The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division, together with the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM), has announced that 90 Alstom employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have voted to unionize. The election results were made public on August 20, 2025.
These Alstom workers are responsible for operating and maintaining the Plane Train, an automated people mover system that transports around 250,000 passengers each day between terminals at the airport. Their decision to seek union representation was influenced by concerns about job security, fair wages, better working conditions, and having a greater voice in their workplace.
IAM and TCU/IAM organizers worked alongside the employees during the organizing campaign. The unions say this victory is part of a larger trend among transportation workers across the country who are seeking improved conditions through collective action.
TCU/IAM will now start preparing for negotiations toward a first contract for these new members.
“This victory marks a historic moment as the first joint organizing effort between TCU and the IAM, and we could not be prouder of the outcome,” said TCU/IAM National President Artie Maratea. “The Alstom workers, who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, perform vital work keeping hundreds of thousands of passengers moving safely every day through the world’s busiest airport. We proudly welcome these workers into our union family and look forward to negotiating a strong first agreement that secures the wages, benefits, and protections they deserve.”
Earlier this year, Alstom delivered its first batch of Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as part of an $87 million project. This upgrade aims to improve reliability and support future expansions for growing passenger numbers; in 2024 alone, more than 108 million travelers used the airport (https://www.atl.com/newsroom/press-releases/hartsfield-jackson-atlanta-international-airport-named-worlds-busiest-for-25th-year/).
“This organizing win is significant because the IAM Union was founded in Atlanta in 1888,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “More than 135 years later, workers in this city continue to carry forward the proud legacy of standing together for dignity, respect, and a better future. The Alstom Plane Train workers are now part of a union family with a history of fighting and winning for working people.”
The IAM Rail Division includes members from both TCU/IAM and IAM District 19. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired members across various industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, railroads, manufacturing, transit systems, healthcare sectors, automotive fields—and others—making it one of North America’s largest industrial trade unions.
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