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CHICAGO, Feb. 3, 2025 — Following a weekend incident at O’Hare International Airport in which an International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union ramp worker at United Airlines was seriously injured in a collision between a plane and a tug vehicle, the IAM Union is continuing to demand stronger safety measures for all airline workers.
“We are thinking of our member who suffered serious injuries, and our union hopes for a speedy recovery,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The IAM Union will coordinate with authorities on the ground to ensure we have a full investigation of what went wrong. The IAM safety committee and EAP representatives are on the ground to assist and support our affected members.”
“At least five airline workers have been killed and countless more injured on airport tarmacs in the last two years. Now, it is time for the FAA to complete and implement its congressionally-mandated study on ramp worker safety to help our industry improve the safety of airline ramp workers,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “The IAM Union is urging legislators to prioritize FAA reauthorization provisions that include ramp safety improvements before another incident occurs at one of our U.S. airports.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
