August 21, 2006 - At the direction of International President Buffenbarger, the Machinists Union has assembled a Transportation Merger Team to protect the interests of IAM members in any upcoming airline mergers.
“The industry has been in turmoil for several years,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “The IAM’s Merger Team is working under the assumption that every airline is talking to every other airline. Whichever airlines end up pairing together, we are prepared.”
“Protecting our members’ rights through a merger or acquisition is a very complex matter,” said GVP Roach. “There are many legal and labor issues that must be dealt with. We are prepared and will draw on all resources available to protect the interests of our members. Our success in obtaining representational rights for the former America West Mechanic & Related and Fleet Service employees when that airline merged with US Airways demonstrates the effectiveness of the Transportation Merger Team.”
Former America West Fleet workers will be rewarded with the secure IAM National Pension Plan because of that airline’s merger with US Airways. The combined airline’s Mechanic & Related workers also have an opportunity to join the IAM National Pension Plan as one of the improvements resulting from the merger.
“History has demonstrated that the next step for the airline industry is consolidation,” said GVP Roach. “IAM members at the combined US Airways are benefiting from the merger, and we will do the same for all IAM members involved in future mergers.”d the creation of a Transportation Merger Team
