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The 2024 IAM International Staff Conference took place this past week in Washington, D.C., drawing together approximately 600 IAM staff from across North America. This important event marks a strategic gathering designed to chart the future course for growth and transformation within the IAM, ensuring our union remains at the forefront of advocating for worker’s rights.
IAM International President Brian Bryant captivated the audience with a powerful keynote address.
“I’ve never, ever been more excited about the future of the IAM,” said Bryant. “This union is growing, we are adapting to the future, we are embracing our diversity, and we are fighting and winning for every worker who wants and deserves a better life.”
Bryant underscored the criticality of solidarity in overcoming challenges and achieving substantive goals. He also took the opportunity to share uplifting updates on recent triumphs, reaffirming the organization’s momentum toward overcoming existing and future hurdles.
During the conference, the attendees were reminded that their efforts to support non-unionized workers had led to a significant increase in membership for the IAM. In 2023, the union saw a growth rate of over 5%, welcoming 17,300 new members into its ranks. According to Bloomberg Law, the IAM was ranked second in terms of membership percentage growth in the entire labor movement.
Organizing victories have been achieved across various industries, including healthcare professionals at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, aircraft maintenance engineers at Qantas Airways in Los Angeles, Allegion workers in Connecticut, lab workers at Tempus Artificial Intelligence in Chicago, and warehouse workers at IKEA in Puerto Rico, among others.
“There should never be any doubt about the power of the IAM,” continued Bryant. “Our power is in our numbers, and it shows every time we take on a fight. However, we also know that our strength comes from our diversity – it comes from our willingness to accept all workers into the IAM’s mission.”
The conference’s first day also included keynote remarks by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, a notable figure in the labor movement, who shared his insights on its current state and the way forward.
The conference boasts an enriching agenda filled with diverse speakers and workshops. These sessions span crucial topics intended to equip attendees with insights and strategies pertinent to the evolving landscape of unionism.
The conference’s plenary sessions, which delve into political activism ahead of critical elections in the United States, diversity, and the nuanced legal aspects of union work, are invaluable opportunities for our staff to gain crucial insights and prepare for the future.
The participants are not just attending, they are actively acquiring advanced tactics for membership expansion through effective organizing. From honing effective communication skills to executing impactful community outreach and fostering member engagement, they play a vital role in our union’s growth.
The conference also covered topics ranging from organizing healthcare workers to engaging in emerging industries and how attendees can continue to support the IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines.
As the conference progresses, its atmosphere is charged with a palpable sense of inspiration and motivation. Attendees are poised to return to their territories and jurisdictions, ready to implement the valuable lessons learned and continue the vital work of nurturing a robust and dynamic union.
The first day of the conference also had a diverse list of speakers, including:
