Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) strongly opposes the recently unveiled Republican stimulus proposal that fails to support the airline industry.
“This proposal does not help the industry or its workers. Congress needs to take real action in order to protect a vital piece of our nation’s infrastructure,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “The industry needs a relief package that prevents employee furloughs and protects workers’ salaries and benefits. This money would not be going to bailout executives; it would be to keep workers on the flight line instead of the unemployment line.”
“The Machinists will not support any relief package that does not put airline workers first,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Unlike the bank bailout, the airline industry did not create this crisis.”
“There are hundreds of thousands of airline workers who live paycheck to paycheck while they transport our elected leaders and millions of other Americans safely across the globe,” continued Pantoja. “If Congress fails us, we will remember each time they enter an airport and each time we enter a voting booth.”
The IAM strongly encourages all airline workers to contact their elected officials and demand the airlines receive direct federal aid.
Here’s how you can take action now:
1) Call your members of Congress at 202-224-3121 and tell them to take any action necessary to save our airline jobs.
