July 1, 2010
DALLAS -Today, the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) has asked its 13 union locals that represent fleet and ground service (Title III) workers to schedule strike votes during the month of July. Each local is to report the results of the balloting to International union no later than July 30th. Each TWU local also has been asked to mobilize member strike committees and apply for picketing permits at all airports where American Airlines operates and in all cities where the local unions are based.
“If our members authorize a strike, we believe that we could be granted release the National Mediation Board as early as September,” said Robert Gless Deputy Director of TWU’s Air Transport Division. Under the Railway Labor Act, the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) must grant permission to strike and certain other actions termed self help.”
On June 28th, TWU declared that negotiations for fleet and ground workers were an impasse.
Fleet and ground service workers handle baggage, clean aircraft, deice and fuel planes and move freight. While the bargaining process is at impasse for fleet service workers, voting on tentative agreements is moving forward for TWU-represented mechanics, technicians and workers who handle parts at American. Those pending agreements have different terms and do not have the same issues related to contracting out work that has caused the breakdown in the fleet/ground service negotiations.