The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has marked the 90th anniversary of Social Security with a renewed pledge to advocate for retirement security for working people. The statement was released by Brian Bryant, International President of the IAM Union, which represents about 600,000 active and retired members across several industries in North America.
Bryant stated, “On the 90th anniversary of Social Security, the IAM Union is reaffirming its commitment to protecting and strengthening the program that millions of working families rely on. Since its inception in 1935, Social Security has lifted millions of older Americans out of poverty and given workers the peace of mind that they can retire with dignity.”
He continued by emphasizing the role Social Security plays for many Americans. “Social Security has stood the test of time, proving to be a rock-solid lifeline for America’s working families, even through some of our nation’s most brutal economic times. However, the decline of traditional pension plans and decades of stagnant or falling real wages have made it more complicated than ever for working people to save for retirement. For millions, Social Security is now the largest and sometimes only source of retirement income for working people.”
Bryant highlighted the contributions IAM members have made over generations. “Our hardworking IAM members have invested their blood, sweat, and tears into this system, and they deserve more than empty promises. They deserve the guarantee of a secure retirement. The IAM’s legacy of fighting for dignified retirement benefits spans generations, yet the gains we’ve made are still not enough. We will never stop fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security, ensuring it remains a dependable, robust support system for every worker who has given their all to build this nation.”
The IAM Union is one of North America’s largest industrial trade unions and represents workers in aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other sectors in both the United States and Canada.
