Teamsters seeking nod from United mechanics

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 4, 2007 | by Associated Press

CHICAGO -- The Teamsters sought the right Monday to represent United Airlines mechanics, filing a petition and predicting it will win an election to displace the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association in early 2008.

The union, which already represents more than 40,000 airline employees, has been pushing for two years to represent the mechanics at UAL Corp.'s United.

"We expect an election in the next six weeks and we are confident we will prevail," Clacy Griswold, international representative of the Teamsters' airline division, said at a news conference after the petition was filed with the National Mediation Board.

Many mechanics are disgruntled by United's move to outsource maintenance work overseas as well as by the possibility the Chicago- based airline may sell its Mileage Plus program and its heavy maintenance facility in San Francisco, where about 3,000 of its nearly 6,000 mechanics work.