ATLANTA, Aug. 22, 2025 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Rail Division and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) announced the successful organizing victory for 90 Alstom employees who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The election and results were announced on Aug. 20, 2025.
The Alstom workers are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of Atlanta’s automated people mover system, the Plane Train, which carries about 250,000 passengers daily between terminals at the world’s busiest airport.
The Alstom workers cited concerns over job security, fair wages, improved working conditions, and having a stronger voice on the job as key reasons for choosing union representation.
IAM and TCU/IAM organizers worked with the workers to build solidarity and explain the benefits of union representation. The victory underscores growing momentum among transportation workers nationwide who are organizing for better conditions and respect on the job.
TCU/IAM will now begin preparing for collective bargaining to secure a first agreement that reflects the needs and priorities of the new members.
“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.”
Alstom delivered the first of 29 Innovia APM R vehicles to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport earlier this year as part of an $87 million USD project, its largest APM replacement contract to date. The new vehicles will enhance reliability and support the Plane Train’s extension, accommodating the growing number of travelers at the world’s busiest airport, which served over 108 million passengers in 2024.
“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.”