United Mechanics and
Teamsters Take to
Furloughed Indy Workers Support Teamsters
United Airlines mechanics recently descended
on
The mechanics and organizers spread throughout the
area, collecting authorization cards from workers who were furloughed
when United’s
The furloughed mechanics retain lifetime recall rights and can vote in an election for Teamster representation along with active United mechanics or sign an affidavit removing themselves from eligibility. There are approximately 1,000 United Airlines mechanics still living in the area. Many of the furloughed employees who were visited by active UAL mechanics and organizers at their homes expressed interest in returning to work at United—and many were also interested in signing authorization cards.
“I’ve had more people show up at my door in the
last few weeks than ever before,” said Juanita Rael, a worker who had 13
years of experience as an aviation mechanic in
Rael, whose husband is also a furloughed United
mechanic, came with her two children to the Teamster open house held
near the
Every furloughed worker that was visited at home by their fellow mechanics and organizers had, like Rael, an amazing story of courage and perseverance. While some of the furloughees continue to work in aviation maintenance, many currently work outside the industry, in positions as varied as working for tree removal companies to steel fabricating plants.
The weekend of hard work in