Dear Sisters and Brothers:
On June 19, we commemorate Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history, the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate Black freedom and culture, and to recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equity and justice.
For the IAM Union, Juneteenth is not just a historical milestone; it’s a call to action. Our union has long stood on the side of working people from all backgrounds, fighting to ensure dignity, fairness, and opportunity on the job and in our communities. The struggles for racial justice and workers’ rights are deeply interconnected. When one of us is denied dignity or opportunity, we are all diminished.
IAM members understand that real solidarity means more than words. It means organizing, educating, and standing together to challenge injustice in all its forms, whether in the workplace or society. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom and equality must be actively defended, and that labor unions play a vital role in advancing that fight.
As we honor Juneteenth, let us recommit ourselves to building a labor movement that uplifts every worker, regardless of race or background. That is the promise of unionism, and it is at the heart of what we do every day as members of the IAM.
Sincerely and fraternally,
John M. Coveny, Jr.
President/Directing General Chair