, and protections they fought for. The Senate should move quickly to pass this legislation.”
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, non-profit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.
The post IAM Union-Backed Faster Labor Contracts Act Passes House, Advancing Fight for Workers’ First Contracts appeared first on IAM Union.
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