WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Mechanics and related class and craft workers at Horizon Air have overwhelmingly voted to join the Teamsters Union by a 245 to 187 vote. The National Mediation Board certified the results today.
Looking for a real union with real power, the 485 mechanics and related employees in the bargaining unit opted to join the Teamsters after their former association, AMFA, failed to provide representation. At the forefront of the campaign was the issue of outsourcing, a large threat to air safety, homeland security and good jobs in the U.S. The workers are based in Portland, OR.
The Teamsters have the experience and resources it takes to fight outsourcing and have been doing so in court and on Capitol Hill. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa told the Horizon workers that they will have full Teamster strength behind them as they continue to fight for job security.
"We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Horizon mechanics in their effort to get excellent representation and protect their jobs," Hoffa said.
The Teamsters are the largest union of aviation mechanics in North America and intend to work closely with the Horizon mechanics to make sure they become a vital part of our aviation mechanic network.
"The mechanics and employees who assist mechanics such as sheet metal workers, cleaners, accessory shop workers and inspectors at Horizon worked hard to form a union with the Teamsters and we are committed to backing them 100 percent to bring them great representation and job security," said Capt. David Bourne , Teamsters Airline Division Director. "We welcome them into our Teamster aviation family."
The victory at Horizon Air was made possible by the hard work and determination of organizing committee members, who said they wanted a positive change at Horizon.
"There are a lot of people who weren't happy with our previous association. We had issues with representation, weak contract language and pay. By having a strong union, we will have strong contract language that protects our jobs from outsourcing," said Rich Chase , heavy check mechanic and Horizon organizing committee member. "We worked hard together to make changes and now that the Teamsters are here, we must continue to work as one. I think mechanics and related at Horizon will be really impressed by the Teamsters. We will now get to see how a union is supposed to work."
The Horizon victory is the latest in a series of organizing triumphs for the Teamsters Airline Division, which, in the past year, has organized nearly 8,000 active and furloughed mechanics at United Airlines.
The Horizon workers joined Local 986 in South El Monte, California . Local 986 represents members throughout the western United States , Hawaii , Guam and Saipan. There are more than 40,000 Teamster airline employees, including more than 18,000 mechanics and related class and craft at 10 airlines.
"We're excited to welcome Horizon mechanics and related into Local 986," said Chris Griswold , Local 986 Secretary-Treasurer. "We look forward to working with Horizon mechanics to negotiate a Teamster contract with strong anti-outsourcing language. We want to secure job protections for all mechanics and related at Horizon and we will provide them with excellent representation."
