Mechanics Reach Out
to Mechanics Nationwide
Weekend
House Calls Continue on East Coast
Sergio Hernandez is a 20-year UAL mechanic who
transferred to
“We’re ready. We’re holding the pen ready to sign. It’s a no-brainer,” Hernandez said. “Everybody is ready for a change. It’s time.”
Hernandez recently participated with his fellow UAL
mechanics and volunteer organizers in a weekend of reaching out to
active and furloughed UAL mechanics in
“The support was very good,” said Kevin Zunker, a
UAL mechanic who came from
John Dwyer also came from
“I knocked on doors all over
The weekend was successful thanks to the efforts of
the UAL mechanics and volunteers that participated, including staff of
Teamsters Local 25 in
“This was a successful weekend, with a lot of work put in by everyone involved. House calling for a major RLA election is tough work, and we were glad to assist the International Union with whatever they needed in our region,” said Sean O’Brien, President of Local.25.
Pounding the Pavement
While UAL mechanics were going door to door in
“We pounded the pavement,” said Tom Reid, a UAL
mechanic in
The five teams of mechanics went on house calls
across
“One clear message we gave is how important it is
to cast a vote,” said Paul Molenberg, a UAL mechanic from
“We’re ready to sign our
Teamster authorization cards in
“My concern is that I will lose everything in 2009 because AMFA will do something like what happened to Northwest. We just lost a major contract for installation of new communications in seat backs to Panasonic. Their mechanics will be in the hubs with us. That’s a burn, isn’t it? We need power and the Teamsters have the numbers to make power.”
--Craig
Rowe, UAL mechanic,
“Unions are stronger when they are bigger. Teamsters have a great reputation and the airline industry needs someone strong now. We need to get this done right so in 2009 we can have a better position at the bargaining table.”
--Donald
Witherell, UAL mechanic,
“I think the Teamsters can do a better job than our present union. Our present union has not shown they can handle the task that is ahead of them.”
--Bryan
Crocker, UAL mechanic,
“I’m 41 years old and this is what I do. I’m an airline mechanic. I should be able to count on my future with the airline industry. It’s not about money; it’s about job security and a safe airline. United’s pursuit of cheaper, inexperienced airplane maintenance is creating false hope.”
--Kurt
Rowe, UAL mechanic,
“It is time for a change, to keep our jobs in-house and I, for one, am ready for a change with the Teamsters.”
--Sergio
Hernandez, UAL mechanic,
“The mechanics at UAL need a larger, stronger union
to represent them.”
--Kenneth
Mitchell, UAL mechanic,
“We need someone that will take care of things that
need to be. The Teamsters take care of business. They call when they say
they will, meet you when they say they will. They try to help you and
get problems solved—something others never did.”
--
I am Honored to Work with UAL
Mechanics
In my 18
years as a Teamster, this is the first campaign I have been this
hands-on with. I see and talk to quite a few of the UAL mechanics, as
they come in my office on their way to work to drop off their signed
cards and affidavits. I work on the database every day, keeping track of
the cards that are brought in. I’m also in contact with various
organizers working on this campaign, as our office is set up as a base
for the Chicago-ORD house call operation. In speaking to all of the
people involved, I have come to admire all those who are instrumental in
getting this UAL campaign up and running and organized. The effort and
time that everyone puts in is amazing! The mechanics come in before
work, after work, and on weekends to work for something they feel
passionate about. I’ve been on the conference calls and it truly gives a
sense of what a nationwide effort this is. I feel honored and excited to
work on such an important campaign for such an important cause—to gain
Teamster representation for UAL mechanics nationwide!
--Rose Alvarado, Teamsters
Local 781 Office Staff