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Service + Solidarity Spotlight: F-35 Instructor Pilots on Strike for Respect, Fairness at San Diego’s Miramar Air Station

Miramar IAM instructor pilots

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Military pilot instructors at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, like the ones in the new “Top Gun: Maverick” film, went on strike on Friday. Lockheed Martin has refused to fairly compensate the eight highly accomplished pilots who are members of Machinists (IAM) Local 1125. These workers have advanced qualifications that include the requirement to perform and teach specialized tactics in the air combat environment to F-35 military pilots.

“Each instructor here has proudly served our nation’s military in the fighter squadrons across the world and continues to put in countless hours to perfect our craft and ability to instruct at very high levels,” said Military Pilot Trainer Ryan Cunningham (pictured above, fourth from the left). “We’re asking that Lockheed Martin treat us with the same respect we demonstrate to this company, our military, and specifically this profession, each and every day.”