Teamsters, Turkeys and Airline Mechanics Leaflet at United Airlines Terminals to Stop Outsourcing

 Teamsters, costumed turkeys and airline mechanics served United Airlines passengers with leaflets the day before Thanksgiving to keep the airline from outsourcing maintenance work and its Mileage Plus program.

The leafleting campaign, done at five major airports, was well-received by the public. Thousands signed petitions at the airports asking Glenn Tilton, CEO of United Airlines, not to outsource services.

Julio Sandy, a mechanic at Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C., said he took time to pass out leaflets because he felt United Airlines is putting passengers in jeopardy with its plan to outsource maintenance work.

“We believe passenger security is at risk with outsourcing,” Sandy said. “If United starts to outsource maintenance work and its Mileage Plus program, what’s next?”

Paul Bradley, a mechanic at Dulles Airport, urged passengers to send e-mails or call their congressmen and U.S. senators to stop the outsourcing. Besides Dulles, leafleting was done at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Denver International Airport.

Many passengers were concerned about the outsourcing of maintenance work and were surprised that United Airlines was planning to sell off its Mileage Plus program. Passenger Myra Baker at Dulles said the last time she called to speak with a Mileage Plus operator, she was dispatched to an operator based in India.

Five Teamsters in turkey costumes joined the leafleting, and proved to be very popular. Sean Rudolph, who works in the Teamsters Strategic Research and Campaigns Department in Washington, D.C., said he flew back from Seattle just to take part in the campaign.

“I saw the turkey costume and knew that this was meant for me,” said Rudolph, who added a little fancy footwork with his leafleting at Dulles Airport.

Passengers seemed to enjoy the Teamsters in turkey costumes, and many called out “have a safe flight” to Rudolph, who then asked “can turkeys fly?”

Teamsters Organizer Jim Leonhardt wore the turkey costume at O’Hare Airport and said passengers at United’s main hub took a little time from their travel plans to read the leaflet, and many came back to sign the petition. The campaign attracted media attention at all of the five airports.