|
|
 |
History of Air Transport Division
Just 11 years after a
fledgling TWU was founded in 1934 to represent transit
workers in New York City, the union made a bold move
into another crucial area of the nation's transportation
systems -- the rapidly growing airline industry.
In April 1945, TWU chartered a new Local in Miami, FL to
represent ground service employees at the nation's
premier carrier of the day -- Pan American World
Airways. Shortly thereafter, the union chartered similar
Locals in New York and San Francisco and several other
cities. The union signed a historic first contract with
Pan Am in September 1945.
These rapid fire events signaled the emergence of TWU as
new force to be reckoned within the airline industry of
the mid 1940s.
Within a year after the breakthrough at Pan Am, TWU
moved rapidly to organize ground employees at American
Airlines, which at that time was overshadowed by the
size and wealth of Pan Am. In the 50 years since, TWU's
Air Transport Division has experienced scores of great
victories, as well as several bitter losses, most
notably the shutdowns of Eastern Airlines and Pan Am
less than a year apart in 1991.
Post War Expansion
Unlike the Congress of Industrial Organizations and
the establishment of TWU itself, TWU's Air Transport
Division was not a by product of the depression years of
the 1930-1939 era, but emerged due to the airline
industry ignoring the desire of its skilled employees
for a shorter work week, higher wages and better working
conditions, in keeping with other industries of the
1940-1945 era.
In the early days of aviation, people were attracted to
the industry more for the romance of participating in a
field that bespoke of daring and thrills than for the
need of a livelihood. No doubt some, particularly those
who spent large sums of money for schooling and
acquisition of "Airman" certificates, or spent years
developing skills in airline clerical or operating jobs,
hoped that some day the job would present many
opportunities and good wages. But for the most part,
they thrilled to the pioneering in a completely unknown
field. Of course the companies took full advantage of
this reaction of the people to aviation. They literally
took the position that working for an airline was a
privilege.
As the airlines grew out of the "air mail service" stage
of the 1920s, airline workers began to feel the need for
union representation. The pilots, because of their
mobility and contact with pilots in other locations,
were able to form a Pilots Association in 1931. Then
with the inclusion of airlines into the Railway Labor
Act in 1936, airline labor was given official status.
Company Unions Fall Flat
During the late 1930s, while the CIO was building
pillars of strength in the basic industries, feeble
independent associations and company unions were being
formed and reformed among airline workers. The Air Line
Mechanics Association succeeded in securing recognition
as representatives of a large number of airline
mechanics under the terms of the Railway Labor Act. But
due to domination by elements of management, ALMA soon
lost the support of the rank and file members.
During this same period the Machinists Association
absorbed a number of company associations of airline
employees. But like their predecessors, they did not
provide the type of active leadership needed. Thus due
to weak organization in the pre-war years and later
wartime wage controls, the end of World War II found the
average airline employee working long hours under poor
conditions for unbelievably low wages.
TWU Takes Hold in Miami
It wasn't until the Spring of 1945, when a handful
of workers from the Pan American overhaul base at Miami,
Fl. approached TWU, requesting organization, that the
airline worker was given the opportunity to bargain
effectively for better wages, hours of work and working
conditions. Some while later, an election was held and
TWU was certified as the bargaining agent for the Ground
and Flight Service Personnel of Pan American Airways.
The first big fight for TWU was the 40-hour week.
Employees in the airlines worked a normal work-week of
48 hours. Any work over 48 hours was paid at time and
one half. TWU quickly secured the 40 hour week with no
loss of pay for Pan Am workers, the first of many, many
"firsts" for TWU members in the airline industry.
Today, TWU represents nearly 100,000 workers in the
nation's transportation industries, including 50,000
workers in the airline industry in virtually all Class
and Crafts. TWU today maintains contracts for its
members working at the following airlines: American, TWA
Northwest, Continental, Simmons, United, Southwest,
Flagship, Executive Air, Wings West, UFS Inc., AMR
Services, Dynair, Ogden Allied, Johnson Controls, Aloha,
Hawaiian, Horizon and Alaska Air.
|
|
 |
|
