Latest Issue of the Teamster Aviation Professional TAMC Newsletter

The newest edition of the Teamster Aviation Professional is here! This is the official newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC). The newsletter includes essential news, information and insights from Teamster airline mechanics and leading TAMC members who are fighting every day for airline safety and the advancement of our craft.

Click here to read the newsletter today.

Volume 4, Issue 3 of the Teamster Aviation Professional is jammed-packed with important news in the world of aviation maintenance. Teamster aviation mechanics and all airline mechanics and related professionals in our industry will find the content in this issue very informative.

The new issue includes articles on:

·         News: recent TAMC lobbying event in DC to alert Congress of the dangers of outsourced aircraft maintenance

·         News: United Airlines mechanics escalate actions for joint agreement with nationwide info pickets

·         News: United Airlines simulator technicians vote for sole representation by the Teamsters

·         Feature: ExpressJet Mechanic James Thomas retires after 60 years in aviation maintenance

·         Report: TAMC members attend NTSB “Go Team” Training with Teamster pilots

·         Report: Fall 2013 Aviation Safety Infoshare

·         Report: TAMC attends MRO conference in Canada

·         Report: Airline Division participated in GAO Whistleblowers meeting

·         Updates: contract negotiations for ASA, ASA/XJT Stock Clerks, NetJets, Piedmont, UAL, and XJT

·         Happy Holidays from the TAMC Steering Committee

The TAMC is the voice of mechanics in the aviation industry. And the Teamster Aviation Professional is our publication. The newsletter is distributed electronically and is designed to reach mechanics around the world. It keeps aviation mechanics up to date on the issues that are important to us. In addition to updates from the Airline Division on what the TAMC is doing on Capitol Hill and throughout the industry, the newsletter regularly includes articles from members that deal with topics from ASAP to outsourcing.

United Airlines Mechanics Escalate Actions For Joint Agreement At 12 U.S. Airports

November 27, 2013(WASHINGTON) – Today, United Airlines (UAL) professional aviation mechanics represented by the Teamsters Union escalated their actions to pressure the company to live up to its promises by hand-billing UAL customers inside and outside 12 major airports around the country. UAL mechanics are informing the public that they may be forced to strike if the company refuses to keep its promise to provide a fair agreement that adequately compensates and protects these workers after years of concessions.

On Monday, hundreds of Teamsters participated in informational pickets at 10 U.S. airports. Photos and videos from Monday’s informational pickets and today’s hand-billing can be viewed online here. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) announced that they stand “shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with our sisters and brothers at the Teamsters” to “demonstrate to the company it’s time to move forward together” and joined the Teamsters on the picket line. Read AFA press release here.

The second quarter of 2013 saw UAL earn its highest revenue in history. After a year of stalling, UAL executives broke off contract negotiations without agreeing to the pensions they had promised, and declared that 3,500 mechanics will be forced to pay an additional $300-$500 each month for their health care. The last proposal made by the company would actually have thousands of mechanics making less than they do today.

“Our job is to keep passengers safe and we are proud of what we do. But we are being asked to accept a contract that does not value the contribution we make every day to United and its passengers,” said John Laurin, a 24-year UAL mechanic at San Francisco International Airport and member of Teamsters Local Union 856. “We want United to live up to its promise and give us a fair contract that reinstates our pensions.”

Teamsters hand-billed at the following airports on Wednesday, Nov. 27:

• A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam (GUM)
• Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH)
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
• Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

“United promised us a year ago that they would enter into fast-track negotiations to reach an industry leading contract – one that we could all be proud of ,” said Mike Moats, a UAL mechanic at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and member of Teamsters Local Union 964. “After stalling and making excuse after excuse, the Company came back with a proposal that would have resulted in pay cuts for thousands of our members.”

The Teamsters Airline Division represents about 80,000 workers in all segments of commercial aviation, including mechanics, pilots, and flight attendants. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org or www.teamsterair.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/teamsters.

For more pictures click here..