VETERAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
JAMES M. SAMUEL
Air Transport Territory Representative
Veterans Service Committee
“As a service-connected disabled veteran of the United States Marine Corps with 30 years of experience in the VA healthcare system and with disability benefits, I am proud to have been appointed by General Vice-President Johnsen to serve in this most important role.
As we continue to work towards full VSO accreditation as an organization, we are still able to file claims with the VA on your behalf. If you are a veteran, or a spouse or child of a veteran, it simply starts by contacting any one of the IAM members currently serving in a Veterans Benefits Services (VBS) position.
Thanks to International President Martinez, this union-wide department is being supported by the International to help obtain the benefits and resources for the betterment of all IAMAW military veterans and their families.”

Tell Congress to Cosponsor the VA CBA Act of 2025
On March 27, President Trump issued an Executive Order, Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs, which aims to gut federal employee collective bargaining rights. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs have lost their constitutionally protected freedom to form and join a union since this executive order was implemented. The VA CBA Act of 2025 (H.R. 6015/S. 3174) would reverse the executive order as it applies to the VA and restore collective bargaining rights for these critical workers.
Click the image to visit the Action Network site and sign the petition!
District 142 General Chair and Veterans Services Committee Chair James M. Samuel gives the Veterans Services Committee Report at the 2022 IAMAW Grand Lodge Convention.
In early January of 2021, the IAM Veterans Services program launched an effort to identify IAM member-veterans throughout the organization. Application forms were sent to all districts and locals across the country.
The project continues its success through outreach into all IAM represented workplaces. This brings forth increased awareness, interest and participation. Our objective remains to identify and register IAM-member veterans within every Territory in the organization. We want veterans to know the IAM Veterans Services Steering Committee (VSSC) is here for them.
The committee, formally established by convention action in 2016 is assigned to:
- Provide assistance, guidance, and pertinent information on all issues and concerns related to the rights to employment, retention, military benefits and the betterment of IAMAW military veterans.
- Help identify and report on current and emerging barriers for IAMAW military veterans.
- Develop and support communications and networking opportunities to share information on pertinent matters related to IAM-Military Veterans.
- Strengthen the IAM by building solidarity and commitment among IAMAW military veterans.
- Encourage District and locals to form Veterans Services Committees.
The IAM Veterans Services Program seeks your assistance to accomplish this mission. For easier access, we upgraded the system to an electronic registration process.
You can sign up online here: https://eforms.iamaw.org/VetContactInfo
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Download a PDF version to fill out and mail in:
IAMAW Veterans Service Contact Information Form