IAM members from the Southern Territory convened in Biloxi, Mississippi for the Southern States Conference, focusing on strategies to strengthen union power and worker rights across the region.
Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, addressed the importance of political activism for union success. “Our strength, our power, our solidarity is real,” said Martin. “We have to use that to engage in political processes to protect what we have and strengthen it for all workers. It’s how we tell those politicians what is important to us.”
IAM International President Brian Bryant discussed holding elected officials accountable and supporting policies that benefit workers. “No matter who is in the White House, we will always back those who support bringing our jobs home, create opportunities to grow unions, and protect our retirement and healthcare,” said Bryant. “But we have to call them out when they don’t.” He also emphasized preparing future generations of labor activists: “We’re moving fast in this country; there’s a group of workers who want to form unions, and we are going to be there for them,” Bryant stated.
Dora Cervantes, IAM General Secretary-Treasurer, highlighted the union’s financial stability and strong strike fund. “We are better prepared financially and structurally, so that we can go out there and fight back, just like we’re doing down in St Louis, and what we did at Boeing in Washington and Oregon,” she said.
Hasan Solomon, IAM Legislative and Political Director, stressed the necessity of political involvement for all workers: “If you are a worker in this country, you cannot afford not to be involved in politics. Everything that you do is political.”
Updates were provided by Julian Bruner, Charles Bennett, and Derek Cearley on new hiring initiatives as well as organizing efforts and disaster relief programs. Mary McHugh led an open forum with territory vice presidents Richie Johnsen (Air Transport), David Sullivan (Eastern), and Craig Martin (Southern) discussing their paths into political activism within labor coalitions.
Mississippi AFL-CIO President Mickey Carr addressed unity among southern states: “What happens in one southern state is bound to happen in all southern states,” Carr said. “It takes all of us standing together in unity. Let’s be the spark that lights the fire of change.”
Julie Frietchen spoke about equality initiatives within IAM including adoption of the ‘Be More Than a Bystander’ program. She moderated a panel on lobbying legislators and working with affiliates.
Carla Siegel, IAM General Counsel, presented on federal-level threats against worker rights through changes at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and attacks on federal union contracts: “The problem in Washington right now is that the people who ran campaigns on backing working people are now attacking working people while in office,” Siegel stated.
Other reports covered automotive sector priorities (Craig Hughes), metal trades (Andrew Sandberg), veterans programs (Jason Schroeder), and legislative campaigns such as Taylor Rehmet’s candidacy for Texas State Senate District 9.
Delegates concluded by sending messages of solidarity to striking members at Libbey Glass in Toledo; District 837 members in St. Louis; and federal workers facing policy challenges.
Addressing internal diversity of political views within IAM membership regarding presidential politics, Bryant commented: “I don’t care how somebody voted. I know we’ve got people who voted for President Trump, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s our democracy in our country, and that’s our democracy in our Union,” he said. He continued: “But I know nobody in this union voted for President Trump thinking that he was going to take away bargaining rights for over a million people in the federal government… I know they didn’t vote for President Trump hoping that he would defund OSHA and incapacitate the NLRB…”
Bryant concluded: “This is what’s important: If you voted for him, you’ve got to make sure he knows that you don’t agree with what’s happening… There’s nowhere to be but on the side of workers… Unfortunately, President Trump and his billionaire buddies do not like organized labor because they know we’re the only voice for the working people.”
