You Have Questions, We Have Answers
Q: Why do we need a union?
A: It would be smart for Fleet and Customer Service workers to form a union. With a union, Frontier is required by law to bargain with us, and what we bargain is put into a legally-binding contract. This means:We will gain a voice over our work issues including our pay, benefits, work rules and more.
- Management cannot change what is in our contract without first getting our approval—no more unilateral changes at the whim of management.
- Together, we can work to improve our pay, benefits and working conditions at every contract period—so there is consistent and strong upward pressure on improving our work standards.
- We will have greater job security with a union because a union contract can protect against outsourcing, job loss from mergers, etc.
- Our union contract will include an effective grievance procedure so that if we have an issue at work there is a fair process to resolve the problem—not a process only controlled by management.
Q: Why are the Teamsters the best union for us?
A: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is the only union that represents every craft of workers in the airline industry. The Teamsters have a reputation for securing the best contracts in the industry with strong job security language as well as industry-leading pay rates and good benefits. Teamster contracts cover more than 64,000 airline employees, including mechanics, customer service agents, ramp agents, stock clerks, flight attendants and pilots. Most recently, the Teamsters organized nearly 8,000 fleet service workers at Continental Airlines.
Q: How can we form a union?
A: Under the Railway Labor Act, or RLA, (this is the law that covers airline workers like us) we can file a petition with the National Mediation Board (NMB) to hold an election if there is enough worker support. Within a few months of filing the petition, the NMB will hold a secret-ballot election. Many of us think forming a union is a good idea—but we need to hear from you! E-mail us at FrontierCSATeamsters@yahoo.com if you are interested or want to learn more. A campaign hotline will be available soon.
Q: What is a union?
A: A union is a non-profit membership advocacy organization of workers at a particular company. Workers form a union in order to achieve:
• Respect on the job;
• Fair wages and better benefits;
• Job security;
• A strong voice on the job; and
• A method to challenge unfair management decisions;
• And anything else that is important to us as Frontier fleet and customer service employees.
Q: What is my craft and class?
A: We are working to form a union of Fleet and CustomerService employees at Frontier. This is our craft or class. Craft or class is a legal term used for the group of employees that seek to be represented by a union under the Railway Labor Act. The National Mediation Board (NMB) considers several factors in determining a proper craft or class including the composition and relative permanency of the employee grouping along craft or class lines; the functions, duties and responsibilities of the employees; the general nature of the work performed and the community of interest between job classifications. Essentially, the NMB, not the Teamsters or Frontier, looks at how jobs within in an industry relate to each other. Then the NMB makes a determination about craft or class.
Q: What are my rights?
A: Forming or joining a union in the workplace is a legal, human, civil, and moral right we all have. Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which covers airline employees, it is illegal for a company to interfere with employees’ rights to form a union or to terminate or discipline employees because of their union activity or involvement. If you experience anti-union behavior from a management supervisor contact Joel Wood at (240) 256-6185 or Sal Abrica at (202) 437-0896.
Q: What have other Frontier employees achieved through forming a union with the Teamsters?
A: More than 600 mechanics, stock clerks and aircraft appearance agents at Frontier have already formed a union with the Teamsters. Because the have a strong voice with their union, the mechanics, appearance agents and material specialists will have negotiated so that all hourly wage rates and benefit reductions taken during the bankruptcy will be restored by January 2012. In addition, the Teamsters have protected jobs from outsourcing. The Teamsters successfully blocked Frontier’s attemp to outsource heavy maintenance to South America, and put in place a timetable for returning to full benefits and wage rates. Strong job-protection language was put in place to protect the work from being outsourced to sub-contractors. To get this done the Teamsters combined their legal expertise, political clout and incredible member support. No other union has achieved this kind of victory. Similarly, the Teamsters have protected aircraft appearance agents from an effort by the company to sub-contract the work to an outside vendor.
Q: How do Union Dues Work?
A: We don’t start paying dues until our first contract has been bargained, voted on and ratified by us.
The dues we pay go directly to our local union and cover the cost of representing members. This includes costs associated with running an office, seasoned contract negotiators, economics and contract experts, lawyers, and research analysts. The Teamsters Union is funded 100 percent by members and does not accept money from outside parties.
Q: How Much Are Dues:
A: Dues are proportional to the base wage rates (not including shift differentials) members receive. If you make $11/hour or less, dues are equivalent to two hours of pay per month. This means that if you make $10 per hour, your union dues would be $20 per month. If you make $11.01/hour or higher, dues are equivalent to two and a half hours of pay per month. This means that if you make $12 per hour, your union dues would be $30 per month. The only way our dues will increase is if we bargain and ratify a wage increase and we do not pay any dues until our first contract has been negotiated and ratified by us. There will be no initiation fees or other fees charged by the union.