Hoffa Rocks Cleveland To Support Continental Fleet Service Workers, Aviation Technicians

Today, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa voiced his support of Cleveland-area Continental Airlines aviation technicians and fleet service workers who are fighting for strong representation in the workplace and announced a lawsuit filed against the airline for violating the workers’ right to organize.

Hoffa demanded that Continental cease anti-union activities targeting the fleet service workers and also called for the company to recognize the continued sacrifices by the aviation technicians who are already represented by the Teamsters.

“Continental is engaged in a deliberate campaign to suppress workers’ rights and we will not let this continue,” Hoffa said.

More than 8,000 Continental fleet service workers are exercising their right to join a union through a national organizing campaign. Under Hoffa’s leadership, the workers hope to join their brother and sister aviation technicians at Continental who already are Teamsters.

Recently, a number of Continental fleet service workers spoke with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, recounting their struggles during their campaign to win union representation. Solis expressed to them her unwavering support for all workers seeking union representation. Amy Duke, who spoke at the press conference, was one of the workers at the meeting with Solis.

“I was extremely grateful to Secretary Hilda Solis for meeting with us and taking the time to listen to our issues,” Duke said. “We need a union at Continental. As a ramp agent at Continental, we don’t know what to expect from one day to the next. The company must respect our right to organize. Being pro-union does not mean we are anti-Continental.”

Hoffa also announced that the union had filed a lawsuit today with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio seeking an injunction against Continental’s continued violations of the workers’ rights. Continental has maintained a policy of not allowing distribution of union literature in the workplace, including break rooms and public bulletin boards. The company’s position violates the Railway Labor Act. The Supreme Court has held consistently for almost 70 years that employees have the right to distribute literature at their workplace in non-work areas and on non-work time.

“Our union is committed to helping these workers win their organizing campaign,” said Mark Frey, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 964 in Cleveland. “Continental fleet service workers need a strong voice in the workplace to deal with important work issues like pay, benefits and work rules.”

The 3,700 Continental aviation technicians are currently involved in ongoing negotiations with the company for a new contract. The workers made concessions in 2005 to help the airline survive the financial challenges it was experiencing at the time that still remain in place today. The union believes it is long past time to amend these concessions and reward the aviation technicians for their skill and dedication with a strong contract that ends the concessions.

The Teamsters Union was founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.