Press Releases
Teamsters Ratify Agreement with URS Federal Services, Inc.
(LAS VEGAS) – By more than a seven-to-one margin, pilots who are members of Teamsters Local 631 have ratified their first contract with URS Federal Services, Inc., a company that provides services for the U.S. federal government. The landmark agreement will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019 and run through Sept. 30, 2022.
“Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to negotiate and ratify this contract,” said Capt. David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director. “Collective bargaining agreements like this are a perfect example of the benefits workers across the airline industry get when they join the Teamsters.”
“We were able to reach this agreement in record time thanks to everyone’s hard work at the bargaining table,” said Tommy Blitsch, Local 631 Secretary-Treasurer. “I’d especially like to thank all the members of the bargaining committee for their hard work on this contract.”
The contract falls under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) rather than the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which covers most union members in the airline industry. Nevertheless, the agreement comes with substantial wage and benefit increases, work rules that help the pilots, license protections, a comprehensive grievance procedure, a generous employer-funded retirement plan and a number of other benefits that are at or above the average standards for airline contracts negotiated under the RLA.
Capt. Rick Dubinsky is the Airline Division International Representative who assisted with negotiations.
“The URS pilots stayed unified during bargaining,” Dubinsky said. “Because of that, they were able to get the things they wanted. They are thrilled to be working under a rock-solid Teamster contract.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.