IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger announced he has appointed Collective Bargaining Coordinator Jim Price, Jr., to be the IAM’s next Government Employees Director, effective January 1, 2016.
Price succeeds former Government Employees Director Frank Carelli, who is retiring after a 38-year IAM career.
“Jim’s ability to understand the issues facing our members and tirelessly fight for their rights on the job has turned many heads during his IAM career. I have no doubt he’ll continue to do a journeyman’s job for the hardworking government employees the IAM is honored to represent,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “We also owe a debt of gratitude for the work Frank Carelli has done for public sector workers during his IAM career. Countless IAM members and their families are better off thanks to his dedication and knowledge.”
Price, a 37-year IAM member who has served in his current position since 1998, has been involved in high-profile negotiations with numerous companies. He recently helped Metal Trades workers in Amarillo, TX reach an agreement at CNS Pantex after a 37-day strike.
Before joining the IAM’s international staff, Price served as a Business Representative and then High Performance Work Organization Coordinator representing IAM District 837 Boeing workers in his native St. Louis. Price hails from Local 837-E, where he served as Shop Steward, President and delegate to multiple Grand Lodge Conventions and the Missouri AFL-CIO. He hired into McDonnell-Douglas Electronics in March 1978 as a Learner Helper and progressed to Electrical and Radio Mechanic over a 20-year career.
As Director of the IAM Government Employees Department, Price will be working with government agencies and IAM and NFFE-IAM locals to support their rights under the Federal Labor Relations Act.
