Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa assured Cleveland-area Continental fleet service workers, who are fighting for representation in the workplace, that the power and strength of the Teamsters union is behind them both on the ground and in the nation’s courts on Friday.
Hoffa announced that the Teamsters have filed a lawsuit against the airline for violating workers’ rights to organize. The company has refused to allow its employees to distribute union literature in the workplace, including in break room and public bulletin boards.
“Continental is engaged in a deliberate campaign to suppress workers’ rights and we will not let this continue,” Hoffa said. “Joining a union is a moral, civil and human right and Continental fleet service workers deserve the representation they have been fighting for.”
While in Cleveland, Hoffa met with workers, listened to their stories and led a group of fleet service workers through the corridors of the Hopkins International Airport to garner attention and gain support. He was joined by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who greeted Continental employees and listened to their concerns.
Joining Hoffa and Kucinich at the press conference were Ohio Conference of Teamsters President Roger Insprucker, Mark Frey, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 964, Al Mixon, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 507 and a representative from Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) office.
Kucinich, who pledged his support for the campaign, echoed the sentiments of Hoffa and rallied the crowd asking, “What time is it? Teamster time!”
Continental fleet service worker Gerald Baylor encouraged his coworkers to remain strong and continue fighting.
“Our fight isn’t about wages or money, it’s about respect,” he said. “As long as we stick together, we will have that respect because we will become Teamsters.”
Speaking on behalf of Continental fleet service workers at outstations was Tom Adams from Kansas City.
“The message is clear to me that the Teamsters are the union we need,” Adams said. “With their backing, we can have protections from the things that scare us all, including pay cuts and job loss.”
More than 8,000 Continental fleet service workers nationwide are exercising their right to join a union through a national organizing campaign.
View more photos from the rally.
