The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division, together with the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM), has announced a successful unionization effort for 90 Alstom employees who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The results of the organizing election were released on August 20, 2025.
Alstom workers manage Atlanta’s automated people mover system, which transports about 250,000 passengers daily between terminals at the airport. Their decision to seek union representation was driven by concerns about job security, fair wages, improved working conditions, and a desire for a stronger voice in their workplace.
Organizers from IAM and TCU/IAM collaborated with the employees to provide information about union benefits and foster solidarity. This development reflects a wider trend among transportation workers across the country seeking improved conditions through collective action.
TCU/IAM is now preparing to begin collective bargaining with Alstom management in order to negotiate an initial agreement that addresses the priorities of its 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 its first Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson as part of an $87 million project—the company’s largest contract for replacing automated people mover vehicles so far. These additions are expected to improve reliability and expand service capacity at an airport that saw more than 108 million travelers in 2024 (https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2025/3/alstom-delivers-first-innovia-apm-r-vehicle-atlanta-hartsfield-jackson).
“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 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members across industries such as aerospace, defense, railroads, manufacturing, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive sectors and others.
