Frank Wilson is a U.S. Navy Veteran, 18-year shop steward, and trustee of IAM Local 1005 in District W24. He works for the City of Portland, OR as a vehicle and equipment mechanic and is very passionate about helping U.S. military veterans struggling with mental health
Wilson is one of three local delegates on the steering committee for IAM’s Veterans Services Program. He has been attending classes at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center (W3) to become accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a representative. At one of the W3 classes, he was introduced to “Do Good Multnomah,” a non-profit organization that provides support services and low-barrier shelters to homeless veterans.
As a military veteran, Wilson knows how hard it can be to return to civilian life after being in the military.
“Going in was really easy,” said Wilson. “Coming out, man, that was one of the hardest times of my life. I have friends who have PTSD, so it means a lot to me, and it’s a way to help them since I can’t do it personally.”
Wilson was so impressed by the work Do Good does that he invited its director to speak at Local 1005 and then decided to participate in Do Good’s first-annual Ruck March fundraising event.
To prepare for the Ruck March, Wilson bought a new pair of boots and broke them in by walking around his neighborhood with a weighted backpack garnering donations. He pledged to shave his head as he had for Navy boot camp once he reached $500 in donations. Wilson kept his promise and shaved his head at the $500 benchmark after about two weeks of fundraising.
Wilson’s team, which he named “IAM Ruck On,” raised $1,099, the second-highest amount raised by the teams that participated. Altogether the March raised $14,000 total.
“It’s all going to an excellent cause. I want to take care of them,” says Wilson “My members who are veterans need love, and I don’t know who they are. I’m working on finding who our IAM veterans are with Veterans Services. I’m impatient to get them help; I just want to help.”
Wilson’s own local, Lodge 1005, contributed $220 for the 22 veterans in America who commit suicide every day, a somber statistic.
The March took place on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, in Portland, OR. Wilson carried a 35-pound rucksack for twelve miles. He was joined by his wife, Laura Wilson, W24 Business Representatives Dwain Panian and Larry Bickett with wife Carla Bickett, W24 Business Representative and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Carol Krohn, and fellow Navy veteran and Laborer’s Union Local Lodge 483 member Steven Burton.
“I have such a passion for this, and it’s nice to see others get excited about veterans’ stories,” says Wilson. “I’m just trying to help my friends.”
“Frank Wilson did a great job leading this effort,” said IAM Western Territory Vice President Gary R. Allen. “District W24 and the Western Territory support veterans as much as we can. The Veterans Services Program is a great resource for our members, and we’re proud of Frank and Local 1005 for getting involved and using the program to become a VA representative and help our veteran members.”
The leadership of the new IAM Rail Division recently witnessed the skilled craftsmanship of IAM Local 1676 (District 19) members at the Norfolk Southern facility in Conway, PA.
Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President, joined District 19 General Chairs James Orwan and Jason Gibbs on a tour of the locomotive repair facility, talking to IAM members along the way.
“Our membership is closely watching the national freight negotiations,” said Hartford. “We have been, and will continue to, urge Norfolk Southern and every freight railroad to negotiate a fair agreement with our union coalition.”
The IAM, along with the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), has also worked to combat the negative effects of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which has caused members at Local 1676 and elsewhere to work longer hours with less staff.
IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes has appointed Chiqui Guevara to serve as a Grand Lodge Auditor. Guevara will service and assist District and Local Lodges in the Eastern and Western Territories.
“We welcome Chiqui to the Grand Lodge Auditing Team and look forward to the contributions she will continue to make to our membership,” said Cervantes. “With her talent and eagerness to serve our members, Guevara will add a fresh perspective and renewed points of view to the General Secretary-Treasurer’s Department.”
“The IAM has taken a stance to diversify and to acknowledge those who have the skills and talent to service our membership,” said Paul Kendall, Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer. “Sister Guevara will be a great addition to the team, she is the future of the IAM.”
Guevara began her career with the IAM in 2008 when she was hired on as an Aircraft Mechanic III (Armament) for M1 Support Services at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
She helped charter her Local SC711 and went on to become the Secretary-Treasurer for the lodge and serve as the shop steward for the Armament Backshop. Guevara chairs the Local’s Women’s and Human Rights Committee, Negotiations Committee, and By-Laws Committee. She assists with organizing efforts to recruit new members and participates in fundraising events for Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines.
Guevara is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and is highly trained and performs off-aircraft maintenance on weapons delivery and gun systems, including the F-15 C/D/E, F-16, A-10, and F-22s. She possesses a government security clearance, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and is currently working on a master’s degree in psychology and other certifications.
IAM District 70 in Wichita, KS, partnered again with the United Way of the Plains on Memorial Weekend for a Flags of Freedom celebration at the lodge’s union hall. The two-week display of 600 American flags is part of a collaboration to honor, celebrate and remember veterans on Memorial Day.
As a tribute to our great men and women of the United States, Armed Forces for Military Appreciation Month, and Memorial Day, sponsors offered the American flags to support the local United Way community and veteran’s programs.
“Each year now, we place these flags representing our brothers and sisters of the military, and I am humbled every time,” said Cornell Beard, IAM District 70 President and Directing Business Representative. “I learned long ago that freedom isn’t free; just these 600 flags are a small representation of the freedoms we have been given. Thank you all, and God bless all.”
“I am again in awe of the outpouring of respect and love given to our Veterans during the Flags of Freedom Weekend,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “I commend and thank District 70 and all the Machinists who organized and delivered such a great weekend for our military and community. Supporting our military has always been of great importance to the IAM.”
Sunday’s ceremony included posting the colors by the McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard, General Vice President Rickey Wallace, the United Way of the Plains, McConnell Air Force Base, the Wichita Mayor, District 70, and the Wichita-Hutchinson Labor Federation.
IAM members recently gathered in York, PA to hold the 76th annual Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists conference.
Over 100 delegates and guests attended the three-day meeting, with members from all over the state,.
“The participation was fantastic, and the support from Districts 1, 15, 65, 98, 141, and 142 has been incredible,” said Obie O’Brien, Pennsylvania State Council President. “We heard from many political speakers and our attendees were given lots of good information they will bring back to the membership.”
The big message this year was the importance of voting.
“We won’t tell members how to vote, but we sure will educate them on who in Harrisburg and Washington are supporting union labor,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan
The mid-term election this fall will be on Nov. 8 and members in Pennsylvania and around the country are strongly encouraged to register and vote.
The Machinists Wood, Pulp and Paper Council is happy to announce that its 3rd Annual Virtual BBQ Competition—Chillin’ and Grillin’ for Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines is being held Saturday, August 20!
The fundraiser’s goal is to raise money for GDA/TLC, which transforms lives through partnerships with service dogs for countless veterans, people who are blind/visually impaired, families affected by autism, and facilities in need that depend on GDA’s services every day.
To continue to be successful, GDA/TLC depends on the talents, goals and generosity of dedicated volunteers and donors like IAM members across North America.
For further information, please contact Terri Kenealy at 301-967-4555.
IAM Local 1943 members Jeff Esposito (left) and Cody Lay shown working at the #4 Aluminized Line, a hot-dip carbon and stainless coating line.
In southwestern Ohio, nearly 1,900 IAM members operate and maintain a fully integrated steel mill that sprawls across 2,800 acres of land. Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works has carbon steel melting and casting operations and produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and finished steel, all starting from raw materials.
You can find the high-quality steel produced by these members in your cars, home appliances, heating ventilation, air conditioning systems, and culverts throughout your cities. Steel has been made at this facility for over 120 years.
One of the buildings at this facility is the Cliffs’ Maintenance Training Center.
On this morning, the training center is abuzz as members of IAM Local 1943 participate in different classes throughout the building, learning and honing their maintenance skills. The welding lab is nearly half full of people practicing their welding, burning, and grinding under the instruction of the welding instructor and Local 1943 member Bruce Gibbs.
How the Program Works
Entry into the apprenticeship program is based on seniority in each member’s department. Once the member passes a few basic classes, they move on to the apprenticeship program.
“You start out in math, then as long as you pass your math test, you get to move on to what they call skills and trade,” said seven-year member and Journeyman Jessica Pabst. “They have to make sure everybody knows how to use power tools, hand tools, tap and dye, burning, etc. Just general simple maintenance things to get the basics.”
The main structure of the class consists of 1,620 hours of class and lab work, and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training alongside a journeyman. The entire training takes 18 to 20 months to finish. Upon completion, each apprentice becomes a certified journeyman maintenance mechanic through the state of Ohio.
“They have to pass all the classes with a 70% or higher throughout each grading period and achieve those hours in order to be considered a finished Journeyman under our standards,” said IAM Local 1943 Educator and Training Director Willie Parman.
The apprenticeship program at Cliffs Middletown Works is instructed by union journeymen with decades of experience in the plant. From left to right: Bruce Gibbs, Steve Poff, Todd Cramer, John Giltrow, and Chad Johnson.
The training center has labs set up with the exact same equipment as the apprentices will be working on in the mill.
“It’s amazing that in a controlled environment we can literally simulate every issue that you would have on a direct current crane board in the mill without actually being 50 feet up in a crane or having to disrupt production,” said eight-year member and South Processing Maintenance Apprentice Jeff Esposito.
“I gained so much confidence actually working on this stuff here in the lab that we’ll be working on out there in the mill,” said seven-year member and now BOF Maintenance Journeyman Carlos Hall. “Like the hydraulic simulators, the welding lab, and the brakes, anything that we have here, it actually stuffs you will be working on out there. It’s all hands-on stuff. You can’t ask for anything better than that.”
“It’s like an industrial college campus,” said Parman. “It’s went from just bare floors and old machines to a state-of-the-art training center. I took my pipe fitting class upstairs, it was in the old rigging shop lunchroom. You could look out over the building from that catwalk up there and there was nothing in here. It had been sitting empty for years. Cleveland-Cliffs is going to invest in a roof for the whole facility.”
The training center has quite a few different classes being taught in addition to the apprenticeship program. Current Journeyman is able to refresh their skills by taking “a la carte” classes for pipefitting, pneumatic training, rigging basics and safety, electric and hydraulic brake training, fluid power training, coupling basics, and installation, and many other subjects.
Another impressive aspect of the training program developed by Local 1943 and Cliffs is that all training is done during normal working hours and the apprentices are paid their wage rate, whether in the classroom or performing on-the-job training.
The program allows members to advance in their careers, without sacrificing their much-limited time with their families.
“You know, working the way that we do, around the clock with rotating shifts, it’s very difficult to take any kind of higher-level education, apprenticeship, or anything like that,” said Cold Mill Maintenance Apprentice Shane Claxton, who has been at Middletown Works for 20 years. “But the way they’re doing it now, they offer an 18-month class and they pay us to be here Monday through Friday. It’s really amazing what they’ve put together for us.”
One thing that separates this program from others is that all the classes are instructed by a union Journeyman who has worked in the Middletown Works steel mill for decades and bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. The six union instructors have a combined total of over 175 years of experience working in the plant.
Learning from highly experienced, fellow union members is something many of the apprentices say makes this program special.
“They’re giving you their insider info. If you’re willing to listen, they’re going to talk,” said 11-year member and South Processing Maintenance Apprentice Cody Lay. “And then with the on-the-job training, the older guys that have 30 and 40 years have taken me under their wing and they’ll sit down and give you the college education on an individual piece of equipment throughout the plant that you can’t get anywhere else.”
“These are some of the best instructors, and the best maintenance guys in the mill,” said Esposito. “That has really been my favorite part, the opportunity to learn from guys that really know how this mill runs. You can’t put a value on learning from the guys that we learned from over here.”
The morning sun shines through the building that houses the steelmaking and casting operations at Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works. The facility can produce 3 million net tons of raw steel annually.
“All of them are great,” said Hall. “They made sure that you’re not left behind make sure everyone understands what’s going on. They all have a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. They make it fun for you as well, and that is important too.”
One of those instructors is third-generation Middletown Works employee John Giltrow. The Pipefitting instructor is No. 6 on the seniority list and could be working just about any job in the mill.
“I think I just got to the point in my career where I just felt like, you know, it was time for me to give back a little bit more than what I was doing on my
old job,” said Giltrow. “I’m going to be relying on these guys for my retirement and my pensions and stuff like that, you know, so we want to keep these doors open.”
Passing on that knowledge has been some of the most rewarding work he has done in his 43 years in the mill.
“I’ve seen a lot of things, and picked up a lot of knowledge along the way,” continued Giltrow. “To be able to pass that on to a younger generation of students that are really interested in what you’re doing, and see them really apply themselves and they really pick it up is very satisfying. To see their growth and what they’ve done to get to where they’re at, it brings you satisfaction. It’s great to see their gratitude that they have, it’s very special.”
Just a few short years ago, the building that houses the training center and its high-tech training modules looked much different than it does today.
When the Middletown Works facility was previously owned by AK Steel, there was an apprentice program in place through a local community college. AK ended that program in 2005 and eventually locked out the union workforce in 2006 for more than a year until a new labor agreement was reached.
Upon return from the labor dispute, there was no maintenance training at all. Local leadership knew this was not sustainable.
“There was no pathway into maintenance, it was kind of all over the place,” said Local 1943 President and Directing
Business Representative Neil Douglas. “They would accept some people into maintenance based on past qualifications and some they wouldn’t. It was chaotic at best and they were contracting out a lot of the work here. And frankly, I thought the company’s [AK Steel’s] position was just to do away with any kind of skilled trades by attrition.”
In 2011, the Local 1943 membership ratified a new contract that included 10 cents for every hour worked by all members to go into a training fund and could only be used by mutual agreement for training.
“We came back with a plan that partnered up again with a local community college,” continued Douglas. “It wasn’t exactly the ideal training we were looking for, but it was better than having nothing. Even the company started to recognize that it wasn’t adequate for what we do out here in the steel mill. In the next negotiations, we expanded on it and gradually got to the point through discussions, even outside of negotiations to partner up with the company and grow it.”
It is worth noting that this all transpired while Middletown Works was owned by AK Steel. In 2020, AK Steel was acquired by Cleveland-Cliffs, now the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America.
Since the acquisition, the relationship between the union and the company has flourished, and so has the Apprenticeship Training Program. Cliffs are not only investing in the program but also in its workforce.
“It speaks volumes,” said Hall, “They buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment just to educate us and get us to the best of our abilities to do our job better job for them. I think that is phenomenal.”
“You have a lot of people, for the company and the union, that worked really hard to give us this opportunity,” said Esposito. “They’ve worked together to make their employees and our members more valuable. It’s an amazing thing how they did this and it’s something you don’t often see. It’s a good example of how things can be when the company works with you and vice versa.”
“You’re not going to find this training anywhere, really,” said 18-year member and Zinc Grip Department Maintenance Apprentice Brian Sorrell. “I hired in 2003, and this is something that I’m not used to, we’ve always butted heads on pretty much every issue. And now it’s so much better than Cliffs has come on board. I mean, they’ve dumped so much money into this and they’re backing this program. It’s great. Everyone’s kind of working together and we are all going to reap the benefits of all this.”
Local 1943 members Carlos Hall and Justin Fletcher make repairs to the hood above the steelmaking vessel at Cliffs Middletown Works. Both members were part of the latest class of apprentices to graduate from the program.
“The training program that has been built at Middletown Works through the collaboration of Local 1943 and Cliffs is outstanding,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “They both are making an investment in the mill’s greatest resource, its workers.
I couldn’t be more proud of the foresight of the leadership and the progress that has been made there.”
Something many of the apprentices says they are looking forward to is helping the next generation of students get to their journeyman status.
“I would love to mentor somebody coming through this program, because I’ve been through it, and I know what they’re going through,” said 12-year member Justin Fletcher. “This program is just so great that anybody coming through it is really going to benefit from it. I can’t wait to see younger guys coming through it and see where they’re going with it. It’s going to be awesome.”
“I’m a huge supporter of recruiting people along the way,” said Sorrell. “I find people that are in the production and I say, ‘Hey, the next program that comes available, you need to take advantage of that.’ And there’s always the, ‘Well, I’m not very good at math, I haven’t been in school forever, I don’t know how to do this.’ I tell them they would teach you everything you need to know.”
By the end of the summer of 2022, nearly 100 apprentices will have graduated from the program. In addition, more than 400 members have benefited from the “a-la-carte” maintenance classes since their inception.
At a plant that has been making steel for over 120 years, IAM Local 1943 has worked with Cleveland-Cliffs to invest in the workforce and ensure they can continue making it for 120 more.
The Maine State Council of Machinists met in South Portland on June 4 to brainstorm about organizing, union power and holding public servants accountable.
As the largest defense and aerospace union in North America, the IAM staunchly supports the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program and the essential resources required to maintain its success.
The Machinists Union applauds the work of U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Douglas Lamborn (R-CO), who authored a letter asking Air Force Secretary Frank Kendell III to continue making the NSSL program a priority.
“Consistent, robust support of this highly successful program is essential to ensuring our national security, maintaining the U.S. advantage as the world leader in space, and bolstering our domestic space industrial base and the workforce that ensures the program’s success,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in a letter supporting the effort.
The bipartisan Congressional letter outlines the need for a resilient and reliable space program, including the NSSL program, which will continue to keep the nation safe and deter aggressions from outside threats.
Machinists Union members have played a vital role in the success of the U.S. space program since its inception, with generations of IAM members working to maintain and further a space program that is second to none.
From coast to coast, the IAM represents thousands of highly-skilled workers throughout the NSSL program, from launch sites to manufacturing facilities at United Launch Alliance, Kennedy Space Center and beyond. Continued support of this program is vital to our member’s jobs, the domestic economy and U.S.national defense.
Across the country women are on the move in the IAM. In the IAM’s airline division alone, 13 IAM women serve as local presidents. Some are new to the position, while others have years of service to the membership.
“Each and every one of these women are trailblazers,” said IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “All of them have led the way and by doing so laid the path for other women to follow behind them.
My appreciation goes out to each of them for their hard work and dedication to the members and the Machinists Union.”
Thanks to a newly launched IAM program called “LEADS” which stands for “Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters,” the trend should continue to grow. The LEADS Program is a mentoring program designed to continue the advancement of IAM women by offering new pathways to leadership for the sisters of our union family.
Sharon Sugiyama Local 2339G
Sharon Sugiyama started her career in June 1992 with Continental Micronesia as an airport sales agent and then a load planning specialist. She also worked as a lead customer service representative and most recently became a storekeeper with United Airlines.
In 1997, when Continental Micronesia was represented by another union, she became a shop steward and was involved with several negotiations. Under that union, she was elected as the committee chair for passenger service and held that position until 2012.
In 2012, during the merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, passenger service voted for representation with IAM. Sugiyama was voted in as the president of the new IAM Local 2339G. She continues to hold that position.
In 2015, Sugiyama was appointed the IAM vice president in Guam and most recently was re-elected to serve another four-year term. In 2021, she became an AFL-CIO delegate for the IAM.
Sugiyama credits her success to the IAM leadership and being able to help working people in Guam understand the importance of being a part of the union.
Kiana Peacock Local 601
Kiana Peacock was born and raised in Kotzebue, AK, and started with Alaska Airlines in January 1995 as a ramp agent in Kotzebue after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in December 1994. Peacock transferred to customer service in April 1995 and became a shop steward in 1997 for Kotzebue at the urging of District 143 General Chair Don Welch.
In 1998, she transferred to Anchorage where she continues to serve as a shop steward. In 1999, she was elected and served as local trustee until 2005. From 2000 until 2010 she was elected and served as chief shop steward. In 2008, she was appointed as District 142 vice president of Alaska Airlines until 2011. She was elected as president of Local 601 in 2005 where she currently serves.
Peacock was elected as a delegate to three Grand Lodge Conventions, District Conventions, and Transportation Conferences. She is especially proud of completing the four-year cycle of leadership programs at the Winpisinger Center.
Lorraine Fraser Local 846
Lorraine Fraser initiated into IAM Local 846 in Baltimore in 2002 as a customer service agent for Southwest Airlines. Since then she has served as the chairperson for the legislative committee, elected as shop steward, trustee, vice president, and then elected as president of Local 846.
Fraser was recently appointed to vice president of Southwest Airlines at District 142. Safety being one of her priorities, she served as an associate instructor under the IAM CREST U.S. Transportation Department grant.
Fraser worked on several organizing campaigns for her local lodge, as well as District 141 and 142.
When Fraser first began her union career, she never dreamed where it would take her. She took the position of the legislative committee chairperson as a favor to the local president at the time, and shortly after, she was on the executive board.
Fraser is a very active union member who believes the labor movement has a duty to educate, motivate and inspire the membership to understand the values of our union. She loves the challenges union work brings and enjoys mentoring new stewards and officers.
Wendy Goodell Local 1782
Wendy Goodell began her career at United Airlines in 1997 as a customer service representative at San Francisco International Airport. Because of a passion to travel, along with helping others, her dream has always been to work in the airline industry. Goodell has worked just about every customer service and lead position at United Airlines, including lobby, gates, baggage service, international arrivals and premium service – which consists of the United Club, Global Service and Polaris.
When asked to become a shop steward more than 10 years ago, she expected the role to be temporary. However, she has continued as a shop steward to the present. In her union career, she has also served as Customer Service assistant committee person, IAM Local 1782 vice president and currently serves as its president.
During her long and extensive career at United she has assisted numerous members with issues and or concerns both union and non-union related. Goodell has had the opportunity of attending all leadership classes at the Winpisinger Center, the IAM women’s conference in Las Vegas, along with committee conferences and district conventions.
Lydia Roman Local 2220
Lydia Roman started with Southwest Airlines in 1999, knowing nothing about unions for years. One day, she needed help from a union representative and could not get it. That’s when she started investigating, telling herself no one should struggle to get union help.
Shortly afterward, she became a shop steward at the urging of Larry Morgan and Gary Collins. Roman says she’s very passionate about what she does as a steward, and loves upholding the contract and helping members.
Roman became Local 2220 president in 2017, again pushed to do so by her peers. Currently in her second term, she hopes to run again.
As the president, she started a political committee and a community service committee. She continues to ensure to the best of her ability that her members have a successful union, and she enjoys attending classes at the Winpisinger Center to learn all that is needed in order to do a good job as president.
Roman credits Rachel Cavasos, a previous Southwest Airlines agent and local president, with helping her through all of this. She also looked up to IAM Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes with her courage and strength that pushed her to say, “I can do this.”
Maria Victoria Schoening Local 845
Maria Schoening started at Continental Airlines on the ramp in Cleveland in 2000. She became involved with the IAM during the process of having an election to choose between another union and the IAM. She educated herself about the IAM and decided that was the way she was going to vote, while educating as many of her coworkers as possible about the benefits of being a part of the IAM.
Once they became IAM members, she got involved by first volunteering to help around the local. Shortly after, her union president and chair Tony Media got her involved with the hazardous materials workers awareness train the trainer program for IAM CREST. After completing her training, she was part of the team that helped train other trainers in her station.
Schoening credits the guidance of Committee Chair Rod Fields, who made sure she had the tools and support to get her to this point, along with her former chair and former Local 845 Vice President Scott Mexiner and Assistant General Chair Kyle Carrol.
In January 2022, the opportunity to run for Local 845 president presented itself, and she was elected. Five of the eight board members are women. Schoening says she feels extremely lucky to get to work with these strong, intelligent sisters.
Dianne Willaum Local 1894
Dianne Willaum became an IAM member in 1987 after joining British Airways in New York. In 1994, she was elected as a shop steward for reservations and related, and in 1995 was elected as chief steward for reservations. In 1996, she was elected as trustee for Local 2656, and served on the negotiating committee until 1999 during negotiations with British Airways. In 1999, Willaum joined the IAM Transportation Organizing Team until 2001, and in 2002 was elected as District 142 vice president of British Airways.
Later in 2002, after a transfer to JFK customer service agent and Local 1894, Willaum was elected as shop steward for customer service, a position she has served now for two decades. In 2004, she was elected as trustee for Local 1894, and in 2007 was elected as the president of Local 1894 serving the membership in that capacity since. In 2020, she retired from British Airways.
She had the opportunity to work with wonderful union sisters and brothers including General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes during her two years organizing, and she worked with great members of IAM Headquarters and the Transportation and Legal departments.
Willaum credits the support and opportunities during her years as an IAM member for her success. She says she was very fortunate over the years to have access to some of our great union leaders. Carol Creamer and Maur
Nancy Jakubczak Local 1635
Nancy Jakubczak started with Southwest Airlines in 1994, and admittedly never really understood what a union about in the workforce and had no reason to inquire until witnessing a discussion between a member of management and a co-worker. She questioned the supervisor on his approach and the discussion he was having in front of other members and his response to her was, “why do you care, it’s none of your business.” Her response was, “you just made it my business by the way you are handling this.”
She was inspired to run for shop steward and was elected by her peers and has been representing the work group for over 24 years. The person who played the most important part in her career as a steward was her General Chair Ann Liu.
Eventually she became a trustee for Local 1635, later being asked by President Tish Kellogg to be recording secretary to fill a vacancy midterm and held that position for over six years. She went to training classes at the Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. Her president during the majority of her term was Beverly McMullan, who was a true mentor to her.
McMullan asked Jakubczak to run as her vice president and she gladly accepted. Both were elected by the membership in 2015. Sadly, President McMullan passed away suddenly in December 2016. As vice president, Jakubczak is now holding the position of local president. These were tough shoes to fill, but with the knowledge and friendship she learned from McMullan, she has succeeded.
Mary Sansom Local 1833
Mary Sansom began with the former Northwest Airlines flight kitchen in Minneapolis as a “packer” and initiated into the IAM in 1973, when co-worker and mentor Carol Borg took her to a union meeting.
In 1982, the mechanics and related workers went on strike against Northwest Airlines. That’s when her union career really took off. The local executive officers at the time did not want women to walk the picket lines, so during the strike they were assigned to manage strike headquarters by answering phones, assigning strike crews, and visiting the picket lines with refreshments.
In 1988, she attended her first Grand Lodge Convention in Atlanta and has been elected to many more since. She is grateful the Local 1833 membership has honored her so many times to represent them.
When the mechanics, cleaners and custodians voted in 1999 to leave the IAM, new leadership was needed and while she was attending a National Safety Council Labor Division Conference, Sansom learned that she had been nominated for the recording secretary position.
In 2010, Sansom retired from the airline, but not her union. From January 2000 until January 2022, she served as the Local 1833 recording secretary, and in January 2022 she took the oath of office as president of Local 1833.
Sansom is a proud 48-year IAM member who says “just because I retired from the company does not mean I retired from my union. Go union. Go IAM.”
Kari Hebert Local 2339N
Kari Hebert became an IAM member in 2010 when she was hired at ExpressJet, and began regularly attending meetings in 2012. In November 2020 she hired on at CommutAir to become an active member again after being furloughed by ExpressJet.
Hebert grew up in a union home, and her mother was an active union member. She was immersed in unionism and understood early on that one must actively participate. In her youth, Hebert held many picket signs, sat outside while her mother was in union meetings, and participated in various community service projects and organizing campaigns.
She credits her former coworker Banetta Jones with getting her involved with the IAM. She would always ask her to come to a union meeting. Hebert was reluctant at first, but it blossomed from there. Jones would always say “you have to get involved if you want to see the change that you desire.”
Along the way, Hebert held many positions including auditor, trustee, vice president, secretary treasurer, and grievance representative. She also served on the jumpseat committee, ERC/ASAP safety committee, women’s committee and human rights committee. Hebert worked on the Delta Air Lines organizing campaign in Atlanta and New York. In 2021, she was elected president of Local 2339N.
Jami Meyer Local 2909
Jami Meyer started with Southwest Airlines in December of 2011 and was initiated into the IAM.
Meyer has been in the airline industry for over 20 years with one airline or another. Because of her experience with her previous airline and no union, she lost pay with no recourse. She vowed not to let that happen again and became active in the union.
She was able to see the benefits of a union and found her voice to make sure that this did not happen again. Former Local 2909 President Carol Johnson took Meyer under her wing and showed her the strength in fighting for what the union stands for and that there is security in the work force.
In 2016, Meyer became a shop steward. In 2018, she was elected as vice president and in February 2022, when Johnson retired as local president, Meyer took over for Local 2909.
Kelli Apollo Local 949
Kelli Apollo initiated into the IAM after joining Southwest Airlines in 2001.
She admittedly became very vocal during one of their contract negotiations and had lots of questions. That’s when former Local 949 President Joy Asbill got Apollo involved, explaining to her that “your voice would be considerably louder if you were active in the lodge.” Asbill encouraged her to become a shop steward.
Apollo became an IAM shop steward in 2010, and was elected as a local trustee. In 2015 she became Local 949 vice president. She credits Asbill with mentoring her in all of her executive board positions. In 2017, when Asbill retired, Apollo became president.
Helena Thornton Local 1725
Helena Thornton started her career in August 2006 with US Airways in Charlotte, NC as a part-time fleet service agent and member of Local 1725. She was elected as a Shop Steward in 2008.
When Thornton started, she worked a lot of overtime to make ends meet and would read a lot of the US Airways policies and procedures to ensure she was working safe and would go back home the way she came into work that day. She was introduced to the grievance committee and they talked to her about the benefits of unionism and what it meant to her and her family.
As time passed, she found herself speaking up for what was right for members in many different situations and they would ask, “Helena, this has happened to me and I don’t think that’s right? Could you help me?” More and more she found herself helping members get their point across or making sure management was upholding the contract.
In 2010 she ran for conductor sentinel and lost by three votes, but never gave up, working harder to learn and it paid off because she was then elected to her first District 141 convention. Her hard work and determination to learn more paid off when she ran in 2013 for conductor sentinel and won.
She also became a delegate for her local lodge and attended her first Grand Lodge Convention, as well as the Transportation Conference and the women’s and human rights conference. During this time, she served on her local lodge’s women’s committee.
In 2016, Thornton was elected to serve as Local 1725’s recording secretary.
During her term as recording secretary, she was appointed to be an auditor to District 141. In 2019, Thornton was one of the three honorary recipients of the community service award from the Women’s Department at the IAM Women Rising Conference.
In 2022, Thornton was elected as the first woman president of her lodge.
Kiana Peacock was born and raised in Kotzebue, AK, and started with Alaska Airlines in January 1995 as a ramp agent in Kotzebue after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in December 1994. Peacock transferred to customer service in April 1995 and became a shop steward in 1997 for Kotzebue at the urging of District 143 General Chair Don Welch. 
Lorraine Fraser initiated into IAM Local 846 in Baltimore in 2002 as a customer service agent for Southwest Airlines. Since then she has served as the chairperson for the legislative committee, elected as shop steward, trustee, vice president, and then elected as president of Local 846. 
Wendy Goodell began her career at United Airlines in 1997 as a customer service representative at San Francisco International Airport. Because of a passion to travel, along with helping others, her dream has always been to work in the airline industry. Goodell has worked just about every customer service and lead position at United Airlines, including lobby, gates, baggage service, international arrivals and premium service – which consists of the United Club, Global Service and Polaris.
Lydia Roman started with Southwest Airlines in 1999, knowing nothing about unions for years. One day, she needed help from a union representative and could not get it. That’s when she started investigating, telling herself no one should struggle to get union help.
Maria Schoening started at Continental Airlines on the ramp in Cleveland in 2000. She became involved with the IAM during the process of having an election to choose between another union and the IAM. She educated herself about the IAM and decided that was the way she was going to vote, while educating as many of her coworkers as possible about the benefits of being a part of the IAM.
Dianne Willaum became an IAM member in 1987 after joining British Airways in New York. In 1994, she was elected as a shop steward for reservations and related, and in 1995 was elected as chief steward for reservations. In 1996, she was elected as trustee for Local 2656, and served on the negotiating committee until 1999 during negotiations with British Airways. In 1999, Willaum joined the IAM Transportation Organizing Team until 2001, and in 2002 was elected as District 142 vice president of British Airways.
Nancy Jakubczak started with Southwest Airlines in 1994, and admittedly never really understood what a union about in the workforce and had no reason to inquire until witnessing a discussion between a member of management and a co-worker. She questioned the supervisor on his approach and the discussion he was having in front of other members and his response to her was, “why do you care, it’s none of your business.” Her response was, “you just made it my business by the way you are handling this.”
Mary Sansom began with the former Northwest Airlines flight kitchen in Minneapolis as a “packer” and initiated into the IAM in 1973, when co-worker and mentor Carol Borg took her to a union meeting.
Kari Hebert became an IAM member in 2010 when she was hired at ExpressJet, and began regularly attending meetings in 2012. In November 2020 she hired on at CommutAir to become an active member again after being furloughed by ExpressJet. 
Jami Meyer started with Southwest Airlines in December of 2011 and was initiated into the IAM.
Kelli Apollo initiated into the IAM after joining Southwest Airlines in 2001.
Helena Thornton started her career in August 2006 with US Airways in Charlotte, NC as a part-time fleet service agent and member of Local 1725. She was elected as a Shop Steward in 2008.