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 results of the election were made public on August 20, 2025.
Alstom workers are responsible for running Atlanta’s automated people mover system, which transports approximately 250,000 passengers each day between terminals at what is recognized as the world’s busiest airport. Employees pointed to job security, fair wages, better working conditions, and a stronger voice in workplace matters as reasons for seeking union representation.
Organizers from IAM and TCU/IAM worked with Alstom staff to build support for unionization. The outcome reflects broader efforts by transportation workers across the country who are organizing to improve their working conditions.
TCU/IAM will now begin preparations for collective bargaining aimed at securing an initial agreement tailored to members’ needs.
“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 its first batch of Innovia APM R vehicles as part of an $87 million project—the largest contract so far for replacing automated people mover vehicles at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. These new vehicles are expected to improve reliability and support future expansions in response to growing passenger numbers; in 2024 alone, over 108 million travelers passed through the airport.
“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 around 600,000 active and retired members across industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, railroads, manufacturing, transit systems, healthcare sectors, automotive businesses among others.
