(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) - Approximately 150 Qantas Airways Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) employed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) have overwhelmingly voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

Qantas AMEs reached out to the IAM in late 2023 to explore the idea of forming a Union and then filed in January 2024 for a National Mediation Board (NMB) Election.

The NMB election vote count took place last week.

The AMEs believe that they should be treated better by Qantas management and decided collectively that forming a Union with the IAM and negotiating a legally binding contract would be the best way to ensure that they are recognized appropriately for the value they create for Australia’s largest airline.

“I am grateful in being able to serve to bring respect and honor to those fellow Mechanics who have honored and respected an old dog trying to learn new tricks,” said Edward Berg, a Qantas AME and Lead Inside Organizer. “This career and field are new to me and I’m humbled and proud to be working alongside those who really care about their craft.  I hope in the upcoming negotiations that management will see the majority of those Mechanics who care about their responsibilities and do right by them.”

The IAM represents thousands of Aircraft Mechanics and related Workers across the United States at major and regional airlines, such as American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, British Airways, PSA Airlines, and Air Wisconsin Airlines.

“The IAM Air Transport Territory will continue to provide every resource necessary to Qantas Airways Workers in their mission toward justice on the job,” IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser said. “We couldn’t be more proud of this great victory for Qantas Airways Workers and their families.”

The IAM represents 600,000 Active And Retired Members in countless industries and is the largest Airline Union in North America.

To Read This Organizing Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Qantas Airways Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Vote to Join IAM Union - IAMAW (goiam.org)