IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed Brothers Brandon Hemming and Byron Williams as Special Representatives assigned to the Western Territory.
Brother Hemming grew up in an IAM home with his father being a 32-year member of District 751 employed at Boeing. Hemming began his own experience with the Machinists Union as a Heavy-Duty Diesel Mechanic with First Transit and initiated into Local 130 in March 2006.
Hemming was elected Shop Steward and Secretary Treasurer of Local 130 in 2010. He held that position while also serving as a delegate to the Washington State Council of Machinists, a delegate to the District Council, as well as a preforming the duties of a District Auditor. In 2012, Hemming was elected President of Local 130 and held the position until he became a full time Business Representative for District 160 in May 2013.
As a Business Representative, Hemming worked to establish District 160’s Young Machinists Committee and sat as a board member for the Snohomish County United Way. He also served as a Trustee on the Western Employee Benefit 401(k) Trust, the Western Metals Industry Pension Trust, the Automotive Machinists Pension Trust and the Northwest IAM Benefit Trust.
Brandon was given the opportunity to serve as the Assistant Directing Business Representative in 2018 and he continued in that position until this most recent appointment as Special Representative.
“I am very excited about the appointments of Brother Hemming and Brother Williams,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Both Brandon and Byron bring a wealth of knowledge and unique experiences and perspectives to the Territory. I appreciate their service and commitment to our union and the labor movement and look forward to what they will help us accomplish together in the future.”
Brother Williams also grew up in an IAM home, with his father being a 47-year member of IAM Local Lodge 15 employed at Wyman-Gordon Forgings, Inc. Hailing from Houston, Brother Williams serves as the first African-American President and Directing Business Representative for the Southern Territory’s District 37.
Williams initiated into IAM Local 15 when he was hired at Wyman-Gordon Forgings, Inc. in 1996. Having completed an inspector apprenticeship program in 2000, Williams became the Lead Quality Control and Dimensional Inspector for the Houston location.
As an active member of IAM Local 15, Williams served as Sub-Committeeman, Vice President and President prior to being appointed President and Directing Business Representative of District 37 in 2011. Williams is very skilled in negotiations, arbitrations, organizing drives, strike preparations and National Labor Relations Board processes.
Elected in 2016, Williams is also the first African-American to serve as President of the Texas State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, having previously served as Vice President for Region 6. Williams is also a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and is a Trustee and Executive Board Member to the Texas American Federation of Labor, where he is an inaugural member of the Racial Justice Advisory Task Force and Climate Change Advisory Board.
Additionally, Williams supports other union coalitions as an Executive Board Member including the A. Philip Randolph Institute/Houston-Tidelands Chapter, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists/Region 8, Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, Texas City Metal Trades Council, Texas Alliance for Retired Americans, Southern States Conference of Machinists, and the Texas Labor Management Conference.
Both appointments are effective September 1, 2021
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