Members of the IAM Union Kentucky State Council gathered at the State Capitol in Frankfort for a lobby day, aiming to bring workers’ concerns directly to lawmakers during Kentucky’s legislative session. The event was organized by council leadership to coincide with key decision-making periods in January and February, ahead of the council’s official meeting set for late May.
“We had a great lobbying day,” said IAM Union Kentucky State Council President Chris Harrington, who organized the event. “If we had 18 to 20 members this year, we need 36 to 40 next year.”
IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin commented on the importance of member engagement: “The Kentucky State Council is doing great engaging members and making sure they are prepared and have the confidence to speak with elected officials about issues that are impacting workers. We need to keep the energy up to continue building worker power across the state, and the entire South.”
Participation in this year’s lobby day increased significantly compared to last year. In 2025, five members attended; this year, 18 rank-and-file members from six different IAM locals—Local 219, Local 681, Local 830, Local 1294, Local 1720, and Local 1969—made the trip.
“It’s not just me,” Harrington said. “It’s all of our leadership in Kentucky. The locals were supportive. The locals sent their people and paid lost time for them to be there. It was a great effort all around.”
The day started with a strategy session that included coordination with the Kentucky AFL-CIO on legislative talking points. Members then met directly with legislators before regrouping in the afternoon for a debrief.
IAM Southern Territory Special Representative Ryan McCarthy, who previously served as president of the Kentucky State Council, joined members throughout their meetings with legislators.
During these meetings, IAM members addressed several key issues affecting working families in Kentucky:
– They advocated for repealing right-to-work laws through Senate Bill 161 and House Bill 585.
– They supported HB 472 (the Kentucky Buy America Act), which would increase domestic manufacturing requirements so taxpayer funds support American jobs.
– They discussed rolling back recent changes to unemployment insurance rules that require laid-off workers to make multiple weekly job search contacts—a policy seen as burdensome for both workers and employers.
Harrington emphasized that greater participation reflects an increasing awareness among union members about political involvement: “I think the labor movement is coming to the forefront, and our membership is starting to see the important issues that we have to get out there and stand up for.”
Despite ongoing legislative challenges, leaders say growing attendance at lobby days signals momentum among IAM members advocating for worker protections and stronger unions.
