Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement on former President Trump’s visit to an IAM Union-represented facility, Precision Custom Components, in York, Pa.:
“As former President Donald Trump prepares to visit Precision Custom Components, we must remember the hard truths about his record with American workers. The IAM has consistently called out Trump’s failures during his time in office.
“When Trump took office, we pledged to call balls and strikes with his administration.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t take long to strike out with the IAM. Throughout his presidency, Trump’s policies and inaction led to the closure of nearly 48 IAM-represented plants, devastating countless families and communities. Despite our numerous requests for help to save these jobs, Trump remained silent, showing where his true priorities lay.
“From Harley-Davidson in Missouri to Schneider Electric in Indiana, Trump’s administration failed to act, allowing U.S. jobs to be shipped overseas and plants to shutter. His “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was a massive corporate giveaway that did nothing for American workers while benefiting CEOs and shareholders. The so-called tax reform only accelerated job losses eroded the foundation of American manufacturing and devasted the IAM Union.
“Trump’s record is a catalog of empty promises and broken commitments. He assured us that ‘U.S. workers won’t lose one plant’ on his watch, but the reality differed. The IAM saw jobs being outsourced and plants being closed, all while Trump focused on policies favoring the wealthy and powerful. Trump recently laughed with his billionaire buddy Elon Musk about firing striking workers. He’s not even pretending to stand with workers any more.
“In stark contrast, the Biden-Harris administration has shown a genuine commitment to labor and working families. Through initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, they have worked tirelessly to revitalize American industry and create good-paying jobs. The Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to enforce Buy American provisions and invest in infrastructure have benefited IAM members.
“In September, over 1,000 IAM delegates representing every local and district within our union will gather in New York City at the 41st IAM Grand Lodge Convention to decide on the IAM Union endorsement for the 2024 presidential election.
“We cannot afford to return to the days of Trump’s broken promises. The future of our union and our country depends on moving forward, not backward. The IAM Union will continue to fight for leaders who genuinely support labor and protect the rights and jobs of working people.
“Donald Trump had his chance, and he failed us. Our members will choose whether to endorse a leader who stands with labor to build a brighter future for American workers or one who uses workers as props for his press conferences.
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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