EVERETT—IAM District 751 celebrated the grand opening of its new 23,000-sqaure-foot Machinists Institute & Union Hall on Friday, June 6, located at 8729 Airport Road in Everett—just across the street from Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center and Boeing Everett Factory. The new institute is expected to train up to 700 new machinists per year.
Designed by Urbal Architecture, the new facility replaces the previous union hall, includes modern administrative offices and features a manufacturing area for hands-on learning educational training center focused on aerospace, automotive, and metal fabrication trades. The former Everett Union Hall was demolished in 2021 to pave way to construct the new building.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, attended Friday’s the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which highlighted virtual reality welding training.
“By 2030, we may have a shortfall of over 2 million machinists. Can you imagine? America’s competitiveness is at stake,” Sen. Cantwell said. “751 is answering the call, not just with this new facility, but in integrating the Machinists Institute to train, and skill, and attract people […] That is why this building and the Machinists Institute — with a training capacity of over 700 machinists, to be trained right here — is such a great facility.”
The Machinists Institute facility will also provide continuing education and industry certifications to members and will offer students Heavy Equipment Apprenticeships or pre-apprenticeship training — helping IAM 751 attract more members and increasing the union’s capacity to serve them.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest labor unions in North America, with 600,000 active and retired members. IAM District 751 is the Washington contingent with over 33,000 members, most of whom are machinists at the Boeing Company.
In October 2024, IAM District 751 members at Boeing went on strike for 53 days to secure a new contract with 38% general wage increases over the next four years, lower health insurance premiums, a commitment to build the next Boeing plane in Washington, and improved benefits. During the strike, Senator Cantwell attended a rally on the picket line in Everett to show solidarity with the machinists.
Author: Mario Lotmore
