IAM International President Bob Martinez announced, effective October 1, 2018, Southern Territory General Vice President Mark Blondin will become General Vice President of the newly formed Aerospace Department. Headquarters General Vice President Rickey Wallace will take over as General Vice President of the Southern Territory and General Vice President Brian Bryant will assume the position of Headquarters General Vice President.
“As our union continues to face new challenges and attacks from the corporations that employ our members, we recognize the importance of including a dedicated executive council member to address the needs of our aerospace members,” said Martinez. “With his years of experience dealing with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other employers, Mark Blondin is perfectly suited for his new role in our union.”
“My heart beats for the Machinists Union but especially the Southern Territory who welcomed me into their family with open arms nearly five years ago,” said Blondin. “This move is best for the IAMAW and I thank International President Bob Martinez for having the wherewithal to create this opportunity. I am excited and ready to continue to make the words Machinists Union synonymous with greatness throughout this great industry.”
“Rickey Wallace has been a good friend to me and a great asset to this union during his time at IAM Headquarters,” said Martinez. “Although he will be greatly missed, I know his roots in the South make him well suited to his new position as the Territory’s general Vice President.”
“I look forward to my new role in the IAM Southern Territory, where I have spent most of my life and career,” said Wallace. “To serve our members and grow the IAM are vital to our union’s future, and I am dedicated to those responsibilities. I hope to build upon the success Mark Blondin has achieved in his time here and wish him well in his new position.”
“I want to congratulate my IAM brothers and wish them well in their new assignments,” said IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes. “It has been an honor to work alongside Brian Bryant in the GST Department. His dedication and support have helped move our organization forward. The department will miss his talents, but he brings them and a wealth of knowledge to his new position.”
“To serve this union as a General Vice President is a privilege that I value greatly,” said Bryant. “We have much to be proud of as Machinists Union members and I am honored to be a part of our great tradition. As I take on my new responsibilities at IAM Headquarters, I do so with complete dedication to our members all across North America.”