Teamsters and TWU Stand in Solidarity With British Airways Cabin Crews

Unions Concerned About Passenger Safety Compromises

WASHINGTON, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa and Transport Workers Union President James C. Little issued the following statement today regarding the March 17 meeting with Steve Turner, National Secretary of Civil Air Transport of Unite the Union, the British labor union representing the British Airways cabin crews:

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"We are very grateful that Unite accepted our invitation to send a representative here to brief us on the dispute between British Airways and its employees. Steve Turner has provided us a very thorough briefing on the dispute and the history of the problems with British Airways and
the union's efforts to work with management to find common ground.

"We are very proud of the long history of mutual support between Unite, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Transport Workers Union. We greatly appreciate our friendship with Unite General Secretary Tony Woodley. Over the years, Unite, the Teamsters and the Transport Workers Union have worked closely to support each other, especially in this time of rapid globalization. 

"It is very clear that British Airways CEO Willie Walsh is provoking this strike through a policy of abuse towards his employees, especially union activists. His contract proposals are designed to intimidate and frighten British Airways employees. We are greatly concerned that passenger safety will be seriously compromised if Walsh tries to operate with unlicensed, untrained and inexperienced crews. We recommend flyers seek alternatives during the strike.

"What is occurring at British Airways is not a simple labor dispute. The actions of Mr. Walsh and the ongoing abuse directed at the traveling public and loyal employees of this great airline, speaks volumes. By putting substandard proposals on the table and then removing them before they can be voted on shows the total disregard he maintains for the employees and customers of British Airways.

"Unite has exceeded the standard of not only negotiating, but presenting specific cost savings proposals to Mr. Walsh to help British Airways in these very difficult economic times. Sadly, these proposals were rejected. They were rejected because of one man's bias and obsession with breaking a labor union.

"We are keenly aware of British Airways' operations in the United States and the cities served by the airline. We continue to look at this situation as it evolves and are keeping our options open."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The Transport Workers Union was founded in 1934 and represents 200,000 men and women working in the transportation industry throughout the United States.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Transport Workers Union