March 14, 2008                       

(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters Union said Friday that the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) failed to protect mechanics’ jobs at United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. AMFA also misrepresented conditions at Teamster airlines.

Continental outsourced jobs before the Teamsters were elected to represent mechanics at that airline (NYSE: CAL). The number of mechanics and related at Continental increased to 3,605 last year from 3,050 in 1998, when the Teamsters became the mechanics’ representative. Continental’s furlough list has been exhausted and new mechanics have been hired.

In contrast, 3,289 mechanics and related lost their jobs at United (Nasdaq: UAUA) between 2003 and 2006 while they were represented by AMFA. United has cut more maintenance workers than any other U.S. airline. 

Additionally, thousands of mechanics lost their jobs at other AMFA-represented carriers, including Alaska (NYSE: ALK) and Northwest (NYSE: NWA) airlines.

“Anyone who’s seen what happened at United, or watched mechanics marched off the cliff at Northwest Airlines, understands that AMFA has to resort to lies to hang on to the members it has left,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.  

Despite AMFA claims, there has been no job loss at Teamster-represented carriers.

United Airline mechanics are in the midst of voting to switch representation to the Teamsters from AMFA. The voting period ends March 31.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. There are 40,000 Teamsters airline employees, including more than 9,000 mechanics and related at 11 airlines.