6 Million-Member Change to Win Federation Pledges
to Stand with UAL Mechanics
Union Leaders Pledge Help with Outsourcing,
Pension Fights
In a large conference
room in downtown
Representative mechanics
told the federation’s leadership council why they want to join the
Teamsters: strong representation, help in the fight against outsourcing,
and to regain retirement security.
“I was quite impressed,”
said Jim Connolly, a 32-year UAL mechanic at O’Hare, who spoke to the
gathering. “There were some of the most important labor leaders in the
world there, who I had the chance to address about our concerns. It
wasn’t so much what I had to say; it’s what they said. They were very
sincere about their pledge to us.”
On behalf of UAL
mechanics, Connolly asked the Change to Win leaders to: Stand with UAL
mechanics in solidarity in the event of a strike or other dispute with
UAL; stand with UAL mechanics in the push to get the PBGC
Inspector General to investigate the UAL bankruptcy and transfer of
pension obligations to the PBGC; and to fight unsafe aviation
maintenance outsourcing and join UAL mechanics in the major Outsourcing
Summit to be held in February.”
The call was answered by the Teamsters and Change to Win.
“The Teamsters promise that we will fight for you. You have my word,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.
Change to Win leaders personally addressed Connolly and the other UAL mechanics present, vowing to stand by all UAL mechanics:
Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win, thanked UAL mechanics for the job they do to ensure the flying public is safe.
“The seven unions [that make up Change to Win] are joining your struggle to make sure you are treated with dignity,” Burger said.
“They used the tragedy of 9/11 to screw you guys,” said Joseph T. Hansen, United Food and Commercial Workers International President. “These are all easy asks. We’ll be with you.”
Bruce Raynor, General President of UNITE HERE, gave an impassioned commitment to UAL mechanics.
“To steal a person’s pension is a damn tragedy and someone ought to pay for it. And no one can make them pay for that like the Teamsters,” Raynor said. “We’re going to be with you in victory against this airline.”
Edgar Romney, Secretary-Treasurer of Change to Win and Executive Vice President of UNITE HERE told the UAL mechanics, “You’re not in this fight yourself.”
“Your fight is our fight,” added Andy Stern, International President for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
The Change to Win unions put their word on paper, in the form of a letter of support and a resolution.
Following the meeting, President Hoffa and UAL mechanics met with reporters from the Chicago Tribune and BNA Daily Labor Report. Hoffa told the reporters that the mechanics had lost their pensions and their jobs, while the top brass at UAL has reaped the rewards in recent years.
“The Change to Win unions see tremendous injustice here. It’s an issue of economic justice,” Hoffa said.
“UAL mechanics are seeking representation by a union that has the proven track record of experience, results, and strong scope language,” Hoffa said. “We are with UAL mechanics every step of the way and are proud to have the powerful backing of our Change to Win union brothers and sisters as we work to secure the future for UAL mechanics.”