Tue, Jul 03, 2007
Ruling Allows Discussion, Support Paraphernalia To Be Worn
The US District Court for the Northern District of California
issued a preliminary injunction last week upholding SkyWest
Airlines pilots' federal rights to explore membership possibilities
with the Air Line Pilots Association -- finding SkyWest, Inc. had
unlawfully interfered with those rights.
Pro-union pilots filed a lawsuit May 22 complaining the company
was in violation of a US law that allows railway and airline
workers to unionize, according to Bloomberg. The SkyWest Pilots
ALPA Organizing Committee is working with ALPA to gain union
representation.
"This injunction is a great victory for SkyWest pilots," said
ALPA President Captain John Prater. "It will empower them to take
ownership of their lives through access to information that can
further their professional futures. ALPA stands ready to help the
Organizing Committee in whatever capacity needed to foster
additional wins for workers rights."
US District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco reportedly
ordered SkyWest to allow pilots to distribute ALPA-related
materials on non-work time in non-work areas such as the crew
lounge and bulletin boards, wear ALPA lanyards and to openly
discuss the union.
On May 22,
Breyer issued a temporary order that barred the company from
interfering with some of the organizing activities. Friday's
preliminary injunction ruling will remain in effect until a final
ruling is made at trial.
"Defendants' discriminatory enforcement of its lanyard policy
has inhibited plaintiffs' organizing efforts," Breyer wrote. "Such
interference constitutes irreparable harm."
The carrier opposes unions and funds its own group for its 2,651
pilots, according to Bloomberg News. In its opinion, the Court
addressed that funding.
Although the Court declined to order SkyWest to cease funding
its in-house pilots group, it indicates that funding the
organization 100 percent almost certainly violates the Railway
Labor Act, according to the ALPA.
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