Teamsters Score Major Victory as Shuster Amendment is Withdrawn from FAA Bill
Recently, the strength and voices of Teamster Airline Division members was the driving force in having Congressman Don Young (AK) decide to not introduce an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill that would have gutted safety requirements for certain passenger and cargo airline flight crews.
Today, the voices and strength of the Teamsters made itself heard yet again as Congressman Bud Shuster (R-PA), withdrew his amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill; a thinly veiled assault on airline safety that he tried to disguise as fiscal responsibility. Shuster’s amendment would have required the FAA to do a full cost/benefit analysis on any regulatory change, regardless of the safety implications, with the unstated intent of killing off any safety changes in the industry.
“The only detail that Congressman Shuster understood and ultimately surrendered to was political pressure,” said Airline Division Director David Bourne. “His sole intent with the amendment was to significantly undermined the aviation safety bill; HR 5900, that passed the House last year by setting up an airline by airline FAA regulatory regime and introducing cost factors which would have put cost ahead of safety as it relates to the fatigue rules governing pilots operating both passenger and cargo aircraft,” Bourne continued. “Shuster's proposal was supported and hatched by the ATA; but it was the dedication and hard work of our members from across the Airline Division and the nation, voicing their anger and displeasure to their own Congressional representatives, who in turn voiced their displeasure to Congressman Shuster and the leadership that led to his decision to withdraw the amendment. This victory is a credit to our members and our Legislative Affairs team and a tremendous win for air safety and the American travelling public,” Bourne concluded.
FAPA Seeks to Deny IBT Pilots at RAH, and Midwest and Lynx Pilots Jobs
The Frontier Pilots Merger Committee members have brought a lawsuit in federal court against Republic Air Holdings and the individual Chairmen of the RAH Pilots Merger Committee, the Midwest Pilots Merger Committee and the Lynx Pilots Merger Committee. The plaintiffs allege "the Eischen Award is not fair and equitable within the meaning of Section 3 of the Allegheny/Mohawk LPPS" and that the Eischen Award "is null and void." When asked to comment, the RAH Pilots Merger Committee Captain Dan Sneddon stated, “FAPA believes the pilots of Republic, Midwest and Lynx have no right to integration with the Frontier pilots and it repudiates the arbitration award all parties agreed would be final and binding. The IBT committee repeatedly stated it would fulfill its commitments under the final and binding award. FAPA has now broken its word to the other pilot groups. We do not believe that FAPA’s breaking promises reflects the view of rank and file Frontier pilots. But we will defend the rights of Republic pilots under the arbitration agreement against FAPA’s lawsuit which we believe has no merit.”
In Memoriam
It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Professional Flight Engineer Frank O'Donnell of Atlas Air (Local 1224). Frank passed away while on layover in Hong Kong after being hospitalized. Formerly with Pan American Airways, he joined Atlas Air in January 1995. A native of Philadelphia, PA, he and his Venice lived in West Chester, PA. He is survived by his wife, his children and grandchildren. .
Well known for his gentle demeanor and sharp wit, he also will be remembered for his big, warm smile. He willingly shared and passed on his lifetime of aviation experience with new crewmembers, and his wealth of knowledge will be greatly missed.
Week In Review News
Delta Air Lines and its partners, Air France-KLM and Alitalia, will cut 7% to 9% of their flights between the U.S. and Europe this fall, said Delta President Ed Bastian who also noted that Delta alone would reduce flights across the Atlantic by 10% to 12% after Labor Day…"Business as usual" is Air Canada’s response after their pilots reject a contract.UPS CFO Kurt Kuehn, SAYS the economic recovery in the U.S. has been muted…Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly remained optimistic about demand trends as the company posted "very strong" numbers for May and June bookings…The best way to lift a Labrador retriever into a plane's cargo hold is one of the thousands of questions executives at United Airlines and Continental Airlines are working to answer as they strive to integrate the carriers' operations.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Obama administration will help airlines as they outfit their commercial aircraft cockpits for the NextGen air traffic control system.