The Virginia IAM Council recently held a meeting where labor leaders and union members discussed current issues facing workers and the importance of political involvement ahead of the state’s upcoming elections. Charles Mann, president of the council, addressed the gathering and spoke about priorities such as member security, fair compensation, and workplace safety. He urged union members to participate in the upcoming Virginia elections, emphasizing that all major statewide offices and delegate seats will be contested.
New members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) also spoke at the meeting, sharing their experiences of organizing at botanical gardens and becoming part of the union.
The meeting underscored the role of strategic resources and support from both international and state union organizations, including the AFL-CIO, in aiding local organizing efforts. The speakers collectively emphasized the importance of political engagement and voting to further the labor movement and protect worker rights, regardless of political affiliation.
