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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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The Alliance for Retired Americans, an advocacy organization representing 4.4 million union retirees, held its national meeting in Las Vegas. During the conference, labor leaders and retirees fired up hundreds of attendees and motivated members to fight for their rights.

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IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, along with IAM Assistant Secretary Paul Kendall, Bryan Pinette, IAM Special Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer, and DeLane Adams, IAM Director of Rapid Response and Mobilization, recently joined labor allies from across the country at the 72nd Convention of the Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO, held at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington.

IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Cervantes was reelected to the executive board, and Richard Kline was elected to another term as Union Label & Service Trades President.

Congratulations to IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes on her reelection to the @ULSTD_AFLCIO Executive Board at their 72nd Convention!

Her leadership continues to move working people forward and keep our trades strong! pic.twitter.com/1Zt4cg6UYP

— IAM Union (@IAM_Union) April 23, 2026

“Being reelected to this board is an honor, but more than that, it’s a charge,” said Cervantes. “When we look for the union label and choose union-made products and union-provided services, we are supporting one another in the most direct way possible. Every union purchase protects a union job, sustains a union family, and strengthens the movement we’ve all dedicated our lives to building.”

The convention report highlighted that organizing activity accelerated across industries in 2025, even as union density continues to trail the levels that once anchored a strong middle class. The Union Label and Service Trades Department’s message during this year’s convention was clear: the labor movement’s strength grows not only at the bargaining table, but in the economic marketplace.

The delegates heard from David Woods, International Secretary-Treasurer of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), and Nicole Rhine, Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC).

Buying union matters. When union members, their families, and allies choose union-made products and union-provided services, they reinforce the wages, benefits, and safe workplaces that unions fight to secure. Every purchasing decision is an act of economic solidarity.

The convention leadership also called on affiliates to strengthen its union product, the Airtable database, a searchable platform helping consumers identify union-made goods and services, and to expand digital outreach that connects everyday economic choices to worker advocacy.

The message from the 72nd convention was simple: look for the union label.

For more information on finding union-made products and services, visit unionlabel.org.

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IAM Union Local W33 and 760 members working at PCA Paper Products in International Falls, Minn., along with members of the four other unions represented at the plant, have ratified a strong four-year agreement after two weeks of negotiations. 

The agreement provides 12.5% in general wage increases, a guarantee that current health benefits will not change, improvements to scheduling language, better grievance procedure, better paid personal time language, and other improvements.

“This agreement shows what’s possible when workers stand united across unions with a clear plan and strong preparation,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Our members at PCA fought for—and won—real gains that protect their families, strengthen their jobs and set a powerful standard for paper workers across the Midwest.”

The Joint Union Committee, representing members of two IAM Locals, the IBEW, SEIU, the IUOE, and the Teamsters, were led by IAM District 5 Directing Business Representative Jeff Hoopman. On hand to assist was Woodworkers Department International Representative Billy Barnwell. 

“I was very impressed by the cohesiveness of this group,” said Barnwell. “DBR Hoopman was very well prepared, as was the entire committee. That preparation paid off with a fantastic contract for our members.”

“I’m very proud of the work and commitment put in by this committee,” said Hoopman. “Such a large committee representing so many unions can be a challenge, but this group really acted throughout with one purpose: to get a great contract for their members and they accomplished that.”

IAM Union members on the bargaining committee prepared for negotiations for months, including attending a Negotiation Prep program at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. Also, the IAM Strategic Resources Department assisted with surveys of the entire unit, which were used to set priorities for negotiations.

The new agreement, which is retroactive to May 1, 2026 and runs through April 30, 2030, will be a yardstick for future negotiations, said Woodworkers Chief of Staff Bob Walls. 

“This represents one of the best agreements we have seen in the paper sector in quite a while and will be something that our members in the industry should look to as an example,” said Walls. “The workers at PCA are the economic backbone of northern Minnesota and they deserve to be recognized as such.”

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IAM Healthcare and The Pharmacy Guild/IAM, backed by the 600,000-member IAM Union, hosted the first-ever Professional Power Conference in Palm Springs, Calif., bringing together pharmacists and healthcare professionals from across the United States and Canada to build momentum for a growing movement focused on safe staffing, patient care, workplace standards and collective power.

The conference, under the theme of “Professional Power in Action,” marked a key step in healthcare professionals building their power and the IAM’s growth into healthcare, pharmacy and other professional sectors, with many attendees new to unions and organizing for the first time. Professionals joined together seeking respect on the job, a real voice in their workplaces, safe staffing levels, strong patient protections and the ability to uphold the highest standards of care.

The event comes amid a broader shift, with more professional workers organizing than ever before. For the IAM, this work goes beyond jobs—it’s about protecting patients, strengthening communities and preserving the integrity of critical professions—and reflects a long-term commitment to growing professional power in healthcare.

View Professional Power 2026 photos here.

Momentum in the pharmacy sector has accelerated since the 2023 “Pharmageddon” walkouts, when pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across major retail chains took collective action to protest unsafe staffing and unmanageable workloads that put patient care at risk. That wave of activism helped spark the creation of The Pharmacy Guild/IAM, the first national union built by and for pharmacy professionals.

“IAM Healthcare and The Pharmacy Guild/IAM are about building something real for working professionals who have been pushed to the brink,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Healthcare workers are stepping up and saying enough is enough—enough short staffing, enough corporate pressure, enough putting profits over patients. We’re building a movement so healthcare professionals finally get the respect, resources and voice they deserve.”

Through IAM Healthcare, the IAM is investing in organizing, bargaining and advocacy efforts to support healthcare professionals and strengthen standards across the industry.

Workers and leaders pointed to the expanding CVS organizing campaign as a clear example of this movement in action, with pharmacy professionals nationwide organizing and escalating for safe staffing, fair treatment and the resources needed to protect patient care.

“The Pharmacy Guild/IAM is giving pharmacists and pharmacy technicians a way to stand together and take back their profession,” said Chris Eggeman, Pharmacy Guild/IAM leader based in CVS’s home state of Rhode Island. “This movement is about safe staffing, protecting our patients and making sure the people delivering care have a real voice in the delivery of that care.”

“For those of us on the front lines of healthcare, this is about being able to do our jobs the right way,” said Kelly Williams, Chief Steward for IAM Healthcare-represented professionals at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “We’re coming together to push for safe staffing, better working conditions and the ability to provide the level of care our patients deserve. This conference shows we’re not alone—we’re building something bigger.”

The conference also featured remarks from IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett, IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez, and IAM Training and Apprenticeship General Vice President Jon Holden, highlighting the union’s commitment to investing in healthcare professionals and growing organizing efforts across professional fields.

Attendees participated in breakout sessions on workplace health and well-being, legislative and political action, and organizing and bargaining in healthcare, alongside presentations from IAM directors and healthcare workers across the U.S. and Canada.

Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto helped open the conference with a powerful welcome to the city, sharing personal stories from her experience in the healthcare field and her advocacy for reproductive rights, underscoring the importance of workers having a voice both on the job and in their communities. Video messages from supportive elected officials, including U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, as well as U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, an emergency room doctor with a strong record of healthcare advocacy, reinforced the growing support behind healthcare professionals’ efforts to raise standards and protect patient care.

A highlight of the conference’s programming was a pharmacy-focused comedy show, offering attendees a chance to connect, reflect and build solidarity through shared experiences in the profession.

The conference also recognized frontline leadership with the first-ever Professional Power Builder Awards, honoring healthcare professionals for their organizing and negotiating achievements.

Leaders pointed to the role of Pharmacy Guild co-founders in helping drive this movement forward, as pharmacy professionals across the country continue to organize for safer workplaces, safe staffing and better patient outcomes.

The IAM, representing 600,000 active and retired members, is committing its full resources to support healthcare professionals as they organize, bargain and win.

“This is what professional power looks like,” said Bryant. “Workers coming together and building something bigger—and we’re just getting started.”

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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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IAM Local 2741 members in Hornell, N.Y., have ratified a new one-year collective bargaining agreement with Alstom, securing key improvements for the 190-member bargaining unit.

Negotiations began on Feb. 17, 2026, with members voting to ratify the new one-year agreement on March 31, 2026.

“This agreement reflects a collaborative and future-focused approach by the bargaining committee to secure both immediate gains and a commitment from both parties to work towards a new wage progression system in the next round of bargaining,” said IAM District 19 General Chair Shaun O’Connor.

IAM Union members at the Hornell, N.Y., Alstom facility build Amtrak’s next-generation (NextGen) Acela trains and the rail cars for Chicago’s Metra commuter rail lines, and Alstom has pledged to retain union jobs and create more union jobs for IAM Union members at the Hornell location.

The new contract delivers a 3.25% general wage increase and establishes a new classification for Robotics/PLC Technicians to align with evolving technical demands of the job, ensuring that bargaining unit members perform the high-skill work.

The agreement also includes a memorandum of understanding committing both the union and the company to work collaboratively over the next year to develop updated job classifications for all members, replacing the existing pay structure.

Additional gains include clearer procedures for calling-off in relation to medical leave and bereavement, as well as extended grievance time limits.

“This agreement is a strong base for us to continue building on,” said O’Connor. “Our members are proud of the work they do and look forward to long careers supporting the future of rail travel in America.”

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