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Protect IAM Members in Threatened Industries
The clean energy buildout is creating jobs across North America, but the shifting economy also threatens jobs in some industries. As a new economy emerges, the IAM must develop strategies to proactively protect members from job loss.
The IAM can begin by identifying locals with significant membership in industries that are at risk of contraction. The union should support members in these industries and encourage companies to utilize existing skill sets to make emerging industries successful. IAM units can also conduct corporate campaign research on specific employers at risk of closing to preemptively bargain for protections in the event of layoffs or closures. Further, the union can support locals facing transition-related stress by mobilizing resources to expand new organizing, develop relevant upskilling programs, and, if necessary, explore mergers with other locals.
Relatedly, the IAM can take measures to ensure that pension and retiree benefits are protected.
Furthermore, the IAM should aggressively advocate for the inclusion of at-risk IAM industries in state and federal just transition legislation, and support just transition legislation for all impacted workers. For example, Colorado’s Office of Just Transition could be expanded from only supporting coal workers.381 The IAM should build on experiences with the Trade Adjustment Program to advocate for more aggressive federal protections for workers facing transition.382
At times, proactive advocacy and relationship building can turn threats into opportunities. As detailed in this report, the decommissioning of coal plants at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has resulted in new work and more jobs for IAM members. Several factors have contributed to the TVA-IAM success story. First, the TVA is a large and diversified employer, which provides opportunities for members to transition to other areas of work. Second, the union has established a positive relationship with the employer to develop common ground solutions.