The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) have announced that 90 Alstom employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have voted to join the union. The workers operate and maintain the airport’s Plane Train, an automated people mover system that transports about 250,000 passengers each day between terminals.
The election results were made public on August 20, 2025. The Alstom employees pointed to concerns about job security, fair wages, improved working conditions, and a desire for a stronger voice at work as their main reasons for seeking union representation.
Organizers from IAM and TCU/IAM worked with the employees during the campaign to explain how union membership could address their concerns. This development reflects a broader trend of transportation workers across the country seeking better conditions through organizing efforts.
Following this victory, TCU/IAM will begin preparations for collective bargaining aimed at securing a first contract that addresses the priorities of its 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 in 2025, Alstom delivered the first of 29 Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as part of an $87 million project—its largest APM replacement contract so far. These new vehicles are intended to improve reliability and help extend service capacity for increasing passenger volumes at what is considered the world’s busiest airport; in 2024 it served more than 108 million travelers (https://www.atl.com/news/atl-serves-over-108-million-passengers-in-2024-worlds-busiest-airport-title-retained/).
“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 approximately 600,000 active and retired members across North America in industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad operations, manufacturing, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive sectors, among others.
