Hoffa Kicks Off Teamsters' Campaign to Organize Continental-United Workers

News provided by

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Feb 03, 2011, 02:00 ET

General President Rallies More Than 300 Workers At Local Union Near Houston

HUMBLE, Texas, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa addressed more than 300 Continental and United workers today to help kick off the union's effort to organize workers at the newly merged airline, promising to commit the full resources of the Teamsters to win the campaign.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

"The Teamsters are absolutely committed at every level of our union to take on United and win the combined Continental and United ramp workers a strong union and contract," Hoffa said.

In February 2010, about 7,500 fleet service workers at Continental joined the Teamsters after five failed attempts involving other unions. This past December, the workers ratified their first union contract. Because Continental recently merged with United, another election will take place this year involving the Continental fleet service workers and the ramp agents at United, who are currently represented by the Machinists Union.

"I know that a unified work force of all the ramp and cargo agents being under a strong Teamster contract will benefit all of our families, no matter what part of the country we live and work in," said Marcellus Brown, a Continental worker based in Los Angeles, who was among a half-dozen workers who addressed the rally.

"Houston is where the Continental fleet service workers kicked off their victorious campaign in 2009, and the workers will win this time as well," said Robert Rasch, President of Teamsters Local 19. "Our workers are stronger and even more committed and dedicated to build upon the Teamsters' strength."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.Teamster.org.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters