Alliance Strengthens Leverage for Safety Initiatives, Standard Contract, Groups Say

The Teamsters Airline Division has formed a strategic alliance with the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), which represents 5,200 pilots who fly for US Airways. The two organizations say the alliance will strengthen efforts to win an industry standard contract, bankruptcy reform, Railway Labor Act reform, Flight and Duty Time reform and safety initiatives.

"We welcome a strategic alliance with USAPA and its 5,200 pilots, "said Teamsters Airline Division Director Capt. David Bourne. "US Airways pilots stood with our Amerijet pilots during their strike, and continue to be partners with us on numerous legislative issues, which will improve the working environment and safety of airline pilots. Our alliance with the USAPA will give our safety and contract initiatives more power."

The Teamsters Union-Airline Division (IBT-AD) and USAPA have already worked together on many projects, from supporting the Teamster-represented Amerijet pilots during their strike, to calling for bankruptcy reform, to lobbying Congress on flight and duty time issues and more on Capitol Hill. In addition, the IBT-AD works closely with the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA), an industry advocacy group to which USAPA belongs.

"The Teamsters are true trade unionists, have considerable influence in Washington, D.C., and represent workers across the global supply chain, including warehouses, ports, fuel supplies and more," said USAPA President Mike Cleary said. "Such a strategic alliance will be useful moving forward to help USAPA and our brother and sister Teamsters to achieve our common goals, which including obtaining an industry-standard contract and working toward bankruptcy reform, Railway Labor Act Reform, Flight and Duty Time reform and safety initiatives."

FMI: www.teamsters.org, www.usairlinepilots.org