The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has rechartered its Waycross, Georgia-based local as “Local 1,” restoring a designation that dates back to the union’s founding in 1888. The move was marked by a ceremony in Waycross, which union leaders described as an effort to reclaim the IAM’s historical identity.
The renaming honors the original 19 machinists who gathered in Atlanta under Thomas Talbot’s leadership to establish what would become one of the largest rail unions. Previously known as Local 625 since its chartering in 1933, the local had carried that number for nearly a century.
Curtis W. Taylor, a retired machinist with over forty years of service, said, “should have been [Number 1] all the time,” referencing the local’s ties to Georgia and its role in the union’s origins.
Currently headquartered in Waycross, Local 1 represents more than 250 members who primarily work in railroad operations across the Southeastern United States. The local supports workers involved in freight operations and locomotive maintenance.
As part of the re-chartering events, union officials visited the CSX Transportation locomotive facility and service center in Waycross. This site is significant for its role in producing and maintaining locomotives essential to freight transportation nationwide.
The delegation included Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the International President; Reece Murtagh, President and Directing General Chair of District 19; and Jason Gibbs, General Chair. They toured the facility, met with members, discussed working conditions with management, and observed daily operations.
Murtagh stated that Local 1 is a “strong” and “fighting” local. He emphasized leadership’s responsibility to maintain direct contact with members and uphold workplace standards.
Local 1 operates from a historic union hall—a former church purchased collectively by members—which is now owned outright and recognized by the Waycross Historical Society. This underscores the local’s longstanding presence within the community.
Jamie Crews, President and Local Chair of Local 1, expressed gratitude for support from international auditing committees and executive boards during this transition process. Crews also noted pride in continuing traditions dating back to 1888.
Union leaders described this change as more than an administrative update; they see it as restoring historical continuity by connecting today’s membership with their roots established by Talbot and his colleagues over a century ago.
For members in Waycross, regaining the “Local 1” title reflects both heritage and ongoing commitment—demonstrating that values established at the union’s founding continue to influence working machinists today.
