Minnesota IAM Union engages public at state fair through outreach and education

For more than five decades, members of IAM Air Transport Local 1833 have participated in the Minnesota AFL-CIO House of Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair. The pavilion is open throughout the fair’s 12-day run and offers live music, union displays, and educational activities to inform visitors about union membership and labor issues. Local 1833 is joined by a range of other unions such as AFSCME, USW, UFCW, MNA, SEIU, IBEW, and CWA.

At their booth, IAM Local 1833 emphasizes its ties to the airline industry with displays like model airplanes and a donut press donated by an IAM Business Representative. The booth also features a tribute to Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines. Additionally, it serves as a meeting point for Delta Air Lines ramp and flight attendant organizers who use the space to connect with coworkers interested in union representation.

IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richie Johnsen said, “Our members in Minnesota show the true spirit of the labor movement at the state fair. By connecting directly with the public, educating them about the value of union membership, and standing in solidarity with other unions, they are helping strengthen the voice of working people everywhere.”

Mary Sansom, President of IAM Local 1833, noted her long-standing involvement with the event: “I have been doing the state fair for at least 20 years, and the best part is seeing my brothers and sisters at the AFL-CIO Pavilion, making new friends, and supporting one another,” said Sansom. “It’s a great time building solidarity with family, friends, and union family.”

The IAM Union encourages all working people to visit their booth at next year’s fair to learn more about labor unions and community solidarity.