The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) marked the 90th anniversary of Social Security by reaffirming its commitment to defending and improving the program. The union, which represents about 600,000 members across various industries in North America, released a statement from International President Brian Bryant on August 14.
“On the 90th anniversary of Social Security, the IAM Union is reaffirming its commitment to protecting and strengthening the program that millions of working families rely on. Since its inception in 1935, Social Security has lifted millions of older Americans out of poverty and given workers the peace of mind that they can retire with dignity,” said Bryant.
He also referenced concerns about efforts to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits, highlighting ongoing debates over the future of these programs. “Social Security has stood the test of time, proving to be a rock-solid lifeline for America’s working families, even through some of our nation’s most brutal economic times. However, the decline of traditional pension plans and decades of stagnant or falling real wages have made it more complicated than ever for working people to save for retirement. For millions, Social Security is now the largest and sometimes only source of retirement income for working people,” Bryant stated.
He added: “Our hardworking IAM members have invested their blood, sweat, and tears into this system, and they deserve more than empty promises. They deserve the guarantee of a secure retirement. The IAM’s legacy of fighting for dignified retirement benefits spans generations, yet the gains we’ve made are still not enough. We will never stop fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security, ensuring it remains a dependable, robust support system for every worker who has given their all to build this nation.”
The IAM Union represents workers in sectors including aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive and others throughout the United States and Canada.
