Machinist President Urges Congress to Reject Airline Merger Scams
WASHINGTON, April 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) President Tom Buffenbarger today urged members of the House Judiciary Committee to oppose consolidation plans currently being proposed by airline CEOs.
"If allowed to proceed, Northwest and Delta will form the world's largest airline, creating the world's biggest corporate headache," declared Buffenbarger in testimony before the committee's Task Force on Competition Policy and Antitrust Laws. "Consolidation is not the solution for this troubled industry - more competent management is. This industry is in disarray and the executives in charge are only making things worse." Buffenbarger's complete testimony is available at www.goiam.org/mergers.
Today's hearing, titled "Competition in the Airline Industry," follows the April 14, 2008 merger announcement by Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines and featured testimony by Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland and Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson. "Some form of limited re-regulation is necessary if this country has any chance for a safe, reliable, profitable and competitive air transportation industry," said Buffenbarger. "There is too much at stake to let executives and their legacy of failure try and solve the industry's problems." The IAM has been working closely for months with other labor unions, lawmakers and consumer groups to oppose reckless consolidation schemes designed to enrich executives at the expense of passengers, employees and airport communities. "It would be difficult to find anyone outside of a small group of airline executives who expects to benefit from additional airline consolidation," said Buffenbarger. The IAM represents 12,500 Northwest Airlines Ramp Service Employees, Stores Clerks, Customer Service Agents, Reservation Agents, Flight Simulator Technicians and Plant Protection employees. The Machinists Union is the largest Airline and Rail Union in North America, representing more than 170,000 Flight Attendants, Customer Service Agents, Reservation Agents, Ramp Service Personnel, Mechanics, Railroad Machinists and related transportation industry workers. Additional information about the Machinists Union is available at www.goiam.org/transportation. First Call Analyst:
CONTACT: Joseph Tiberi of IAMAW, +1-202-974-8250 (office), Web Site: http://www.goiam.org/
2008-04-24 10:08:41 0344381 PRNEWSWIRE
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