Brian Bryant is international president of IAM Union. A former pipefitter at Bath Iron Works in Maine, he began his union career in Local S6 and later held regional and national leadership positions. He became the union's 15th international president on January 1, 2024. He previously was directing business representative of District 4 and joined the executive council in 2016. He also serves on the AFL-CIO Executive Council and the executive committee of IndustriALL Global Union.
We have documented 2 statements by Brian Bryant, in 2 cases. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.
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Role at the time: International president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), in a union statement
Condemned
Response to this claim
Chuck Schumer will be reelected majority leader when Senate Democrats choose their leader for the new Congress.
“we have notified Senator Schumer and the Senate Democratic Caucus that we believe it is time for a new direction in the leadership of the U.S. Senate.”
The reference point is Chuck Schumer remaining Senate Democratic leader in the new Congress. Bryant says the union has told Schumer it is time for a new direction in Senate leadership and supports a change, which opposes Schumer continuing.
Role at the time: International president, IAM Union
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
IAM Union President Brian Bryant supported trade enforcement against forced labor and said it protects workers and human rights. He also said he was deeply troubled that the new Section 301 actions included Canada, and urged the administration to preserve the U.S.-Canada manufacturing and labor partnership.
“we are deeply troubled to see Canada”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Bryant supports enforcement against forced labor but objects to including CanadaFull statement, support in paragraphs 1-3 and Canada objection in final paragraph
Why we used this label
Bryant supports enforcement against forced labor but objects to including Canada in these actions. That objection limits his support for the action as imposed.
Several incoming Democratic senators, including Annie Andrews and Abdul El-Sayed, say they want new leadership rather than Chuck Schumer. Schumer says he will be reelected. Chris Van Hollen calls for an open debate first, and allies credit Schumer for the wins.
Businesses and 25 states say Trump's 10% and 12.5% Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies are a pretext to revive struck-down global tariffs. The administration says they lawfully answer forced-labor import failures. As of September 30, 2026, no court has ruled.
