Hi IAM Union Family!

If you haven’t already, it’s time to make your voice heard in this election. Let’s leave it all on the field to elect candidates who will stand with working people.

IAM Union members are fired up and working hard to get out the vote. Across our union, volunteers are mobilizing. Will you join us?

We’re asking every supporter of working people to step up. Every vote is going to count.

 Here are ways you can get involved:

• Make calls from home through Election Day. We’re holding national phone banks to reach voters in battleground states. No experience is needed—we’ll train you before you pick up the phone. Learn more and sign up.
• Attend an in-person volunteer event. IAM members and union allies are knocking on doors, volunteering at community events and serving as election protectors. Join trusted community members in talking with their neighbors about the importance of voting. Find an event at go.aflcio.org/events.
• Know your voting rights. Do you, your friends or co-workers have questions about voting rights, registering or casting a ballot? There’s a lot of misinformation online. Bookmark these trusted resources and share them with your network.

We know what’s at stake: affordable health care, good union jobs, guardrails on AI, pro-worker legislation, and the right to form or join a union.

This election is a choice between candidates who will stand with working people and the billionaires and CEOs making life harder for working families while filling their own pockets. We have a chance to make a real difference for workers and families.

Our energy is high. President Trump and his billionaire allies know working people have the numbers—and that we are more powerful when we stand together. That’s why they’re trying to stop us from voting or stop our votes from counting instead of earning our support.

It’s up to us to turn out the vote, protect our democracy and make sure the will of the people wins. Let’s drive turnout for pro-worker candidates and make this election too big to rig.

It’s all hands on deck. Thank you for standing with IAM members and working people.

The post Election Day is Almost Here. Let’s Get it Done, IAM Union! appeared first on IAM Union.

Iowa’s working-class champions gathered just outside Des Moines, in the town of Altoona, to court IAM voters ahead of the political midterms. Speakers ranged from established state politicians to surging candidates for U.S. Congress and Senate.

The post IAM Union at the Center of Politics and Power in the Hawkeye State appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Robert “Bob” Simoni as a Special Representative in the Western Territory, effective July 1, 2026. An experienced union leader, U.S. Navy veteran and longtime IAM member, Simoni brings a background in aircraft maintenance, organizing, collective bargaining and member representation to his new role.

Simoni began his union career in 1990 with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, joining IAM Local 700 in Middletown, Conn., after serving in the U.S. Navy, where he gained experience in aircraft maintenance.

In 2005, Simoni moved with his wife and children from Connecticut to Las Vegas to pursue a business opportunity. Four years later, he began testing jet engines at Nellis Air Force Base, where he participated in a successful IAM organizing campaign.

Following the organizing victory, Simoni was elected to help negotiate the workforce’s first collective bargaining agreement. He went on to serve as chief shop steward and became a founding member of IAM Local SC 711, where members elected him president.

Simoni later served three years as a Western Territory Associate Organizer before becoming an IAM Business Representative for District 519, a position he held for five years. In July 2026, he accepted a position as a Special Representative for the Western Territory, beginning his new assignment on July 1.

“Bob brings valuable experience as a rank-and-file member, shop steward, local president, organizer and business representative,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “He knows the challenges working people face on the job and understands how to build strong union representation through organizing, effective negotiations and member involvement. His experience will be an asset as we continue to grow and strengthen the IAM across the West.”

Through his years of service, Simoni has gained experience at every level of union representation, from organizing workers and negotiating first contracts to advocating for members on the job. His appointment strengthens the IAM’s commitment to building worker power and ensuring members have a strong voice in the workplace.

The post Robert “Bob” Simoni Appointed Western Territory Special Representative appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant recently joined The Solidarity Effect podcast hosted by IAM Midwest Territory International Representative Kevin Murch for a conversation about the challenges facing working families, the importance of union representation, and the IAM’s efforts to build a stronger future for workers.

Bryant spoke about the IAM’s nationwide Workers vs. Billionaires campaign, which highlights economic inequality, rising costs, and the need for elected officials who prioritize working families.

“The billionaires have got plenty of representation in Washington, D.C., and the workers don’t have enough of that,” said Bryant.

Bryant also discussed the growing impact of artificial intelligence and automation, stressing the IAM’s commitment to negotiating contract protections that safeguard members’ jobs as technology evolves

Listen to the full episode of The Solidarity Effect podcast.

The post IAM International President Brian Bryant Talks Workers vs. Billionaires, AI, and the Future of Labor on ‘The Solidarity Effect’ Podcast appeared first on IAM Union.

More than 200 IAM Union and Texas AFL-CIO union members rallied with U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico in Houston on October 21 for a superstar-studded IAM Union ‘Workers vs. Billionaires’ barnburner election event.  

Watch the highlight video.

Local Texas union members were joined by national and regional labor leaders flying in to throw their support behind the marquee Senate race, including IAM Union International President Brian Bryant; AFL-CIO International President Liz Shuler; IAM Union General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes; and IAM Union Air Transport Territory Richie Johnsen. Both before and after the event, union members participated in direct voter contact from the union hall the event was held in, educating other union members about how and why to vote Talarico for Senate. 

Watch the live stream.

The rally is the third IAM Workers vs. Billionaires Midterm election event in Texas in just the past two weeks. As the affordability crisis in Texas worsens to a fever pitch, union workers and working-class people across the state are rising up to passionately back the ascendant campaign of James Talarico for U.S. Senate. In Texas and across the country, anti-worker billionaires are pouring millions into our elections to hand pick politicians who will push legislation that rewards corporations and harms working families. 

The event, co-organized by IAM Union, the AFL-CIO, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, and the Texas AFL-CIO, was the largest national showing of labor power for the Talarico for Senate campaign yet.

View photos.

“This election cycle, everything we have ever fought for is on the line,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “In Texas, our most fundamental civil rights have been reversed and attacked by the politicians in control. The extreme right has closed 92 voting locations in Tarrant County alone, just to stop us from voting. When the ruling class fights this hard to rig the rules against us, you have to wonder what for. In this case, it’s crystal clear: Texas is ground zero for the attacks on working class life as we know it in this state. We will not give up our way of life and the values we hold dear; working people are rising up in ways we have not for generations in this country, and we’re taking control for our economy, our lives, and our futures back.”

The post U.S. Senate Candidate James Talarico Joins IAM Union Members, IP Bryant, National and Texas Labor Leaders for Barnburner Rally appeared first on IAM Union.

As union competes in more states than ever before, aggressive nationwide program of direct voter contact and worksite visits is giving pro-worker candidates an edge

WASHINGTON – IAM Union members from more than a dozen different industries including aerospace, airlines, rail, defense, healthcare, and the federal government are executing their largest election mobilization program ever, with major election programs across 15 different battleground states recently surpassing 20,000 knocks. 

In programs across Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, IAM Union members are running massive door knocking, phonebanking, and worksite visit operations, as well as holding frequent rallies featuring high profile endorsed candidates. 

Last week, U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico rallied with IAM Union members in an IAM-organized event in Houston, one day after U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon rallied with IAM Union members in an event in Orlando, Florida. North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper joined IAM members at a large canvass launch in Charlotte. Josh Turek, U.S. Senate candidate in Iowa, joined IAM members in Altoona for an IAM Union Workers v Billionaires election rally, and in Michigan, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed met with IAM union leaders to discuss trade and industrial policy. IAM Union leadership recently joined U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola in Alaska, and in Nebraska, U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn joined IAM Union members at their recent state council. 

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders joined IAM Union members and leaders to rally in Florida, and in Maine, U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson met with IAM Union members at the gates of the largest unionized private sector employer in the state, Bath Iron Works. Worksite visits have been a major part of the program across battleground states, with IAM Union strategically tailoring visits to the largest IAM-represented employers in target states, including multiple states where worksites with 5,000+ IAM members are being contacted. The union has also blitzed hub airports across the country where IAM has strong density, including CLT, ATL, and PHX, as well as major railyards across the country with the Transportation Communications Union (TCU), an IAM affiliate. Worksites are the most effective way to discuss the issues and importance of voting with union membership.

“Working people are suffering in this country because wealth is being transferred from the working class and consolidated into the greedy hands of billionaires and oligarchs,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “The only way to stem the bleeding is by throwing out the politicians who sacrifice the rest of us to serve the Ultra-Rich. Economic prosperity in America means that every working person can live with dignity on one full time job; it means every person has access to quality healthcare; it means we take care of our most vulnerable and dismantle restrictions aimed at eliminating our freedom to unionize and negotiate. The IAM Union is running direct voter contact programs across 15 states, our biggest election mobilization ever, because the working class is in an existential fight for survival. We applaud our union members organizing across the country for the candidates who will stand with us, and we will leave it all on the field as we fight to bring home victories on Nov. 3 in more places than we have ever competed.”

The post IAM Union Members Knock Tens of Thousands of Doors Across 15 Battleground States in Largest Election Mobilization Program to Date appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM Union members joined a huge crowd of labor and community allies at the Gulf Coast Central Labor Council in Houston to rally for U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico.

The post IAM Union Rallies for James Talarico in Texas appeared first on IAM Union.

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2026 — IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) Local 933 members have ratified a new five-year contract with Raytheon in Tucson, securing significant wage increases, stronger benefits and expanded opportunities for career advancement.

The agreement covers more than 2,200 hourly workers who manufacture sophisticated missile and defense systems supporting the U.S. military and its allies. Their skilled work helps keep our nation secure and strengthens southern Arizona’s economy.“Meeting the demand for these defense systems starts with taking care of the workers who build them,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Local 933 members know their work, they know their worth, and they stood together. This agreement delivers gains they can be proud of and helps secure the skilled workforce this industry needs.”

Contract Highlights:

• Average compounded wage increases of 24%, including equity adjustments, over the life of the contract.
• A $3,000 ratification bonus, plus a $1,500 ratification 401(k) match.
• A $3,500 Munitions Acceleration Bonus recognizing members’ contributions to increased production of critical munitions and company performance.
• A $2,000 lump-sum bonus, plus a $1,000 lump-sum 401(k) match.
• Participation in the RTX Performance Sharing Program, linking additional rewards to company performance.
• Improved vacation tiers beginning in 2028 and improvements to the current paid time off schedule for 75% of current members.
• PTO transition bonuses for eligible members in 2028: $1,000 for those with 10–14 years of service and $1,500 for those with 15 or more years.
• Increased pay for certain categories and higher shift premiums
• New 4/10 and 3/12 workweek options, providing additional days off compared with the 9/80 schedule.
• Expanded education and training opportunities, including the Partnership for Advancement through Career Education (PACE), building on the existing CEP program, and Machinists Institute support for mentoring, curriculum development and training for current workers.
• Stronger contract language on union representation, apprenticeships and other benefits.

PHOTOS: IAM Old Pueblo Local 933 Contract Ratification Vote

“Our members made it clear that they wanted a contract that respected their skills and helped them build a future here in Tucson,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “They stayed involved, stood behind their committee and showed the company their unity. These gains are an investment in the workers, their families and the community that depends on these good jobs.”

PHOTOS: October 22 IAM Old Pueblo Local 933 Solidarity Rally

Negotiations opened Oct. 6, following bargaining preparation that included member surveys, town halls, information sessions and training for the negotiating committee. Members also held multiple solidarity rallies for a fair contract.

PHOTOS: October 5 IAM Old Pueblo Local 933 Solidarity Rally

“This is a historic and unprecedented contract at Raytheon that gives our members more to count on, from their next paycheck to the years ahead,” said IAM Western Territory International Representative and Chief Negotiator Paul Shepherd. “The negotiating committee worked hard to reach an agreement that recognizes their experience and supports a strong future here in Tucson and shares in the profits and success of the important work they do. These are substantial gains, and they show what workers can accomplish through serious bargaining and a united membership that wasn’t going to settle for anything less.”

The new contract includes a pilot program with the Machinists Institute to supplement the Partnership for Advancement through Career Education (PACE), which builds on the previous Career Enrichment Program. This commitment gives workers more tools to advance while helping Raytheon maintain a skilled, competitive workforce.

“A lot of our members have built their lives around these jobs,” said IAM Local 933 President and Directing Business Representative Junior Alegria. “Their homes are here, their kids go to school here, and they want to keep doing this work in Tucson. This contract gives them more reason to feel good about that future. They earned it, and they had the final say.”

The IAM negotiating committee included Raytheon workers and IAM members Wendel Jackson, Abe Alapizco, Abe Gutierrez, Stefeny Gutierrez, Gerard Klovos, Lee Suzuki and Junior Alegria.“I want to thank our negotiating committee for staying focused on the membership through some tough conversations at the table,” continued Martinez. “Our members backed them up every step of the way, and that made a difference in bringing this contract home.”

The negotiating team also received support from the IAM International Union and the IAM Western Territory.

IAM Local 933 Negotiating Committee

The post Arizona IAM Members Ratify Unprecedented Raytheon Contract with 24% Average Wage Growth appeared first on IAM Union.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2026 — “Every F-35 starts with a union machinist. In Fort Worth, in Connecticut and across a supply chain that reaches 48 states, IAM Union members are building the most advanced fighter in the world.

“A 10-year contract would give suppliers the confidence to invest, keep specialized skills in the shop and put skilled union workers on firmer ground, giving thousands of working families confidence in their long-term job prospects. It would also save taxpayers an estimated $9 billion to $10 billion and fund the spare parts and repair capacity that keep jets flying.

“Congress has two decisions to make: authorize the 10-year contract and fully fund the 85 aircraft planned for fiscal 2027.

“Our members take great pride in building this aircraft, and they are ready to keep building it. A long-term commitment from Congress would give them and their suppliers the certainty to do just that.”

IAM Union Backs 10-Year F-35 Contract, Urges Congress to Authorize and Fully Fund Program

IAM Union says long-term commitment protects skilled union jobs, saves taxpayers billions and keeps more jets mission-ready

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2026 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) today announced its support for a proposed 10-year F-35 Lightning II procurement and sustainment contract and called on Congress to provide the authority needed to execute it in the final Fiscal Year 2027 defense authorization and appropriations bills.

IAM members build the F-35 at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility and produce F135 engines at Pratt & Whitney facilities in Connecticut and across the country.

“IAM Union members build this aircraft with their hands, and they build it to last,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “A 10-year commitment tells suppliers and workers that Washington is serious about this program. It protects good union jobs, saves taxpayers money and gets increased capability into the hands of our warfighters, faster. Congress should authorize it.”

Program estimates show a 10-year arrangement would save taxpayers $9 billion to $10 billion over the decade, though final prices must still be negotiated. Buying one year at a time, by contrast, makes it harder for suppliers to plan and purchase efficiently.

A longer planning horizon would let suppliers invest and retain specialized skills rather than react to one-year signals. The impact on suppliers alone would be significant: the F-35 supply chain includes more than 1,900 suppliers in 48 states and Puerto Rico and supports more than 317,000 U.S. jobs.

A longer horizon would also enable Lockheed Martin to invest more than $7 billion in sustainment, which the program says is essential to its goal of an 80% mission-capable fleet by 2030. The IAM noted that buying aircraft is not the same as having them ready to fly. Funded spare parts and repair capacity make the difference.

The announcement follows a bipartisan letter from members of Congress, supported by the IAM, urging multiyear procurement authority and a minimum of 85 aircraft in fiscal 2027.

“Our members take great pride in building this aircraft, and they are ready to keep building it,” Bryant said. “A long-term commitment from Congress would give them and their suppliers the certainty to do just that.”

The IAM Union represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.

The post Statement of IAM Union International President Brian Bryant on the F-35 10-Year Contract appeared first on IAM Union.

• On this episode of Shift Change, IAM International President Brian Bryant sits down with IAM Member and Texas State Senator Taylor Rehmet. 

Listen to this episode on your favorite platform here.

Spotify

Amazon & Audible

Apple Podcast

YouTube

Taylor talks about his journey from enlistment in the military, to IAM Union aircraft mechanic working on America’s finest fighter jets made by IAM District 776. Taylor discusses how he won election as a Local President by doing the hard work of walking and talking to his brothers and sisters on the shop floor.

The 7th generation Texan, rooted in the pursuit of serving others, won a seat in the Texas Legislature in a district yearning for change. His “A Texas You Can Afford” campaign is designed to put economic reality into Texas law.

The post Shift Change: How the IAM’s Taylor Rehmet Went From the Shop Floor to the Senate Floor appeared first on IAM Union.