Retired International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Robert “Bob” Martinez Jr., has been inducted into the Texas AFL-CIO’s Labor Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes his more than 43 years of service and leadership within the labor movement in Texas, across North America, and internationally.
Martinez began his career in 1980 as an aircraft assembler at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, joining IAM Local 776A. Reflecting on his early days during his induction speech at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention, Martinez said, “When I first walked through the doors at General Dynamics as a member of IAM Local 776A, fresh out of the United States Navy, I wasn’t thinking about titles or awards. I was thinking about earning a living, taking care of my family, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women next to me on the job.”
He rose through union ranks to become IAM’s 14th International President in 2016. With this appointment, he became both the first Latino to lead IAM and the first Latino president of a major U.S. labor union.
Jody Bennett, IAM Resident General Vice President and longtime member of IAM District 776, introduced Martinez at the ceremony. Bennett remarked on Martinez’s journey: “Bob’s story is a labor story. It’s a Texas story. And it’s an American story,” said Bennett. “Like so many of our members, he didn’t set out to lead a union—he set out to earn a living, protect his coworkers, and make things better than he found them.”
IAM International President Brian Bryant commented on Martinez’s contributions: “Bob Martinez is a leader whose commitment to working people helped shape the modern IAM and strengthened the labor movement around the world,” said Bryant. “This recognition reflects the impact he made not just in Texas, but the countless lives he changed along the way.”
During his tenure as International President from 2016 until his retirement in 2024, Martinez led efforts that expanded organizing into new industries and developed programs for member assistance. He also focused on achieving financial stability for IAM and increasing opportunities for women and underrepresented groups within union leadership.
Martinez played key roles beyond IAM as well; he served on national bodies such as the AFL-CIO Executive Council and chaired its Industrial Union Council. He also contributed as part of federal advisory groups like the U.S. President’s Export Council where he advocated for domestic manufacturing standards.
Accepting his induction surrounded by colleagues and family members, Martinez stated: “For decades—whether I was in Washington, D.C., or wherever this work took me—everyone knew one thing about me: I represented Texas,” said Martinez. “I was a Navy veteran. I was a union machinist. And I carried the grit, the values, and the pride of Texas working people with me everywhere I went.”
Martinez retired from active service in 2024 after more than four decades dedicated to advancing workers’ rights.
