As Black History Month 2026 begins, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is highlighting the contributions of African American workers within the labor movement. The union notes its history of supporting civil rights and promoting diversity among its members.
IAM International President Brian Bryant stated, “It’s mind-boggling to learn about the tremendous history that links labor activism with the upward economic mobility of the Black Americans. Our union has been at the forefront of civil rights and Black History Month is a great time to share our union’s story.”
The IAM points to milestones such as openly discussing integration in 1944, when District 727 encouraged locals to embrace diversity among workers at Lockheed in southern California. In 1950, Roman Mayfield became one of the first African Americans accepted as an IAM member after years of attending meetings despite initial exclusion due to lodge policy. His acceptance marked a turning point for minority inclusion at Boeing and inspired further hiring of Black workers who joined IAM over subsequent decades.
Other significant events include former IAM president Al Hayes meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York City in 1962, and predominantly African-American lodges being established in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia during the 1960s. The union also assisted with rebuilding efforts in Watts, California after riots in 1965, negotiated contracts involving many Black production workers at General Dynamics in Texas during the 1970s, and saw Robert Roach Jr. appointed as its first African-American General Vice President in 1999 followed by Diane Babineaux as its first Black woman General Vice President in 2013.
The IAM maintains partnerships with groups such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the A. Philip Randolph Institute to continue advancing racial justice and economic fairness for Black workers.
