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IAM International President Brian Bryant, IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin, and other IAM Union leaders recently traveled to the South to meet directly with IAM members and see firsthand the skilled, union work being done at two IAM-represented facilities.
“It’s essential for us to show up wherever our members work—not just to see the incredible jobs they do, but to listen,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “From organizing and training to contract issues and workplace concerns, being on the ground allows us to hear directly from our members and make sure their voices are guiding the work of this union.”
The two-day tour started at the Power Machining Shop at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in Muscle Shoals, Ala., where members of IAM Local 65 (District 1888) play a critical role in powering the region. These highly skilled machinists build, maintain, and service turbines, turbine shafts, and blades that generate electricity through steam, nuclear, and gas systems. TVA supplies power across all of Tennessee and parts of six neighboring states, with Alabama serving as a major hub of that operation. The work performed by IAM Local 65 members at this facility helps ensure reliable energy for millions of families and businesses every day.
Just miles away, IAM leaders also visited the site of a new, state-of-the-art training facility set to open in August 2026—an investment in the future of IAM members and the next generation of skilled workers. The facility will offer a four-year apprenticeship program led by IAM Local 65 members alongside Shoals Community College instructors, as well as continuing education courses for current IAM members working at TVA. This training center will strengthen career pathways, expand opportunities for members, and reinforce the IAM’s long-standing commitment to developing world-class, union-trained talent.
“Investing in apprenticeship programs is just as critical as investing in infrastructure,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President, Craig Martin. “These programs open doors for young people to build lifelong union careers while helping fill the growing shortage of skilled labor needed to keep TVA and our country moving forward.”
The following day, IAM leaders continued their visit with a tour of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) facility in Decatur, Ala., where IAM Local 44 (District 75) members carry out some of the most advanced manufacturing work in the aerospace industry. These highly skilled members are responsible for the manufacturing, assembly, and integration of the Vulcan and Atlas V rockets—vehicles that carry critical payloads into space and support missions that advance science, exploration, and national security. From the factory floor in Decatur to launch pads across the country, the precision and craftsmanship of IAM Local 44 members help push the boundaries of discovery and demonstrate that union labor is building the future—on Earth and beyond.
“The technical skill our members bring to their work at TVA and ULA is extraordinary,” said Bryant. “They power our nation’s infrastructure and push innovation forward—from keeping the lights on to launching missions into space. Without IAM members, there is no TVA and no ULA, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work they do.”
