IAM members at the 2023 IAM Legislative Conference share their thoughts on legislative issues facing our members in a variety of industries.
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The 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), utilizing a democratic process that included a general membership vote open to all U.S. members in good standing, has endorsed President Biden for a second term.
The IAM’s endorsement is the overwhelming majority will of the IAM’s U.S. membership and its state council presidents, who voted online through an independent third ballot balloting system. More about the IAM’s endorsement process is available at iamvoting.org.
The results of the IAM’s general membership vote are:
Joe Biden – 61%
Donald Trump – 17%
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – 7%
Ron DeSantis – 7%
*Reflects every candidate who received more than 2% of the IAM’s general membership vote. Figures rounded to the nearest percentage point.
All of the participating IAM State Council Presidents, the IAM’s elected political leaders from each state, voted to endorse President Biden over the top vote-getting Republican candidate from the IAM’s general membership election.
A statement from IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr.:
“The IAM is proud to continue our democratic tradition in our endorsement process and equally as proud to endorse a champion for working people, President Joe Biden, for a second term.
“President Biden has been a staunch advocate and champion for working people. He has delivered on his vision for our nation, which is centered on partnering with organized labor to deliver good jobs with strong benefits and secure retirements. President Biden believes in an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.
“The IAM looks forward to building upon the great work of the Biden administration. Work that includes a historic investment in infrastructure and manufacturing, while making large corporations adhere to Buy American requirements. President Biden’s work also included passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and saving millions of jobs through the American Rescue Plan.
“Our membership realized that we couldn’t let candidates who seek to destroy our democracy and economy rewrite the rules in favor of CEOs and Wall Street. Our union went from getting WARN notices announcing plant closures from corporate CEOs under the previous administration to receiving job openings under this administration.
“The American economy roared back after the numerous plant closures under Biden’s predecessor. The Biden-Harris Administration created millions of jobs since taking office, including nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs. The IAM is happy to report that manufacturing is back, and it’s because this administration didn’t just give lip service to Buy America. His Buy America policy has positively impacted the lives of millions of working Americans.
“Our union will work on educating our entire membership about what’s at stake in this election and why Joe Biden is the only candidate with a plan to build and grow an economy that works in the best interest of working families.”
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The IAM wrapped up its annual legislative conference this week to strategize and make their voices heard in Washington, DC. Nearly 350 IAM delegates attended this year’s event and participated in legislative plenaries, and heard from a range of speakers, including elected officials and allies.
“We are here because what happens in Washington, DC and in State Houses across the country affects everything about our lives and our union,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “ We’re here to protect our right to form a union; We’re here to defend our right to negotiate industry-leading contracts; And we’re to fight for the right of every working man and woman to live the American Dream!”
WATCH: IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. Opening 2023 IAM Legislative Conference
Nearly 350 IAM delegates from across the country who were gathered at the 2023 Legislative Conference, had the opportunity to visit dozens of lawmakers and asked them to address important priorities to protect working people.
“The only game is the economy, and legislative policies are the rules to that game,” said IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon during the closing plenary. “Those rules are written right next door in the Capitol.”
“Unfortunately, during the last administration, the rules were written for Wall Street to win and for workers to lose. How do we change those rules so that we, as workers, win and have shared prosperity? You all are doing it this week. You are taking the Machinists Union’s message right to the Capitol,” continued Solomon.
PHOTOS: 2023 IAM Legislative Conference
During their meetings, IAM delegates emphasized key federal issues critical to our members, such as:
WATCH: 2023 IAM Legislative Conference Day 3: Powerful Elected Officials Pledge Support to IAM
These are some of the members of Congress and allies who provided remarks and shared their message of support for working families on Day 3 of the Legislative Conference:
See social media coverage below (Thread):
“The poll that just came out says 71% of Americans approve of unions. The American people figured out intuitively that unions are the best guarantor for working families in the middle class of this country.” – @RepJoeCourtney as the first speaker Day 3 of the #IAM2023 Leg. Conf. pic.twitter.com/Ii4PNmWfnH
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) June 21, 2023
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The 2023 IAM Legislative Conference in the nation’s capital began on Monday, June 19. The conference includes nearly 350 delegates representing districts and locals across the United States.
The first day included speeches of IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr., as well as IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon, who welcomed delegates and set the tone for this week’s agenda.
“We are here this week because we know that our work fighting for what’s right never ends,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “We are here to hold our elected officials accountable and let them know that you either stand with us or you stand against us!”
WATCH: IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. Opening 2023 IAM Legislative Conference
This important event provided an opportunity for IAM delegates to have their voices heard in the halls of Congress as they met with their congressional representatives to address critical issues affecting working Americans.
“If you want health care, you need a union; if you want a pension, you need a union,” said IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon as he addressed delegates of the 2023 Legislative Conference. “We are here to speak truth to power!”
PHOTOS: 2023 IAM Legislative Conference
The first two days of the 2023 IAM Legislative Conference included important speakers such as:
We are gearing up for the 2023 IAM Legislative Conference!
IAM delegates from across the nation are coming to discuss key legislative priorities impacting working families and their communities.
Welcome and let’s get to work!#IAM2023
pic.twitter.com/KSFe0FhCoJ
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) June 19, 2023
The post IAM Kicks Off 2023 Legislative Conference to Advance Members Priorities appeared first on IAMAW.
IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to pass a 2023 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act that prioritizes strong labor standards and ensures airline worker safety.
A successful worker-focused FAA reauthorization bill must include provisions such as:
“The time is now for Congress to draft and pass an FAA reauthorization package that acknowledges today’s growing demand to protect workers from physical harm and ensure labor standards are a priority,” said Martinez in the letter.
The IAM’s reasonable demands come as a response to the latest increases of U.S. air travel, and the unfortunate series of airline worker assaults and deaths in recent years.
The IAM will continue to advocate for a strong and enforceable pro-workers FAA bill to protect the interests of its more than 100,000 IAM air transport members and the communities they serve.
Click here to read the full letter.
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Retired IAM General Secretary-Treasurer and current Alliance for Retired Americans President Robert Roach Jr. testified on Capitol Hill for adequate funding for Social Security that could help to prevent identity fraud.
The May 24 subcommittee hearing included testimonies on Social Security identity theft and long-term solutions to this problem.
“Members of the Alliance and Americans nationwide are concerned about the threat of identity theft,” said Roach during his testimony. “If the Social Security Administration, which is already short staffed, was forced to cut its budget, the agency’s work to protect Americans from Social Security number identity theft and other fraud would be hampered.”
Millions of Social Security beneficiaries depend on this benefit program as part of their income and any funding cuts could be detrimental to their livelihoods.
“The importance of Social Security cannot be overstated,” said Roach. “The decline of traditional pension plans and decades of stagnant or declining real wages have made it harder for individuals to save for retirement and Social Security has become a larger part of Americans’ retirement income.”
Throughout the years, active and retired IAM members have advocated for increasing earned Social Security benefits and for measures that secure its solvency.
The Social Security Administration must have adequate funding to stay afloat but also to strengthen its capabilities to combat identity fraud and other issues as they arise.
Watch Robert Roach’s testimony here.
The Alliance for Retired Americans is a grassroots advocacy organization with 4.4 million members. Founded by the AFL-CIO in 2001, the alliance now has 39 state alliances and members in every state.
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