AirTran Employees Vote for Machinists
The 2,900 fleet, passenger service and reservation employees at AirTran Airways voted to join the Machinists (IAM).
The National Mediation Board conducted the Internet and telephone vote between Feb. 28 and March 28, 2011. The IAM already represents passenger service and reservation employees at AirTran’s proposed merger partner, Southwest Airlines.
“Whatever the outcome of AirTran’s proposed merger with Southwest, AirTran employees understand the need for professional representation during this critical time,” said IAM Vice President Robert Roach.
This was a grassroots campaign, and I commend our organizing committee and AirTran employees for taking this positive step toward a better, more secure future.
Flight Attendants, Pilots, Mechanics, Stagehands and Others Join AFL-CIO Unions
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Airline pilots, flight attendants, city employees, mechanics and stagehands are the latest workers to choose a voice at work with AFL-CIO unions.
The independent National Pilots Association (NPA)—made up of the cockpit crews at AirTran Airways—has agreed to merge with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). The executive board of the 1,700-pilot union approved the merger agreement last month, and ALPA endorsed the merger in December. AirTran pilots will vote on the proposal starting this month.
NPA and AirTran have been in contract talks since 2004. NPA President Mike Best says:
Our hope is that the [switch to ALPA] will give us more resources to get a better contract sooner.
