United Airlines Inc. mechanics, displeased with their union, are asking other mechanics to switch to the Teamsters, one of the largest U.S. labor unions.

The disgruntled workers are part of 3,000 United mechanics at San Francisco International Airport represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, an independent union that represents aircraft maintenance employees of U.S. commercial airlines.

The AMFA was elected to represent the mechanics in mid-2003, when the mechanics walked away from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, their union for 58 years.

But AMFA leaders have shown "they do not have the political clout, they do not have the support of the other unions," mechanic Richard Petrovsky told The San Francisco Chronicle.

Local AMFA President Joseph Prisco said AMFA represents the mechanics fairly.

"All of a sudden they are born-again Teamsters," he told the newspaper. "They think United is going to be scared when someone wearing a Teamsters logo comes to bargain? That's not how it works. We give our members what they need when they need it."

AMFA also represents mechanics at Alaska Air Group Inc.'s Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, ATA Airlines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp.'s Mesaba Airlines and Southwest Airlines Co.

The Teamsters represents mechanics at Continental Airlines Inc. and United Parcel Service Inc. Its membership also includes some pilots, flight attendants and cargo handlers.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International




Publication date: 31 October 2007   

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