KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After weeks on the picket line, IAM Union Local 778 members have voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with Olin Corporation’s Winchester division, officially ending their strike that began on April 4.

The agreement was approved by the membership on Wednesday, May 6, marking a victory for the more than 1,300 skilled workers at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant who stood united in their fight for improved wages, better working conditions, and relief from excessive overtime.

IAM Local 778 members return to work starting on the day shift, Thursday, May 7, bringing the end to a strike that drew national attention and underscored the essential role these workers play in supporting U.S. military readiness.

“This ratified agreement met the needs of our membership and they are ready to get back to work under these new terms,” said IAM Local 778 Directing Business Representative Scott Brown. “Our members fought for a contract that includes improvements to pay and relief to mandatory overtime scheduling.”

“Our members stood up and fought for fairness,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “They walked the picket line day and night, advocating for every worker in the plant for relief from excessive overtime to improve their work-life balance.”

“I am proud of these members for their courage and sacrifice,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The members of IAM Local 778 took the necessary action to make their workplace better and make each other’s lives better. ”

Details of the new contract include front-loaded wage increases over the course of the four-year agreement and some relief from forced overtime. Union leaders say the agreement represents meaningful progress and a foundation for continued improvements.

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AGUADILLA, P.R., May 5, 2026 – IAM Union-represented Lufthansa Technik workers in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement, securing job protections, a signing bonus, wage increases, and improved benefits.

The agreement, covering more than 200 aircraft mechanics and related workers, follows nearly four years of negotiations driven by strong member advocacy and solidarity. The first contract establishes a solid foundation of rights, pay, benefits, and working conditions that workers can continue to build on in future bargaining.

Throughout negotiations, IAM Union leadership worked closely with the bargaining committee and membership to ensure workers’ voices remained front and center and to push the process forward despite delays.

“This first contract wasn’t given to these workers – it was earned through their unity, determination, and refusal to back down,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico workers didn’t wait for change – they organized for it, fought for it, and won it.”

“For Lufthansa Technik workers in Aguadilla, this first contract represents long-awaited progress after years of standing together,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “It’s a strong example of what solidarity and sustained pressure can achieve.”

Read: IAM Air Transport Territory Visits Lufthansa Technik Workers in Puerto Rico and Reaffirms Commitment as Contract Talks Resume

“This shows what’s possible when workers organize and stay involved,” said Tom Regan IAM Special Assistant to the International President. “Wages, benefits, and protections don’t improve by chance – they come through a union contract. 

“This first contract is just the beginning,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John Coveny. “It’s a living document that gives our members a real voice on the job today – and the power to keep building stronger protections, better pay, and greater respect in every round of bargaining moving forward.”

“Our members never lost sight of what they were fighting for,” said IAM Special Assistant to the International President Juan Negron. “They stood strong through every challenge, and today’s ratification shows the result of that unity.”

For workers on the shop floor, this first contract represents long-awaited progress after years of standing together.

“This agreement shows what we can accomplish when we stay united,” said the IAM Lufthansa Technik Negotiating Committee. “We fought for respect, better conditions, and a voice – and this is a big step forward for all of us, our families and the entire Puerto Rico.”

IAM members at Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico voted to join the union in 2022, seeking fair wages, improved working conditions, and a voice on the job. Since then, negotiations were marked by delays, prompting the IAM to seek federal mediation in 2023 and rally support locally and internationally.

In December 2025, workers overwhelmingly rejected a decertification effort backed by anti-union forces, reaffirming their commitment to the IAM and sending a clear message that they were united in their fight for a fair contract.

Trabajadores de Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico representados por la Unión IAM ratifican su primer convenio colectivo, asegurando importantes avances tras años de unidad

AGUADILLA, P.R., 5 de mayo de 2026 – Los trabajadores de Lufthansa Technik en Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, representados por la Unión IAM (Asociación Internacional de Maquinistas y Trabajadores de la Industria Aeroespacial), han ratificado su primer convenio colectivo, que asegura protecciones laborales, un bono de firma, aumentos salariales y mejores beneficios.

El convenio, que cubre a más de 200 mecánicos de aeronaves y trabajadores relacionados, llega tras casi cuatro años de negociaciones impulsadas por la fuerte defensa de los miembros y su solidaridad. Este primer contrato establece una base sólida de derechos, salarios, beneficios y condiciones laborales sobre la cual los trabajadores podrán seguir construyendo en futuras negociaciones.

Durante todo el proceso, el liderazgo de la IAM trabajó estrechamente con el comité de negociaciones y la matrícula para asegurar que las voces de los trabajadores se mantuvieran como prioridad e impulsar el proceso a pesar de los retrasos.

“Este primer convenio colectivo no les fue regalado a estos trabajadores; lo ganaron con su unidad, su determinación y su convicción de no rendirse”, dijo el Presidente Internacional de la IAM, Brian Bryant. “Los trabajadores de Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico no esperaron el cambio: se organizaron, lucharon y lo lograron”.

“Para los trabajadores de Lufthansa Technik en Aguadilla, este primer contrato representa un progreso esperado por años tras mantenerse unidos”, dijo el Vicepresidente General de Territorio de Transporte Aéreo de la IAM, Richie Johnsen. “Es un claro ejemplo de lo que la solidaridad y la presión sostenida pueden lograr”.

Lea: El Territorio de Transporte Aéreo de la IAM visita a los trabajadores de Lufthansa Technik en Puerto Rico y reafirma su compromiso mientras se reanudan las negociaciones de convenio colectivo

“Esto demuestra lo que es posible cuando los trabajadores se organizan y se mantienen involucrados”, dijo el Asistente Especial del Presidente Internacional de la IAM, Tom Regan. “Los salarios, beneficios y protecciones no mejoran por casualidad; se logran a través de un contrato de la unión.

“Este primer contrato es solo el comienzo”, dijo el Presidente y Director General del Distrito 142 de la IAM, John Coveny. “Es un documento vivo que le da a la matrícula una voz real en el trabajo hoy y el poder de seguir construyendo protecciones más fuertes, mejores salarios y mayor respeto en cada ronda de negociación en el futuro”.

“Nuestros miembros nunca perdieron de vista por lo que estaban luchando”, dijo el Asistente Especial del Presidente Internacional de la IAM, Juan Negron. “Se mantuvieron firmes ante cada desafío y la ratificación de hoy demuestra el resultado de esa unidad”.

Para los trabajadores en el taller, este primer contrato representa un progreso esperado tras años de mantenerse unidos.

“Este convenio demuestra lo que podemos lograr cuando permanecemos unidos”, dijo el Comité de Negociaciones de la IAM en Lufthansa Technik. “Luchamos por respeto, mejores condiciones y una voz, y este es un gran paso adelante para todos nosotros, nuestras familias y todo Puerto Rico”.

Los miembros de la IAM en Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico votaron para unirse a la unión en 2022, buscando salarios justos, mejores condiciones laborales y una voz en el trabajo. Desde entonces, las negociaciones estuvieron marcadas por retrasos, lo que llevó a la IAM a solicitar mediación federal en 2023 y a movilizar apoyo a nivel local e internacional.

En diciembre de 2025, los trabajadores rechazaron abrumadoramente un intento de descertificación respaldado por fuerzas antisindicales, reafirmando su compromiso con la IAM y enviando un mensaje claro de unidad en su lucha por un convenio justo.

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La Unión IAM (Asociación Internacional de Maquinistas y Trabajadores de la Industria Aeroespacial) es una de las uniones industriales más grandes y diversas de Norteamérica, con aproximadamente 600,000 miembros activos y jubilados en las industrias de aeroespacial, defensa, aerolíneas, ferrocarril, transporte, salud, automotriz, entre otras.

goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

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HOLLYWOOD, Md., May 5, 2026 – The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) officially launched its “Workers vs. Billionaires” campaign with a high-energy kickoff rally led by International President Brian Bryant at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md. The launch date coincides with the IAM’s founding on May 5, 1888, 138 years ago.

The event marks the beginning of a coordinated series of mobilization efforts across all IAM territories and departments in the months leading up to the midterm elections. Hundreds of IAM members, labor leaders, and community allies gathered both in person and online to rally around a unified message: working people are done being left behind in an economy dominated by corporate greed.

Watch the live feed here.

“Today, we are living through the greatest concentration of wealth in history,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “A small group of people has accumulated more money than entire national economies, and they are using it to buy politicians, break unions, offshore jobs, and gut the regulations that protect working families.”

Read International President Bryant’s “Workers vs. Billionaires” op-ed in the Southern Maryland News here.

The kickoff event was held on the IAM Union’s birthday, founded in a locomotive pit by 19 railroad workers who took a stand against industry tycoons in the Gilded Age, creating one of the world’s most influential labor unions.

Again, the IAM is taking up the fight for working people in an economy controlled by elites but powered by labor.

View photos here.

Bryant delivered a powerful address that underscored the urgency of the campaign and the growing economic divide facing working families.

Other rally speakers included Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO President Donna Edwards, Washington Metropolitan Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Samuel Epps, IAM Human Rights Director Nicole Fears, and Kevin Gallagher, a former IAM-represented Apple retail store worker from the closing Towson store who now serves as an IAM District 4 organizer.

“We’re celebrating 138 years of this union, a growing power, saving workers and making life better,” said Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO President Donna Edwards. “Nothing has ever been given to labor. We have fought for everything: safer work conditions, time off, overtime pay, benefits, and sick leave. Everything has to be a fight, and then we do win. Over those 138 years of the IAM Union and over the couple of centuries that labor has been fighting, we fight together. In all of our unions, you never stand alone. You never fight alone. We are in this together.”

“Apple made $94 billion in profit last year, and they can’t afford to let their workers have a voice, they cannot afford dignity, fair wages, and safe working conditions,” said Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Samuel Epps. “That’s not a business decision, that’s a power grab. Here is what they forget and what we are here today to remind them: you cannot close the movement. You can shut down the store but you can’t shut us up. History is always on our side–the side of workers.” 

“When I organized my workplace, I knew it was going to be a fight,” said Kevin Gallagher, a former IAM-represented Apple retail worker from the closing Towson store who now serves as an IAM District 4 organizer. “I knew that Apple was the world’s most profitable company. I knew that they had all the money in the world to fight us, but what I do know after organizing and winning twice is that when we organize, we win!”

The IAM’s Workers vs. Billionaires campaign aims to mobilize IAM members and allies in every community where the union operates, focusing on issues such as fair wages, strong labor protections, retirement security, and the right to organize. The campaign will also highlight the vast economic imbalance in the United States, where CEOs earn, on average, 285 times more than the typical worker and received an average raise of $1.24 million last year.

The event was livestreamed on the IAM Union’s Facebook page, allowing members across North America—from job sites to picket lines—to participate in the launch.

As the campaign moves forward, the IAM Union is expected to host dozens of rallies, actions, and organizing events to build worker power and hold corporations accountable.

“Billionaires have the money, but we have the people,” said Bryant. “They have the lobbyists, but we have the votes. They have the politicians, but we have each other — and that is why we will win.”

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TOWSON, Md., May 4, 2026 – The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) commends the Maryland congressional delegation, led by U.S. Rep Johnny Olszewski and joined by U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, as well as U.S. Reps. Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Kweisi Mfume, Sarah Elfreth and April McClain Delaney for standing with working people and demanding accountability following Apple’s decision to close its unionized retail store at Towson Town Center in Towson, Md., effective June 20, 2026. 

Read the Maryland congressional delegation letter to Apple here.

The Towson store is the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States, where workers are represented by the IAM Union. 

“We urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable paths forward that would preserve jobs and maintain a retail presence in the region,” said the signing members in a letter to Apple. “Maryland residents value employers who invest in their workforce and demonstrate a sustained commitment to the communities they serve. We stand ready to engage constructively with Apple to better understand this decision and to explore potential solutions.”

The IAM Union has filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), citing discriminatory treatment against unionized workers at the Towson store. Unlike workers at two other closing stores, Apple is prohibiting its unionized Towson employees from having transfer rights to other stores. 

The store employs nearly 90 workers, provides critical access to Apple products and technical support for students, working families, and small businesses, and serves as a vital retail and service hub for the Baltimore region.

“We praise the Maryland congressional delegation for having these workers’ backs and demanding answers from Apple,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “These workers made history by exercising their right to organize for a voice on the job. Walking away from them now sends a dangerous message to working people everywhere.”

The IAM Union welcomes Maryland lawmakers’ decision to press Apple for answers and to intervene on behalf of these workers, who now face uncertainty about their futures. The union is seeking a clear explanation of the company’s decision, including whether alternatives such as relocation within the Baltimore region or other operational adjustments were seriously considered.

Despite being located in a strong-performing market and having recently expanded its workforce, Apple says it is moving forward with the closure, with no plans to reopen or relocate in the Baltimore area.

The IAM Union remains committed to supporting Towson Apple workers as they navigate the consequences of Apple’s egregious decision and will continue advocating for fair treatment, transparency, and respect for workers’ rights.

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.

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WASHINGTON, April 29, 2026 — Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), issued the following statement in response to today’s Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, which sharply weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965:
 
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a direct attack on workers and our democracy. The court has effectively gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the very provision designed to end Jim Crow-era gerrymandering and expand voting protections for Black people across the South.
 
“The right to vote and the right to organize are connected. IAM Union represents hundreds of thousands of workers of every background across North America, and we know that when any worker’s voice is silenced at the ballot box, all workers lose.
 
“Repressive voter ID laws, racial gerrymandering, long lines, and voter misinformation campaigns are the modern tools of disenfranchisement. The Supreme Court has now made it harder to fight them. Congress must act immediately to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. This is not a Democrat issue or a Republican issue. Workers deserve a democracy that works for all of them, not just the billionaires and people in power.”

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.

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The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) has filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Apple, alleging the company unlawfully discriminated against unionized workers at its Towson, Md., retail store.

The Towson store is the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States, where workers are represented by the IAM Union.

According to the charge, Apple has denied Towson employees the ability to access transfer rights and other opportunities provided to non-represented employees affected by store closures at other locations. The IAM Union alleges that these actions, taken in retaliation for workers’ protected union activity, constitute discrimination in violation of federal labor law.

The ULP charge follows Apple’s decision to close the Towson store while offering transfer opportunities to employees at two non-union Apple stores closing in the same timeframe. Towson workers, by contrast, have been told they must reapply for positions through the same process as external candidates.

“This is about whether workers are treated fairly under the law or punished for exercising their rights,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Apple is denying union-represented workers the same opportunities it is giving to others — and doing so because these workers chose to organize. That is discrimination, and it is exactly what federal labor law is designed to prevent.”

The Towson store employs nearly 90 workers and serves as a key retail and service hub for the Baltimore region, providing critical access to Apple products and support for students, working families, and small businesses.

The IAM Union is calling on Apple to reverse course and treat Towson workers fairly.

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WASHINGTON, April 24, 2026 — Richie Johnsen, Air Transport General Vice President of the IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), North America’s largest airline union, issued the following statement regarding potential federal relief for Spirit Airlines:

“Spirit Airlines workers, including IAM ramp service employees, are the backbone of this airline and a lifeline for millions of travelers who depend on affordable air service.

“Every day, our members help make air travel accessible for working families, students and communities who rely on Spirit to stay connected. When Spirit flies, more Americans have access to affordable air travel.

“The IAM Union strongly supports federal relief for Spirit Airlines, but it must come with clear, enforceable protections for workers, just like the CARES Act’s Airline Payroll Support Program. That means no furloughs, no layoffs, and no shifting the burden onto the very people who keep this airline running.

“We’ve seen this model work before. Protecting workers also protects service. Keeping experienced aviation workers on the job ensures reliability, safety and the affordability passengers count on.

“IAM Union members at Spirit, and all frontline aviation workers, did not cause this crisis. They should not be the ones forced to pay the price. Any federal assistance must prioritize protecting jobs, preserving pay and benefits, and maintaining the affordable air service that millions of Americans rely on.

“The IAM Union stands ready to work with policymakers to ensure any relief package puts workers and passengers first.”

 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.

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The 600,000-member IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is enthusiastically supporting the newly-introduced, bipartisan Railroad Retirement Fairness Act in the U.S. Senate and House to correct Railroad Retirement benefits for working retirees.

The Railroad Retirement Fairness Act has been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and in the House by U.S. Reps. Deluzio (D-Pa.) and Troy Nehls (R-Texas).

Outdated Last Pre-Retirement Non-Railroad Employment (LPE) rules currently penalize railroad retirees and their spouses long after they’ve earned their retirement benefits. Established almost 90 years ago, the policy no longer reflects the realities of the modern workplace, yet it still reduces hard-earned benefits for railroad retirees and their spouses for taking modest side-jobs or even providing essential caregiving.

Unlike workers covered by Social Security, railroad retirees sometimes face steep Tier II penalties (up to a 50% reduction) even after full retirement age. This creates an unfair system that treats railroaders differently than every other retiree in the country that wants or needs to work after retirement.  

The genesis for this legislation came from former IAM Local 1284 President Dave Tackett. Tackett is a locomotive machinist at Amtrak’s Wilmington, Del., shops and also serves as an elected New Castle County Councilmember. When Tackett went to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to discuss his upcoming retirement scenario, the Board informed him that he would face a steep cut to his Tier II benefits – all because of the modest W-2 wages he earns as a public servant and the outdated LPE deduction rule. 

This didn’t sit well with Tackett. Why should his railroad retirement benefits be docked simply because he serves as a local elected official? Instead of accepting this, Tackett approached Sen. Coons, who agreed with his analysis of the fundamental unfairness, and then engaged with the IAM Union and Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) Legislative Departments to begin efforts to eliminate this outdated provision.

“It just didn’t make any sense – and I thought to myself, ‘if this is happening to me, how many other railroaders and their spouses are getting treated unfairly?’” said IAM Rail Division member Dave Tackett. “I’m grateful to our elected officials in Washington, D.C. for understanding this fundamental unfairness, and for championing the LPE’s removal.” 

Currently, the LPE deduction discourages most part-time work, limits retirees’ ability to fill labor shortages, and punishes families when spouses or caregivers earn even modest income.  

LPE rules require complex legal interpretation, causing inconsistent decisions and unnecessary administrative burden for both retirees and the RRB. The original justification for the restrictions no longer applies.

“When our union talks about our members getting active in their own advocacy, this is exactly what we’re talking about,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Democracy is not a spectator sport – you have to engage and fight for what’s right. And Brother Tackett’s efforts to eliminate this unfair, outdated provision serves as a perfect example of democracy in action.”

“We are grateful to Senators Coons and Hawley, as well as Congressmen Deluzio and Nehls, for introducing the Railroad Retirement Fairness Act to address this outdated policy,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division. “Their work brings long overdue attention to an issue that affects retired railroad workers and their families. Their bipartisan effort represents an important step toward restoring fairness and modernizing the Railroad Retirement system.”

“It’s not uncommon today for railroaders or their spouses to have side jobs: be it working the score board for their local high school football games, picking up a shift at Target, or being a local public servant,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) National President Matt Hollis. “Railroaders work all kinds of jobs to make ends meet – and that should have zero bearing on their hard-earned benefits when they finally retire from the railroad. It’s past-time for Congress to fix this unfair deduction, and our union is proud to help push for the LPE’s removal.” 

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The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) issued the following statement in response to the recent story published by the Coalition for a Prosperous America:

The Coalition for a Prosperous America’s glowing profile of Whirlpool Corporation reads like a press release written by an out-of-touch corporate CEO and executive board. While trade officials toured a washing machine factory in Clyde, Ohio, for photo opportunities, Whirlpool is simultaneously abandoning nearly 1,000 union workers and their families in Amana, Iowa.

We recently sent a letter to Whirlpool Corporation Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer, demanding a meeting with company leadership to address layoffs in the Amana, Iowa, manufacturing workforce and to establish a path forward for IAM members still working at the Whirlpool facility. Our Union has yet to hear back from CEO Bitzer. 

Let’s be clear about what Whirlpool’s record actually looks like for working people. While the company accepts $300 million in Ohio investment incentives and poses for pictures with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, it has eliminated nearly 1,000 jobs at its Amana, Iowa, refrigeration facility over the past year. The Iowa location is one of the most historic manufacturing communities in America. 

IAM Union research shows Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over the last 20 years, tripling its workforce there, while the Amana facility, which once employed more than 3,000 workers, could be reduced to as few as 500 to 600 workers following the March 9 layoffs and anticipated second-quarter cuts

These are IAM members who showed up every day and built Whirlpool’s bottom line. Their reward is a pink slip, with no severance.

The Coalition for a Prosperous America wants to paint a pretty picture about tariffs saving American manufacturing. These short-sighted trade policies are driving up costs for working families and threatening jobs. We support fair trade and enforceable trade policies that protect workers. Our Union recently joined labor experts and Congressional allies for a briefing designed to make clear exactly what a trade policy that puts workers first must look like.

The priorities the IAM outlined were direct: strengthen rules of origin to prevent offshoring, close the loopholes that allow Chinese transshipment and final assembly through Mexico, expand and reinforce labor enforcement tools like the Rapid Response Mechanism under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, narrow the persistent wage gaps that incentivize job flight, and protect strategic manufacturing sectors. 

While USMCA is attempting to fix some of the failed promises of NAFTA, weak enforcement, exploitable loopholes, and growing foreign manipulation continue to put American jobs at risk. The USMCA review is an opportunity to make a genuine commitment to American manufacturing. Not a ribbon-cutting in Ohio while workers in Iowa are packing up their things and heading to the unemployment rolls. 

Fair trade policy is not a permission slip for corporations to pocket competitive advantages in one state while stripping communities bare in another. Tariff protection without worker protections is just corporate welfare with a flag on it.

CEO Marc Bitzer collected more than $12 million in compensation in 2024. The company has also announced a $1 billion stock buyback program. And yet the workers in Amana, the workers whose labor built the very brand identity Whirlpool now uses to attract federal favor, are being betrayed. 

If Ambassador Greer truly wants to understand American manufacturing, we invite him to visit Amana, Iowa. He should look the Whirlpool workers of IAM Local 1526 in the eye and explain why trade policy that only benefits Whirlpool’s shareholders is worth celebrating when the company is dismantling a community that gave it decades of loyalty and labor.

Our union is nearly 138 years old, so we know what real commitment to American manufacturing looks like. It is not measured in corporate press releases. It is measured by whether the workers who build your products can afford to live in the communities where they build them.

Our hope is for the USTR to stop letting corporate CEO’s bamboozle them into taking victory laps on the state of manufacturing in our country.

Whirlpool didn’t just start in America. It is walking away from America, one layoff at a time.

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The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) released the following statement:

“The IAM Union is outraged by Apple’s decision to close its Towson, Md., store—the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States—and abandon both its workers and a community that relies on it for critical services and its unique access to public transit. Apple’s claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union. We are exploring all legal options and will work with elected officials and allies to hold Apple accountable. We stand with our IAM Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) members and the community that depends on this store for essential access and support.”

TAKE ACTION: Tell Apple to Keep Its Commitment to Towson, Maryland

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.

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