Richard Suarez has been appointed as the new Western Territory Coordinator for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), effective September 1, 2025. The announcement was made by IAM International President Brian Bryant.
Suarez brings decades of union experience to his new role. He has worked in both private and public sectors, gaining significant collective bargaining and organizing experience. Suarez is bilingual in Spanish and English and has participated in multiple organizing campaigns and political rallies. He has also served as a lecturer at IAM Human Rights Conferences.
“A lifetime of service and leadership has prepared Richard for this important role,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “His experience, education, and compassion for working people will help strengthen our union and grow the IAM Western Territory.”
Suarez started his career with IAM in 1987 as a Reservation Agent for Northwest Airlines and was a member of Local 1932 in Los Angeles. He later transferred to Los Angeles International Airport, where he was elected Grievance Committee Chairman. His advocacy led him to other positions within the union.
He was later elected Air Transport District 143 General Chairman before being appointed Educational Representative at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in 2011, where he trained members from across North America. In 2013, Suarez joined the IAM Western Territory Staff as a Special Representative and became an International Representative two years later.
