Members of IAM Local 1296 in Clarksville, Tennessee, have approved a new four-year contract with Trane Technologies. The agreement, reached with support from District 1888, includes wage increases, improved benefits, and additional workplace protections for union workers. The contract is seen as an important development for both the union and the city, which has a long history of union activity.
Trane Technologies began as a plumbing business in Wisconsin in 1885 and now manufactures commercial heating and air conditioning units. The Clarksville plant is a major local employer. IAM Local 1296 President Brandie Givens said the union values its role in the community and the local economy.
This contract negotiation was the first at Local 1296 to be led by women. The bargaining team received training at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Center in Maryland. They also participated in the Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters (LEADS) program, which supports women in union leadership. Ashley Carpenter, Recording Secretary and Grievance Committee Member, said the LEADS program helped her develop skills for union work…