ASA Workers First To File For Union Representation Under NMB Rule Change

Nearly 600 mechanics and related workers at Atlantic Southeast Airlines voted to join the Teamsters by a 2-to-1 margin, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced Tuesday. "Mechanics and related workers at Atlantic Southeast Airlines have shown great courage throughout the entirety of their organizing campaign," Hoffa said. "I applaud them for their historic victory and for moving forward to join our Teamster ExpressJet mechanics once the two carriers merge."

"This is the start to a whole new beginning at Atlantic Southeast Airlines," said Alfredo Manzano, a mechanic based in Baton Rouge. "I'm looking forward to more respect in the workplace and negotiating our first contract."

The election took place just weeks after Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet announced a merger.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines mechanics and related workers were the first to file for union representation under the National Mediation Board's new rules and are the first to approve union representation under the new rules.

Prior to the NMB voting to change the rule earlier this year, workers who didn't vote in union elections were counted as "no" votes and for victories to occur, 50 percent plus one of the workers had to vote for representation. Under the new rules, election outcomes are based upon the majority approval of voting workers rather than the majority of the unit as a whole.  The Teamsters Union supported this change as part of the important fight for a fair, democratic process for workers to form a union in the airline and rail industry.

"We welcome these workers to the Teamsters and look forward to negotiating a strong contract with them," said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. The Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC) says it now represents more than 16,800 aviation mechanics and related workers at 12 different airlines.

FMI: www.teamsters.com