Unhappy Union Members Want PSA Contract Offer Put to Vote
A group of dissident union members wants Teamsters Union General President Jackie Presser to force Local 2707 to submit Pacific Southwest Airlines’ latest contract proposal to a ratification election by PSA’s 3,000 Teamsters-represented employees.
The disgruntled Teamsters, some of whom on Tuesday picketed the Teamsters’ Los Angeles office building, “want the international leadership to be held accountable for what is happening” at PSA, according to Craig Schloss, an attorney who represents the group.
The call for a special election followed Local 2707’s decision not to submit PSA’s latest contract offer to a ratification election unless PSA modifies two sections that deal with a proposed severance pay and outplacement trust fund.
In a related development Wednesday night, PSA said it had received a counterproposal from Local 2707. However, PSA spokesman Bill Hastings and Local 2707 Secretary-Treasurer Marvin L. Griswold declined to comment on the contents of the Teamsters’ offer.
The contract modifications being sought by PSA are important because USAir has pledged to abandon its $400-million bid for the San Diego-based airline if PSA fails to negotiate the contract modifications by Thursday.
The modified Teamsters contracts, covering 3,000 PSA flight attendants, mechanics, ground personnel and reservations agents, are the only remaining barrier to the merger, according to Hastings.
Three other unions representing PSA employees earlier approved the needed contract modifications. Shareholders of PSA and PS Group, the airline’s parent company, have voted to sell the airline. Federal and state regulators have given the merger the green light.
Earlier this week, Griswold said the local would need about a month to stage an election--once PSA makes an “acceptable” offer. Consequently, Griswold said Local 2707 has asked USAir and PSA to extend their merger agreement to make a vote possible.
PSA maintains that the Teamsters can complete an election during the seven days remaining before the deadline, Hastings said Thursday.
The disgruntled Teamsters are petitioning Presser because “ . . . he has the authority to call for an election,” said Schloss, who added that international unions have in the past tossed out local leadership “when it aided the welfare of the membership.”
Earlier on Thursday, a group of Teamsters picketed in front of the PSA ticket counter at Lindbergh Field in a show of support for Local 2707’s leadership.
The Teamsters demonstrated for about half an hour because “we’re tired of the flight attendants’ saying that they’re our spokesmen,” according to one of the Teamsters.
