The Virginia IAM Council meeting featured several speakers discussing labor issues and political activism. Speakers such as Charles Mann, the council’s president, emphasized the importance of member security, compensation, and safety, and the need to vote in upcoming Virginia elections for supportive labor candidates, given that all major statewide offices and delegate seats are up for election.
Additionally, newly unionized IAM Union members shared their experiences organizing at the botanical gardens they work for.
They also highlighted the value of strategic resources and organizing efforts provided by International and state union partners, like the AFL-CIO. The overall message stressed the necessity of political engagement and voting to advance the labor movement and secure worker rights, regardless of party affiliation.