Atlantic Southeast Airlines Mechanics and Related Workers Join Teamsters

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Oct 12, 2010, 03:44 ET

ASA Workers First to File for Union Representation Under NMB Rule Change

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 600 mechanics and related workers at Atlantic Southeast Airlines voted to join the Teamsters by a 2-to-1 margin, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced today.

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"Mechanics and related workers at Atlantic Southeast Airlines have shown great courage throughout the entirety of their organizing campaign," Hoffa said. "I applaud them for their historic victory and for moving forward to join our Teamster ExpressJet mechanics once the two carriers merge."

"This is the start to a whole new beginning at Atlantic Southeast Airlines," said Alfredo Manzano, a mechanic based in Baton Rouge. "I'm looking forward to more respect in the workplace and negotiating our first contract."

This election victory takes place just weeks after Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet announced a merger.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines mechanics and related workers were the first to file for union representation under the National Mediation Board's new rules and are the first to win union representation under the new rules.

Prior to the NMB voting to change the rule earlier this year, workers who didn't vote in union elections were counted as "no" votes and for victories to occur, 50 percent plus one of the workers had to vote for representation. Under the new rules, election outcomes are based upon the majority approval of voting workers rather than the majority of the unit as a whole. The Teamsters Union supported this change as part of the important fight for a fair, democratic process for workers to form a union in the airline and rail industry.

"We welcome these workers to the Teamsters and look forward to negotiating a strong contract with them," said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. "The Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC) now represents more than 16,800 aviation mechanics and related workers at 12 different airlines, making it the premier aviation mechanics union in the U.S."

Mechanics and related workers sought Teamster representation to improve wages, benefits and fairness in the workplace.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters