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

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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.

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant has appointed Juan Estrada as an International Representative in the IAM Western Territory, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Estrada brings nearly two decades of railroad industry experience, union leadership and a strong commitment to serving working people to his new role.

“Juan has built an impressive record of representing railroad workers and fighting for the rights of working families,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “His experience across multiple rail carriers, dedication to the IAM Union and service as a U.S. Marine make him a valuable addition to our Western Territory team. I am confident he will continue to make a difference for our members.”

Estrada began his railroad career in 2007 as a locomotive machinist with Union Pacific Railroad in Los Angeles. He went on to serve as chairman of IAM Local 620 from 2013 to 2019, representing members at Union Pacific Railroad, San Joaquin Valley Railroad and Amtrak in the Los Angeles area.

From 2019 to 2024, Estrada served as General Chairman of District 19, representing railroad workers across multiple carriers throughout the western United States. During his tenure, he held several leadership positions, including District 19 Educator, Arbitration Review Board member, and Assistant President and Directing General Chairman.

Estrada continued his work in railroad labor representation through the IAM Rail Division from 2025 until his appointment as Western Territory International Representative.

“Juan understands the challenges railroad workers face because he has spent his career standing alongside them,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “His leadership experience, knowledge of the rail industry and commitment to our members will strengthen our efforts to build a stronger union throughout the West. We look forward to the experience and dedication he brings to this position.”

A proud U.S. Marine, Estrada enlisted in 2001 and served in Okinawa, Japan, and Twentynine Palms, Calif. He also completed a tour of duty in Iraq before receiving an honorable discharge in 2005.

Beyond his railroad and representational work, Estrada has contributed to the IAM’s long-term vision and member advocacy efforts. He has served on the IAM’s Committee on the Future and remains actively involved with the Spanish Leadership Working Group, Human Rights, Organizing and the IAM Veterans Services Steering Group.

The post Juan Estrada Appointed Western Territory International Representative appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM Automotive Director Craig Hughes recently testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission, calling for stronger North American automotive trade rules that protect American manufacturing jobs, strengthen domestic suppliers and ensure workers benefit from the industry’s future.

Hughes testified in the hearing as part of the USITC’s investigation on the impact of USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin on the United States, joining labor leaders, industry representatives and academic experts.

Hughes urged the commission to examine whether the rules are delivering on their promise to support American manufacturing, particularly across the automotive supplier network, where production shifts to Mexico have contributed to job losses and economic hardship in U.S. communities.

He also called for stronger labor standards and enforcement, including a wage floor to raise pay for Mexican manufacturing workers while helping to keep American jobs at home. He emphasized the need to expand the USMCA’s Rapid Response Mechanism to better protect workers’ rights.

As electric vehicles, batteries and advanced automotive technologies reshape the industry, Hughes urged officials to update the rules to encourage investment and production in the U.S. while protecting jobs throughout the supply chain.

The IAM is urging the Commission to put workers at the center of its 2027 report and evaluate trade rules by their impact on American jobs, domestic investment and working families.

“The success of these rules should be evaluated not only by the volume of trade or the number of vehicles that qualify for preferential treatment, but also by what they mean for American manufacturing workers and the communities that depend on them,” said Hughes.

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Florida labor activists along with some 30 members of the IAM Union gathered recently in Melbourne for a rally focused on rising living costs, fair wages, workplace protections and the need for stronger political representation for working families.

The rally highlighted the growing economic pressures facing Florida workers, with union members calling for an economy that puts working people ahead of wealthy special interests. Speakers emphasized the importance of living wages, safer workplaces and protecting the fundamental right to organize.

“While working people make Florida run, everything else keeps getting more expensive — Homeowners insurance, auto insurance, groceries, bills, rent,” District 166 Business Representative Ed Grabowski told the crowd. “Workers are doing their part, but they’re getting squeezed from every direction.”

Watch the video report.

The event featured Angie Nixon, IAM-endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Also attending in the crowd was Cornelius Fowler, an IAM member running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 77. 

Nixon was recognized as a candidate with working-class roots who understands the challenges facing everyday Americans. Her platform emphasizes fair wages, stronger labor protections, the right to organize and making the economy more affordable for working families.

Fowler, a IAM union member from Fort Myers, is seeking to bring a working-class perspective to the Florida Legislature. He stressed that working people have struggled for too long without their voices being heard and called on communities to take an active role in shaping their future.

“Florida working-class people have been taking a beating for far too long and now is the time for their voices to be heard,” said Fowler, emphasizing the rally’s message of community involvement and collective action.

IAM leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting pro-labor candidates at the local, state and national levels, highlighting the importance of political engagement in advancing workers’ rights and protecting union jobs.

Throughout the rally, speakers stressed that the people who keep Florida’s economy running deserve a fair share of the wealth they create—not policies that leave wages behind while living expenses continue to rise.

The gathering concluded with a powerful expression of union solidarity, reinforcing the IAM’s commitment to standing together for working families.

The message was clear: working people deserve a voice, a fair wage and a seat at the table. Through union solidarity and political action, Florida IAM Union members are working to ensure that the interests of working families remain at the center of the state’s future.

The post Florida IAM Members Rally Behind Pro-Labor Candidates, Fight for Working Families appeared first on IAM Union.

IAM Union members joined IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez and fellow labor activists in Tucson on Saturday, Oct. 17, to get out the vote and build support for candidates who will stand with working families.

The Arizona AFL-CIO’s canvass launch brought together union members and community allies to defend the freedom to vote and emphasize the stakes for workers in the upcoming midterm elections. The event is part of the IAM’s largest national midterm election mobilization effort to date, engaging members in battleground states through direct conversations about workers’ priorities.

See Photos: 2026 Tucson GOTV Rally

Martinez, a Tucson native, addressed the gathering alongside AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Pima Area Labor Federation Chair Cecilia Valdez.

“We have to believe in ourselves and in the power we have when we stand together,” said Martinez. “I know how hard our families work and what it means to fight for a good cause. Good jobs, fair wages, and a better future for our children are worth that fight. When we come together, knock on doors and get out the vote, we can make real change for working people.”

Watch: IAM Western Territory General Vice President Martinez on the importance of getting out the vote

Following the rally, IAM members joined their union siblings and allies to knock on doors across Tucson, talking with voters about the importance of making their voices heard and electing labor-friendly candidates.

Those conversations focused on issues that affect working families every day, including wages, benefits, retirement security, and the right to organize and bargain collectively. Members also discussed the need to fight economic inequality and an economy that concentrates wealth in the hands of billionaires at the expense of working families.

IAM members are taking the same solidarity they bring to the bargaining table into their communities, encouraging fellow workers to vote and help elect leaders who will stand up for working people.

The post IAM Union Members Hit the Doors in Tucson to Mobilize Working Families for Midterm Elections appeared first on IAM Union.

As IAM retirees clubs continue to grow, the union is looking for meaningful ways to keep retirees connected, engaged and supported. Access to guidance on Medicare options is one way the IAM can deliver a lasting benefit to members as they move into retirement.

Listen to this episode on your favorite platform here.

On this episode of Shift Change, International President Bryant sits down with Andrea MonteCalvo of Employee Benefits Systems (EBS) to discuss the IAM’s custom Medicare options for retirees. They explore how retirees can get personalized help understanding their coverage options and where to turn for more information.

To learn more, call 1-833-443-1942, visit ebsretireesolutions.net or contact us at retirees@ebsworksite.com. You can also visit ebsworksite.com.

Your union wants you to be aware that these benefits exist and that they may be helpful to you. Your union, however, is not party to any agreement you enter into with Employee Benefit Systems and is not responsible in any way for the operation or administration of any plans.

The post Shift Change Podcast: Medicare Options and a Lasting Benefit for IAM Retirees appeared first on IAM Union.

Cheryle Eckhardt, a 29-year veteran of the airline industry, an IAM member at Sky Harbor Local 2559, and a member of District 142, offers her firsthand perspective on how economic issues are prompting her to volunteer this year in the midterm election. Eckhardt is walking neighborhoods, educating fellow union members in Arizona about the importance of voting for pro-labor candidates.

View the video here. 

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For the IAM Union, being an advocate for the membership is part of a deeper responsibility – a responsibility to ensure that the membership it serves has a seat at every table. From corporate boardrooms, when it comes time to negotiate substantial contracts, to making sure that those who represent us in government know where workers’ priorities lie.

Over the weekend, IAM Union International President Brian Bryant and other IAM leadership visited with members to hear firsthand how organizing with the IAM is delivering a stronger voice in the workplace, dignity, respect, and justice on the job.

Leaders spoke with members at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, where the IAM organized over 1,000 highly skilled Patient Care Associates (PCAs) and Psychiatric Care Technicians (PCTs). IAM Healthcare Bargaining Committee Member and now Chief Steward, Kelly Williams, welcomed leadership and expressed appreciation for their visit. A desire to become more involved in their union and the benefits of negotiating and signing their first contract were the top topics of discussion during Bryant’s visit.

This first agreement offers a robust compensation package and includes strong language to support our continued growth. PCAs and PCTs now receive the professional recognition they deserve, and together, they are leveraging the tools secured in this agreement to champion safe staffing and patient care.

View photos here.

Holding true to their mantra, IAM Healthcare works to provides healthcare members with a center of resources to organize new members and grow power in a rapidly changing and evolving industry, bargain strong and effective agreements with employers that ensure our members have a voice in quality patient care, and strategically advocate on legislation and policies that impacts and governs our professions and the conditions under which we provide care to our patients.

PCAs and PCTs at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center are a testament to the commitment to healthcare workers.

Additionally, Bryant and the leadership delegation attended the Ohio State Council of Machinists in Columbus and carried the Workers vs. Billionaires message to the delegates.

“A family can do everything right—work hard, play by the rules and save what they can—and still feel like they are one emergency away from losing everything,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Workers create the wealth—but billionaires take more and more of it!”

Watch the video here. 

In an economic environment where the cost of everything has skyrocketed, the only group not feeling the economic impact is billionaires. In recent memory, basic necessities were out of reach for a large portion of North America’s middle-class workforce. Today, the staggering trend continues to push the middle class further into poverty – a trend which, by all standards, cannot continue.

As the middle class slips further, rising inequality is the root of the affordability problem, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Policymakers must look at the affordability crisis as an inherent cause.

“This union will never tell you who to vote for,” said IAM Union Political and Legislative Director Hasan Solomon. “Our job is to educate the membership about what’s at stake, how the current political candidates stand on issues affecting labor and working families.”

View photos here.

Ohio State Council President D. Scott Rich opened the one-day conference to carry the message that, with the IAM Union, the solutions are clear. This election season is no longer just a season. Outcomes from this election cycle will determine whether there is any recovery for the American workforce.

“This is not about the D or the R next to your name, it’s not about being the Independent voter,” said IAM Ohio State Council President D. Scott Rich. “This is about voting for who is going to fight and support you and your family and all working families in Ohio and elsewhere”

In a traditional fashion, the state council provided an opportunity for current working family candidates in Ohio to address the delegation.

The IAM Union has a long history of supporting working family candidates through the Machinist Non-Partisan Political League, ensuring that working families’ voices are heard on Capitol Hill.

As the IAM continues to ramp up, people are engaged and excited. We’re seeing sky-high energy and optimism across the country as we fight for real change for working people. IAM Union members have the power to make a difference. Please join us in getting out the vote. Find out where and how you can participate here.

The post Ohio Healthcare Workers are Joined by IAM Leadership to Reflect on Life-Changing First Contract; Ohio IAM Rallies Across The State For Economic Justice appeared first on IAM Union.