The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is inviting members and labor allies to attend the 2026 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil & Human Rights Conference, scheduled for January 15-18, 2026, in Baltimore. The event will take place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.
This year’s conference theme is “Honoring Our History – Fighting for Our Future.” According to organizers, the theme underscores the importance of connecting past achievements in labor and civil rights with ongoing efforts to address current challenges. The event aims to emphasize the relationship between the labor movement and the civil rights movement.
The conference serves as a platform for discussions on issues affecting both labor and civil rights. Attendees will participate in sessions addressing topics such as collective bargaining rights, threats to democracy, voting rights, and economic justice. Organizers state that participants will have opportunities to learn practical skills through workshops and breakout sessions designed to help them organize within their communities and workplaces.
The AFL-CIO has announced Alex Rias as its new Director of Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights. Rias will oversee this year’s conference programming.
Conference activities begin on Thursday afternoon, January 15. Organizers recommend early hotel booking due to limited room availability, with a negotiated rate set at $219 per night at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor (401 W. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21201).
For more information or to register for the event or book accommodations, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official registration page.
“Honoring Our History – Fighting for Our Future,” highlights the urgency of bridging our rich past with the fight that lies ahead. It speaks to how the labor movement and civil-rights movement are inextricably linked, and how we must listen to history to chart our future.”
