Today, Gov. Katie Hobbs is proud to announce the endorsement of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Arizona State Council, which represents more than 12,000 workers in Arizona across the air transport, defense, aerospace, manufacturing, rail, and other industries. The Arizona State Council of the IAM Union is backing Katie Hobbs due to her strong record of creating good-paying union jobs, supporting working families, and advocating for stricter safety measures on job sites.
“Gov. Hobbs has shown she’s willing to listen and take action on behalf of workers,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “This endorsement is about continuing that progress and making sure working families remain at the center of Arizona’s future.”
“This State Council is about bringing our members together to build power and make sure our voices are heard,” said IAM Union Arizona State Council President and IAM Local 2949 President Steve Nickel. “We’re focused on supporting leaders like Gov. Hobbs who support working people and our union, and making sure our members stay engaged in the decisions that impact their lives.”
“I am very proud to have the support of the IAM Union Arizona State Council, who build and maintains the aircraft, equipment, and infrastructure that keep our state moving,” said Katie Hobbs. “As governor, I’ve worked to create good-paying union jobs, expand apprenticeship and training programs, and strengthen workplace safety so Arizona workers can succeed. I will keep fighting to make sure Arizona workers get the pay, protections, and respect they’ve earned.”
Since taking office, Katie Hobbs has made protecting and championing working families a cornerstone of her administration, including:
- Launched a first-in-the-nation Heat Stress State Emphasis Plan to protect outdoor workers with requirements for water, shade, and rest on the hottest days, including additional protections advanced by the Industrial Commission of Arizona;
- Brokered a historic labor agreement at TSMC, ensuring safety, training pipelines, and good-paying jobs for Arizona workers on high-tech projects;
- Created the Talent Ready AZ Initiative and established a first-of-its-kind Workforce Cabinet to align education, training, and economic agencies around one goal: connecting Arizonans to good-paying jobs in fast-growing industries like clean energy, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing;
- Signed into law bipartisan legislation expanding Arizona’s authority to investigate and address wage theft, and blocked efforts to erode workers’ rights;
- Doubling the number of apprenticeships through the BuildItAZ initiative, with more than $60 million in new investments and partnerships to train the next generation of trades professionals;
- Delivered paid parental leave, childcare investments, and healthcare expansions for working families, including canceling $2 billion in medical debt, benefitting over one million Arizonans.
