Amount Of Undelivered Perishable And Time-Critical Freight Growing Daily

The Teamster pilots and flight engineers of Fort Lauderdale-based Amerijet Air Cargo remain on strike, demanding their first contract they say would provide for wage and benefit increases, as well as safe and sanitary working conditions.

A Teamsters news release indicates some major passenger and cargo airline pilot groups across the United States have joined with the 62 Amerijet flight deck crewmembers and are showing their support for the South Florida-based pilots, flight engineers and their families. In addition to those pilot groups from the U.S. cargo and passenger airlines that have promised to not carry Amerijet freight on their aircraft, several major national trucking firms have also joined in support, including UPS, YRC and ABF. At Miami International Airport, Teamster-represented maintenance workers and cleaners are also refusing to cross the picket lines at the cargo facility on the west side of the airport.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of perishable and time-critical freight reportedly remain undelivered since negotiations broke down Thursday. Amerijet's management is now reportedly attempting to hire other airlines to stem the backlog of undelivered freight. The Teamsters say they are also fielding reports that Amerijet management has begun threatening crewmembers if they don't cross the picket lines.

Pilots from UPS, Atlas Air, and Kalitta, all of which are Amerijet competitors, have joined the Amerijet pilots and flight engineers in large numbers. Additionally, the pilot unions at American, US Airways, Southwest and others have joined the Amerijet pilots and flight engineers on the picket lines and are contributing their time and money in support. Other South Florida unions, as well as organized labor in the Caribbean and South America, are also supporting the strikers.

Florida Democrat U.S. Rep Alcee Hastings says he is deeply troubled and concerned that Amerijet has exhibited what he calls a cavalier and callous disregard for the safety and sanitary conditions of its pilots and flight engineers. He also said he is "dismayed" that any air transportation company would insist on a policy that he says punishes people for calling in sick by docking their pay.

The Teamsters say they are hopeful that Amerijet's largest stock holder, HIG Capital, will play a constructive role in resolving the dispute they insist was caused by Amerijet's management team.

Amerijet said over the weekend that it continued to operate without interruption. The carrier's primary business is in hauling freight to the America's, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

FMI: www.amerijet.com, www.teamster.org