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Statement
by Transportation Workers Union of
America International President James C.
Little on Global Organizing Summit and
Rallies Across the United States in
Support of Union Recognition Election
for 8,000 Ground Workers at Continental
Airlines
December 11,
2007
For immediate release
M E D I A A D V I
S O R Y
For
further information contact:
Jamie Horwitz, 202/549-4921
jhdcpr@starpower.net
It’s outrageous that it was announced at
the Global Organizing Summit this week
that the United States ranks dead last
among developed nations in terms of the
percentage of workers represented by
unions. Outrageous -- and not
surprising.
Even at a generally labor-friendly U.S.
company like Continental Airlines where
pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers
and mechanics are represented by unions,
union organizing efforts by ground
workers have been met with intimidation
tactics, captive audience meetings and
aggressive efforts by professional union
busters.
Continental’s employees and other
American workers need a seat at the
table. In commercial aviation
especially, workers need a voice. Since
2001, salaries, pensions working
conditions and job security have changed
drastically. Airline mergers have become
regular headlines. Only by having a say
have unionized workers at Continental
gradually begun to return to the levels
of compensation prior to September 11th
-- workers without a union card haven’t
been as fortunate.
Today ballots were sent by federal
authorities to 8,000 Continental
workers. Also today, in Newark, Houston
and elsewhere, rallies are being held in
support of this basic right of
Continental workers to assemble, to form
a union and to protect their interests
and the interests of their families.
Continental workers have courageously
stood up for their rights and the TWU
and our allies in the labor movement
here and abroad support them.
Transport Workers Union of America (TWU)
represents 200,000 workers and retirees,
primarily employed in commercial
aviation, public transportation and
passenger railroads. The union is an
affiliate of the AFL-CIO. To learn more
about the Continental ground workers
election please visit
www.continentalworkersunite.org .
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