The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1296 in Clarksville, Tennessee, has ratified a four-year contract with Trane Technologies. The agreement covers nearly 1,700 employees in the region, including about 1,100 workers at the Clarksville manufacturing plant.
Trane Technologies is one of the largest employers in Clarksville, a city that has grown from its roots as a tobacco farming community to become the fifth largest metropolitan area in Tennessee. The company began as a family plumbing business in Wisconsin in 1885 and has operated for decades in Clarksville.
“There is a lot of working-class history in the city of Clarksville and a strong union tradition at Trane Technologies,” said IAM Union Local 1296 President Brandie Givens. “The IAM Union is proud to be part of that history. Our members there have been the centerpiece of innovation, and they play a role in sustaining our local community and economy.”
This new contract brings immediate wage increases—9.3% in the first year—and includes an additional $2 skill adjustment for maintenance workers. Over four years, further wage increases are planned. Benefits such as bereavement leave, paid time off, and insurance have also been improved. Shop stewards will now be able to conduct union business with fewer restrictions.
IAM Union Local 1296’s bargaining committee received training at the William W. Winpisinger Center Education and Training Center in Maryland to prepare for these negotiations. For the first time, women held top leadership positions within Local 1296 during this process.
“We didn’t know what to expect when we started preparing, but we were very excited and pleased when the membership ratified the new contract,” said Givens. “The negotiating committee attended the Negotiation Prep Program at the William W. Winpisinger Center.”
Ashley Carpenter, Recording Secretary and Grievance Committee Member for Local 1296, credited her participation in the Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters (LEADS) program with increasing her confidence during negotiations.
“I was honored to be able to participate in the first cohort of the LEADS program and was also a member of the Committee on the Future. The LEADS Program showed me that women are not alone in the fight against management and we have allies throughout the IAM,” said Carpenter. “I was able to learn so much about our union that I didn’t know prior. My self-confidence grew as a result.”
Carpenter has worked at Trane Technologies for almost two decades and highlighted how important negotiated contracts have been for families: “Trane has been open for decades and has contributed to the local economy by negotiating contracts that allow our members to be able to take care of their families,” she said.
National data shows that while overall union membership has declined over 25 years, women now make up almost half of all union members nationwide—a trend reflected locally.
“We look forward to making the lives of our members and their families better every day,” said Givens. “I would like to thank all the union brothers and sisters that helped and supported us.”
IAM Union Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin praised both members and negotiators: “I’m so proud of our members and their negotiating team. Once again, the IAM Union leads the way in the South when it comes to fighting for the working class and winning…Our bargaining team worked hard, didn’t budge, and ultimately delivered a contract that lifts the quality of life for working families in northern Tennessee.”
Reggie Dixon, Chief of Staff for IAM Union Southern Territory added: “Our union takes pride in bargaining industry-leading contracts. We set the bar high…We step up, take care of our members, and make sure they are rewarded for their loyalty and hard work.”
District 1888 Directing Business Representative Bill Benson explained how member input shaped negotiations: “This contract is about more than just numbers, it’s about dignity on the job…We did bargaining unit surveys in early 2024. The committee took results…and formed proposals…We fought for these gains at table…They will have lasting impact on lives of our members.” Negotiations began December 2024 through mid-February 2025.
Montgomery County’s unemployment rate recently rose from 3% to nearly 3.5%, underlining what some see as increased importance for strong labor agreements amid economic uncertainty.
“It can be tough in Tennessee, as many politicians and business interests here work very hard to frustrate unions,” said District 1888 Assistant Directing Business Representative Billy Givens. “But this contract shows them that we will persevere and push forward in face of any opposition.”
General Vice President Martin concluded: “We have a long track record of fighting for our dedicated talented workers…We will use our history…and recent contract victory at Trane Technologies as momentum…The best is yet to come.”
