The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) have announced that 90 Alstom employees who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have voted to join their unions. The election results were released on August 20, 2025.
These workers are responsible for running Atlanta’s automated people mover system, which transports about 250,000 passengers each day between terminals at what is recognized as the world’s busiest airport. Concerns cited by employees included 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 Alstom staff to explain union representation benefits and foster unity among them. This organizing effort reflects broader national trends where transportation workers are increasingly seeking better working conditions through unionization.
Following this result, TCU/IAM will start preparations for collective bargaining aimed at securing an initial contract that addresses members’ needs.
“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 the first of 29 Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as part of an $87 million project—its largest APM replacement contract so far. These new vehicles are intended to improve reliability for travelers using the Plane Train system while accommodating increased passenger numbers; in 2024 alone, over 108 million people passed through Atlanta’s airport (https://www.atl.com/atl-sets-record-with-108-million-passengers-in-2024/).
“This organizing win is significant because the IAM Union was founded in Atlanta in 1888,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the 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 about 600,000 active and retired members across various industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad operations, manufacturing sectors, transit systems, healthcare fields, automotive trades—and more (https://www.goiam.org/about/).