The TEAMSTER Difference

 By: Chuck Mack, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Vice President, Western Region

After two years of hard work, dedication, commitment and the desire to gain powerful, effective representation, United Airlines mechanics have hope on the horizon. 

It goes without saying that I’m certain you’ve heard the good news: United Airlines mechanics recently filed for their Teamster election.

As an International Vice President for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I know the power of this union and I believe in this union. The Teamsters have the will, vision and resources to stand with UAL mechanics and insist upon change. From our local union officers all the way up to our General President, Jim Hoffa, we all have a firm commitment to providing strong representation and fighting for the rights of our hardworking members. As President Hoffa has said before, “UAL mechanics deserve a fair share of UAL’s success. They deserve the Teamsters on their side.”

 Industry-Leading Contracts

I know President Hoffa personally, and he is not just a man of words. He is a man of action. He has a highly dedicated staff, with true industry knowledge and the guts to take on UAL. The Teamsters Airline Division, led by Don Treichler, has for decades paved the way, by setting and achieving high standards for its members in the aviation industry. The division represents 40,000 airline employees, including more than 9,000 mechanics at 11 airlines. These members, whether they’re at UPS, Continental, Frontier—or at any of the eight other carriers—are covered by industry-leading contracts. These contracts provide for competitive wages, wage increases, benefits, and most importantly, solid scope language. We recognize that job protection is what counts the most in this volatile industry. Our success in achieving contracts that protect our members is indisputable. Whether it’s a scope clause preventing outsourcing at Continental or the highest wages for mechanics in the industry at UPS, we serve our members. These contracts are not just words typed on pieces of paper. They are documents that reflect knowledge of the industry, that keep a step ahead of the company, and that are enforced by an effective leadership. The word of our success has caught on, and now, in addition to the 11 airlines where we currently represent aviation mechanics, we are organizing more than 6,000 mechanics at ABX Air and FedEx who want to become Teamsters.

 The Mechanics’ Voice

In a word, we are building “power.” We are THE union for airline mechanics and our commitment to this is also indisputable. Through the newly formed Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition, it is the mechanic’s voice that is being heard. It’s the mechanic representatives from each airline who provide their input on the direction of this Coalition. Whether it concerns outsourcing, safety, job security, or any other host of issues relevant to the industry, the Coalition is there to have a say in the future of all mechanics. The goals of the Coalition are to work on strengthening the mechanics’ position and to keep mechanic jobs in the middle class where they belong. In the coming months, the Coalition will be hard at work fighting outsourcing, presenting the results of a recent mechanic survey of outsourcing you may have completed. The Coalition is also issuing a mechanics’ report on outsourcing, setting up an outsourcing summit, and working with political leaders on the fight to secure jobs. 

Political action is a necessity in the fight to secure jobs. The Teamsters International headquarters holds the significant advantage of being located directly across the street from the Capitol. Through such close proximity (not only in terms of geography, but also of access) mechanics have been able to present their concerns to their political representatives. In recent months, United Airlines mechanics from San Francisco and Chicago came to the Teamsters headquarters, and accompanied by Teamster political staff, walked over to Capitol Hill to meet with their Congressional representatives to discuss issues like outsourcing and third-party maintenance. A political presence is important and having a large organization with political influence at your disposal is critical.

 Track Record of Success

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ presence on the Hill is key in all of our fights. To provide a few examples, we successfully fought back the Dubai port plan, which would have put our national security at great risk. The Teamsters Union believes that security standards at ports are just as serious as those in the airline industry in the post-September 11 era. Teamsters banded together and rallied at major port cities around the nation, focusing public attention on the issue by garnering critical media coverage. Meanwhile, political work mounted pressure on the administration to back down from the ill-fated plan.

More recently, the fight for security and safety took place over our roads. Our union has fought every step of the way against a pilot program allowing the entry of Mexican trucks onto our nation’s highways. Earlier in the year, Congress voted against funding the program—a significant victory. As part of the ongoing fight, a few weeks ago, President Hoffa led a rally at the Otay Mesa border crossing to stop Mexican trucks from entering the country. Meanwhile, the Teamsters have filed a brief in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco arguing that the Bush administration broke the law by allowing Mexican trucks access to American highways. A hearing will be held in February. On all fronts, the Teamsters Union is fighting outsourcing and working to protect and preserve national safety and security.

 Major Resources

We can achieve such ambitious goals because we are a large union with considerable resources. Not only is there power in numbers for mechanics through the Teamsters Airline Division and Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition, we also have 1.4 million members in various industries supporting each other. Furthermore, as part of the Change to Win Coalition, the Teamsters are one of seven unions with six million members. This is a force to be reckoned with.

After your losses in the downturn after the 9/11 tragedies and in bankruptcy, you’ve endured a great deal. However, I believe your biggest enemy right now is apathy.

I sincerely believe that hope is alive within the mechanics of United Airlines because there is a reason for hope. You have the chance to join a powerful union—one that is committed to protecting your rights, negotiating a strong agreement, enforcing that agreement, and standing by you, just as this union has done for thousands of other aviation mechanics. We have a commitment to representing the best interests of mechanics and we will never waiver from that commitment. I hope that you make the choice to join the Teamsters Union.

As you find yourselves quickly approaching an election, I ask that you weigh all of the information you are being presented with very carefully. If you feel you may be receiving any misinformation, please check the facts. Feel free to talk to any Teamster shop steward or supporter. Go to them with any questions or concerns, and they will be more than happy to help in any way they can. And I’m certain they will also remind you, that when the time comes to vote, make sure to vote!

I was more than pleased to hear the good news: After all of the unity over the past few years—the hand billing, door knocking, meeting and planning—United Airlines mechanics had finally filed for their Teamster election. I now look forward to the day when it’s official—when I can welcome all United Airlines aviation mechanics as members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.