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IAM Union International President Brian Bryant has appointed Rachel Gumpert as the IAM’s Assistant Communications Director, effective Sept. 8, 2026.
Gumpert has a lifelong passion for labor justice, and has spent the past 16 years working in some of the most high-profile fights in the labor movement. This includes serving as National Press Secretary for UNITE HERE during the historic national Marriott strike in 2018, lobbying on behalf of AFSCME International to win collective bargaining rights for 40,000 Nevada state employees, and directing communications for the largest nurses’ union in the Pacific Northwest during the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Most recently, she worked in private practice performing crisis communications for the largest statewide education union in Oregon, managing all union strike, crisis, and strike-track communications across nearly 200 school districts as well as directing the union’s statewide response to ICE raids that targeted schools.
“Her hard-charging work ethic and unwavering integrity are Rachel’s calling card,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “As the IAM Union continues to grow and advance justice for our members, having her leadership and public relations talents and experience in our arsenal will be a powerful addition.”
Gumpert has been a strong admirer of IAM Union since she first began working in coalition with them and the IAM Communications Department in 2017, during her time at UNITE HERE. Her IAM connections run deep – she also spent the past four years helping to direct communications for the successful, historic IAM campaign to unionize rideshare drivers in Massachusetts, and helped lead communications for IAM’s groundbreaking Pharmacy Guild campaign until several years ago.
“Rachel is a battle-tested campaigner with a lifelong passion for worker rights whose experience taking on some of the biggest employers and toughest fights primed her well to succeed at the IAM,” said IAM Union Communications Director Jonathan Battaglia. “With her extensive strike, crisis, and national negotiations experience, Rachel will continue to increase our ability to successfully beat back any challenges our members face and grow our power.”
“The IAM is one of the most inspiring unions in America, and I’m thrilled to be part of the historical legacy and righteous mission of this union,” said Gumpert. “The IAM has repeatedly demonstrated that when we aim higher and think outside the box, we can transform lives for working people. I’m profoundly honored to join this talented Communications Department, and to be able to help win fights and raise standards for IAM members – and future members – across North America.”
