The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Southern Territory recently held its Southern States Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi. Union members gathered to discuss strategies for defending and growing worker power across the southern United States.
Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, addressed delegates on the importance of political activism and alliances with legislative partners. “Our strength, our power, our solidarity is real,” said Martin. “We have to use that to engage in political processes to protect what we have and strengthen it for all workers. It’s how we tell those politicians what is important to us.”
IAM International President Brian Bryant highlighted the union’s commitment to holding elected officials accountable. “No matter who is in the White House, we will always back those who support bringing our jobs home, create opportunities to grow unions, and protect our retirement and healthcare,” said Bryant. “But we have to call them out when they don’t.” He also spoke about preparing future generations of union members and labor activists: “We’re moving fast in this country; there’s a group of workers who want to form unions, and we are going to be there for them. These negotiations and gains for our members create organizing opportunities. It’s an opportunity when we fight an employer and we’re successful, because non-union workers look at it and say ‘we want the same thing for us’.”
Dora Cervantes, IAM General Secretary-Treasurer, reported on the financial health of the union’s strike fund. “We are better prepared financially and structurally, so that we can go out there and fight back, just like we’re doing down in St Louis, and what we did at Boeing in Washington and Oregon,” said Cervantes. “We’ve got our reps and everybody out in the field standing ground with our striking workers as they walk the picket line.”
Hasan Solomon, IAM Legislative and Political Director, stressed the significance of political involvement for all workers: “If you are a worker in this country, you cannot afford not to be involved in politics. Everything that you do is political.”
Updates were provided by IAM Southern Territory International Representatives Julian Bruner, Charles Bennett, and Derek Cearley on new hire initiatives as well as organizing efforts. Programs related to disaster relief and retirees were also discussed.
During an open forum moderated by Mary McHugh from the IAM William W. Winpisinger Center, leaders including Richie Johnsen (Air Transport), David Sullivan (Eastern Territory), and Craig Martin shared their experiences with political engagement within the labor movement.
Mickey Carr from Mississippi AFL-CIO emphasized unity among southern states: “What happens in one southern state is bound to happen in all southern states” said Carr. “It takes all of us standing together in unity. Let’s be the spark that lights the fire of change.”
Julie Frietchen from IAM Women’s and Young Workers Department spoke about ongoing efforts toward equality within IAM through programs such as ‘Be More Than a Bystander’. She led a panel discussion on lobbying legislators effectively.
Carla Siegel, IAM General Counsel, warned about federal-level threats facing organized labor: “The problem in Washington right now is that the people who ran campaigns on backing working people are now attacking working people while in office,” said Siegel.
Sector updates were given by Craig Hughes (Automotive Department Director), Andrew Sandberg (Metal Trades), and Jason Schroeder (Veterans Program).
Taylor Rehmet—an IAM-endorsed candidate for Texas State Senate District 9—spoke about his journey into politics as a union member.
The conference concluded with participants sending messages of solidarity to striking members at Libbey Glass in Toledo; District 837 members striking in St. Louis; and federal employees facing challenges under current policies.
Addressing internal diversity of opinion regarding recent presidential administrations within union ranks, Bryant stated: “I don’t care how somebody voted. I know we’ve got people who voted for President Trump, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s our democracy in our country, and that’s our democracy in our Union,” he said before continuing: “But I know nobody in this union voted for President Trump thinking that he was going to take away bargaining rights for over a million people in the federal government…I know they didn’t vote for President Trump hoping that he would defund OSHA and incapacitate the NLRB…”
Bryant added: “This is what’s important: If you voted for him [Trump], you’ve got to make sure he knows that you don’t agree with what’s happening…when it comes to union rights…there’s nowhere to be but on the side of workers…Unfortunately President Trump and his billionaire buddies do not like organized labor because they know we’re the only voice for working people.”
