Will Walk Out If Released By NMB

Following more than four years of stagnant contract negotiations, the flight deck crewmembers of Air Transport International (ATI) voted last week to strike if and when released by the National Mediation Board. Strike ballots were counted and certified on Friday at the main headquarters of International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 747, ATI crewmembers' collective bargaining representative.

ATI crewmembers voted 100 percent in favor of a strike job action.

"We have willingly worked with ATI management throughout the negotiations process--it is past time for them to reciprocate. Not only are they unwilling to negotiate in good faith, but they continue to chip away at the few remaining benefits on which our crewmembers depend such as home-basing," said Capt. Tom Rogers, chairman of the ATI Executive Council.

The Teamsters tell ANN that ATI flight deck crewmembers have been in contract negotiations with management since June 2004. Negotiations have been held under the auspices of a mediator from the National Mediation Board since October 2006.

"The unanimous support for a strike by the ATI crewmembers, especially during an economic downturn within the airline industry, sends an unrivaled message to the management of ATI. The work ethic and productivity of this pilot group continues to be a core cause of ATI's profitability. Management's persistent unwillingness to recognize that sizable contribution will directly result in a loss for ATI and its shareholders," stated IBT Local 747 President E.E. Sowell.

Air Transport International, a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc, is a US certified air carrier offering air transportation services throughout the world for the United States Air Mobility Command (USAF AMC) and commercial customers such as BAX Global Inc and AMX Cargo.

FMI: www.teamster.org, www.airtransport.cc