Quick links+
The IAM played a leading role at the 4th IndustriALL Global Union Congress, where nearly 1,000 union representatives from around the world gathered under the theme “Organizing for a Just Future.” The Congress focused on strengthening global labor alliances to defend democracy, advance peace, and promote social and economic justice for working people everywhere.
IndustriALL Global Union represents 50 million workers across 130 countries in the mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Its mission of building global solidarity and raising labor standards mirrors the IAM’s long-standing advocacy for fair trade, dignity at work, and collective bargaining rights worldwide.
IAM International President Brian Bryant addressed the Congress with a forceful message about the harmful impacts of unfair free trade on working people around the world. Bryant called for a trade framework that puts workers – and not corporations – at the center of economic decision-making.
“Our members have paid the price for policies written without their input,” said Bryant. “If governments are serious about building a fair global economy, they must listen to the people who make these industries run: the workers.”
During the IndustriALL Women’s Conference, IAM Human Rights Director Nicole Fears and IAM Winpisinger Center Education Representative Demetress “Dee” Colbert presented on the IAM’s groundbreaking LEADS program. LEADS provides mentorship, education, and leadership development for IAM women, helping grow a new generation of leaders within the union and beyond.
“Gender equality strengthens our labor movement,” said Fears. “We don’t just pass the torch, we light each other up.”
“Regardless of where we come from or how our journeys began, workers around the world often face many of the same challenges,” said Colbert. “The Congress reinforced our shared purpose and reminded me that our collective strength grows when we learn from one another, stand in solidarity, and continue pushing for justice everywhere.”
Delegates from around the world expressed strong interest in the program as a model for advancing gender equity within their own unions.
IAM delegates, including IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett and IAM International Affairs Director Peter Greenberg, held bilateral meetings with unions from Australia and South Korea to coordinate strategies on critical shared industries, including aerospace and shipbuilding. Discussions centered on improving labor standards, combating unfair trade practices, and addressing the challenges facing global supply chains.
“Behind every aircraft is a highly qualified skilled worker whose struggles are often the same, regardless of their location,” said Bennett. “Aerospace workers’ fights are intertwined across borders, and our job is to build the partnerships that defend their rights and future.”
“The challenges our members face are global, and our response must be global as well,” said Greenberg. “When unions stand together across borders, we raise standards for everyone.”
The IAM’s strong presence at the IndustriALL Congress underscored the union’s role as a key global voice for justice, democracy, and workers’ rights. As the world’s largest aerospace union and a leader in the manufacturing and transportation sectors, the IAM remains deeply engaged in shaping international labor policy and strengthening solidarity across nations.
