Suspended Local 555 Members Need Our Help
Published 16 Dec, 2015
Brothers and Sisters:
As we write this message, over 100 of our members from Local 555 have been suspended for attending regional union meetings in Southern California and Orlando, Florida last month. Local 555 leadership organized the meetings to discuss options with their membership after stalled negotiations with Southwest Airlines, a company which has kept our people without a contract four and a half years. It is simply unconscionable.
The holidays are approaching, and we can’t sit back while members of this union are forced to forgo a celebration with their families at the hand of one airline’s continued avarice and greed. Today, we’re asking for each and every TWU local’s help with a contribution from your treasury toward Local 555’s fund to help its suspended members, while we continue to fight this unjust discipline in the grievance process. In this union, one local’s battle is every local’s battle, and it’s critical that we all stand together and tell Southwest Airlines that TWU doesn’t back down without a fight.
Contributions to the fund will go toward helping suspended members stay current on rent and mortgages, as well as other basic necessities. No TWU member or their family will suffer this season simply for exercising their contractual right to attend a union meeting—not on our watch.
Again, we urge each and every TWU local to stand united with our brothers and sisters in Local 555, and to make a contribution to the fund this week. You can donate two ways:
1. Individually, or if your local’s treasury has a credit card or debit card, by going directly to the Go Fund Me campaign website.
2. Overnighting a check from your local treasury, payable to “Dallas AFL-CIO Go Fund Me” to: Dallas AFL-CIO, 1408 N. Washington Avenue, #240, Dallas, TX 75204.
In Solidarity,
Harry Lombardo, International President
Alex Garcia, International Secretary-Treasurer
John Samuelsen, International Executive Vice President
Gary Maslanka, International Administrative Vice President
John Bland, International Administrative Vice President