Jonathan Scott Ames, pictured above, succeeds longtime Union head Steve Elliott Sr.
Members and leaders representing individual locals of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (IUJAT), one of the oldest labor unions in continuous existence in the United States, dating back to 1874, cast their vote for Jonathan Scott Ames to officially take the reins as the Union’s next International President.
Representatives from the various local unions that make up the more than 40 subordinate bodies under the international union’s umbrella came together at a special convention to decide who would succeed longtime union leader Steven R. Elliott.
Elliott is stepping down ahead of the end of his current term as International President and moving into the role of Business Manager. He has served the International and its subordinate affiliates in various capacities throughout his 40-plus year career in the Union.
“I am proud to have played whatever role I could to help achieve the great successes of our organization and membership. I am so confident in the future leaders of this great Union that it is now time for me to begin the process of stepping aside to let them assume the positions they have richly earned,” said Elliott, proudly passing the baton to Ames.
Ames has participated in and been a leader in virtually every organizing drive conducted at USWU, Local 355 and other affiliated unions throughout the IUJAT. Ames has represented workers in a vast array of industries including automotive, transportation, and petroleum divisions, as well as IUJAT’s three new cannabis union locals in the tri-state region. He was elected President of USWU’s largest affiliated union, Local 355 in 2002 and serves as President of HHWA Local 1880.
“Jonathan champions the idea that Unions should focus on organizing the unorganized and not on fighting with each other,” said Elliott. “Anyone who has worked with him immediately recognizes his intelligence, candor, dedication to serving our membership, and ability to focus on finding solutions to problems. For all these reasons and so many more, he has more than earned this position.”
“It is an honor to succeed Steve Elliott Sr. as International President of the IUJAT,” said Ames. “His exemplary leadership over these many decades has been an inspiration and a model, and I look forward to his continued guidance as I fill his very sizeable shoes and dedicate myself to serving this organization and its members.”
The IUJAT is the oldest union in the United States retaining its original charter, proudly and continuously operating for nearly 150 years—13 years more than the American Federation of Labor itself. IUJAT is comprised of over 100,000 members with more than 40 subordinate bodies, including directly affiliated locals and those that are affiliated through a National Union. There are currently four National Union affiliates in IUJAT—the United Service Workers Union (USWU), National Organization of Industrial Trade Unions (NOITU), the United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU), and the Home Healthcare Workers of America (HHWA).
