Local 100 Teamsters Overwhelmingly Ratify Second Contract

Teamsters Local 100 members with Astar Air Cargo ratified their second contract by a five-to-one margin on Friday. "The dedication of these workers was evident by the voting results," said Ron Bowman, President of Local 100 based in Cincinnati, Ohio. "Every member of the bargaining unit voted and they accepted the agreement by 80 percent. The Astar Air dispatchers recognize a good deal when they see it."

The five-year contract between Astar Air Cargo Inc. and Teamster aircraft dispatchers includes improved successorship and merger language, as well as improved wages.

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Greatly improved and targeted successorship and merger language;
• Significant wage increases over the life of the contract; and
• Enhancement of scheduling and overtime provisions.

The negotiations went faster than either side expected, with the tentative agreement finalized prior to the amendable date of the initial contract. "Astar, the dispatch group and Local 100 were all highly motivated and it showed in the progress we made in such a short time," Bowman said. "I believe the initial contract dragged on for almost two years. It was nothing like that this time around."

FMI: www.astarcargo.com