International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Strike Against A.Y. McDonald

According to a press release from A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company, today, June 1st, Local Lodge #1238 of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM) went on strike against the Dubuque Factory.

The union represents all factory and maintenance workers. The United Steel Workers (USW) union representing all foundry and shipping co-workers entered into an agreement with A.Y. McDonald in March, ahead of their June 1st contract expiration. and will be unaffected by the IAM strike. They will continue to work at the Dubuque facility throughout the work stoppage by the IAM. IAM union members covered by the current collective bargaining agreement represent a small percentage of all A.Y. McDonald co-workers. A public statement from A.Y. McDonald in regard to the strike can be seen below.

"We respect the IAM union’s right to strike. It is not for lack of effort by both sides, who held 19 negotiation sessions together since March. I am proud of the offer we put together for our union co-workers which offers the vast majority first year increases from 7% to 15+%, depending on job classification and longevity. Total increases for the vast majority of our co-workers over the 5-year life of the agreement are in the 25% to 45+% range. We are a very co-worker focused company and we back it up with strong actions. In the “great recession” of 2008, when we had 30% more co-workers than we needed, we chose not to lay off a single person. In 2021 when inflation spiked, the company did a 3% wage increase, outside of regular merit increases, for all non-management co-workers. We included all of our union co-workers in this wage increase even though they were covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We treat our co-workers how we would want to be treated, whether they belong to a union or not. I stand by the terms of our current offer as being extremely fair and reasonable and remain dumbfounded that the offer was not ratified. We were able to come to terms with the USW union in relative short order compared to negotiations with the IAM union. Hopefully a resolution is arrived upon in the coming days.”

-Rob McDonald, Chief Executive Officer

A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. is a leading manufacturer of water works, pump, plumbing, and natural gas products. The company has operated in Dubuque, Iowa since 1856 with additional manufacturing locations in Albia, Iowa, and Elizabethton, Tennessee.

The company is owned and operated by the McDonald family with current leadership in the 5th generation. For more information about A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. and its products, visit aymcdonald.com.