Defense & Military
V2X Vertex Aerospace Workers in Fort Worth Join IAM Union
V2X Vertex Aerospace maintenance workers at Fort Worth Alliance Airport voted to join IAM District 776 despite delays from the 2025 government shutdown.
This article is based on an official press release from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and includes additional context from industry data.
In a significant labor victory within the defense sector, aircraft maintenance workers employed by V2X Vertex Aerospace at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW) have voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). According to an announcement by the union, the workers will be represented by IAM District 776, a local lodge that also represents workforce segments at major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin.
The election, conducted via mail-in ballot, officially concluded on December 30, 2025. The unit consists of workers providing critical defense maintenance services on Military-Aircraft. This victory marks another step in the IAM’s strategic push to organize defense contractors in the southern United States, a region traditionally characterized by “Right-to-Work” laws.
The path to unionization for the V2X workers faced a unique hurdle: the historic 43-day federal government shutdown that occurred between October 1 and November 12, 2025. Because the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency responsible for overseeing union elections, was shuttered during this period, the election process was effectively frozen for over a month.
Union organizers highlighted the resilience of the workforce during this period of uncertainty. Despite the administrative delays caused by the shutdown, the workers maintained their solidarity.
“They stuck together through delays, through uncertainty, and they never lost sight of why they wanted a union. I honestly thought the shutdown might cool things off. But they hung in there. That’s what made this win so meaningful.”
, Keith “Chub” McCrory, IAM Associate Organizer
Juan Eldridge, the IAM Assistant Organizing Director, noted in the press release that organizing in the South requires “persistence and proof,” emphasizing that the union must consistently demonstrate the value of a contract in Right-to-Work environments.
While the official press release describes the unit generally as “defense maintenance services,” industry context suggests a specific operational focus. Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport is a known hub for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Aviation Operations Center. According to recruitment data and job postings associated with V2X at this location, the workforce likely supports the DEA’s fleet, which includes King Air series aircraft and various Helicopters (Bell 407/412, MD-500) used for counter-narcotics surveillance and tactical operations. The maintenance work performed is comprehensive, covering Organizational, Intermediate, and Depot (O, I, & D) level support.
V2X, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, was formed in 2022 through the Mergers of Vectrus and Vertex Aerospace. It has grown into a major player in the global defense services market. As of recent fiscal reporting, the company employs approximately 16,000 people globally with annual revenues hovering around $3.9 billion.
The company has recently secured substantial government contracts, including a $747 million award in August 2024 to maintain the U.S. Navy’s F-5 adversary fleet and a position on a $980 million Air Force contract in late 2025. This financial health and contract stability likely factored into the workers’ decision to seek a collective bargaining agreement to secure their share of the company’s success.
This election result underscores a growing trend of labor organization within the defense contractor supply chain, particularly in Texas. The ability of IAM District 776 to organize a smaller, specialized unit within a massive contractor like V2X demonstrates that labor unions are effectively targeting specific, high-value maintenance units rather than solely focusing on massive assembly lines.
Furthermore, the resilience of the vote despite the 2025 government shutdown suggests that federal contractor employees are becoming increasingly sensitive to the instability of government funding cycles. By unionizing, these workers may be seeking stronger protections and contract language that insulates them from the volatility of Washington politics.
What is V2X Vertex Aerospace? Which union did the workers join? How did the 2025 government shutdown affect the vote?
V2X Vertex Aerospace Workers in Fort Worth Vote to Join IAM Union
Overcoming the 2025 Government Shutdown
Operational Context: Supporting Critical Missions
About V2X Vertex Aerospace
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
V2X is a global defense and government services provider formed by the 2022 merger of Vectrus and Vertex Aerospace. They provide logistics, aerospace maintenance, and training services.
The workers voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), specifically District Lodge 776, based in Fort Worth, Texas.
The 43-day shutdown (Oct 1 – Nov 12, 2025) closed the NLRB, delaying the processing and counting of the mail-in ballots. The vote was finally concluded on December 30, 2025.Sources
Photo Credit: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers – IAM