www.faMergerMatters.

org

Myth Buster · Issue 5

LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
Myth: The IAM is absent from Flight Attendant Attendants, the IAM’s Legislative Department works
fights on Capitol Hill. with IAM State Councils that exist in all 50 states to
coordinate lobbying efforts in every State Capitol.
Busted: The IAM has an 11-person Legislative
The IAM District that represents Continental Flight
Department with offices in Washington, D.C and at
Attendants has its own Legislative Committee, which
IAM Headquarters in Maryland to fight for Flight
is chaired by a Flight Attendant. Further, each IAM
Attendants.
Flight Attendant Local has a Legislative Committee
that not only works with their District, State Councils
The IAM’s team of full-time lobbyists works closely
and the IAM Headquarters' Legislative Department,
with other airline union legislative representatives
but they also initiate legislative efforts on the city and
to protect Flight Attendants and all airline
county level.
personnel. Unions representing Pilots, Flight
Attendants, Mechanics, Customer Service Agents,
With IAM members living in every Congressional
Ramp Workers and other groups come together
district in the United States, the IAM has the unique
each week with the AFL-CIO’s Transportation
ability to engage legislators in their home districts as
Trades
well as in D.C. Since IAM members vote in every
FACT: For any single union to Department Congressional district, our influence is enhanced.
claim credit for a coordinated, to
coordinate
multi-union legislative agenda legislative In addition to the IAM’s intense lobbying efforts, the
is intentionally deceptive. Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) was
strategy.
created in 1947 to allow IAM members to gather
individual voluntary contributions, coordinate political
Additionally, the IAM and AFA-CWA work very
activity, and elect candidates who support IAM
closely with the Association of Professional Flight
members and their families. Each year IAM Flight
Attendants, Transport Workers Union, United
Attendants are an integral part of the MNPL Planning
Steel Workers of America and the International
Committee that meets to set the IAM’s legislative
Brotherhood of Teamsters on Flight Attendant-only
agenda for the year.
legislation as part of the Coalition of Flight
Attendant Unions.
Because the IAM’s lobbying efforts are not narrowly
focused on a single subject, we have cultivated
For any single union to claim credit for a
relationships with a broad-range of legislators from
coordinated, multi-union legislative agenda is
both parties, which is crucial in lobbying for Flight
intentionally deceptive.
Attendant issues.
Because state laws and regulations also impact Flight

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS