Union members from the Southern Territory of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) met in Biloxi, Mississippi for their annual Southern States Conference. The gathering focused on strengthening legislative and political engagement to support union goals and worker rights across the southern United States.
Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, addressed delegates about the importance of political activism for the union’s future. “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 also spoke at the event, emphasizing accountability for elected officials 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.”
Bryant highlighted efforts to recruit new union members and labor 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,” he said. “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’.”
Dora Cervantes, IAM General Secretary-Treasurer, reported on union finances during the conference. She noted a strong strike fund supporting members involved in work stoppages: “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,” Cervantes stated.
Hasan Solomon, IAM Legislative and Political Director, told attendees that political engagement is essential for all workers: “If you are a worker in this country, you cannot afford not to be involved in politics. Everything that you do is political,” said Solomon.
Additional reports were presented by regional representatives covering topics such as new hire initiatives, organizing activities, disaster relief programs, retiree support programs as well as updates on sector-specific priorities including automotive trades.
The conference included panel discussions with state council presidents on lobbying strategies and coalition-building within the broader labor movement. Carla Siegel, IAM General Counsel, spoke about recent federal-level actions impacting labor rights: “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,” Siegel said.
Taylor Rehmet—a candidate endorsed by IAM running for Texas State Senate District 9—shared his experience entering politics as a union member.
Delegates concluded the meeting by expressing solidarity with striking members at Libbey Glass in Toledo; District 837 members in St. Louis; as well as federal workers facing policy threats.
In closing remarks addressing internal diversity of political opinion among union members regarding national elections—and recent policies affecting collective bargaining—President Bryant commented: “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… 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… If you voted for him, you’ve got to make sure he knows that you don’t agree with what’s happening… Unfortunately, President Trump and his billionaire buddies do not like organized labor because they know we’re the only voice for the working people.”
