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 who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have voted to join their unions. The election results were made public on August 20, 2025.
Alstom workers are responsible for operating Atlanta’s automated people mover system, which transports about 250,000 passengers daily between terminals at the airport. Their decision to unionize was influenced by concerns about job security, fair wages, improved working conditions, and having a stronger voice in their workplace.
Organizers from IAM and TCU/IAM collaborated with the workers throughout the organizing process. The unions say this outcome reflects a broader trend among transportation workers seeking better conditions and greater respect on the job.
TCU/IAM is preparing to begin collective bargaining negotiations aimed at securing 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 new Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson as part of an $87 million project—its largest automated people mover replacement contract so far. These vehicles are intended to improve reliability for travelers using what remains one of the world’s busiest airports; in 2024 it served over 108 million passengers.
“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 various industries in North America.
