The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced the death of Tom O’Heron, a retired Collective Bargaining Director and long-serving union member. O’Heron, who was 69, began his involvement with IAM Local 21 in 1978 after training as a machinist at the Trane Company in Wisconsin.
O’Heron’s career with the IAM spanned more than four decades. He started by representing coworkers as Directing Business Representative for District 66 and later took on roles at the international level, serving as both Collective Bargaining Coordinator and Director before retiring in 2016. During his tenure, he was recognized for negotiating contracts that secured fair wages, benefits, and protections for union members.
“Tom O’Heron was a true trade unionist whose work shaped our union and improved the lives of countless working families,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “He will be remembered for his steady leadership at the bargaining table, his lifelong dedication to fairness, and his unwavering commitment to solidarity.”
Outside of his professional life, O’Heron was active in sports coaching—guiding both baseball teams for his sons and girls’ high school basketball teams—and maintained interests in golf and supporting family activities. He also held a leadership role within the Knights of Columbus.
The IAM expressed condolences to O’Heron’s family, friends, and those who knew him, noting that his contributions would have a lasting impact on the organization’s members.
