The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which represents about 600,000 members in North America, has called for stronger labor enforcement and increased job protections as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) six-year joint review. The IAM Union submitted written comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), emphasizing concerns that weak labor standards in Mexico and insufficient rules of origin threaten union jobs in both the United States and Canada.
The IAM Union opposed both the USMCA at its adoption in 2019 and NAFTA in the early 1990s. According to Brian Bryant, International President of the IAM Union, “The USMCA promised to lift standards for workers across North America, but too many companies are still chasing low wages and weak enforcement. It’s time for a trade policy that defends North American manufacturing, protects our workers, and ensures that every product bearing the USMCA label is truly made under fair conditions.”
In its submission, the IAM Union advocated for several changes:
– Expanding and strengthening the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) to protect more workers and reinforce labor rights in Mexico.
– Extending the Labor Value Content rule to include sectors such as aerospace, shipbuilding, and other key manufacturing industries.
– Tightening rules of origin so non-USMCA content cannot enter duty-free supply chains.
The union’s filing stated: “Unfortunately, our concerns about USMCA have proven to be accurate: Mexican industrial wages remain lower than those in China, and offshoring of well-paid U.S. jobs continues, including many in the aerospace sector. Indeed, since USMCA was enacted, we have seen further erosion of good, middle-class, union jobs in the United States. In order to prevent this from continuing, we need to take vigorous action on a number of fronts during the upcoming review.”
IAM represents active and retired members working across various industries including aerospace, airlines, defense, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive sectors throughout the United States and Canada.
