Teamsters Demand That Republic Airways Honor Workers Who Keep Passengers Safe

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Aug 30, 2012, 11:22 ET

Employees Hold Rally, March Outside Company's Headquarters In Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Republic Airways [NASDAQ: RJET] pilots, flight attendants and mechanics, members of a Monitoring Committee and other allies rallied and marched outside the company's headquarters in Indianapolis to demand that the company honor its professional employees who keep passengers safe.

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The Monitoring Committee is made up of faith, political and academic leaders and was formed to help make sure the workplace is free from intimidation and harassment while Republic mechanics form their union. Republic provides regional service for mainline carriers United, American, US Airways and Delta.

"I'm here to tell the company to respect our federally protected rights to form our union," said Thad Tivin, a Republic mechanic based at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. and four-year employee. "The company is violating our rights and we are fed up with these attacks. Management needs to start honoring their employees."

"The company needs to stop attacking its pilots, flight attendants and mechanics and treat us with the respect and dignity we deserve as professionals who keep the flying public safe," said Craig Moffatt, President of Teamsters Local 357 and a Republic pilot based in Indianapolis. "We are calling on CEO Bryan Bedford and other top management to stop the mistreatment and violations of our rights."

Workers today called on the company to end its attacks on workers. The attacks are multi-pronged:

There is a serious pilot shortage and Republic continues to take actions to make it worse;
In some cases, pay and working conditions for pilots and flight attendants are so low that they are eligible for food stamps;
Aviation mechanics face management abuse and violation of their rights;
Republic continues to delay contract negotiations with pilots;
The company took action to eliminate Frontier mechanic work and their union;
Republic management has committed blatant violations of federal labor law.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including 80,000 in the airline industry. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters