Delay Favors Airlines, Teamsters Note

The Teamsters Union officially condemned a recent delay by the Federal Aviation Administration in implementing new regulations overseeing maintenance of U.S. aircraft here and abroad.

"At a time when workers in the airline industry are being asked to take wage and benefit cuts and when airline security is more important than ever, this delay is unacceptable," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. "This is just another favor granted to management at airlines that is bad for the American traveler."

The FAA granted the delay after an industry petition asked for extensions on key deadlines for compliance with new aircraft maintenance regulations, including those governing repair work performed on U.S. aircraft in FAA-certified facilities abroad. The FAA even pushed back employee training mandates to October, 2005.

The Teamsters, along with the International Association of Machinists and the Transport Workers Union, have been fighting for better federal supervision of foreign aircraft repair since the Reagan Administration weakened repair station safety regulations. AFL-CIO Unions have long urged that foreign facilities be in complete compliance with all U.S. regulatory requirements imposed on domestic facilities and their workers.

In 2001, Northwest Airlines obtained permission from the union representing their mechanics to subcontract almost 40 percent of its repair work. Since then, thousands of mechanic and related jobs at Northwest have been sent overseas.

FMI: www.teamster.org