United Airlines mechanics face critical union vote

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Feb 1, 2008 | by Tim Simmers

SFO -- United Airlines mechanics will vote soon on whether to stay with their current union or be represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The mechanics, more than 3,000 of whom are employed at the United maintenance base at San Francisco International Airport, have been represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association since 2003.

A group of the mechanics have voiced concern over the fate of their jobs -- and their retirement security -- and have led the drive to replace AMFA. The vote has been authorized to happen in the next six weeks or so, a Teamsters spokeswoman said.

United, one of the biggest employers in San Mateo County, announced in August that it may sell all or a stake of its maintenance operations off Highway 101 in San Bruno to outside investors.

In the past few years, the airline has been outsourcing some of its maintenance business, which has cost union mechanics jobs at SFO and across the country. United has not revealed any potential buyers or partners for the base, but continues to pursue its plan for the sale or partnership.

We're trying to slow down the outsourcing, and we need a strong union to do it," said Rich Petrovsky, a veteran United mechanic who has led the efforts to change the union. "AMFA has allowed United to farm out work."

Petrovsky said he is fearful of being represented by AMFA with negotiations on the next contract due to begin in 2009. He views the Teamsters organization as a stronger union.

The mechanics would need a majority-plus-one vote in favor of the Teamsters to make a change.

It's coming down to the Teamsters and AMFA," said Joseph Prisco, president of AMFA Local 9 in Burlingame, which represents the 3,000 mechanics at SFO. "If people vote for the Teamsters they're voting for a union with a history of corruption that believes in secret, back-door deals, where the membership doesn't have an ability to view negotiations or have a say."

Prisco said that AMFA is "open, transparent and a democracy." Prisco noted that he is concerned that there may not be a 50 percent participation in the vote, which would result in union decertification.

Teamsters union spokeswoman Kim Keller said the Teamsters have been knocking on the doors of mechanics to explain the vote's importance. There are 9,300 United Airlines mechanics who can vote. That includes 5,600 active employees and 3,700 who have been furloughed.

"We were contacted by a group of United mechanics in San Francisco about a year ago who had concern about their jobs and job security," said Keller.

The vote will take place sometime over the next six weeks, Keller said. It will be done electronically or by telephone, she added. The SFO maintenance base is United's largest in the United States.

Reach Tim Simmers at 650-348-4361 or by e-mail at tsimmers@bayareanewsgroup.com.