As Black History Month 2026 begins, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is recognizing the contributions of African American workers within the labor movement. The IAM highlights a history that includes early efforts to welcome Black members and its ongoing partnerships with organizations focused on racial justice.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant stated, “It’s mind-boggling to learn about the tremendous history that links labor activism with the upward economic mobility of the Black Americans. Our union has been at the forefront of civil rights and Black History Month is a great time to share our union’s story.”
In 1944, IAM District 727 in southern California encouraged local unions to diversify their membership by admitting African American workers. This was followed by Roman Mayfield’s story; he became one of the first African Americans to join IAM as a production worker at Boeing in Seattle. Although initially denied membership due to discriminatory lodge policies, Mayfield continued attending meetings and was eventually accepted in 1950 after IAM changed its stance. His acceptance led Boeing to hire thousands more Black workers over subsequent decades, many of whom joined IAM.
Other notable moments include former IAM president Al Hayes greeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York City in 1962, chartering predominantly African-American lodges such as Local 14 in Washington, D.C., and Local 2013 in Richmond, Virginia during the 1960s, and supporting community rebuilding efforts in Watts, California after riots in 1965 with help from union representative Herb Ward.
The organization also points out major contract negotiations involving large numbers of Black workers at General Dynamics in Fort Worth during the 1970s. Leadership milestones include Robert Roach, Jr.’s appointment as the first African-American General Vice President in 1999 and Diane Babineaux becoming the first Black woman General Vice President in 2013.
Currently, IAM maintains partnerships with groups such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the A. Philip Randolph Institute—organizations known for promoting economic fairness and racial justice for Black workers.
