Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Southern Territory convened in Biloxi, Mississippi for the Southern States Conference. The gathering focused on strategies to defend and strengthen union power across southern states.
Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, addressed delegates about the importance of political activism and collaboration with legislative allies. “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 the need for holding elected officials accountable regarding labor issues. “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 highlighted efforts to build future generations of union members and 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,” said Bryant. “These negotiations and gains for our members create organizing opportunities. It’s an opportunity when we fight an employer and we’re successful, because non-union workers look at it and say ‘we want the same thing for us’.”
General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes reported on the union’s finances, noting a strong strike fund supporting members during labor actions. “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,” said Cervantes. “We’ve got our reps and everybody out in the field standing ground with our striking workers as they walk the picket line.”
Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon stressed that policy decisions impact all workers regardless of their interest in politics: “If you are a worker in this country, you cannot afford not to be involved in politics. Everything that you do is political,” he said.
Updates were provided by Julian Bruner, Charles Bennett, and Derek Cearley—International Representatives from IAM Southern Territory—on initiatives related to new hires, organizing activities, disaster relief efforts, and retiree programs.
An open forum led by Mary McHugh included Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen; Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan; and Craig Martin discussing their motivations for political involvement within labor coalitions.
Mississippi AFL-CIO President Mickey Carr spoke about regional solidarity: “What happens in one southern state is bound to happen in all southern states” said Carr. “It takes all of us standing together in unity. Let’s be the spark that lights the fire of change.”
Julie Frietchen from IAM Women’s and Young Workers Department described ongoing equality initiatives such as adopting the ‘Be More Than a Bystander’ program. She moderated a panel with state council presidents on lobbying strategies.
General Counsel Carla Siegel warned about federal-level challenges facing unions through National Labor Relations Board changes: “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,” she said.
Additional sector updates were presented by Automotive Department Director Craig Hughes; Andrew Sandberg (Metal Trades); Jason Schroeder (Veterans Program).
Taylor Rehmet—a candidate endorsed by IAM Union running for Texas State Senate District 9—spoke about his entry into politics as an IAM Local 776B member.
The conference concluded with members sending messages of support to striking colleagues at Libbey Glass (Toledo), District 837 (St. Louis), and federal employees facing policy threats.
Bryant addressed union members’ voting choices: “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 stated before criticizing actions affecting bargaining rights: “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…”
He 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,” adding criticism toward opposition from wealthy interests: “Unfortunately, President Trump and his billionaire buddies do not like organized labor because they know we’re the only voice for the working people.”
