IAM Midwest Territory staff gathered at the Local 701 Union and Training Facility in Aurora, Illinois for a staff conference focused on preparing union representatives for evolving challenges in the labor sector.
Sam Cicinelli, General Vice President of the IAM Midwest Territory, opened the event by emphasizing the broader mission of the union. “As a union we stand for more than just the work we do,” said Cicinelli. “We stand for solidarity, mutual respect, and fairness for all our members. Each of you play a vital role in creating a culture of strength and support that echoes throughout the workplace. You are not just employees, you are leaders, advocates, and the driving force behind the progress we’ve made and the progress we will continue to make.”
Brian Bryant, International President of IAM, addressed participants and highlighted both ongoing initiatives and recent achievements within the territory. He stated: “I wish you the best this week; a lot of great items that are going to be covered in addition to other critical items. We talk a lot about organizing, and that’s important, but most important is the servicing of our members. We can never lose sight of that. Servicing is critical, and it’s on us from the Executive Council to make sure that we give you all the support, tools and knowledge to be able to be successful leaders out there. Because when everyone’s successful in this room, the whole union is successful.” Bryant referenced efforts such as organizing campaigns at Tempus AI—which resulted in an initial contract—and ongoing strike actions like those at Boeing’s District 837.
Carla Siegel, General Counsel for IAM, provided legal insights related to representation issues and strikes. She also discussed how decisions by entities such as the National Labor Relations Board impact daily operations for union representatives.
Financial stewardship was another topic during the conference. Assistant Secretary Paul Kendall gave an overview of union finances while stressing careful management of resources and encouraging staff to help members pursue leadership roles such as Secretary-Treasurer within their local organizations.
The agenda included practical training sessions: William LePinske led instruction on SharePoint; Tim Hight from IAM’s education center described processes for holding virtual membership meetings; Kevin Murch spoke about podcasts and effective communication with members; Jeff McLeod conducted an extensive session on negotiations and preparations related to strikes.
Executive Council members present at the conference included Brian Bryant (International President), Jody Bennett (Resident General Vice President), Robert “Bobby” Martinez (Western Territory General Vice President), and Richie Johnsen (Air Transport Territory General Vice President).
