Newly organized members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at Alstom Transportation in Plattsburgh, New York, have ratified their first three-year collective bargaining agreement. The vote marks a significant step for rail manufacturing workers in upstate New York.
The agreement follows an organizing campaign that brought rail production workers at the Plattsburgh facility into the IAM Union. According to the union, members united to secure rights and improvements intended to increase wages and job protections.
IAM members at the Plattsburgh site are involved in manufacturing, assembling, and repairing railcars and components used by passenger rail systems across the country. Their work is considered essential for maintaining public transportation safety and reliability.
Key terms of the new contract include an immediate 3% wage increase, which comes on top of a 2.8% raise implemented in April 2025. Workers on second and third shifts will receive a $1.50 per hour shift differential, while team leads will earn their hourly rate plus an additional 10%. Compensated time off will now count toward hours worked for overtime calculations.
A new classification system with increased pay rates is set to begin January 1, 2027. This system aims to eliminate favoritism by clearly defining advancement opportunities. Another wage increase of 2.75% is scheduled for January 1, 2028.
Additional benefits secured through negotiations include expanded safe and sick leave provisions, eight paid holidays plus four floating holidays, capped annual increases for medical, dental, and vision costs, life and disability insurance at no cost to employees, clear layoff and recall protections, stronger grievance procedures with enforceable timelines, guaranteed union representation on every shift, and monthly joint labor-management committee meetings with senior management.
“This agreement replaces uncertainty with enforceable rules and real protections,” said IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the Rail Division Josh Hartford. “More importantly, it establishes a solid foundation from which IAM Union members at Alstom can continue to build power, improve working conditions, and raise standards across the rail industry. Congratulations to the members, stewards, bargaining committee, and IAM Organizing Department on this important victory.”
With this contract ratification in Plattsburgh, newly organized members join existing IAM-represented colleagues at Alstom’s Hornell facility in New York. They also become part of IAM District 19 while establishing their own local unit.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired workers throughout North America in industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroads and transit systems.
