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IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge recently joined Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris, Sarah Bright, Organizing Director at SEIU 925, and Indira Mohan, Associate Director of Organizing at AFL-CIO/AFSCME DC 37, to talk about how to become a union organizer, why union activism is increasing, and how to confront employer opposition to worker organizing.

When asked why he became an organizer, Juan reflected on his earliest memories of his father, the late retired IAM Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge and his activism in the labor union movement. This upbringing instilled a strong sense of social justice and a desire to fight for what’s right.

WATCH: Labor Organizers Roundtable w Sarah Bright, Indira Mohan, & Juan Eldridge

The Power At Work blog advocates for sustained and effective worker power through collective action and the establishment of self-funding, democratic organizations. By challenging powerful entities like employers, Wall Street, and the government, the blog aims to shift the discourse in the United States to prioritize workers’ self-determination and empowerment, highlighting the importance of unions and worker-led initiatives in shaping economic and workplace decisions.

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IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed José Amill as an IAM Organizing Special Representative. The appointment was effective March 1, 2024.

Amill’s dedication to his community and peers has been evident throughout his career. Starting as Chief Steward for District 98, Local 2367, he tirelessly advocated for the rights and well-being of fellow workers. His commitment and leadership qualities quickly propelled him to the position of Vice President within the same local lodge.

His journey continued to evolve as he embraced the role of a Union Organizer at District 98 in the Eastern Territory, where he worked diligently to empower workers and strengthen the labor movement. Amill’s expertise and tenacity earned him the position of Grand Lodge Associate Organizer within the IAM Organizing Department, where he continues to champion the rights and interests of workers across various industries.

“José’s unwavering commitment to the labor movement and his tireless efforts are truly inspiring,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We are fortunate to have him as an IAM Organizing Special Representative, and I am confident that he will help grow our great union.” 

Amill’s commitment to personal and professional development is evident in his achievements, including diplomas/certificates from the William Winpisinger Education and Technology Center for successful completion of programs such as Leadership and Organizing. His dedication to continuous learning further highlights his passion for the labor movement.

Amill’s bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English enables him to connect with and support a diverse range of workers and communities, making him an invaluable asset to the IAM.

“We welcome José to our strong organizing team,” said IAM Organizing Director Mike Evans. “We look forward to witnessing the impact he will make in his new role. His experience will help keep us as one of the top organizing unions in the labor movement.” 

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The IAM Organizing Department recently met in New Orleans to strategize for the future and brush up on the latest organizing tools.

The IAM has put unprecedented resources into organizing over the past several years, including the hiring of dozens of full-time organizers across the union. The IAM Organizing Department is looking to continue its success, which includes recent victories to organize nearly 1,000 healthcare workers and internal organizing in the federal sector. 

“The IAM Organizing Department is mobilized from coast to coast to grow our union,” said IAM Organizing Director Michael Evans. “I am so proud of our staff for continuing to grow their skills as we bring the benefits of IAM representation to working families in traditional and new industries alike.

The Organizing Department has also led training to organizers around North America with the new Basic Training for Organizers Program.

“Our staff is the best labor movement,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge. “They bring a wide variety of backgrounds and skillsets to every organizing campaign, and we’re looking forward to building on our success.”

IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett welcomed staff to the meeting and pledged the full support of International President Brian Bryant and the IAM Executive Council. The meeting featured specialized instruction from IAM Aerospace Chief of Staff Tony Wirth and Aerospace Coordinator Robert Barnwell, as well as Communications Director Jonathan Battaglia. 

“We are seeing collaboration at all levels of the IAM to grow our union,” said Bennett. “We are showing workers from coast to coast that the IAM is here and ready to fight for what working families deserve.”

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IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed longtime federal employee advocate and organizer Jerry McCarty as an IAM Organizing Special Representative. The appointment is effective Feb. 1, 2024.

McCarty had served as a NFFE-IAM Business Representative since 2018. He has been a critical part of several successful internal organizing efforts to grow the IAM’s presence in the federal sector.

“Jerry has a distinct passion for the sharing the benefits of union representation with our dedicated federal workforce,” said Bryant. “We’re looking forward to scaling our efforts to grow the IAM’s federal employee footprint even further with Jerry’s assistance.”

McCarty began his union career in 2007 with NFFE-IAM Local 2189 at Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas. He became involved as a steward, chief steward and then as a legislative committee member.

“The IAM Organizing Department is excited to bring Jerry on board as we continue to internally organize in the federal sector,” said IAM Organizing Director Mike Evans. “This strategic initiative with NFFE-IAM will only grow with the addition of Jerry to our talented staff.”

He was elected as a NFFE-IAM National Executive Council National Vice President in 2016 and appointed to the IAM Veterans Services Steering Committee in 2021.

“Jerry’s extensive experience and understanding in the federal sector makes him a valuable addition to the IAM Organizing Department,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge. “We are pleased to bring Jerry on as a Special Representative, and we look forward to the work he is going to continue to do.”

McCarty was a U.S. Defense Department employee for 15 years. He served in the Texas National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve for 28 years, where he was a combat veteran in Operation Noble Eagle II.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 3, 2024 – Nearly 1,000 Patient Care Associates (PCAs) and Psychiatric Care Technicians (PCTs) at the Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center have voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). The healthcare workers chose IAM representation in a mail ballot election conducted between Dec. 5 and 19, which concluded with the counting of ballots on Jan. 3.

The organizing effort was a collaboration between the IAM and the Ohio State University Nurses Organization (OSUNO), a local of the Ohio Nurses Association and an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which represents approximately 4,000 Registered Nurses (RNs) at the Wexner Medical Center.

As a PCA, I am so happy to have a voice in the workplace finally, said Lyndsee Cody, PCA at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. “Alongside my colleagues, we came together knowing that we deserve to be heard to have a better quality of life for ourselves and others surrounding us. Having a Union at OSU will strengthen us as a team and as a whole alongside the nurses. I am looking forward to our future with the IAM.”  

IAM Organizing Department Grand Lodge Representative Ali Rhodes, at the forefront of this strategic and comprehensive campaign, along with her colleagues, initiated this effort over a year ago. Their dedication aimed to empower healthcare workers with a genuine voice on the job, improved wages and benefits, and heightened staffing levels, ultimately enhancing patient care.

“The resilience and unity demonstrated by the Patient Care Associates at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Rhodes. “We are proud to welcome them into the IAM family, and we look forward to working together to secure better conditions for all.” 

“This victory is a testament to the steadfast dedication of our members and the effectiveness of our organizing strategy,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The IAM remains committed to strengthening our presence in the health care industry, and this success is a crucial step forward in achieving that goal.”

This historic triumph underscores IAM International President Brian Bryant’s unwavering commitment to expanding the union’s influence in the healthcare sector. It also continues the successful IAM-AFT Health Care Organizing Partnership, showcasing the collaborative strength between the unions.

“This monumental victory not only solidifies our position in the healthcare sector but also sets the stage for future successes in Ohio and other states in the Eastern Territory,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “As we continue to build on the IAM-AFT Health Care Organizing Partnership, we anticipate more positive outcomes for our members.”

The PCAs are fighting for a change that will not only enhance their lives and their colleagues’ lives but also increase patient care. They are fighting for workplace safety measures, increased staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits, which they greatly deserve as healthcare professionals. The PCAs have seen the power of coming together collectively in the past year, as Wexner Hospital has seen multiple healthcare groups unionize. They are eager to have a voice alongside them. 

“This victory by the dedicated healthcare professionals at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center is a testament to the strength of the group and their commitment to respect and dignity in the workplace,” said Vinny Addeo, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “This victory also reflects the strength of our IAM Organizing Department and IAM-AFT Health Care Organizing Partnership. I am thankful for OSUNO’s leadership and assistance throughout this process.”  

“The successful outcome of this organizing campaign is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our organizing team,” said IAM Organizing Director Mike Evans. “We are proud to have empowered these healthcare workers and believe this victory will serve as a beacon for further organizing efforts within the healthcare industry.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.

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A continued strategic organizing initiative between the IAM Organizing Department and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) has again added hundreds of new members to the union.

The latest internal organizing drive, which took place over the last several months, signed up another 276 members across multiple states, federal agencies and sectors.

“I’m so proud of our organizing team for continuing to find ways to grow our union in strength and numbers,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “With our success in internally organizing more than 1,400 NFFE-IAM members in 2023, the Organizing Department is looking forward to expanding our efforts and devoting more resources to our NFFE-IAM internal organizing strategic plan for 2024.”

The effort was led by IAM Organizing Department Grand Lodge Representative Juan Eldridge, with assistance from Organizing Department Grand Lodge Representative Sonny Martinez and Organizing Department Special Representative Chris Casteel, and multiple NFFE-IAM representatives from across the country.

“We are making a real difference in the lives of our federal workforce,” said Eldridge. “It’s been an honor for myself and our team to get to know these workers and grow their power on the job.”

The latest success in the joint organizing effort adds to thousands of new NFFE-IAM members organized this year.

“Federal workers across the nation continue to see the value in having the strength of NFFE-IAM by their side,” said NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin. “We’re so grateful to the IAM for continuing to lend its expertise and resources toward bringing our union to new heights.”

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IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed IAM Grand Lodge Representative Mike Evans as the new Assistant Director of Organizing. Evans is a 30-year veteran of the aerospace industry and a longtime IAM member. He has a wealth of experience as one of the lead organizers in the IAM Organizing Department, organizing workers and helping them fight for respect and dignity in the workplace.

“Mike is a highly respected and experienced union organizer,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “He is passionate about helping workers achieve better wages, benefits, working conditions, and a voice in their workplace. He will be an asset to the IAM Organizing Department and help us grow our union in the coming years.”

Evans began his career at Hamilton Standard Windsor Locks Connecticut as a jet fuel control technician. He quickly became involved in the IAM by holding positions of educator and communicator. Mike was elected to represent his coworkers as Shop Steward for IAM Local 743. He moved into the field of safety and health as a union safety representative, eventually becoming the chief union safety representative for members of Local 743. Mike also served as the chairperson of the Local 743 and District 26 organizing committees.

“Mike has served as an effective leader and Organizer in the IAM Organizing Department for more than 15 years,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “He has continuously displayed his passion and dedication to growing our union, not by his words, but by his actions, leading numerous successful organizing campaign victories throughout my six years as the IAM Organizing Director. Just one highlight in his list of organizing victories was when he overcame a notorious anti-union campaign and beat back Boeing for their Flight Line Technicians and Inspectors at their North Charleston, S.C. campus. Mike has served as a mentor to many organizers, both in our department and across the IAM. He is always willing to volunteer his time and years of experience to those who reach out to him.”

In 2013, Evans was appointed as an IAM Special Representative. In this role, he helped to lead organizing campaigns at a variety of workplaces across the country, including 130 workers at Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services (VSES) in Rochester, N.Y., and workers at the Raytheon Co. in Chesapeake, Va. He was also instrumental in developing and implementing the IAM’s “Organize to Win” program.

Evans is an IAM Organizing Apprentice Program graduate with an associate’s degree from Asnuntuck Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the National Labor College.

“I am honored to be appointed as the new Assistant Director of Organizing for the IAM,” said Evans. “I am committed to working with our organizing staff to build a stronger union and grow our footprint in the labor movement. I look forward to continuing to build upon our Basic Training for Organizers Program, which focuses on providing necessary organizing training for new and less-experienced organizers in our union. I believe that unions are essential to protecting the rights of workers and a tool to improve workers’ lives.” 

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BRUNSWICK, Maine, Sept. 7, 2023 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has filed an Unfair Labor Charge (ULP) against Staples after management at a Brunswick, Maine retail store fired one of its employees, a strong union supporter, just ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

The ULP charge, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleges that Staples management fired the employee for union activity and is engaging in intimidation and retaliation due to support for the union. Employees at the store had recently garnered enough union support to file for an NLRB election to be represented by IAM District 4.

“Staples is trying to press the ‘easy button’ by simply firing any employee who exercises their right to form a union,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “The IAM stands by these brave Staples workers in Brunswick who are standing up for democracy on the job. We will use every resource available to fight this illegal firing and deliver justice for Staples workers.”

The employee was fired on Friday, Sept. 1.  

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries. IAM Local S6 (District 4) represents approximately 4,200 workers at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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The IAM Organizing Department recently won a hard-fought organizing campaign to represent 103 workers at Vaderstad, Inc., an agricultural equipment manufacturer in Wahpeton, N.D.

Production workers at the facility make air seeders and tillage equipment for the Sweden-based company. The campaign was won by IAM Organizing Department Grand Lodge Representative Dennis Mendenhall with support from the IAM Midwest Territory.

“This group stuck together and was determined to win a voice on the job and a better life for themselves, their families and their communities,” said Mendenhall. “They ran their campaign from the inside and remained united through every anti-union tactic they encountered.”

Workers initially reached out to Mendenhall about joining the IAM more than two years ago and then reconnected after construction started on the company’s new U.S. headquarters in Wahpeton.

An unsuccessful anti-union campaign, run by a union-busting firm known as National Labor Relations Advocates, did not stop workers from exercising their rights to join together in the IAM. Workers were ready for the anti-union tactics and exposed captive audience meetings run by the outside group.

The IAM also utilized support from IF Metall, a union in Sweden that represents Vaderstad workers there, to push back against the anti-union campaign at the corporate level.

“Dennis and these brave workers deserve so much credit for standing strong for a voice on the job,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “We are so proud to welcome Vaderstad workers to the IAM and look forward to continuing to fight for their dignity and justice on the job.”

The IAM is currently working with the company to arrange bargaining sessions for a first contract.

“The Midwest Territory welcomes these brave new members at Vaderstad,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “We look forward to getting to the negotiating table with our newest members and working toward a strong first union contract.”

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