KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Following weeks of advocacy from the IAM Union, Pharmacy Technicians, elected officials and community supporters, the Kansas Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) has ruled that 37 previously uncounted ballots will be included in the final tally of the recent union representation election involving Pharmacy Technicians at the University of Kansas (KU) Health System. The order allows KU to request a hearing and delay the ballot count.

The ballots were received after the initial vote count, but were all postmarked before the election deadline. PERB’s decision ensures that every timely cast vote will be counted before the election results are finalized.

In recent weeks, the IAM Union called on Kansas officials to protect the integrity of the election. IAM Union International President Brian Bryant sent a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly urging immediate action, while Kansas State Rep. Nikki McDonald (D) publicly called for every properly postmarked ballot to be counted.

KU Pharmacy Technicians also held a rally, garnering significant community and elected official support. A petition supporting the full ballot count has more than 600 community signatures.

“I mailed my ballot on April 18, nearly a month before the count, so finding out my vote hadn’t been counted was incredibly frustrating,” said KU Health System Pharmacy Technician Meagan Bacon. “I voted because there are things that need to change to make our pharmacy safer and stronger for both workers and patients. The people doing this job every day deserve a voice, and every worker who followed the rules deserves to have their vote counted. We’re grateful for the PERB’s decision and hope KU doesn’t challenge the board’s decision to uphold our right to have our ballots counted.”

The election covers Pharmacy Technicians at the KU Health System’s 39th Street Main Campus in Kansas City and its Southlake specialty pharmacy in Lenexa, where workers are seeking representation with IAM Healthcare/The Pharmacy Guild.

The final outcome of the election will be determined after the 37 timely ballots are counted.

The IAM Healthcare Union is part of the 600,000-member IAM Union, one of North America’s largest and most diverse labor organizations. IAM Healthcare is the home of The Pharmacy Guild, the premier voice for pharmacy professionals across the United States. Learn more at PharmacyGuild.org.

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WASHINGTON, June 25, 2026 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) welcomed a letter from U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth ( D-Ill.), urging Dana Inc. to engage in good-faith bargaining with the union over the closure of its Robinson, Ill., automotive gasket manufacturing plant.

Dana Inc. has announced it will permanently close the facility, which has anchored the Crawford County community since 1968. The closure will displace 69 IAM-represented workers, with layoffs expected to begin in June and the plant fully shuttered by Oct. 1.

“These are 69 families in Crawford County who built their lives around this plant, and Dana Inc. owes them more than a pink slip,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We thank Senators Durbin and Duckworth for standing with these workers and demanding that Dana come to the table and do right by the people who built this company’s success for nearly six decades.”

In their letter to Dana Chairman and CEO R. Bruce McDonald, the senators urged the company to “engage in meaningful and good-faith effects bargaining” with the IAM and to provide a “comprehensive transition package” for affected workers, including support for those seeking transfers to other Dana or IAM-represented facilities.

“Robinson isn’t just a factory town; it’s a community that Dana Inc. has leaned on for almost 60 years, and now it’s time for Dana to lean in for these workers,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “We appreciate Senators Durbin and Duckworth for adding their voices to this fight. The IAM will keep pushing Dana to negotiate in good faith and deliver the transition support these members have earned.”

Read the complete letter here. 

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.

goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

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More than 400 IAM Union delegates from across the United States gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 IAM Union Legislative Conference, bringing the voices of working people directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

WATCH: Bipartisan, Pro-Worker Messages Headline IAM Legislative Conference

Throughout the three-day conference, delegates met with members of Congress and their staffs to advocate for policies that strengthen the labor movement and create greater opportunities for working families. Key issues discussed included strengthening collective bargaining rights, protecting federal workers, advancing fair trade policies, revitalizing the domestic shipbuilding industry, supporting national defense manufacturing, reforming the tax code, and ensuring continued investment in transportation and aviation.

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant challenged delegates to remain engaged beyond the conference, emphasizing the importance of holding elected officials accountable and ensuring that working people have a strong voice in the political process.

WATCH: IAM Union International President Brian Bryant Remarks

“Continue to hold politicians accountable,” said Bryant. “Whether you’re meeting with a member of Congress, attending a town hall, or talking with your neighbors, make sure elected leaders hear directly from working people. Our voices matter, and our civic engagement makes a difference.”

A highlight of the conference was the IAM Union’s Workers vs. Billionaires Rally, where delegates joined together to call on Congress to put working families ahead of corporate greed and growing economic inequality.

WATCH: IAM Union Members at Workers vs. Billionaires Rally 

The rally included remarks by IAM International President Bryant, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith and Ed Markey, and laid-off IAM Union members from Apple, Whirlpool and Spirit Airlines who shared firsthand accounts of corporate greed.

WATCH: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at Workers vs. Billionaires Rally

During the rally, the IAM Union announced its endorsement of the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) that seeks to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute more toward the nation’s future.

WATCH: Workers vs. Billionaires Rally with the IAM Union

VIEW: Workers vs. Billionaires Rally Photo Gallery

The conference highlighted the important role IAM Union members play in shaping public policy, demonstrating the power of workers coming together to make their voices heard on issues that impact their livelihoods and communities.

This year’s Legislative Conference included the following speakers:

• IAM International President Brian Bryant
• U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.)
• U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.)
• U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
• U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
• U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)
• U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)
• U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.)
• U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.)
• U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
• U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.)
• U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)
• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
• U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D.Calif.)
• U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.)
• U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)
• U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.)
• IAM National Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon
• IAM International Affairs Director Peter Greenberg
• IAM General Counsel Carla Siegel
• NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin

WATCH:

Day 1 Conference Recap

Day 2 Conference Recap

Day 3 Conference Recap

VIEW PHOTOS:

Legislative Conference Day 1

Legislative Conference Day 2

Legislative Conference Day 3

See X coverage below:

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The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) is proud to introduce Solid Ground, a new YouTube video series highlighting the union men and women who build America and the outdoor traditions that shape who they are.

The pilot episode follows four union members whose shared passion for waterfowl hunting has created lasting family traditions and lifelong friendships that extend well beyond the jobsite. Hunting provides the backdrop, but the people and their stories are the focus.

Watch. Comment. Win.

The Solid Ground pilot episode premieres on YouTube on Sunday, June 28 at 7 p.m. ET! Be part of the excitement by watching the premiere and joining the conversation in the comments.

Watch and comment on the video by 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday July 1 (within the first 72 hours after its premiere) for a chance to win an $850 Milwaukee Tool prize package.

Watch now!

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IAM Local 1414 in the San Francisco Bay Area is a labor leader in youth education, skill development and trades. For more than a decade, the Local has sponsored San Francisco city’s only high school automotive program. Classes at Washington High School have given hundreds of students valuable skills which have translated into lucrative careers at union auto shops around the region.

The post IAM-Sponsored High School Program Paves a Pathway to Automotive Careers appeared first on IAM Union.

The IAM Union is calling on members and allies to speak out against NASA’s poorly defined workforce initiative, “Restoring NASA’s Core Competencies,” which could eliminate thousands of federal contract positions across the agency and replace them with civil service jobs.

For decades, highly skilled IAM-represented workers employed under the Service Contract Act have helped ensure NASA’s success through their expertise, dedication, and commitment to safety. The IAM is deeply concerned that disrupting this proven workforce model could create unnecessary risks, increase costs, and undermine the stability that has supported NASA’s missions for generations.

Send a letter to your members of Congress and urge them to oppose this reckless workforce overhaul and halt implementation until the facts are known.

NASA has provided few details about the plan, including which jobs would be affected, how many workers could lose their positions, and what impact the changes would have on mission safety, mission success, costs, and schedules. Despite these unanswered questions, implementation appears to already be underway at some facilities.

Congress must demand answers and halt this workforce restructuring. At a minimum, implementation of this initiative should be paused until NASA fully discloses its plans and conducts a comprehensive study of the impact on workers, taxpayers, and mission success.

Send a letter to your members of Congress and urge them to oppose this reckless workforce overhaul and halt implementation until the facts are known.

Take action today and tell Congress to protect NASA’s workforce and mission.

The post Take Action: Tell Congress to Protect NASA’s Skilled Workforce appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM Human Rights Director Nicole Fears has been elected co-chair of the newly formed IndustriALL Global Women’s Committee, which held its inaugural meeting on June 10 in Geneva, Switzerland. Fears was nominated for the leadership position by United Steelworkers (USW) International President and IndustriALL’s North American Executive Committee Vice President Roxanne Brown.

“Nicole’s leadership and dedication to empowering women in our union and across the labor movement make her exceptionally qualified for this role,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We congratulate her on this well-deserved election and look forward to the impact she will make representing working women throughout North America and around the world.”

The Committee’s first meeting brought together women labor leaders from around the world to adopt a global roadmap for 2026-2029 to implement the feminist resolution approved at IndustriALL’s Sydney Congress and advance gender equality throughout the global labor movement.

Fears, a 32-year IAM member and longtime advocate for human rights and worker inclusion, was elected alongside Regina Nambahu from the Mine Workers Union of Namibia. Following her election, Fears emphasized the importance of building unity and belonging within unions and workplaces.

“I start with people. To build stronger workplaces and unions, we must understand what pulls us apart and what brings us together,” said Fears. “My work builds relationships across differences and creates cultures of belonging where everyone has dignity, voice and value.”

The IAM congratulates Fears on this achievement and looks forward to her continued leadership on behalf of working women throughout North America and around the world.

The IndustriALL Global Union represents more than 50 million workers in 140 countries across mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors. The Global Women’s Committee works to promote gender equality, increase women’s leadership, and advance policies that improve the lives of working women worldwide.

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Barbara Perry from Local 949 describes her recent participation in an IAM financial training seminar hosted at the Winpisinger Education Center. Alongside dozens of other union stewards, she and her fellow IAM members are gaining essential knowledge on how to maintain regulatory compliance within their respective districts and locals. 

Watch the video report here.

The curriculum focuses heavily on proper accounting practices, specifically the accurate recording and distribution of cash payments. Participants from various industries, including rail and aerospace, engage in practical exercises designed to simulate real-world financial scenarios. Ultimately, the program aims to equip these officers with the skills necessary to ensure organizational transparency and smooth operational management.

The post IAM Financial Officers Train to Protect Membership’s Resources appeared first on IAM Union.

In states where so-called right-to-work laws are designed to weaken unions, two IAM locals are among many who are proving that strong leadership, daily engagement and active membership can keep solidarity alive and deliver results.

At IAM Local 1391 in Lawrenceburg, Ind., and IAM Local 2699 in Albany, Ga., members and leaders say the key to maintaining strong unions in right-to-work environments is simple: stay visible, stay connected, and never take the membership for granted.

Indiana Local Maintains 100% Membership

At the Proximo Spirits bottling facility in Lawrenceburg, members of IAM Local 1391 ratified a strong three-year agreement that includes 24% wage increases over the life of the contract, two weeks of vacation for new hires, accelerated vacation accrual for all employees, the addition of Juneteenth as a paid holiday, and the creation of junior control engineer positions with premium pay.

The wage gains represent meaningful progress for working families in southeastern Indiana, helping members keep pace with rising costs while reinforcing the value of their highly skilled work in bottling and production.

Ricky Anderson, left, and Zack Bill, right, installing a drive roller in a pallet conveyor in the Proximo Spirits finished goods warehouse.

For Local 1391 President and Chief Steward Rodney Weaver, those gains reflect years of steady organizing and member engagement in a state that adopted right-to-work legislation in 2012.

“Right-to-work changed the landscape, but it didn’t change who we are,” said Weaver, a 25-year member at the facility. “We made a decision that we were going to earn our members’ trust every single day. When people see the union working for them, they choose to stand with it.”

Since Proximo acquired the bottling operation in 2011, the facility has maintained 100% dues-paying membership, a rare accomplishment in any state, and especially notable in a right-to-work environment.

IAM members at the Lawrenceburg facility bottle globally recognized brands including Jose Cuervo and Bushmills, along with other Proximo spirits. Their skill and attention to quality help ensure every bottle meets the standards expected by consumers across the country and around the world.

Weaver credits daily organizing and visible leadership for sustaining the local’s membership.

“Organizing isn’t something you do once a year,” said Weaver. “It’s being on the shop floor, answering questions, solving problems early, and making sure every member understands the value of what we’ve built together.”

Regular membership meetings, transparent communication about workplace issues, and one-on-one conversations with employees help ensure that every member understands how union solidarity translates into tangible workplace gains.

“Right-to-work laws are designed to divide workers, but what we’re seeing across the IAM is that members are coming together, getting more engaged, and proving that solidarity can’t be legislated away,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “When unions stay connected to their members, they remain a powerful force for improving lives.”

Georgia Local Shows Strength Through Engagement

While maintaining full membership is rare, other IAM locals in right-to-work states are also demonstrating that strong participation and solidarity remain achievable.

At IAM Local 2699 (District 243) in Albany, GA, leaders say the reality of operating in a right-to-work state means the union must stay actively connected with members every day, at the Molson-Coors Brewery. IAM members at the brewery make Miller Lite and Coors Light, along with other products.

Ricky Anderson, left, and Zack Bill, right, installing a drive roller in a pallet conveyor in the Proximo Spirits finished goods warehouse.

“Right-to-work means we can’t take membership for granted,” said Local 2699 Secretary-Treasurer Maurilio Fernandez, a 17-year member. “It pushes us to stay engaged with our members every day and make sure they understand the value of what the union does for them.”

Georgia has been a right-to-work state for decades, and local leaders say misinformation about unions can sometimes create challenges.

“The biggest challenge is misinformation,” said Fernandez. “Some people think right-to-work means they don’t benefit from the union, but the reality is every worker benefits from the contract.”

To maintain strong membership, Local 2699 leaders focus heavily on communication and visibility in the workplace.

“Communication and visibility are key,” said Fernandez. “Our leadership makes sure members know what’s happening, what we’re working on, and how the union is improving their jobs.”

Leadership presence on the shop floor also plays an important role in maintaining trust.

“When members see their leaders involved in day-to-day issues, it builds confidence that the union is there for them,” added Fernandez.

Building Solidarity Across Generations

Introducing new workers to the union is another key part of maintaining strong membership.

Local 2699 leaders say new hires are often eager to learn about the history of the union and the benefits that collective bargaining has secured over the years.

“When they see what previous members fought for, they understand why the union matters,” said Fernandez. “The wages, benefits, and protections they have today came from workers standing together before them and being part of the union means continuing that progress.”

Solidarity also extends beyond contract negotiations. Members support each other daily by helping coworkers understand their rights, raising concerns together, and working collectively to maintain fairness in the workplace.

Strength at the Bargaining Table

Strong membership directly impacts the union’s ability to negotiate with management.

“When management knows the membership is unified and engaged, it strengthens our position at the bargaining table,” said Fernandez.

Members also play a direct role in shaping bargaining priorities by sharing the issues that matter most to them before negotiations begin.

The result, leaders say, has been improvements in wages, benefits, workplace protections, and safety standards. Those gains also reinforce a professional labor-management relationship built on mutual respect and problem-solving.

The union creates a structure where employees have a voice and concerns can be addressed constructively. When both sides approach issues professionally, it leads to better outcomes.

A Shared Lesson for Right-to-Work States

For union leaders in both Indiana and Georgia, the experience of operating in right-to-work environments reinforces the same lesson: strong unions depend on relationships with members.

Weaver in front of the decline spiral that conveys 750 ml and 1 liter cases from the bottling building underground to the finished goods warehouse.

“I wanted to help protect the opportunities previous members fought for,” said Fernandez. “Seeing someone treated fairly or helping resolve an issue that improves someone’s livelihood makes the work worthwhile.”

That perspective also shapes their advice to other IAM locals facing similar challenges.

“Stay connected with your members and communicate often,” said Fernandez.

For Weaver and the members of Local 1391, that same philosophy has helped maintain full membership in Indiana while securing significant contract gains.

Together, the experiences of IAM Locals 1391 and 2699 send a clear message to workers across the country-even in right-to-work states, unions remain strong when members stay engaged, informed and united.

“To succeed in right-to-work states, unions have to outwork the opposition every single day,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “That means strong communication, visible leadership, and making sure every member understands that the union’s strength comes directly from their participation.” 

VIDEO
IAM Union members are building solidarity, even when the odds are stacked against them. Watch how they’re making it happen.
iam4.me/righttowork-solidarity

The post IAM Journal: So-Called ‘Right-to-Work’ Laws Can’t Break Solidarity appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM International President Bryant, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith and Ed Markey Joined Laid-Off Workers from Apple, Whirlpool and Spirit Airlines Who Shared Firsthand Accounts of Corporate Greed

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2026 — Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), issued the following statement endorsing the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.):

“The IAM Union proudly endorses the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, and we call on members of Congress to sign on as a sponsor.

“For too long, the billionaire class has gamed the system while IAM members and working families across this country pay the price. Today, 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to afford housing, health care, and groceries, while 938 billionaires have grown $1.5 trillion richer. That is not an economy working for everyone. That is a failure of our national priorities.

“The Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act would establish a 5% annual wealth tax on the 938 billionaires in America, worth $8.2 trillion combined, and use that revenue where it belongs: in the hands of working families. In its first year, the bill would provide a $3,000 direct payment to every man, woman, and child in households earning $150,000 or less, $12,000 for a family of four. For an IAM member supporting a family on a union wage, that is real money that pays the mortgage, covers a month of groceries, or helps keep the lights on.

“Not one person with a net worth below $1 billion would pay a single penny more in taxes under this bill. The bill would ask Elon Musk, worth $833 billion and wealthier than the bottom 53% of American households combined, to pay $42 billion. It would ask Apple CEO Tim Cook, who leads a company that is closing the first unionized Apple retail store in the country, to contribute his fair share as well. Tim Cook and Apple have made billions on the backs of workers in this country and around the world. The least its leadership can do is pay what they owe.

“Our members do not ask for handouts. They ask for fairness. They clock in, they do the work, and they build the products and deliver the services that generate the wealth this nation runs on. All they are asking is that the billionaires who benefit most from that labor pay their fair share in return.

“The IAM Union stands with Sen. Sanders, Rep. Khanna, and every working family in this country, demanding an economy that works for all of us, not just the wealthiest few. We urge members of Congress to sign on as a sponsor of the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act now.”

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.

goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

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