Hoffa-Hall Slate Elected to Fourth Term, Receives 60 Percent of Vote in Three-Way Race
International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, his running mate for General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall and their entire slate, were elected today by a wide margin in the 2011 Election of International Union Officers. According to unofficial results provided by the Office of the Election Supervisor, the Hoffa-Hall Slate defeated their two challengers with 60 percent of the vote.
“The members have spoken,” Hoffa said. “This is not just our slate’s victory but a victory for all working Americans who are fighting to save America’s middle class. We traveled across this country to mobilize our members to fight the right-wing attack on workers. Teamster members responded because they know it is not workers who are to blame for the crisis facing America – it is the greed and corruption of big business and Wall Street and their bought and paid for puppets in Congress.
“Now that this election is completed we will intensify our efforts in the fight for all working families,” Hoffa added. “The Teamsters strength is in organizing the unorganized, fighting for strong health care, good wages, secure retirement,and holding employers and politicians accountable.”
Hall told supporters that he was humbled by the overwhelming support of the members and pledged to ramp up the campaign against corporate greed.
“We will never let up in the ongoing battle to provide good wages, benefits and working conditions for our 1.4 million members across North America, and organize tens of thousands of unrepresented workers. The right-wing corporate interests that are trying to destroy America’s middle class will find an energized and mobilized Teamsters Union that will fight to defend the principles that made this country great.”
The Hoffa-Hall Slate swept all five regions of the Union, the East, Central, South, West and Canada.
Hoffa first took office following his victory in December 1998 and was re-elected in 2001 and 2006 by substantial margins. By winning today, Hoffa is elected to another five-year term that will begin in mid-March 2012.
Having held office for nearly 13 years, Hoffa is the third longest serving General President in the 108 year history of the Teamsters Union. Only Dan Tobin, who served for 47 years, and James R. Hoffa, who served for 14 years, have held office longer.
The country’s most recognized labor leader, Hoffa has been in the forefront in the fight to block anti-union legislation that popped up in states across the country following the 2010 off-year elections. He dubbed the right-wing offensive the “War on Workers” and has spent the last year leading rallies in Ohio, California, Wisconsin, Michigan and dozens of other states threatened by the anti-union forces.
Hoffa’s efforts culminated in the overwhelming victory for union members in Ohio this past Tuesday when Ohio voters defeated Issue 2, an anti-union measure that would have severely weakened collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public employees.
“Ohio voters sent a wake-up call to American politicians: If you try to blame workers for problems caused by Wall Street you will pay a price. If you attack workers, you will lose. But if you stand up and fight for the middle class, you can win,” Hoffa said.
Hoffa, Hall and their slate pledged to continue the progress the Teamsters have made in national bargaining, organizing and political action.
“2012 will be a watershed year for Teamsters and for this nation,” Hoffa said. “Under our leadership, the Teamsters Union will continue to be a force for change and will lead our nation in efforts to improve the lives of working families.”
Vote totals can be viewed at www.ibtvote.org.
AFA, TWU Join Airline Division at Speech by Rockefeller
Representatives of the TWU and AFA were guests of the Airline Division at an address by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) at the Aero Club in Washington, DC last week.
Rockefeller addressed the attendees on issues concerning the ongoing fight to provide funding for the FAA. He pointed out that funding over major safety system upgrades are being held up over non germane labor issues inserted in the House legislation and could well lead to another FAA shutdown.
The ongoing fight, led by House Republicans and the airline industry, is centered on attempting to overturn recently revised rules on voting in union elections by the NMB and has kept Congress from full funding the FAA.
Sub UA and CO Business Agents Meet with United Management
On Friday, Business Agents from around the United and Continental system met with United Airlines Tech Ops management to discuss the implications of LoA 28 of the new agreement if the membership ratifies the sub UA TA.
The Business Agents discussed the resource utilization piece of the LoA and informed the company that the transition will be monitored closely and any scope violations would be greived.The weekly BA conference call will continue to be used as a policing tool during the time it takes to achieve an amalgamated agreement.
Express Jet Mechanic Negotiations to Resume in Mediation
On Tuesday, November 1st, the Federal Mediator assigned to the Express Jet mechanic negotiations met with both the Company and Union leadership in separate sessions at the National Mediation Board offices in Washington, D. C.
After going through the formality of explaining the process and the role of the mediator, he discussed the issues and advised the parties how he wished to proceed. Subsequent to the meeting, Mediator has advised both parties of the upcoming dates for mediation. The dates assigned are:
January 24th, 25th and 26th in Philadelphia
February 15th, 16th and 17th in Philadelphia
March 1stand 2nd tentatively scheduled in Boston, but subject to change
March 27th, 28th and 29th in Washington, D.C.
ASA Mechanic Negotiations Continue
The ASA Mechanics negotiating committee has reported continued progress toward their first collective bargaining agreement. Having met a total of 31 days since bargaining began in March 2011, the committee has seven (7) articles tentatively agreed to (T/A) and an interim agreement in place.
The Committee will be meeting again on December 8th in Atlanta to continue to work on language and talks with the Company will resume on January 18th.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
A labor provision in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill could lead to another shutdown of the agency, says Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee…The government's regulations on tarmac delays delays may increase the number of flight cancellations, experts say…On November 15th the DOT began auctioning slots at DCA and LGA…JetBlue Airways and officials from the Department of Transportation met to discuss tarmac delays stemming from an October snowstorm in Hartford, Conn. "The DOT will continue their investigation on their own pace and we will participate as requested and needed," JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin said.
Industry and Labor
The union representing pilots at American Airlines has rejected the carrier's latest contract proposals. Experts say the failure to agree on a contract could heighten the risk of bankruptcy for American…meanwhile, at the company’s request American’s
American Airlines and its mechanics union delayed resuming contract negotiations until December, over “uncertainties” created by the pilots negotiations…United Continental Holdings is still working to unify its unions for pilots and for ramp workers, more than a year after its merger…
The flight attendant union representing Delta flight attendants has called the airline “the airline of the one percent” for its continuing fight to block new union voting rules…
The union representing United Airlines pilots has criticized the carrier's training program in a report. The merger with Continental Airlines has led to more training for pilots, and the majority of the training is computer-based, which received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration…A new survey found that airport security screening remains one of travelers' top five frustrations. Travelers said they disliked the wait in security lines, unfriendly Transportation Security Administration agents and removing their belts and shoes. However, 66% of the travelers participating in the survey reported that they are somewhat or very satisfied with the overall performance of the TSA; 54.6% of frequent fliers who participated said they were satisfied with the TSA.
The Offices of the Airline Division will be CLOSED on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in recognition of Thanksgiving. We wish all Teamsters and their families a Happy Thanksgiving. The office will re-open for normal business on Monday, November 28th.