IAM members from the Southern Territory recently convened in Biloxi, Mississippi for the Southern States Conference to discuss strategies for strengthening union influence and worker power in the region.
Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, addressed the importance of political engagement. “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 spoke about holding elected officials accountable. “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.” He also highlighted the need to focus on future generations of 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,” Bryant stated. “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 the union’s finances and emphasized a strong strike fund supporting members during labor actions. “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 said. “We’ve got our reps and everybody out in the field standing ground with our striking workers as they walk the picket line.”
Hasan Solomon, IAM Legislative and Political Director, reinforced that policy decisions impact all workers regardless of their level of political interest. “If you are a worker in this country, you cannot afford not to be involved in politics. Everything that you do is political,” Solomon said.
Updates were provided by IAM Southern Territory International Representatives Julian Bruner, Charles Bennett, and Derek Cearley on new hire initiatives as well as organizing efforts and disaster relief programs.
Mary McHugh from the William W. Winpisinger Center led an open forum with several territory vice presidents discussing their motivations for becoming politically active within labor coalitions.
Mississippi AFL-CIO President Mickey Carr addressed delegates about unity among southern states: “What happens in one southern state is bound to happen in all southern states” said Carr. “It takes all of us standing together in unity. Let’s be the spark that lights the fire of change.”
Julie Frietchen from IAM Women’s and Young Workers Department discussed equality initiatives including adoption of ‘Be More Than a Bystander’. She moderated a panel with state council presidents on lobbying legislators and working with affiliates.
IAM General Counsel Carla Siegel warned about federal-level threats against worker rights through changes at agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “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.
Additional reports covered sector-specific priorities: Craig Hughes spoke about automotive issues; Andrew Sandberg discussed Metal Trades; Jason Schroeder reported on Veterans Programs.
Taylor Rehmet—an IAM-endorsed candidate for Texas State Senate District 9—spoke about his journey into politics as a union member.
Conference attendees expressed support for striking members at Libbey Glass in Toledo (Local 1297), District 837 members in St. Louis, as well as federal employees facing challenges under current policies.
President Bryant commented on internal diversity of political opinion within IAM but stressed unity regarding labor rights: “I don’t care how somebody voted… 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… I know they didn’t vote for President Trump hoping that he would defund OSHA and incapacitate the NLRB…”
“This is what’s important: 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,” Bryant concluded.
