WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2024 — Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), releases a statement announcing the IAM Union’s full-scale political mobilization in battleground states ahead of the 2024 election:
“As the nation’s largest aerospace, airline, transportation, and defense labor union, the IAM Union will join the National AFL-CIO political program, where union volunteers will engage voters at worksites, door-to-door, and by phone daily between now and November 5.
“Our union is committed to electing pro-labor, worker-supportive candidates. This is vital to protecting working families—ensuring good jobs, pensions, Social Security, the right to organize, and workplace safety. In this critical election, IAM members will stand alongside our allies, reaching out to voters to ensure our voices are heard.
“Helping elect Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for President and Vice President of the United States is vital to our union. Vice President Harris has proven herself a tireless advocate for working families, leading efforts like the American Rescue Plan and the CHIPS Act—legislation that saved IAM jobs and paved the way for a strong, union-centered economy. Governor Walz, a former union member, has an impeccable record of passing pro-worker laws in Minnesota, making him the ideal running mate.
“The American people, especially working families, face a clear choice. We need experienced leadership to continue the Biden administration’s progress in closing the gap between rich and poor, addressing retirement insecurity, and confronting growing domestic and global challenges. Future Supreme Court appointments will play a decisive role in protecting collective bargaining rights and defending unions from attacks.
“We are facing an urgent moment. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, our progress over generations is at risk. He has broken countless promises to our members, leading to the closure of at least 48 IAM-represented facilities and the loss of tens of thousands of IAM jobs. His failure to protect workers during the COVID-19 crisis and government shutdown had devastating consequences.
“Our union will activate our members through phone banks and labor walks in coordination with local and state AFL-CIO activities and other grassroots efforts to elect Harris, Walz, and other pro-labor candidates in key battleground states. This election is about rejecting fear, division, and exclusion. With our members’ commitment, we will continue to fight for a more just and equitable future for working people across this country.
The 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, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
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