Retired International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Robert “Bob” Martinez Jr., has been inducted into the Texas AFL-CIO’s Labor Hall of Fame. The recognition highlights his more than 43 years of service to working people in Texas, across the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Martinez, a native Texan and veteran of the U.S. Naval Air, began his union involvement in 1980 as an aircraft assembler at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth. He joined IAM Local 776A shortly after leaving military service.
“When I first walked through the doors at General Dynamics as a member of IAM Local 776A, fresh out of the United States Navy, I wasn’t thinking about titles or awards,” Martinez said during his induction speech at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention. “I was thinking about earning a living, taking care of my family, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women next to me on the job.”
Martinez rose from shop floor worker to become IAM’s 14th International President in 2016. He became both the first Latino president of IAM and the first Latino leader of a major U.S. labor union.
Jody Bennett, Resident General Vice President for IAM and fellow Texan, introduced Martinez at the ceremony. Bennett commented on Martinez’s impact: “Bob’s story is a labor story. It’s a Texas story. And it’s an American story,” said Bennett. “Like so many of our members, he didn’t set out to lead a union—he set out to earn a living, protect his coworkers, and make things better than he found them.”
IAM International President Brian Bryant described Martinez as instrumental in shaping modern IAM leadership: “Bob Martinez is a leader whose commitment to working people helped shape the modern IAM and strengthened the labor movement around the world,” said Bryant. “This recognition reflects the impact he made not just in Texas, but the countless lives he changed along the way.”
During his time as president from 2016 until his retirement in 2024, Martinez led efforts that expanded organizing into new industries and established programs aimed at assisting members. His leadership brought financial stability to IAM and promoted greater inclusion for women and underrepresented groups within union leadership roles.
Martinez was active during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic where he advocated for measures that preserved jobs for union members. His influence extended beyond IAM; he served on various national councils including chairing AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and serving on both AFL-CIO Executive Council and U.S. President’s Export Council.
He also represented aerospace workers globally through IndustriALL’s global aerospace chairmanship while promoting domestic manufacturing standards like Buy American policies.
Reflecting on his career roots throughout different leadership positions nationwide or abroad, Martinez stated: “For decades—whether I was in Washington D.C., or wherever this work took me—everyone knew one thing about me: I represented Texas,” said Martinez. “I was a Navy veteran. I was a union machinist. And I carried the grit, the values, and the pride of Texas working people with me everywhere I went.”
Upon retiring in 2024 after four decades with IAM—including eight years as its top officer—Martinez leaves behind what colleagues describe as a legacy built upon solidarity among workers and advocacy for their dignity.
