Take Action: Tell Congress to Protect NASA’s Skilled Workforce

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 halted 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 Tell Congress to Protect NASA’s Skilled Contract Workforce appeared first on IAM Union.

Members of the rail labor community, industry partners, and supporters gathered along the banks of the Tennessee River for the 11th Annual IAM District 19 Guide Dogs of America Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC) Charity Golf Tournament, combining friendly competition with a shared commitment to changing lives.

Watch the video here.

The annual event has become a cornerstone fundraiser supporting GDA | TLC, an organization that provides highly trained service dogs to individuals in need across the country.

“Now in its eleventh year, this tournament continues to attract strong participation from labor organizations, vendors, attorneys, railroad industry partners, and volunteers, all united by a common charitable mission,” said IAM District 19 President and Directing General Chair Reece Murtagh

Held in Chattanooga, Tenn., the tournament offered participants a scenic setting and a day of camaraderie despite early concerns about weather conditions. Golfers competed for impressive hole-in-one prizes, including a new Ford truck and a $20,000 cash award, while raising funds that directly support the training and placement of service dogs.

Organizers emphasized that the event is about far more than golf.

“There are a lot of organizations and companies supporting our great event,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Assisttant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division.

See photos here. 

“It’s one of my favorite events to for our favorite charity,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “They’re changing lives every day, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.”

“GDA | TLC provides service animals that help individuals achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life,” said GDA | TLC Vice President Zack Gittlen, who describes the dogs as “modern-day miracles” for many people who rely on them for mobility, companionship and daily assistance.

The program’s impact extends beyond traditional guide dog services. One example highlighted during the tournament was Paxton, a full-time facility dog at Huntsville Hospital’s Caring House. There, Paxton helps children and adolescents ages 4 to 18 who are coping with grief and loss.

The Caring House provides bereavement support to young people who have experienced the death of a loved one, and GDA | TLC facility dogs play a vital role in helping them process difficult emotions and develop healthy coping skills. Program specialists noted that services like these are made possible through donations and fundraising efforts such as the District 19 tournament.

“Having these incredible dogs to be able to impact so many lives across the country is such an amazing thing,” said Huntsville Hospital Child Life Specialist and Coordinator Cammie Payne.

As another successful tournament concludes, organizers say the event continues to demonstrate how labor organizations can leverage their collective strength to make a meaningful difference beyond the workplace. By helping fund the training of guide dogs and therapeutic service animals, the District 19 charity tournament transforms generosity into life-changing support for individuals and families across the nation.

The annual fundraiser remains a powerful reminder that when working people come together in support of a worthy cause, the impact reaches far beyond the golf course.

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The IAM has the highest concentration of union members in the AFL-CIO who are former members of the U.S. military. Many IAM-represented professions, like aircraft mechanics and military contractors, match skillsets of veterans who have transitioned to civilian life. Great pay, lucrative benefits, shopfloor comradery, and strong IAM-bargained contracts make those jobs a good fit for former servicemen and women.

“Belonging to a labor union that genuinely values and supports military veterans is both empowering and humbling,” said Larry Bride, U.S. Army veteran and IAM Local 949 (District 142) safety representative in Nashville, Tenn. “It feels good to know that my service is recognized, and that the union is committed to ensuring veterans have a voice, resources, and a community that understands the unique challenges we face. It reinforces the sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that many of us experienced in the military, and it shows that the IAM stands behind its members long after their military service ends.”

Over the years, especially after recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many veterans in the IAM have sought information about important government assistance programs. Others have tried to file for federal benefits that are owed to them by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Unfortunately, too many were left in the dark, with little knowledge of assistance programs and/or overburdened by a benefit claim filing system that can be confusing and frustrating, especially for wounded veterans who qualify for VA disability.

IAM Local 1746 member Taylor Salman is a veterans advocate and U.S Navy veteran.

Fortunately, the IAM is meeting a critical need by assisting and guiding veterans after they serve the country. The union’s Veterans Services Program is building a team of specially trained members around the U.S. to serve as advocates, who can help veterans, and/or their families, file VA claims and/or learn about crucial assistance programs.

“U.S. military veterans deserve better. They dedicated their lives to protect our great country, and we need to honor their service and sacrifice the best way possible,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Our union is stepping up and helping these brave men and women, and their families, as they transition to the civilian work world and after.”

The endeavor has garnered praise from the federal government. The Department of Veterans Affairs says the IAM is the first labor union in the U.S. to embrace such a task.

“It’s important because it fills a critical gap for military members within the labor movement. We provide expert, no-cost support that directly improves the lives of IAM members and their families,” said Evans. “Our union has more than 50,000 veterans in our ranks. We help veterans receive disability compensation which can be life-changing financial benefits. We also help them understand their benefits as veterans and disabled veterans, and assist them with education and employment, life insurance, home loans, and burial benefits.”

With help from IAM Headquarters, a fresh group of veterans advocates are currently undergoing rigorous training, a process that has lasted months. Taylor Salman is a U.S Navy veteran based in East Hartford, Conn. and a member of IAM Local 1746. She decided to become a veterans advocate after experiencing personal frustration with the complicated VA claim process.

“I believe that the transition from military to civilian life is difficult in general, but what I personally experienced was not always knowing exactly what benefits we’re entitled to. With military service being deeply rooted in my family, I have seen firsthand what it looks like when veterans do not receive the services they may need,” said Salman. “When I reached a point where I needed those services myself, I didn’t always know where to turn or how to access the support that was available. That experience showed me how confusing the system can be, even for those who have served.”

Amy Bannister is a U.S. Navy veteran and current Recording Secretary with IAM Local 18 in Meridian, Miss. Like Salman, Bannister is stepping up and training to become a veterans advocate. She says pride and patriotism serve as powerful motivators.

“I am passionate about helping veterans for several reasons. I come from a family full of veterans, a fact I am extremely proud of. My older brother joined the military before I did, three years after the attacks on 9/11. It was a shock to the system to say goodbye and watch him go to war,” said Bannister. “It was even harder for me to see the struggles he and others went through once they came home. I wanted to find a way to help him, and my other veteran brothers and sisters. Too often, I feel veterans are thanked for their service, but a blind eye or deaf ear is what’s waiting when they express the need for help.”

Left, IAM members volunteer to clean a military veterans monument in Missouri. Right, IAM Veterans Services Steering Committee gather in St. Louis.

Nichelle Robertson Littlejohn is a U.S. Army veteran and current Conductor Sentinel and Veteran’s Committee Chairperson at IAM Local 709 in Marietta, Ga. Like Salman and Bannister, she’s also training to become a veterans advocate, a commitment steeped in personal pain and empathy. Littlejohn witnessed her dad struggle to obtain VA benefits after serving time in combat in southeast Asia.

“My late father was a 21-year Army combat veteran who served in multiple conflicts, including three tours in Vietnam. Despite his longstanding service and health issues resulting from exposure to Agent Orange, he still had to fight for his benefits,” said Littlejohn. “If I can be instrumental in helping our veterans obtain the benefits that they deserve, then I happily take on that challenge.”

The IAM veterans advocate program, which was initially operated by senior staff at the union’s headquarters in Maryland, has been successful. Since 2022, the IAM has helped more than a thousand union members by offering advice about assistance programs, educating them about the V.A. application and filing process and preparing claim cases that were reviewed by the Board of Veterans Appeals. Additionally, the program has helped over 400 military veterans obtain an increase in disability benefits.

“We constantly travel the country and actively promote our goals and initiatives. There is a major information gap that needs to be filled,” said Bryan Stymacks, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and IAM Veterans Services Coordinator. “We’ve received a phenomenal response from union members across the U.S. who are interested in becoming an advocate, and they’re eager to learn more about assistance offered by our program.”

Larry Bride, the IAM Local 949 safety representative, is joining the group of veterans advocates. He says he and his team have received great training, and he recommends the IAM Veterans Services Program to anyone in need.

“It offers real support from people who understand what veterans go through,” said Bride. “The program is built on respect, advocacy, and a commitment to ensuring veterans receive the benefits and recognition they deserve. It’s a resource that strengthens not only individual veterans but our entire union community.”

If union members are interested in becoming an IAM veterans advocate, or receiving assistance in filing claims with the VA, please visit goIAM.org for detailed information, or call 301-967-4500.

The post IAM Journal: IAM Lends a Helping Hand to U.S. Military Veterans appeared first on IAM Union.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2026 — The House Appropriations Committee has approved a Republican funding bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education on a party-line vote. The legislation would strip more than $3 billion from the Department of Labor, eliminate several labor-focused offices including those that protect American workers from unfair international trade competition, make deep reductions to worker safety enforcement and Job Corps. 

Worse, the bill reduces funding for the already underfunded National Labor Relations Board by nearly $100 million. Members of the current administration, including NLRB General Counsel Crystal Carey and NLRB Chair James Murphy, recently decried the lack of funding to the agency in a House Education and Workforce subcommittee hearing. They testified that proposed budgetary amounts were “far below what we’ll need” and would require a “disastrous cut in agency operations” for the long-understaffed agency.

Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), issued the following statement:

“House Republicans are advancing a budget that asks working people to pay the price so the billionaire class can keep cashing in. After receiving the largest tax break in American history, wealthy corporations and billionaires are once again demanding more at the expense of working families.” 

“These proposals would gut worker safety enforcement, slash Job Corps programs that help young people escape poverty and homelessness, and strip resources from the National Labor Relations Board. That’s not fiscal responsibility. That’s balancing the books on the backs of working people.

“Job Corps helps young Americans build careers and escape poverty. OSHA inspectors save lives. The NLRB helps level a playing field that is already tilted toward corporate power and against working families. Taking a sledgehammer to these programs doesn’t strengthen America — it weakens opportunities for workers while protecting the interests of those who need help the least.

“Elections have consequences. Working people are watching who stands with them and who stands with billionaires. We will remember these choices when we head to the ballot box this November.

“The IAM Union will continue fighting for investments in workers, strong labor protections, safe workplaces and pathways to the middle class. Working people built this country. They shouldn’t be asked to sacrifice so billionaires can get another handout.”

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.

The post IAM Union Blasts House Republican Budget Plan That Puts Worker Safety, Opportunity on Chopping Block appeared first on IAM Union.

A diverse group of more than 100 professional and non-professional employees at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science Center for New York has voted overwhelmingly to join the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), marking another major organizing victory for federal workers seeking a stronger voice on the job.

The newly organized bargaining unit includes Hydrologic Technicians, Geologists, Physical Scientists, Hydrologists, Biologists, and other science professionals who perform critical work monitoring and protecting New York’s water resources.

The workers voted 88% in favor of union representation following a grassroots organizing campaign that united employees across multiple locations throughout the state.

Biologist Rebecca Gorney played a pivotal role in the successful campaign, helping build support among coworkers and coordinating efforts to secure signed membership forms and encourage participation throughout the election process. IAM Assistant Organizing Coordinator Jerry McCarty led the organizing campaign and worked closely with employee leaders to achieve the decisive victory.

“I come from a proud union family, and I experienced firsthand the value of union representation in my previous state government job,” said Rebecca Gorney, a USGS biologist and organizing committee leader. “When dramatic changes began affecting federal workers in 2025, conversations among my coworkers quickly turned toward organizing. As we watched staffing levels decline through firings and buyouts, many of us realized the importance of having a collective voice. Through all the uncertainty, employees came to see that a union provides stability, protection, and a voice in the workplace. We are grateful to join the NFFE-IAM and look forward to working together to restore opportunities like telework, ensure fair access to training and advancement, and build a stronger future for everyone at the USGS Water Science Center.” 

Throughout the campaign, employees engaged coworkers across the state, discussing the benefits of collective bargaining and the importance of having a united voice on workplace issues.

“Rebecca and the organizing committee built an impressive grassroots movement that reached employees in every location,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Coordinator Jerry McCarty. “Their commitment to talking with coworkers, answering questions, and building trust was the driving force behind this remarkable result. An overwhelming yes vote reflects the confidence these workers have in each other and in the NFFE-IAM.”

“This campaign is a perfect example of what happens when workers take ownership of their future and stand together for a stronger voice on the job,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge. “Rebecca and her coworkers built this victory from the ground up through determination, solidarity, and countless conversations with their fellow employees. We are proud to welcome these dedicated USGS professionals into the NFFE-IAM family and look forward to helping them build a strong first contract.”

The victory adds to the union’s growing presence among federal and professional employees and highlights the increasing interest in union representation among scientific and technical workers.

Union representatives will now work with the newly organized members to prepare for negotiations and begin securing a first collective bargaining agreement.

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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) — the nation’s largest transportation labor federation — recently convened its 67th Executive Committee meeting and formally adopted a series of policy statements shaping transportation labor’s legislative and regulatory agenda.

The IAM and TCU/IAM were represented at the Executive Committee by IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen and TCU National President Matt Hollis, respectively. Their voices helped shape the priorities adopted — priorities that reflect what our members live every day.

From rail safety to railroad retirement, aviation to transit, Job Corps to overtime tax fairness, here are a few of the policy statements adopted the 39 member unions at the Executive Committee meeting that directly impact IAM and TCU/IAM members:

1. Opposing the FRA’s Brakes III Rulemaking

TTD’s Executive Committee called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to withdraw its Brakes III rulemaking — a proposal that would weaken railcar inspection standards by extending brake inspection intervals and substituting electronic recordkeeping for hands-on inspection. Transportation labor has been clear: this is a paperwork change, not a safety improvement. The Class I railroads’ own waiver data — including the BNSF waiver, where brake defects “overwhelmed the capacity of repair tracks” — is an argument for stronger oversight, not weaker. TCU/BRC Qualified Mechanical Inspectors (QMIs) – aka Carmen – are the last line of defense against defective equipment moving on the national rail network.

2. Congress Must Fix the Railroad Retirement Board

Rail workers cannot access Social Security or state unemployment — the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is their system, and it must work. Chronic underfunding has left the RRB short-staffed and technologically outdated, creating lengthy delays in processing retirement, disability, and unemployment claims. TTD’s adopted statement calls on Congress to find a long-term funding solution for the RRB, including fully funding the agency’s $185 million Limitation on Administration (LOA) request — a level endorsed by more than 80 House Members but not reflected in the current FY2027 House appropriations bill. TCU/IAM members, IAM railroaders, and their families are depending on it.

3. Aviation Safety Legislation Must Include ADS-B In Technology

On January 29, 2025, 67 people lost their lives when a military Black Hawk helicopter collided with PSA Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River. Among those killed were IAM-affiliated flight crew and ground workers. The NTSB’s final report found the tragedy was predictable and preventable, and recommended mandating ADS-B In (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) — collision-warning technology that gives pilots real-time awareness of nearby aircraft. ADS-B Out has been required since 2020, but ADS-B In has never been mandated by the FAA. TTD’s statement demands that any final aviation safety legislation include a hard mandate for ADS-B In, not the delayed timelines and extension processes included in the House ALERT Act. GVP Richie Johnsen, who represents IAM air transport members on the TTD Executive Committee, has been a strong voice in this fight. We will not allow this moment to pass without the reforms our members and the flying public deserve.

4. Protect Worker Voices in Transit Safety Committees

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established joint labor-management Safety Committees at transit agencies, giving frontline workers equal say in approving safety plans. The results speak for themselves: a 30% reduction in transit employee assaults in New York City, physical barriers for operators in Philadelphia, better PPE in Houston. Now, transit agency management is pushing the Safe Transit Accountability Act, which would install a management “accountable executive” as the final tiebreaker in any Safety Committee dispute — effectively giving CEOs veto power over the collaborative process Congress built. TTD’s statement flatly opposes H.R. 4900. Transit safety is public safety, and the workers who operate the vehicles, repair the track, and interact with passengers every day must have a meaningful seat at the table.

5. Congress Must Save Job Corps

Job Corps is the nation’s only large-scale residential career training program, with more than 300 pre-apprenticeship partnerships with labor unions. For 60 years it has provided low-income young Americans a pathway into skilled trades — including the transportation crafts IAM and TCU/IAM members call their own. In May 2025, the Trump Administration effectively shut down all 99 Job Corps centers, displacing tens of thousands of students. A federal court issued a temporary restraining order, but the program’s future remains uncertain. TTD’s statement calls on Congress to fully fund and protect Job Corps. The Administration cannot talk up apprenticeships while eliminating the very program that feeds workers into those pipelines.

6. Pass the No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” included a no-tax-on-overtime deduction — but defined “overtime” using the Fair Labor Standards Act, inadvertently excluding workers whose employment is governed by the Railway Labor Act, including railroaders and airline employees whose overtime is defined through collective bargaining. The bipartisan No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act would close that gap. TTD’s adopted statement calls on Congress to pass it. IAM and TCU/IAM members in rail and aviation put in the overtime hours that keep America moving. They deserve the same tax fairness as every other American worker.

Our Union at the Table

These six policy statements represent the breadth of issues our members live every day — from carmen in the freight yard to mechanics on the flight line, from transit workers keeping city systems moving to railroaders who have given decades to their craft. GVP Richie Johnsen and TCU National President Matt Hollis were at the table when these priorities were adopted, carrying the concerns of IAM and TCU/IAM members into the room. The IAM will continue working alongside our TTD partners to advance these priorities in Congress and before federal agencies.

The post Transportation Labor Speaks — IAM and TCU/IAM at the Table as TTD Adopts Key Policy Priorities appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM District 4 recently hosted its 9th Annual Guide Dogs of America Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC ) Charity Golf Outing at Spring Meadows Golf Course, bringing together union members, sponsors, and community supporters to raise funds and awareness for the organization.

Watch the video here.

The event featured participation from IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, District and Local leaders, and IAM Union members, underscoring the union’s longstanding commitment to GDA | TLC.

View photos here.

A highlight of the outing was a presentation by Sgt. David Nulty of the Sherborn (Mass.) Police Department and his facility dog, West. Nulty shared how West helps officers cope with stress, assists individuals experiencing trauma, and strengthens community relationships through outreach programs.

Organizers also highlighted GDA|TLC puppy-raising program, which relies on volunteers to help train future service dogs. Attendees were encouraged to support the program through volunteer service or financial contributions.

The tournament included golf, raffles, prizes, and a traditional Maine lobster dinner. Organizers said the event not only raises critical funds for GDA | TLC, but also showcases the life-changing impact service and facility dogs have on individuals and communities.

The post IAM District 4 Members Tee Up Support for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines  appeared first on IAM Union.

A major labor reform championed by the IAM Union moved one step closer to becoming law this week as the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA), legislation designed to stop employers from delaying negotiations and denying newly organized workers the first contract they fought to win.

The IAM Union was a leading advocate for the bill, urging lawmakers to support a discharge petition led by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) that successfully forced a House vote on the legislation.

In an April letter to members of Congress, IAM Union International President Brian Bryant called on lawmakers to sign the discharge petition and advance the legislation, noting that workers often face years of delays after voting to form a union. Bryant warned that employers exploit the lack of bargaining deadlines to frustrate workers and undermine support for newly formed unions.  

“The ability to collectively bargain a contract with their employer is central to why workers in growing numbers are exercising their right to form and join unions,” said Bryant. “Securing a first contract is perhaps the most important part of collective bargaining — and it is also often the hardest. Employers know they can drag their feet and demoralize workers. The Faster Labor Contracts Act changes that dynamic by making union-busting employers actually come to the table.”

The legislation would amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish clear timelines for bargaining. Employers would be required to begin negotiations within 10 days of workers voting to form a union. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the parties can move to mediation, followed by binding arbitration if necessary.

Workers currently wait an average of more than 458 days to secure a first contract, according to a Bloomberg analysis, often because employers intentionally stall negotiations after losing a union election.

“Workers don’t organize a union just to spend years waiting for their employer to negotiate a contract,” said Bryant. “The Faster Labor Contracts Act will help ensure that when workers vote for a union, they have a real opportunity to secure the wages, benefits, and protections they fought for. The Senate should move quickly to pass this legislation.”

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, non-profit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.

The post IAM Union-Backed Faster Labor Contracts Act Passes House, Advancing Fight for Workers’ First Contracts appeared first on IAM Union.

KU Health System has not yet agreed that all timely postmarked ballots in closely contested union elections be counted. 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Pharmacy Technicians at The University of Kansas (KU) Health System held a rally to demand that every timely cast ballot be counted in their union election and to call attention to the fact that KU Health System has not agreed to count all ballots received after the vote tally despite being postmarked before the election deadline. 

Watch the rally here.

They waved signs and cheered as many cars beeped their horns in support, even getting an extra toot from a passing ambulance. KU nurses and other unionized staff from the Health System also showed up to support the pharmacy technicians who walked the streets demanding the votes be counted.

“I mailed my ballot on April 18, and the count wasn’t until May 14,” said KU Health System Pharmacy Technician Megan Bacon. “I was there the day of the count, and when I learned my ballot had not been received, I asked how that was possible after mailing it nearly a month earlier. No one could provide me with an answer.”

KU Pharmacy Technicians have spent more than a year and a half organizing with IAM Healthcare/The Pharmacy Guild to secure a voice on the job and advocate for safe staffing levels, patient care standards, and balanced workloads.

“In Kansas, basic fairness should still matter,” said Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Ethan Corson. “You followed the process to a tee. You did every single thing right, you dotted every single I, crossed every T, all you are asking for is that ballots that were cast before the deadline to be counted”

As public-sector employees, the technicians participated in a mail-ballot union election overseen by the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB). When the ballots were counted, the union appeared to have lost by just two votes in each of the two bargaining units. 

The PERB later informed both parties that it had received an additional 37 ballots that were postmarked before the election deadline but were not included in the vote count. The union filed challenges and submitted 31 sworn affidavits from pharmacy technicians who stated they completed and mailed their ballots before the deadline.

“No one is demanding any rules be waived, overturned, or changed,” said Missouri State Rep. Ethan Woods. “What we are demanding is that all the ballots in this union election be counted so that the choice of the workers here can be known and honored.”

Despite the discovery of the timely ballots, the KU Health System has not agreed to count all timely postmarked ballots, leaving dozens of workers uncertain whether their voices will be heard.

The IAM Healthcare Union has filed multiple Prohibited Practice Charges alleging unlawful conduct by health system management during the campaign, including allegations that a Pharmacy Technician was terminated for exercising legally protected rights to discuss unionization in the workplace. The union has also criticized the KU Health System for using taxpayer dollars to hire Littler Mendelson, a national anti-union law firm, during the campaign.

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant has sent a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly urging immediate action to ensure that all properly postmarked ballots are counted in the elections.

The KU Health System is a public academic health system with hospitals and clinics throughout Kansas and western Missouri. Pharmacy Technicians employed by the health system perform a range of professional pharmacy functions, which include providing life-saving acute care services to hospitalized patients, as well as complex work in retail, home infusion, and mail order settings. Elections covered Pharmacy Technicians at the health system’s 39th Street Main Campus and a specialty pharmacy in the Southlake Business Park in Lenexa.

The IAM Healthcare Union continues to pursue all available legal and administrative remedies and is encouraging healthcare professionals, patients, community members and supporters of fair elections to sign a petition calling for every properly postmarked ballot to be counted.

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

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Approximately 5,000 members of IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) District 776 in Fort Worth, Texas, voted on Sunday to ratify a new contract with the largest defense contractor in the U.S., Lockheed Martin.

IAM Union members at the Fort Worth facility build the F-35, the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter. The IAM has long championed continued support for the F-35 program.

In Fort Worth alone, IAM members delivered 142 aircraft, the most deliveries at the facility to date – shattering the company’s previous delivery record.

The new contract includes:

– Historic General Wage Increases (GWI increases 6.0%, 4.5%, 4.5%, 4.0%, 4.0%)
– Improve/Maintain Quality of Life: No Mandatory Overtime and Increased Vacation
– Improvements to Retirement
– $6,000 Ratification Bonus and more.

IAM Union District 776’s negotiating committee unanimously recommended the proposal, which the members voted to accept. Contract negotiations have been ongoing since mid-March of this year. The agreement also covers IAM Union members at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Patuxent River, Md.

“The dedicated membership at Lockheed is the bedrock of the company’s success,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Keeping with their mission-critical mantra, the members fought hard for a worthy contract, and they prevailed – the entire IAM is proud of their commitment.”

Negotiations are crucial for IAM District 776 members and their families, as well as for the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The state of Texas and the entire aerospace industry all benefit from the F-35 program supply chain, which directly supports over 254,000 jobs through 1,800+ suppliers spanning 48 states and Puerto Rico.

READ: 2027 Defense Authorization Appropriation Bill – Support for the F-35 Program

“Our members made it clear what the purpose and goal for these negotiations were,” said District 776 Directing Business Representative Doyle Huddleston. “No takeaways and make improvements on the top issues. We did what our members asked us to do, and they made the decision with their votes.”

The IAM District 776 negotiating team participated in an extensive preparation course held at their district offices in January. This instrumental coursework covers drafting contract language, strategic planning, contract costing, communications, and negotiation simulation.

“From the preparation preceding these negotiations to sitting down in each committee to center the right energies, the negotiation team presented and defended the desires of their members,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. Today, the membership agreed that the negotiations addressed their concerns. I could not be prouder of everyone at District 776.”

READ: IAM Union Applauds Record Number of Bipartisan Members of Congress for Strong Funding Request For F-35 Program

“Being the nation’s largest defense employer, Lockheed needed to offer an agreement that the membership felt they needed to keep Lockheed at the top,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “Our membership made their wishes clear from the start. The negotiating committee took those wishes to heart and worked to bring a solid proposal to the membership for consideration. Today, the membership voted to accept.”

The new agreement goes into effect at midnight on June 15 and will remain in effect until June 15, 2031.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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