"Unreasonable Concessionary Demands" Provoke Union Resolution

Earlier this week -- the executive board of Teamsters Local 513 passed a resolution that lays the foundation for a possible strike by 818 Comair Airlines flight attendants. Cincinnati-based Local 513 Executive Board members unanimously passed the resolution, condemning what the union describes as the company's "unreasonable concessionary demands."

On February 21, the Cincinnati-based company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Airlines, asked the federal bankruptcy court that is handling Delta's Chapter 11 restructuring to reject Comair's collective bargaining agreement with its flight attendants. Hearings are scheduled in New York City from March 27-29.

The average Comair flight attendant, who Delta estimates to earn $28,000 per year, would see a cut of $10,880, or 38 percent -- including deep cuts in health care coverage and the elimination of their retirement plan.

"This resolution establishes the process of seeking workers' authorization for a strike -- the ultimate decision will come from the workers," said Victoria Gray, International Representative for the Teamsters Airline Division. "The company's demands are unreasonable, and we plan to fight them in court, ensuring that this strike doesn't come about."

Full text of the resolution:

• WHEREAS Delta Airlines subsidiary Comair, according to its own calculations, has demanded $8.9 million in concessions from its 818 flight attendants, which means that the average flight attendant, who Delta estimates to earn $28,000 per year, would see a cut of $10,880 --or 38 percent -- in take-home pay and benefits; and
• WHEREAS Comair has singled-out its lower-paid and predominantly female flight attendants to carry a larger burden of the concessions than other groups; and
• WHEREAS Comair has filed an "1113" demand with the Bankruptcy Court to reject the Teamster Comair Flight Attendant Collective Bargaining Agreement; and
• WHEREAS bankruptcy hearings on this subject are now scheduled for March 27, 28 and 29 in the federal court in New York City;
• THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Teamsters Local 513 Executive Board hereby authorizes preparation for informational leafleting concurrent with those hearing dates and furthermore
• BE IT RESOLVED that if the Company succeeds in rejecting our contract, Teamsters Local 513 Executive Board hereby authorizes preparation for strike activity (including putting together committees, educating the members and setting up a strike vote).

FMI: www.teamsterslocal513.org, www.comair.com