Veterans Day allows our nations to pay homage to the men and women who have served through military service and dedicated themselves to protecting our democracy.
This Veterans Day, our union is not just sending out a message of gratitude, but we are putting our words into action with our new IAM Veteran’s Services Program. This successful program is helping IAM members who are U.S. military veterans understand and apply for benefits they’ve earned after serving.
The IAM Veterans Services Program’s mission is to ensure veteran members and their families are cared for and given adequate support. The Veteran’s Services Program helps veterans correctly apply for VA benefits and compensation and offers aid in education, employment, home loans, life insurance, pension, health care, and burial benefits.
Our union is committed to honoring our brave men and women in our armed services. I want to commend our members, many of whom are veterans, who work to support our military members.
I encourage everyone to take a moment to thank a veteran for their service.
Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement:
“We are so proud that Machinists Union members from coast to coast joined millions of Americans to make their voices heard at a critical time for our democracy. The IAM took its grassroots political engagement program to swing states across the country to make a real difference in this election and the future of our nation.
“The IAM, the largest aerospace, defense, and airline union in North America, engages our members in the political process because elections affect everything about our lives—on and off the job. Our representation in Congress, state legislatures, and governorships directly affects our freedoms to join a union, retire with dignity, make our own healthcare choices, and so much more.
“The election results show that people care about protecting our democracy. Voters across our nation cast a ballot to continue the pro-worker, pro-democracy agenda of the Biden-Harris administration. IAM members will roll up their sleeves and work on implementing the historic investments for the airline, transit, aerospace, manufacturing, and other critical industries. It’s time for Congress to unite, grow our economy and create good-paying union jobs.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among North America’s largest industrial trade unions and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the airline, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, railroad, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
In the days leading up to Midterm Election Day 2022, IAM political volunteers have revved up efforts to encourage fellow Machinists Union members to vote in favor of pro-labor candidates running in battle-ground states across the country.
Electing pro-labor, worker-supportive candidates is imperative to protecting working families, their jobs, their pensions, their Social Security, their right to organize, and their safety at work.
Labor unions have been mobilizing for months to educate voters on the candidates. In a final push to energize voters and garner support for labor-endorsed candidates, Machinists Union members have rallied at GOTV events in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and more.
Political figures, including former U.S. President Barack Obama and current U.S. President Joe Biden, as well as labor leaders like AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFT President Randi Weingarten, spoke at the rallies in support of candidates who have vowed to stand with workers if elected.
Delegates from across OH & WV gathered in Cleveland for the Ohio State Council of Machinists meeting before midterm elections to talk with IAM members about their positions on our issues https://t.co/PGGGFdzHck
GOTV in North Long Beach with @joni_ricks_oddie and @d947iam It is essential that we connect with voters and turn out the vote. You should’ve received a ballot in the mail, fill it out and turn it! Vote early! pic.twitter.com/Z2SN9VJqsq
The IAM recently participated in Girls in Aviation (GIA) Day hosted by the Women in Aviation Chapter at Aviation High School in Long Island, NY. This year’s theme was Welcome to the World of Aviation.
The event brought unions, employers, student groups, resources, and other aligned affiliations to Aviation High School to help and support women, black and brown people, and other underrepresented groups within the male-dominated aviation industry.
The students were able to participate in a school tour and were able to speak to aviation professionals one-on-one.
IAM Associate Nicole Fears and District 141 Organizer Rachel Arnold represented the IAM at the GIA Day. Fears and Arnold provided encouragement, inspiration, and support to the students as they pursue careers in the aviation industry. They also focused on the importance of unions in the aviation industry. A strong emphasis was placed on why diversity matters in the workplace.
“I appreciate Nicole and Rachel sharing their experiences within the airline industry and our union,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “We have a strong relationship with Aviation High School, so events that help inspire more women to create a path to their aviation career are fully supported by the IAM.
The IAM has enjoyed a long partnership with Aviation High School and SUNY Empire State College (ESC). The partnership was recently developed with the help and support of the IAM, the United Federation of Teachers, and the American Federation of Teachers.
“Our relationship with Aviation High School means a lot to me personally,” said IAM Air Transport Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “These programs create equal opportunities for individuals to have careers in the airline industry. The IAM looks forward to growing this partnership, and we will continue to invest in the future generation of aviation workers.”
Aviation High School recently held its annual graduation ceremony, the first in-person event since the pandemic. Approximately 480 students received their high school diploma, with many earning their Airframe and Powerplant licenses certifying them to work as mechanics in the airline industry.
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed Shane Brinton as director of the IAM’s Healthcare Department. The appointment was effective November 1, 2022.
Shane comes to IAM with more than 15 years of experience in labor and political campaign strategy, representation, and advocacy. He is dedicated to building powerful worker organizations with the industrial and political strength to remake the healthcare system to serve healthcare professionals and their patients.
“Our union is committed to increasing our footprint in the healthcare industry,” said Martinez. “It starts with communicating with our members working in the healthcare industry and developing a strategic plan to help thousands of healthcare workers join the IAM. Shane’s experience will help us accomplish that goal. We are proud to have him leading our healthcare department.”
For the past decade, Brinton has represented and bargained on behalf of thousands of healthcare professionals, including laboratory and pharmacy staff, advanced practice clinicians, behavioral health staff, physical and occupational therapists, registered nurses, and nursing support staff. Brinton’s diverse experience also includes representing a wide range of public and community service employees, including county, city, and community nonprofit workers.
The IAM Healthcare Department provides IAM healthcare members with a center of resources to organize new members and grow power in a rapidly changing and evolving industry. The IAM Healthcare Department works to bargain strong and effective agreements with employers that ensure our members have a voice in quality patient care and strategically advocate on legislation and policies that impact and govern our professions and the conditions under which we provide care to our patients.
Rise and Shine – AND GET OUT TO VOTE – Ohio! 
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York, Pa.