PITTSBURGH, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today urged unity and solidarity for the employees of bankrupt Pinnacle Airlines Corp. as the National Mediation Board (NMB) announced the results of a representation election between the USW and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
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USW International Vice President at Large Carol Landry, who heads the union's Airline Division, commended the airline employees for participating in the democratic process and thanked those who supported the USW and fought to retain its representation.
If no objections are filed by next Wednesday, the election results will be certified shortly thereafter by the NMB.
Landry said that Pinnacle workers cannot be expected to continue paying the price for management's failure to implement a business plan or develop a realistic strategy to adapt to changes in the industry.
"Workers are rightfully frustrated about the conditions at Pinnacle," Landry said. "After months of announcing fleet reductions and its relationships with major carriers eroding, workers deserve to know that their jobs are secure for more than from one day to the next."
Last week, Pinnacle announced that the wind-down of Colgan Air's United Express flights would be complete three months sooner than previously announced after United Air Lines asked to end all operations by Sept. 5, 2012 instead of Dec. 1 as indicated in the company's annual report. Last month, Delta Air Lines announced that it reached an agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association drastically reducing the number of 50-seat aircraft in the company's regional network and potentially eliminating many of Pinnacle's remaining flights.
Landry said the USW hopes to see Pinnacle emerge from bankruptcy as a more stable employer built with a strategic vision for long term viability so that the workers who remain after restructuring completes can participate in the company's success.
"In order for that to happen," Landry said, "Pinnacle employees must be united in solidarity and purpose, and management must include them in planning for the future of the airline."
"Treating workers fairly and with the dignity and respect they earned through years of hard work and sacrifice is part of the solution for success at Pinnacle," Landry said, "not the problem."
The USW represents about 850,000 working men and women in the United States and Canada in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glass making to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber and other manufacturing environments to the public sector, service and health care industries.
For more information, contact: Maria Somma - [email protected], 412-562-1992
SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)
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