Vol. 80/No. 9      March 7, 2016

 
(front page)

Teamster airline mechanics say no to United’s concession demands

 
SAN FRANCISCO — As part of a national day of action, some 400 Teamster airline mechanics and supporters rallied Feb. 19 by the United Airlines maintenance base here against company concession demands.

Nine thousand mechanics across the country rejected United’s “final offer” by a vote of 93 percent Feb. 16. Their contract expired three years ago.

The protest here was organized by a volunteer action team of 103 workers, said Teamsters Local 856 Vice President Rudy Gonzalez.

Workers say the main issue is the company demand for a two-tier wage scale. The workers have not received a pay raise in four years, according to Teamsters business representative Mark Desangles, and the company is demanding steep increases in health costs.

Workers also want a defined pension. In the 2002 United bankruptcy their pension was replaced with a 401(k) plan.

“Supporting the mechanics to win a good contract benefits all workers,” Patricia Hernández, a janitor and member of Service Employees International Union Local 87, told the Militant. “The union is the power. That is why 80 of us are here.” The rally also drew workers from the Amalgamated Transit Union, UNITE HERE Local 2, International Association of Machinists, flight attendants and others.

“There were a lot of IAM guys out there” said Robert Rubio, a forklift driver at the United maintenance base and member of the Machinists. “Our contract is also up. A lot of IAM people are looking at the Teamster action as an example.”

Another national day of action will occur Feb. 26 at eight U.S. airports.

Eric Simpson contributed to the article.

 
 
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