Mar 19, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
Delegates from the IAM California State Council recently gathered in Sacramento for the spring meeting, bringing together delegates from across the state to focus on legislative priorities, union strategy, and the road ahead for working families in 2026.
WATCH: Energizing IAM Voters in the Golden State
The one-day meeting opened with a keynote address from IAM International President Brian Bryant, who called on the IAM California State Council to stay organized, engaged, and united as the 2026 election cycle accelerates.
Bryant framed the fight we face ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“Members in California have always been on the front lines in fighting for retirement security and fair trade policies that put workers first,” said Bryant. “I applaud this state council for endorsing candidates with a pro-worker agenda. We live in the richest country in the history of the world, and right now, billionaires keep getting richer while working families are being told to do more with less. I am proud of this state council for the work they are doing to get people engaged this election cycle.”
IAM California State Council President Marty Martinez and Secretary-Treasurer Tom Brandon presided over the meeting, leading delegates through council business, the candidate endorsement process, and mobilizing members for the 2026 midterm elections.
“IAM members in California have never shied away from a fight, and 2026 is no different,” Martinez said. “Our members show up every day to do the work that keeps this state and this country moving. Now it’s time to make sure the people making decisions in Sacramento and Washington know exactly who we are and what we stand for.”
IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez addressed delegates on the priorities of the state and Territory.
“California is the heart of the Western Territory, and what happens here matters for working people across this entire region,” said Martinez. “When our members are organized, engaged, and fighting together, there is no challenge we cannot meet. That’s what this union is built on, and that’s exactly what we’re going to bring in the 2026 midterm elections.”
IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen also addressed the council, speaking about the importance of the upcoming election for IAM members in the airline industry.
“We have an important election coming up,” said Johnsen. “Collective bargaining, the right to strike, and so many other labor issues are on the table and under attack. Our members have to be engaged in this election cycle to push back against anti-union forces.”
IAM National Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon gave a report on the IAM’s Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) and the work ahead to ensure IAM members have a powerful voice in the 2026 elections.
“The IAM’s political engagement is rooted in pocketbook issues, not party affiliation, said Solomon. The IAM supports candidates who stand with working families on jobs, contracts, and retirement security. Our union will continue to fight on Capitol Hill and state houses across the nation, including Sacramento.
California state lobbyist Shane Gusman provided a detailed briefing on the key bills, political dynamics, and advocacy opportunities that will shape conditions for California workers in the months ahead.
The meeting concluded with IAM’s Assistant Veterans Service Coordinator Bryan Stymacks, who spoke on the IAM’s commitment to the men and women who have served in uniform. The IAM’s Veterans Services program remains one of the most robust member support programs in the labor movement, providing guidance, resources, and advocacy for IAM veterans and their families. Delegates from the IAM California Spring State Council Meeting left fired up and ready to deliver some electoral victories for California’s working families.
The post IAM California State Council Mobilizes in Sacramento appeared first on IAM Union.
Mar 12, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
The IAM Legislative and Political Department will hold its 2026 IAM Legislative Conference June 22–24 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
In 2025, more than 400 IAM members from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2025 IAM Legislative Conference, marking one of the strongest turnouts in recent history.
Click here for the official call letter, an important message, registration form/information, and hotel booking details.
Delegate registration opens at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 22, and runs until 12:30 p.m. A second registration window will be available on Tuesday, June 23, from 8 to 8:45 a.m.
The opening session begins Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. IAM Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon will open the conference, followed by a keynote address from IAM International President Brian Bryant.
General sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are reserved for delegate lobbying on Capitol Hill, allowing dedicated time to meet face-to-face with your elected representatives.
The conference will close Wednesday evening with a Congressional reception beginning at 5:30 p.m.
All delegates are encouraged to pre-schedule meetings with their Congressional district representative and both U.S. senators before arriving in Washington. These conversations are among the most powerful tools IAM members have, enabling elected officials to hear from you directly.
Register today.
The post Register Now for the 2026 IAM Legislative Conference appeared first on IAM Union.
Mar 10, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
IAM Union members from across Washington state gathered at the State Capitol in Olympia to advocate for pro-worker legislation aimed at protecting working families. Under the strong leadership of Washington State Council President Steve Miller, who also serves as IAM District 160 Directing Business Representative, the voices of IAM members resonated loudly in the halls of power.
Delegates lobbied their state legislators, focusing their advocacy on two critical pieces of legislation:
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HB 2471: This bill aims to ensure that Washington’s private sector workers remain protected even if federal labor laws fail.
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HB 2264: This proposed legislation seeks to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent workers from accessing the unemployment insurance benefits they’ve earned.
“The IAM Union Washington State Council once again demonstrated what solidarity in action looks like. Our members showed up in Olympia with a clear message for lawmakers: working families must remain the top priority in Washington,” said IAM Union Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “From protecting good union jobs and advancing pro-worker legislation to bringing light to what working families are facing: access to affordable childcare, rising costs, and inefficiencies in unemployment benefits.”
The lobbying effort reflects the IAM Washington State Council’s commitment to engaging directly in the legislative process to defend and expand workers’ rights across the state.
“I am proud of the dedication and professionalism our delegates brought to every conversation in the Capitol. When we sit down with lawmakers, we bring the real-life experiences of Washington’s workforce: aerospace workers, healthcare professionals, public employees, and more,” said Washington State Council President Steve Miller. “We advocate for every working person in our state, as well as our members, and we will keep pushing for policies that put working families first and hold elected officials accountable to the people who power Washington’s economy.”
The meeting featured powerful insights from several key labor leaders, including:
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Hasan Solomon, IAM National Political and Legislative Director
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Brandon Hemming, IAM Western Territory International Representative
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Donny Donovan, IAM District 751 Legislative and Political Director
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Jonathan Battaglia, IAM Communications Director
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Joe Kendo, Washington State Labor Council Chief of Staff
The Washington State Council of Machinists continues to be a formidable force in advocating for the rights of workers.
See the live content:
IAM Union Facebook Post/Photo Gallery
IAM Union X (Twitter) Thread
Video on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram
The post IAM Members Rally in Olympia: Advocating for Worker Protections at the State Capitol appeared first on IAM Union.
Mar 9, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
The IAM Union recently joined Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Labor Allies to introduce the Trade Adjustment Assistance Modernization Act, a bill to renew the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which Congress allowed funding to lapse in 2022.
IAM Legislative Chief Counsel Laura Ewan spoke on behalf of the IAM.
TAA must be reauthorized, modernized, and properly funded to help assist and retrain workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Ewan. “Their job losses are caused by greedy corporate decisions that rely on bad trade policy and trade loopholes to prioritize shareholder profits over people.”
WATCH: Video of the bill introduction press conference
Trade Adjustment Assistance provides displaced U.S. workers with critical support, including job training, income support, health care assistance and reemployment services. Workers who went through the program earned, on average, $50,000 more over a 10-year period than those who did not access the program.
Since the program expired, nearly 200,000 workers have filed petitions for assistance, but their cases remain pending due to the lapse in congressional authorization. And that number continues to grow.
“Every day Congress fails to act, American workers and their families are left to struggle,” said Ranking Member Sanchez. “They are not economic statistics. They are our friends and neighbors who unfairly lost their jobs to outsourcing. Trade Adjustment Assistance is a lifeline to them, helping them rebuild their careers, protect their families and hold on to hope. Congress cannot abandon them any longer.”
The TAA Modernization Act would:
- Reauthorize TAA for Workers, TAA for Firms and TAA for Farmers programs for seven years.
- Address shortcomings in the program by expanding eligibility, increasing funding and improving benefits (such as providing for childcare expenses).
- Establish a new TAA Communities program and reinject funding into the popular and successful TAA for Community Colleges program.
In addition to Sanchez, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.).
Louisville is powered by unions, our workers deserve to be made whole if they lose their jobs due to trade changes,” said Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.). “I’m proud to join Rep. Sanchez to introduce the Trade Adjustment Assistance Modernization Act, a bill that makes good on our promise to American workers.”
“The IAM knows firsthand how critical the TAA program is to workers who lost their jobs as a result of outsourcing and unfair trade practices,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “When Caterpillar shuttered its Joliet, Ill., facility in 2018 and 2019 and moved roughly 600 IAM jobs to Mexico, TAA was there. When Truck-Lite closed its Falconer, N.Y., plant in early 2020 and shipped more than 150 jobs to Mexico and China, TAA was there. Now, nearly 400 Whirlpool workers in Amana, Iowa, are losing their jobs to Mexico, with hundreds more cuts expected later this year. Without TAA reauthorization, these workers lose not just their paychecks, but the job training and financial support they need to rebuild their lives. That’s not just a blow to workers, it’s a blow to their families and their communities.”
The bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Communication Workers of America (CWA); International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); and United Steelworkers (USW).
The post IAM Union Joins Congresswoman Sanchez, Labor Allies to Introduce Bill to Renew Trade Adjustment Assistance, Help Displaced Workers appeared first on IAM Union.
Feb 24, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
It was a proud day for the labor movement at the recent inauguration of Taylor Rehmet, a dedicated IAM Union labor leader and veteran who recently became the first rank-and-file union member to be sworn into the Texas State Senate.
Watch the video report here.
Having served in various union leadership roles, Rehmet emphasizes that his transition to the legislature is an extension of his work as a steward for workers’ rights. He explicitly pledges to address critical issues such as stagnant wages, retirement security and public education.
View photos here.
Rehmet is poised to be a champion for labor who will prioritize the economic needs of families over divisive political rhetoric.
The post Behind the Scenes: IAM Union Member Taylor Rehmet Takes Oath of Office as Texas State Senator appeared first on IAM Union.
Feb 19, 2026 | Politics & Legislative News
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 19, 2026 – The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) proudly congratulates IAM District 776 member, labor activist, and union leader Taylor Rehmet on being sworn in as the State Senator representing Texas Senate District 9.
Rehmet, who serves as President of IAM Local 776B and President of the IAM’s Texas State Council, took the oath of office at the Texas State Capitol surrounded by family, supporters, and a large delegation of IAM Union members and Texas labor leaders who proudly stood in solidarity to witness this historic moment. Rehmet is the first rank-and-file union member ever elected to the Texas State Senate and only the second rank-and-file union member ever elected to the Texas Legislature.
A U.S. Air Force veteran and aircraft mechanic at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, Rehmet is a skilled machinist and dedicated community organizer who has built a reputation as a principled leader committed to improving the lives of working families. His leadership journey has been shaped in part by political and leadership training through the IAM Union and the Texas AFL-CIO, where he developed the tools and experience to advocate effectively for working people both on and off the job.
“Taylor’s swearing-in is a proud and historic moment for our union and for working people everywhere,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Taylor has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with IAM members and working families, fighting for fairness, dignity, and opportunity. He brings the voice of the shop floor to the State Capitol and understands firsthand the challenges workers face because he’s lived them. His leadership proves that union members are not only building our economy, they are shaping its future and advancing policies that strengthen working families and communities across Texas.”
Rehmet’s successful campaign earned national notoriety for its common-sense platform focused on lowering costs for working families, strengthening job opportunities, and putting people ahead of partisan politics.
“This is a proud moment for the IAM Union and the entire Texas labor movement,” said IAM Union Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “Taylor’s swearing-in sends a powerful message that working people belong in positions of leadership and influence. He has shown what is possible when union members step forward to lead, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside him to advance policies that lift working families across Texas.”
“I am deeply grateful to the IAM Union, IAM District 776 and the entire Texas labor movement for their unwavering support and belief in this campaign,” said Texas State Sen. Taylor Rehmet. “This moment belongs to the working people who organized, volunteered, and made their voices heard. I am honored and excited to begin this journey on behalf of Texas working families, and I will fight every day to deliver common-sense solutions that make life better for everyday working people across our state.”
“This is a huge win for Texas workers, who elected Taylor Rehmet from the shop floor to the Senate floor,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar. “It’s a historic day for our labor movement, who put in the work and demonstrated what’s possible when we come together in solidarity. Senator Rehmet is a beacon of hope not just for Texas, but for every union member and worker in the state.”
The IAM Union also extends its deep gratitude to IAM District 776 volunteers and IAM Union members across Texas who volunteered countless hours to support Rehmet’s campaign and continue to stand with him today.
Rehmet will be on the ballot for re-election on Nov. 3, 2026. The IAM Union is extremely proud of his leadership and is mobilized to re-elect Senator Rehmet and support pro-worker candidates up and down the ballot this November. The union will continue working with partners across the labor movement, including the Texas AFL-CIO and allied organizations, to ensure working families have a strong and lasting voice in the Texas Legislature.
The IAM Union looks forward to continuing to work with State Sen. Rehmet to advance pro-worker policies and ensure that the voices of working families are heard, respected and represented in the Texas Legislature.
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 Working People Gain Powerful Voice as IAM Union Member Taylor Rehmet Sworn in to Texas Senate appeared first on IAM Union.
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