As Black History Month 2026 begins, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is highlighting the role labor unions have played in supporting African American workers. The organization points to historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, who became president of the Colored National Labor Union in 1872, and A. Philip Randolph, who led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in the 1920s. The IAM also notes its own early inclusion of African American members, which began a decade before the Civil Rights Act was passed in the 1960s.
“It’s mind-boggling to learn about the tremendous history that links labor activism with the upward economic mobility of the Black Americans,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “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 chapters to promote diversity by admitting African American workers. By 1950, Roman Mayfield became one of the first African Americans admitted to IAM after persistent efforts while working at Boeing in Seattle. His acceptance helped pave the way for thousands more Black workers at Boeing to join IAM over subsequent decades.
Other significant events include former IAM president Al Hayes meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York City in 1962; predominantly African-American lodges being established in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia during the 1960s; and IAM’s involvement in rebuilding Watts, California after riots in 1965 with help from union representative Herb Ward.
The organization also highlights major contract negotiations benefiting Black workers, such as those at General Dynamics in Fort Worth during the 1970s. Leadership milestones include Robert Roach Jr.’s appointment as IAM’s first African-American General Vice President in 1999 and Diane Babineaux becoming its first Black woman General Vice President in 2013.
IAM maintains strong ties with groups like the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the A. Philip Randolph Institute as part of ongoing efforts to advance economic fairness and racial justice for Black workers.
