Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters
************************* Pilots Unanimously Choose Teamster Representation
Friday February 24, 2:33 pm ET Contract Negotiations Under Way for Approximately 100 Pilots
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In an impressive show of solidarity, pilots voting in a representation election at ************************* Airlines unanimously chose Teamsters representation. The National Mediation Board (NMB) tallied votes on February 23, ensuring that Local 618 is the bargaining representative for the approximately 100 pilots at the new regional-carrier airline.
"We looked at eight different unions and found that Teamsters had the best qualifications," said Eric Oberst, a 17-year pilot who has flown for ************************* since March 2005. "************************* is a regional carrier and, with contracts negotiated for pilots at similar carriers, such as Chautauqua and Horizon, it was clear that the Teamsters understood our needs."
"Everyone is real happy with the outcome," said Dan Heumann, Teamsters Local 618 President. "We have worked with the pilots since last March and it's great that they were finally able to secure the representation they wanted."
The Teamsters filed for representation with the NMB on September 15, the date ************************* flew its first revenue-generating flight. A petition was filed by another union soon after; this other union received zero votes in the representation election tally.
"We welcome the ************************* pilots into our union," said Don Treichler, director of the Teamsters Airline Division. "It took a considerable amount of time to ensure pilots at ************************* finally receive the opportunity to vote for their union representation but with this vote, ************************* pilots have demonstrated that they want to be Teamsters -- in fact, with this vote, they are Teamsters."
Local 618 is also seeking to represent the approximately 100 ************************* flight attendants.
************************* Airlines is a subsidiary of Trans States Holdings. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the all-new fleet of 70-seat aircraft operates under the United Express banner. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.
Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters