WASHINGTON, June 27, 2025 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), representing 600,000 active and retired members across North America, is calling on U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd to oppose proposed Medicaid cuts in the reconciliation package (H.R. 1) that threaten healthcare access for working families and could force the closure of rural hospitals across North Carolina.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant issued a letter urging Senators Tillis and Budd to reject the legislation, citing its devastating effects on healthcare access and economic stability in North Carolina communities. The IAM Union represents thousands of workers in the state, including at Spirit AeroSystems in Kinston and among airline workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
“These harmful cuts would not only strip coverage from hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, but also endanger the viability of hospitals and clinics that our members and their families rely on,” wrote IAM Union International President Bryant. “Even the best health insurance means little if the nearest hospital is closed or overwhelmed. The IAM is proud to negotiate strong healthcare benefits for our members. However, no bargaining agreement can replace a shuttered emergency room or a defunded clinic. We need Senators Tillis and Budd to protect the people they serve and reject these reckless cuts.”
It’s projected that more than 270,000 North Carolinians will lose their Medicaid coverage if the proposal passes. Meanwhile, reports indicate at least five rural hospitals in the state are at risk of closing due to financial shortfalls. North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services warns that the proposed Medicaid cuts will strain the state’s already-fragile rural healthcare network, where many providers depend on Medicaid reimbursements to stay operational.
Read the letters to U.S. Senators Tillis and Budd.
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.
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