Lakelad Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 .American Airlines’ ticket, gate agents vote to unionizeWed Sep 17, 2014 - Globe and MailJeffrey Dastin - ReutersPassenger service agents at American Airlines backed union representation for the first time in their history on Tuesday, with about 86 per cent of members voting in favour of collective bargaining, the union said.The vote affects about 14,500 agents who work at both American and US Airways. The workers will be represented jointly by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represented agents at US Airways for more than a decade prior to its merger with American last year to create the world’s largest airline by passenger traffic.The CWA said 9,640 agents voted in favour of the union while another 1,547 opposed it.Separately, United Airlines said it ratified a new labour agreement with the airline’s 48 maintenance instructors, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.The National Mediation Board has also ruled that the Allied Pilots Association, which represents pilots at American, will bargain on behalf of US Airways’ pilots in future contract negotiations, according to a spokesperson.The decisions underscore a recent string of votes to unionize at U.S. airlines amid improving profits.American’s vote could spur more organizing efforts in the U.S. South, where most of the American agents are based, union leaders said.The vote also marks a change in mindset at American, which discouraged attempts by agents to organize over the past 19 years, according to union leaders and industry experts.American’s new management has “a positive attitude about what employees decide to do,” said CWA president Larry Cohen.Three-quarters of the passenger service agents work in the U.S. South, making the pro-union vote rare for the region, Cohen said.“this victory will energize ongoing organizing efforts in the South.”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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