UPS Airlines mechanics have voted to give their leaders authority to call a strike as nearly three years of talks have failed to produce a labor contract. Ninety percent of the 1,052 ballots from members nationwide approved the authorization, said Bob Combine, president of Louisville-based Teamsters Local 2727. The tally was 947 in favor and 105 against, he said.

Despite a five year attempt to secure a contract, the pilots and flight engineers of Amerijet International (Amerijet) have now gone on strike effective at 12:01 am on Thursday morning. The crewmembers of the Ft. Lauderdale-based all-cargo airline have been attempting to negotiate for a first contract since early in 2004. Over 5-1/2 years, they have faced management-based attempts to decertify the union, unilateral wage and benefit cuts and increased pressure to remove the legally elected union from the property.

The National Mediation Board notified Amerijet that they have been released into a 30-day cooling off period after which self-help could potentially begin. Self-help can include a strike against the carrier. The 30 day period is up at 4 p.m. on August 27, 2009. Amerijet pilots have been trying to get a contract since early 2006.

FedEx Launches Campaign to Derail Proposed Legislation

FedEx announced a "multimillion-dollar" campaign to derail proposed federal legislation that would make it easier for the company's workers to organize. FedEx has been the sole beneficiary of a provision that its lobbyists quietly slipped into legislation in October 1996, making FedEx the only freight and package-delivery company in the United States whose non-FAA certified employees are regulated under the Railway Labor Act governing railways and airlines.
 

Airline Division Director Supports Next Gen at DOT

David Bourne, IBT Airline Division Director, submitted testimony to DOT Undersecretary Roy Kienitz on May 13, 2009, stating strong Teamster support for moving forward and funding Next Gen, the name given to the initiative necessary to upgrade our antiquated air traffic control system. David Bourne said the current system, "causes significant delays and a terrible inconvenience to America's commercial airline passengers".

When It Rains It Pours

The Airline Division has 22 major Section 6 collective bargaining agreements to negotiate this year.  This is an unprecedented number.  Our IBT attorneys and negotiators have a full load and we have assigned some cases to our regular outside attorneys for their assistance.  This will be a busy year.

Aloha Air Cargo Group Votes Teamsters In

On April 17, 2009 Aloha Air Cargo Fleet Service Workers voted to join the Teamsters. Jimmie and Justin Muraki were instrumental in organizing this group. The fleet service workers voted to join the Teamsters by more than a 2-1 margin.

Congressman Bob Filner has Agreed to Sponsor Airline Maintenance Outsourcing Bill

The IBT has long championed the goal of a level playing field with regard to the regulation of aircraft maintenance.  To this end the IBT developed legislative language that would require the FAA to issue regulations that would bring foreign repair station regulations up to U.S. standards and impose a moratorium until the new regulations are in place. 

Airline Division Director David Bourne's New Teamster Web Site Message
The Airline Division has three overriding objectives for the new Administration and the new Congress and they are the protection and expansion of American jobs, the safety and security of the flying public and last but far from least the restoration/replacement of airline industry employee's pensions.

Click through to read the full newsletter.

Airline Division Advisory Board of Directors Meeting Held in Washington

A two day meeting was held on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  Presentation were made to the group by several IBT departments including Capital Strategies, Organizing, Safety and Health, and Benefits describing their activities and support they are giving to the Airline Division.   Presentations were also made regarding our new pilots group from Atlas and Polar airlines and a new state-of-the-art communications system named "Cubeless" that Kevin Mitchell of the Business Travel Coalition is working on for us which will facilitate communication throughout the Airline Division membership.  A number of other Airline Division issues were also discussed.

Click through to read the full newsletter.

Senator Kennedy Urged to Support Teamster Outsourcing Moratorium

John F. Murphy, Teamster International Vice President and Director, Rail Conference, USA, has written Senator Edward Kennedy urging him to support the addition of language to the stimulus bill currently being debated in the Senate.  The language would place a temporary moratorium on any additional outsourcing of aircraft maintenance to foreign repair stations until the FAA can develop a single worldwide regulatory standard guaranteeing safety and American security are protected.  Mr. Murphy stated that, "This amendment costs nothing, yet potentially saves thousands of jobs and keeps families afloat, as well as maintaining tax revenues generated by this work."