Claims Machinists Used Intimidation, Deceptive Tracking Practice To Influence Outcome

The Teamsters have filed objections to the recent Continental-United fleet service elections with the National Mediation Board, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced Wednesday. The objections come on the heels of a vote count between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) over representation of the fleet service work group at the newly merged United and Continental Airlines.

"These objections raise serious and substantive issues about the fairness of the election," Hoffa said. "Real questions have been raised about the integrity of the voting process by the events that took place. Fleet service workers at the new United deserve a fair, clean voting process."

The Teamsters allege abusive and illegal conduct by the IAM, including the allegation that the IAM improperly used deceptive practices to hide a hyperlink in its communications that enabled the association to track who voted and when. In addition, the Teamsters assert that the IAM ran an election based on goon squad tactics, harassment and intimidation.

"These allegations took place within the context of a very close election. If the IAM had received 11 fewer votes, the NMB would have required the election to be re-run," said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division.

FMI: www.teamster.org