Drivers at the Port of Los Angeles Stand Up to Management Millions and Fear Campaign, Vote for Teamster Representation
What started as a vision a year ago by a brave, small group of drivers at the Port of Los Angeles to form their union became a reality on Wednesday when the drivers voted to become Teamsters. Almost thirty years have gone by at the Los Angeles ports without a private sector union election; Wednesdays vote is sending a strong message to other ports around the United States.
No different than airline employees taking on a management; battling an $8.8 billion dollar global company was not easy. Standing side by side with the drivers were Teamsters from across the nation, 1.4 million strong. What began with speaking out against the third-world like workplace conditions and the right to access the company's clean indoor restrooms, became a movement with thousands of e-mails urging Toll management to quit treating these professional drivers like second class citizens.
The victory is being hailed by many as a trailblazing private sector win in an industry notorious for treating workers as disposable, and sends a strong message to other port drivers across the country that if they choose to stand up for their rights and organize, Teamsters will be there for them as well.
AirTran, SWA SLI Committees Meet
On April 11th, the SWA and AT SLI committees met to continue discussions aimed at reaching a tentative agreement. The groups will reconvene on April 23rd to continue the process in hopes of reaching an agreement prior to starting the arbitration
process.
Airline Industry News
Airlines and Labor
John Hale, vice president of flight at American Airlines, said the carrier's pilots have "very serious concerns" about a possible merger with US Airways…The union representing American Airlines pilots disagreed with an executive memo that said pilots did not support a merger with US Airways. The union has been neutral on a possible merger.
The future of 50-seat regional jets looks dim, as higher fuel prices have made flying the jets impractical…US Airways' labor contracts could present a challenge for a possible merger with American Airlines.
Southwest Airlines is adding Boeing 737-800's to its fleet. The jets carry 38 more passengers than Southwest's Boeing 737-700, an increase in capacity of around 30%. The 737-800 jet made its maiden commercial flight for Southwest on Wednesday from Baltimore Fort Myers, Fla.
Delta Airlines could save 10% on fuel by buying an oil refinery, sources say. The carrier could also partner with JP Morgan Chase to help run the refinery…American Eagle has signed an agreement with United Express to provide ground-handling services for nine airports.