As most of you are aware, we did not succeed in our election for Teamster representation. While we are all very disappointed in today’s election results, we find encouragement in the fact that over 1,400 of us voted for Teamster representation. We hope this will serve to pressure our current union, the IAM, to listen to our concerns and better represent our workgroup.

From the outset, this campaign was a mechanic-led effort for better representation at US Airways. We reached out to the Teamsters because we remain the lowest-paid mechanics and related and have the lowest standards in the industry compared to other legacy airlines. We wanted a strong alternative to the IAM’s failed representation.

As the Teamsters said in a statement in response to the vote count, “Hundreds of mechanics and related at US Airways had the courage to launch a campaign and more than 1,400 voted for change. The Teamsters are proud to have worked with these men and women. We hope these workers are heard and that they get the attention and representation they deserve.”

Although we lost this campaign, our future coworkers at American Airlines continue to press forward in their campaign for Teamster representation. We believe that they will soon have a chance to vote in an election for their workgroup.

As the largest union of aircraft mechanics and related, the Teamsters continue to believe in their obligation to workers like us in our industry. They see it as their duty to prevent substandard contracts that harm the craft and permit the outsourcing of mechanic jobs.

We ran a strong campaign at US Airways and we sent a strong message. We will continue to stand together as coworkers and with our brothers and sisters at AA.

For more information, visit the US Airways Fresh Start campaign website or call the campaign hotline at 1-800-786-9627.

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