The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) have announced that 90 Alstom employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport voted to join their unions. The election results were made public on August 20, 2025.
These Alstom workers are responsible for operating and maintaining the Plane Train, an automated people mover system that transports about 250,000 passengers daily between terminals at the airport. Their decision to seek union representation was driven by concerns over job security, fair wages, improved working conditions, and a desire for a stronger voice in their workplace.
Union organizers from IAM and TCU/IAM worked with the employees to build support for unionization and explain its benefits. Following this organizing effort, TCU/IAM will begin preparing for collective bargaining aimed at securing a first contract that addresses the priorities of these new members.
“This victory marks a historic moment as the first joint organizing effort between TCU and the IAM, and we could not be prouder of the outcome,” said TCU/IAM National President Artie Maratea. “The Alstom workers, who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, perform vital work keeping hundreds of thousands of passengers moving safely every day through the world’s busiest airport. We proudly welcome these workers into our union family and look forward to negotiating a strong first agreement that secures the wages, benefits, and protections they deserve.”
Earlier this year, Alstom delivered the first of 29 Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as part of an $87 million project—its largest automated people mover replacement contract so far. These new vehicles are expected to improve reliability and support expansion plans as passenger traffic continues to grow; in 2024 alone, more than 108 million travelers passed through Atlanta’s airport.
“This organizing win is significant because the IAM Union was founded in Atlanta in 1888,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “More than 135 years later, workers in this city continue to carry forward the proud legacy of standing together for dignity, respect, and a better future. The Alstom Plane Train workers are now part of a union family with a history of fighting and winning for working people.”
The IAM Rail Division includes members from both TCU/IAM and IAM District 19. The IAM represents around 600,000 active and retired members across North America in industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, railroads, manufacturing, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive sectors among others.
