Published 12 Aug, 2013
Contact: Jamie Horwitz, 202/549-4921
media@twu.org
Statement by
Garry Drummond
Transport Workers Union Air Transport Director
on Machinists Victory Over the Teamsters in a Union Representation Election at US Airways
Today’s election results are a victory for the real trade unionists at US Airways. TWU is proud to stand with members of the IAM, who rejected a wasteful campaign by the Teamsters.
It’s no surprise that a majority of mechanics at US Airways voted to stick with the IAM. The Teamsters have done a terrible job representing airline workers, sitting on their hands while jobs are outsourced to China. Their union is losing members, their pension funds are shaky, and it’s the only union in America that’s been under government supervision for more than twenty years, due to ongoing charges of corruption.
The IBT has been running a sleazy campaign against TWU members at American Airlines. Our union has turned over specific evidence, supported by sworn affidavits, showing that hundreds of “authorization” cards requesting an election were not signed by American Airlines workers, but instead were forged by Teamster organizers.
If the National Mediation Board allows an election at American to go forward, we expect TWU members at American to reject the Teamsters, just as IAM members did at US Airways.