The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) have announced that 90 Alstom employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have voted to join their unions. The election results were released on August 20, 2025.
These workers are responsible for operating and maintaining the Plane Train, an automated people mover system that transports about 250,000 passengers each day between terminals at what is recognized as the world’s busiest airport. The workers cited job security, fair wages, improved working conditions, and a desire for a stronger voice on the job as primary reasons for seeking union representation.
Organizers from IAM and TCU/IAM collaborated with the employees to explain union benefits and build support. The unions described this victory as part of a broader trend among transportation workers nationwide who are organizing for better workplace conditions.
With the vote complete, TCU/IAM will begin preparing for collective bargaining to negotiate a first contract reflecting members’ priorities.
“This victory marks a historic moment as the first joint organizing effort between TCU and the IAM, and we could not be prouder of the outcome,” said TCU/IAM National President Artie Maratea. “The Alstom workers, who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, perform vital work keeping hundreds of thousands of passengers moving safely every day through the world’s busiest airport. We proudly welcome these workers into our union family and look forward to negotiating a strong first agreement that secures the wages, benefits, and protections they deserve.”
Earlier in 2025, Alstom delivered new Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as part of an $87 million project aimed at improving reliability and expanding service for growing passenger numbers. In 2024, more than 108 million travelers passed through this airport.
“This organizing win is significant because the IAM Union was founded in Atlanta in 1888,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “More than 135 years later, workers in this city continue to carry forward the proud legacy of standing together for dignity, respect, and a better future. The Alstom Plane Train workers are now part of a union family with a history of fighting and winning for working people.”
The IAM Rail Division includes members from both TCU/IAM and IAM District 19. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents around 600,000 active and retired members across various industries in North America.
