INDEPENDENCE, MO., April 3, 2026 – Approximately 1,350 workers represented by the IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) Local 778 at Olin Winchester in Kansas City, Mo., have voted to reject company’s management substandard contract offer and go on strike at 12:01 a.m. CT on Saturday, April 4, when their current contract expires.

The decision to strike comes as the company failed to produce an offer that IAM Union members deemed fair on key issues, including wages, mandatory overtime and work-life balance.

Employees at Olin Winchester’s Lake City Army Ammunition Plant manufacture small arms ammunition for the U.S. military and allies, playing a critical role in the company’s success and the nation’s military supply chain.

“The bargaining committee did not recommend a yes-vote on the company’s offer and the membership showed the same sentiment,” said IAM Local 778 Directing Business Representative Scott Brown. “The company’s offer to these workers is just not good enough. We are not asking for anything unreasonable, as these workers have not seen wage increases reflective of the economy and have endured countless hours of overtime.”

The IAM Union has consistently advocated and won congressional funding for U.S. Army ammunitions that benefits Olin Winchester, IAM Union members, national security and the Independence community

“IAM Local 778 members at Olin-Winchester have the full support and solidarity of the IAM Midwest Territory,” said IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “These workers are simply asking for what is fair for their hard work and dedication for many years. Our members are not going to settle for less than they deserve.”

“The decision to strike is always a courageous one, and the members of our union do not make that decision lightly,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Union members who stand-up for better, raise the standard for all workers, and the IAM Union is fully behind our Local 778 members who will be walking the picket line for the contract they deserve.”

Picket lines will be established outside the facility beginning at midnight. IAM Union representatives will be available for further comment as the situation develops.

The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members across North America in industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, railroads, transit, healthcare, automotive, and more.

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From April 27 to 30, 2026, the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), an organization protecting pensions and rights of millions of retired union workers, will hold its National Membership Meeting and conference in Las Vegas to strategize, mobilize and celebrate 25 years of activism.

The event, which will take place at the Sahara Hotel, elects national officers, debates and votes on resolutions, and will organize ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Participants will also hear from top labor leaders, attend powerful workshops, and participate in national strategy discussions, culminating with the Senior Prom Ball and Dinner. 

The registration fee is $150, and the hotel rate is $69 per night. The deadline for registration and hotel reservations is Monday, April 6, 2026.

Click here to register and for more information. 

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At the CSX Bryan Park roadway shop in Richmond, Va., members of IAM Union Local 696 (District 19) Rail Division describe a comprehensive rebuild process that transforms heavy machinery through teardown, fabrication, and complex electrical and hydraulic assembly.

Watch Video: The IAM Union of Bryan Park: CSX Heavy Rebuild and Repair

These dedicated IAM members emphasize their commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, with fellow union operators noting that the equipment the IAM produces functions like a “Cadillac” once it reaches the rail lines.

IAM District 19 President Directing General Chair Reece Murtagh recently visited the shop and witnessed the collaborative efforts between those who manufacture the gear in the shop and the mobile teams who maintain the tracks.

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For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are on their way toward the Moon for a fly-by mission to Flight test NASA’s lunar equipment. It would not be possible without IAM Union members.

The Artemis II mission is sending four astronauts in an Orion space capsule on a 250,000 mile journey. The Space Launch System (SLS) is the lifting rocket that sends Orion and the Astronauts on their way. Much of the SLS is proven rocket hardware that was used in the Atlas rockets from the Apollo mission era, and the Space Shuttle era that lasted 30 years in between Apollo and Artemis. 

The SLS consists of a core stage, a slightly larger version of the Space Shuttle external fuel tank, and two enhanced solid rocket boosters, just like the Space Shuttle program. At the bottom of the core stage are four RS-25D engines originally built for the Space Shuttle. Those engines were built by IAM Local 971 members in Florida.  

United Launch Alliance (ULA) workforce are proud members of IAM Local 610 and Local 2061 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Local 971 in Jupiter, Fla., and Local 44 members in Decatur, Ala.

Every journey starts with a first step, and the Artemis program relies on a lot of IAM Union work to launch from the pad, travel safely in outer space, and return safely. We will try to credit all the programs that include IAM members involved in this launch, but with so many members involved, we can only hope to not miss some of our members.

• IAM Local 971 members have manufactured the L3 Harris’ RL10 engine which has played a vital role in placing hundreds of military, government and commercial satellites into Earth’s orbit.  

• IAM Local 610 members process the stage once it arrives in Florida. ULA has built three ICPS stages for each of the first three Artemis missions to the Moon through a collaborative partnership with Boeing. 
• Once the ICPS manufacturing is complete in Decatur, Ala., IAM Local 44 members load it on a barge and then sail with the ICPS to Port Canaveral. 

• Local 610 members assist with offload of the ICPS and then transport it to a ULA facility for processing. Lastly, Local 610 members will transport the ICPS to the Vehicle Assembly Building where they will assist in mating the ICPS into its position above the core stage and becoming part of the SLS.  

• IAM members of Local 2061 process the hardware for the Artemis program, transport the hardware, stack the vehicle, and move the vehicle, SLS, to the pad via the crawler transporter.that work for Amentum & Astrion under the Consolidated Operations, Management, Engineering and Test (COMET) contract. They also maintain all the ground support equipment for the vehicle to include the egress (escape) system on the mobile launcher. This system is a slide wire basket the vehicle crew (astronauts) would use in case of an emergency. 

• IAM Local 2061 members at Amentum also support the BOSS Contract. This contract includes services for operations, maintenance, and engineering of facilities at the John F. Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For Artemis, members operate & maintain electrical systems, HVAC systems, fire suppression systems and the water for the sound suppression system that protects both the vehicle and launch pad during launch from damage.

• IAM Local 2061 members working for Amentum/Solution One Industries support the KPLSS II Contract. That contract includes manufacturing, processing, and distribution of hazardous, high-pressure gases, cryogenic fluids, hypergols, and other materials to spaceport customers. It also provides life support services to customers working in toxic or oxygen-deficient environments, Propellant Handler Suits (SCAPE, Self Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble) for technicians to work with toxic hypergols and stage emergency egress equipment at the pad. Portable Air Ventilators for the astronauts to keep them cool during transport to the pad and service an emergency oxygen system that astronauts wear during launch and landing.

• IAM members also support Herndon Solutions Group/InoMedic Health Applications, Inc. – NEMCON Contract.  The NASA Environmental and Medical Contract (NEMCON) includes Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Industrial Hygiene, Health Physics, and Environmental and Ecological Services. 

• IAM members support Astrion; the NASA Laboratory Support Services and Operations (LASSO) II contract which operates and maintains a diverse set of laboratories, developmental shops and test facilities that will support programs and projects at the Florida spaceport. For Artemis support, Local 2061 members will commercially clean components/hardware to the required specifications in order to be used as ground support or be installed on the vehicle itself. They are also responsible for sampling and testing all the gasses, fuels and liquids to verify they meet the required specifications before they can be used with the Artemis program. 

• Other IAM members working for Amentum – Space Force Range Contract (SFRC) support the United States Space Force (USSF) Eastern and Western Ranges with range operations, maintenance, sustainment, and integration (OMS&I) activities. Collectively referred to as the Launch and Test Range System (LTRS), the Eastern and Western Ranges (ER/WR) function as a system of systems that support launch and test activities.

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IAM Local 701 members have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Chicago Automobile Dealers Association and “me-too” dealers not in the Association, delivering substantial gains in wages, retirement security and benefits for IAM-represented automotive technicians across the Chicagoland area.

“These contract improvements will change the lives of the Technicians that work under this agreement in over 150 locations in and around the Chicagoland area, securing their health insurance for them and their families, giving them a respectable retirement for the hard work they perform, and allowing them and their families to opportunity to live the American dream,” said IAM Local 701 Directing Business Representative Mark Grasseschi.

Grasseschi emphasized that the gains secured in the contract would not have been possible without the solidarity shown by members during two previous strikes, one in 2017 and one in 2021.

“Those labor stoppages were not easy on members, their families, or their shops,” said Grasseschi. “But they sent a clear message: Local 701 members stand united and will fight for what they deserve. Every improvement in this contract is a direct result of that strength.”

A centerpiece of the agreement is a significant boost to pension contributions. The agreement includes an additional $3 per hour in pension funding—bringing the total to $8.58 per hour, or $343 per week—marking a 54% increase over the life of the agreement.

“With this ratification, IAM Local 701 members have once again demonstrated that unity and collective action remain the foundation for winning strong contracts and building a better future for working families,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli.

The Local also secured retroactive pension contributions dating back to August 2025. Eligible members will receive approximately $1,400 in additional pension funding, equating to an estimated $928 per month increase in retirement benefits over the next five years.

Importantly, all existing pension rules remain intact, including the “Rule of 85” and a full retirement age of 62.

On healthcare, the agreement ensures that all increases in welfare costs are fully covered by employers. Employer contributions will rise by $1.83 per hour (an 18% increase), while workers’ weekly healthcare co-share will remain frozen at just $10 per week for the duration of the contract.

Combined, pension and welfare contributions will increase employer costs by more than $10,000 per employee annually, representing a 32.2% increase over the life of the deal.

The contract also delivers major wage increases across all job classifications and eliminates stagnant starting rates for skilled and lube rack technicians.

Beyond wages and retirement, the new agreement includes several quality-of-life improvements:

• Five days of paid leave, including for part-time lube technicians
• Compensation for video inspections and high-voltage work
• Reduced waiting periods for vacation eligibility
• Improved vacation pay calculations for journeyman technicians
• Preservation of union seniority for vacation allocation when moving between shops

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Worker safety remains a cornerstone of the IAM Union’s mission, and the IAM will pause to honor members who lost their lives due to workplace injuries or occupational illnesses.

A solemn Workers’ Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET at the Lighthouse Monument in Workers’ Memorial Park, located at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md. The ceremony will include the traditional tolling of the bell in remembrance of fallen members, as well as recognition of individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing safety and protecting IAM members on the job.

The ceremony will also be broadcast live via the IAM’s Facebook page.

IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett will serve as the keynote speaker. Father Keith Burney will deliver the invocation and closing prayer.

All students attending programs at the Winpisinger Center, along with their families, are encouraged to attend and participate in this important tribute.

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IAM Union members/activists from across the country recently gathered in Savannah, GA, for the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) Conference. The annual MNPL Conference brings together IAM Union members to deepen their political education, coordinate electoral and legislative strategy, and build the union power needed to elect candidates who stand with working families.  

WATCH: MPNL Might and Political Power Meet in Georgia

PHOTOS: View Photos here.

This year’s conference took on added urgency ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Delegates are confronted with a political moment defined by rising household costs, attacks on workers’ rights, and a full-scale assault on the foundations of American democracy.

IAM International President Brian Bryant was the keynote speaker at the conference and delivered a strong economic message to the delegates. 

“The MNPL isn’t just another conference,” said Bryant. “This is the political engine of our union. This is where power is built. This is where we decide whether we will shape the future or have it decided for us.” 

The MNPL delegates also heard from IAM District 776 member and Texas State Council of Machinists President Taylor Rehmet, who flipped a plus-15 Trump district and became the first rank-and-file union member elected to the Texas State Senate. 

“Our MNPL program helps remind elected officials in the statehouse and on Capitol Hill that IAM members and our issues should always be a part of the conversations,” said IAM National Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon. “The activists who came to Savannah should be proud of the work they did in exceeding the fundraising goal we set at the 2025 MNPL conference. These contributions will ensure that IAM members’ voices will be heard loud and clear on our issues ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.” 

At the conclusion of the MNPL Conference, Bryant joined thousands of labor, community, and pro-democracy activists at a “No Kings” rally in Savannah, Ga., delivering a forceful call for solidarity, economic justice, and political engagement from working people across the country.

Read: IAM Union International President Brian Bryant Rallies Working People at ‘No Kings’ Rally in Savannah

International President Bryant and Director Solomon asked MNPL delegates to continue building their political programs, grow MNPL checkoff enrollment, and bring the fight home to their districts. 

The MNPL was created in 1947 to allow IAM members to gather individual contributions, coordinate political activity, and elect candidates who support IAM members and their families. The MNPL program will celebrate its 80-year anniversary next year. Nearly eight decades later, that mission has never been more urgent.

Next up is the IAM Union’s Legislative Conference, set for June 22–24 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Register here. 

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Click Here to view this edition of IAM UNION on the Hill.

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More than 150 volunteers from IAM Local 701 came together on Feb. 28 to support this year’s IAM H.E.L.P.S. community service event at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, Ill., demonstrating the union’s ongoing commitment to service and solidarity.

Participants included Local 701 Business Representatives, Executive Board members, Apprenticeship Training Center instructors and staff, Health, Welfare and Pension Department personnel, as well as union members and their families.

Working side by side, volunteers packaged 180 boxes of meals, enough to provide 107 children with a daily meal for an entire year. The effort reflects the powerful impact IAM members can make when united around a common cause.

“When IAM members step up to serve their communities, it reflects the very best of our union,” said IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “The work done here through IAM H.E.L.P.S. is a powerful reminder that our strength isn’t just on the job, but it’s in how we lift up others and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Feed My Starving Children is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing global malnutrition. Its meals are carefully developed by food science and nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional deficiencies and improve the health of children in need around the world.

 “This event highlighted the strength and pride of the membership,” said Local 701 Organizer Mike Wendling. “Volunteers filling the room in IAM H.E.L.P.S. shirts while working together to make a difference was a powerful visual.” 

“Volunteering alongside fellow members strengthens bonds within the local while extending meaningful support to children worldwide,” said IAM 701 Directing Business Representative Mark Grasseschi. 

Through events like IAM H.E.L.P.S., IAM Local 701 continues to demonstrate that union solidarity extends beyond the workplace and into communities across the globe.

The IAM Midwest Territory “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” initiative stands for Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing, and Servicing.

For more information on IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community, click here.

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Fifteen IAM Union members, staff and activists recently participated in the recent Organizing III training program held at the Winpisinger Center.

Watch the video report here.

This advanced course focuses on refining the communication skills necessary for representatives to effectively teach organizing strategies within their Locals.

Participants from diverse industries, including air transport, aerospace and automotive, collaborated on mastering various teaching techniques and learning styles. Ultimately, the week-long session prepares members to lead their own organizing committees to ensure the long-term growth and strength of the labor movement.

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