WASHINGTON, DC— The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) applauds today’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to overturn a lower court ruling that improperly barred nearly 10,000 passenger service agents at American Airlines from voting to decide whether to be represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
“This is not just a victory by one union at one airline seeking to hold a representation election. It is a victory for democracy and workers’ rights that sends a clear message to other corporations that they cannot skirt our labor laws,” said TTD President Edward Wytkind. “These workers are simply asking to exercise their right to decide for themselves if they want union representation.”
A Texas judge in June, after months of delays by airline management in proceeding with an election, allowed American to further block the NMB-sanctioned election. The appeals court found that the district court in Texas “erred in exercising jurisdiction,” vacated the district court’s judgment in its entirety and remanded it with instructions to dismiss American’s complaint. It is now up to the NMB to set a new election date.
“This group of workers, who filed for an election in December 2011, has waited far too long for the simple chance to vote for or against union representation. American has run out of excuses and must cease interfering with their own workers basic rights under our nation’s labor laws. We congratulate CWA for doggedly fighting to protect the democratic rights of these workers, and pledge our continued support to ensure the injustice perpetrated by American Airlines management ends now,” said Wytkind.
The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, motor carrier, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit us at ttd.org or on Facebook and Twitter.
