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This Labor Day, Portland, Maine, was full of labor solidarity as IAM Union members and allies gathered for a spirited rally featuring IAM International President Brian Bryant, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, IAM-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, and U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson. The event underscored the urgent need for working people to stand together and fight for fairness, dignity, and respect in the workplace.
Watch IP Bryant at the rally here.
The rally was well attended by proud IAM members from across the state and region, including strong turnouts from the IAM Eastern Territory, District 4, and the union’s powerhouse shipbuilding locals—Local S6 and Local S7. These members, who help build the backbone of America’s naval fleet at Bath Iron Works and, stood shoulder to shoulder with their union siblings, sending a powerful message that organized labor remains a driving force for progress in Maine and beyond.
International President Brian Bryant, a native of Maine and longtime member of Local S6, brought the crowd to its feet with his remarks.
View photos from the rally here.
“Labor Day is not for CEO’s, billionaires or oligarchs,” said International President Bryant. “It’s for us — the people who wake up early, punch the clock, and make America run.”
Bryant’s words reflected the deep bond between the IAM and Maine’s working families, as well as his conviction that the labor movement must continue to organize, fight, and win for the next generation of workers.
“When working people stand together, there is nothing we can’t take on,” said Bryant. “Right now in this country, it’s workers vs. billionaires. And I’ve got news for the billionaires: We’re not scared. We’re not tired. And we’re just getting started!”
