August 8, 2008 - Air Transport District 143 won a major victory by securing an arbitrator’s decision stating that Alaska Airlines violated the IAM collective bargaining agreement when it improperly furloughed 500 Seattle ramp workers in May 2005.
“This ruling is a huge victory for the IAM and all the hard working airline employees we represent,” said District 143 president Stephen Gordon. “The decision comes more than three years after Alaska Airlines subcontracted its entire Seattle ground handling operation to Menzies Aviation. IAM-represented ramp employees who showed up to work on May 13, 2005 had their security badges deactivated by Alaska and were callously told they no longer had jobs.”
Since outsourcing the work to Menzies, Alaska Airlines has endured negative press reports involving lost and mishandled bags, flight delays, aircraft damage and increased customer complaints.
IAM District 143 represents 3,560 Alaska Airlines employees. More information about the arbitration decision and the IAM’s more than three-year fight are available on the District 143 website, www.iam143.org.
