Why the Machinists Honor Juneteenth
GoIAM.org
19 June 2022
Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the IAM,
We have had a whole year to prepare our nation for Juneteenth as a federal holiday. A holiday that remembers June 19, 1866, the day Afro-Texans gathered to commemorate the first anniversary of the ending of slavery.
This was acknowledged and celebrated across America throughout African-American communities. It signaled a new start to a brighter future. Many of these celebrations gave rise to fighting for workers’ rights.
Our union is committed to ensuring that we never forget the successes and failures of our past. It helps us as our nation continues to fight against racism and against the erosion of civil rights. This holiday allows us to reflect on how we can better serve our community, fellow citizens, and union.
We can celebrate Juneteenth by recognizing how far we have come together and how much work we have to do in our society. Our union is always at its best when celebrating our diversity, and on this Juneteenth, we will fight to ensure every one of us is respected and treated with dignity.
In solidarity,
Robert Martinez Jr.
IAM International President
Related News
Machinists and Aerospace Workers Call for Clean Extension of Airline Payroll Support Program
Dear Sisters and Brothers, Over the last four months, we have experienced the devastating effects of COVID-19. Many of us have lost family and friends, and just about all of us know someone whose life was cut short due to this vicious virus. In addition to the human...
Airplane Air is a Lot Cleaner Than the Public Thinks It Is
As the numbers of air travelers inches ever closer to pre-pandemic levels, one question keeps popping up: "Is Flying Safe?" Amid shutdowns, botched re-openings, anti-mask histrionics, and travel bans, air travel has been stuck in a perpetual holding pattern. A Harris...
Union Plus: Standing Up For Union Members
Standing Up For Union Members: Keith T.W. Anderko Explains How Union Plus Can Help Keith T.W. Anderko is the IAMAW’s Union Service Representative at Union Plus, which provides invaluable member-only benefits and discounts. Long before joining Union Plus, Keith was a...