Teamsters: AMFA Deceives on Job Loss Claims
15 March 2008 - 8:40AM
PR Newswire (US)
Union Seeks To Represent UAL Mechanics WASHINGTON, March 14
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 Airlines 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. DATASOURCE:
International Brotherhood of Teamsters CONTACT: Leslie Miller of
the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-202-624-8734, Web
Site: http://www.teamster.org/
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