Washington, D.C., November 9, 2016 — Bob Martinez, International President of the nearly 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released this statement on the election of Donald Trump:
“I want to sincerely thank the thousands of IAM members and working people who voted, volunteered and made a difference in this year’s election. To those who are saddened by the result, I offer my promise that your union’s commitment to fighting for you is unwavering.
“This puts to bed questions over the depth of Americans’ anxiety over the systematic destruction of good jobs, the loss of retirement security and a trade policy that benefits few at the expense of many. It’s something the IAM and the labor movement has been sounding alarms about for decades. This was not the result many thought was the best way forward, but we are Americans: We get up, dust ourselves off and keep working toward a better future together.
“As a labor union, we deal with those whom we disagree with every day at the bargaining table. We try to find common ground. That’s exactly what we intend to do in this new reality.
“There’s things we won’t compromise on: racism, sexism, common decency and respect. We will always stand up when people are mistreated. We will never give in to the politics of fear and division. We will continue to fight for better jobs, higher wages, secure pensions, health care, safe and healthy workplaces, and justice and dignity on the job.
“We hope to work with President-elect Trump on what he said were central tenants behind his campaign—restoring the American middle class and bringing work back to the United States. Working people, coming together in unions, must be a part of that vision for it to be successful.”
The IAM is among the nation’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, with nearly 600,000 members in aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, electronics and the federal sector. Visit goiam.org for more information about the IAM.
