IAM members from the Southern Territory 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 delegates on 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 the need to hold 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 efforts to build 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,” said Bryant. “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 financial stability and strong strike fund supporting members involved in strikes. “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,” said Cervantes. “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 political decisions affect all workers regardless of their level of involvement: “If you are a worker in this country, you cannot afford not to be involved in politics. Everything that you do is political,” he said.
Updates were provided by Julian Bruner, Charles Bennett, and Derek Cearley—International Representatives for IAM Southern Territory—on new hire initiatives as well as programs focused on organizing efforts along with disaster relief and retiree support.
Mary McHugh from the William W. Winpisinger Center led an open forum with several territory vice presidents discussing their motivations for political activism within labor coalitions.
Mississippi AFL-CIO President Mickey Carr spoke about regional unity: “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 ongoing equality initiatives including adoption of ‘Be More Than a Bystander’ program while moderating a panel on lobbying strategies among state council presidents.
Carla Siegel, IAM General Counsel, gave a presentation outlining current challenges faced by workers at federal levels such as actions affecting National Labor Relations Board operations or attempts against federal union contracts. Siegel stated: “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.”
Other conference topics included automotive sector priorities presented by Craig Hughes; reports from Andrew Sandberg (Metal Trades) and Jason Schroeder (Veterans Program); as well as remarks from Taylor Rehmet—a Texas State Senate candidate endorsed by IAM—about union member participation in public office.
The event concluded with attendees expressing solidarity with striking IAM members across different locations including Toledo’s Local 1297 at Libbey Glass and District 837 members based in St. Louis.
Bryant closed with comments regarding union democracy amid recent federal actions: “I don’t care how somebody voted. I know we’ve got people who voted for President Trump, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s our democracy in our country, and that’s our democracy in our Union,” said Bryant. “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, because that’s just flat out wrong. I know they didn’t vote for President Trump hoping that he would defund OSHA and incapacitate the NLRB and other critical departments that our members need.”
“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, because when it comes to union rights, there are no if-ands-or-buts. There’s nowhere to be but on the side of workers,” said Bryant. “Unfortunately, President Trump and his billionaire buddies do not like organized labor because they know we’re the only voice for the working people.”
