Meet the Mechanics

Look for yourself, or for more of your coworkers, in future issues of the Committee for Change newsletter!

Los Angeles:

“I have spent over 20 years working as a mechanic at LAX for three airlines with three different unions. One thing I have learned from them in my 20 years is that the small and the weak get eliminated and the large and the strong just get bigger and stronger. That’s where the Teamsters come in—the strongest and the largest in the U.S. I honestly believe that finally we can have a union that will look after the middle class working families.”

--Tigran Petrosyan, UAL mechanic, Los Angeles

“The Teamsters are a long standing, strong union—the best in the U.S. I believe we will have a better chance at negotiating a good contract in 2009 with the Teamsters than with AMFA.”

--Eugene O’Donnell, UAL mechanic, Los Angeles

“We need the Teamsters for pension, job security and negotiating power.”

--Amilcar Solorzano, UAL mechanic, Los Angeles

Chicago:

“We are seeing more and more of our work being outsourced. We are hearing AMFA leaders say they believe United wants to get rid of mechanics. We are not seeing AMFA doing enough to combat it. I don’t want to see what happened at Northwest happen at United.”

--Rick Vehrs, UAL mechanic, Chicago

“I am very disappointed with the outsourcing, no pension, no hope of a future with the AMFA, and non-enforcement of our contract. I don’t want to end up like the AMT’s at Northwest Airlines. I hope the Teamsters will give me the chance for some hope, a pension, and a future in this industry. With AMFA I see only farming out of work to third parties. I think that it is time to bury AMFA and move on.”

--Terry Rolison, UAL mechanic, Chicago.

“The initiative to petition our national lawmakers concerning the outsourcing of aircraft maintenance puts the Teamsters at the forefront of what will be the challenge of our future.”

--Gregory Maund, UAL mechanic, Chicago

Denver:

“Our future is at stake. We need an organization that is not afraid to take on corporate America.”

--Louie Samaras, UAL mechanic, Denver

“The Teamsters have strength in numbers, job protection and international ranking. Talk to a Teamster rep and you will be surprised, relieved and satisfied.”

--John Smoorenburg, UAL mechanic, Denver

“Strength—that’s what the Teamsters have. I have no gripes with my AMFA local committee; however, looking at the big picture, there is strength in numbers. The Teamsters have that power on a national level.”

--Kevin Varnell, UAL mechanic, Denver

Dulles:

“I believe the Teamsters will fight for our benefits and stand for the employees of UAL.”

--Julio Sandy, UAL mechanic, Dulles, Virginia

“I’m ready for a change. I believe the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has a better plan for action with our interests and concerns in mind. I have seen more Teamster personnel around recently than our present union reps.”

--Joseph Mocogni, UAL mechanic, Dulles, Virginia

“I believe we need representation and lobbyists in DC so we can get more involved and have better information on the many changes that occur within our industry.”

--Gary Bozella, UAL mechanic, Dulles, Virginia