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IAM International President Brian Bryant, with Executive Council approval, has appointed two new members of the IAM Law Committee – District 78 Directing Business Representative Eric Johnston and Local 701 Assistant Directing Business Representative Ryan Haehnlein.
The IAM Law Committee is responsible for collecting, reviewing and proposing constitutional changes submitted to the 41st IAM Grand Lodge Convention, which will take place Sept. 1-6, 2024 in New York.
“The IAM Law Committee serves a vital purpose at the Grand Lodge Convention, helping to ensure our membership’s voice is heard in constitutional changes,” said Bryant. “As we continue to move our union forward, we’re excited to welcome Eric and Ryan to these critical roles as they join a great team on the Law Committee.”
Johnston, a 13-year IAM member, has risen from a shop steward to leading IAM District 78 in Canada. He has served on numerous negotiating committees and been a leader in advancing workers’ rights legislation in Ontario through the provinces’ Council of Machinists. Johnston also got involved in his district’s mentoring program and would go on to lead organizing efforts for healthcare, hospitality and automotive workers. He served as a District 78 business representative before becoming District 78’s directing business representative on Jan. 1, 2023.
“As a new parent when I started getting involved in the IAM, I have always felt the support of this union,” said Johnston. “I’m so grateful for the opportunities and experiences this great organization has provided me and my family, and I look forward to the opportunity to represent Canadian and all delegates on the Law Committee at the 41st Grand Lodge Convention.”
Haehnlein, who joined IAM Local 701 as a heavy-duty truck industry worker in the Chicago area, rose through the ranks from shop steward to organizer. As Assistant Directing Business Representative, he services members in the freight industry, as well as heavy-duty and automotive dealerships. Haehnlein also serves as editor of the Local 701 newsletter, assists on the website and local app design, and takes part in several Local 701 functions and committees. He is a delegate and COPE representative to the Chicago Federation of Labor, as well as the secretary-treasurer to the Illinois State Council of Machinists. Haehnlein serves as a trustee on the Local 701 Training Fund, a training trustee on the Local 701 Health, Welfare, and Pension Fund, and has attended several classes at the IAM’s Winpisinger Center in Maryland.
“I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that the IAM, and our democratic process, has on the lives of our membership,” said Haehnlein. “It’s an honor to join the Law Committee and I can’t wait to be a part of helping our members shape the future of the IAM.”
The appointments were made this spring.
