Update on Aviation on Capitol Hill

(Washington) – Capt. Dave Ross, President of Local 1224, urged Congress to make sure DHL’s proposed partnership with UPS does not violate antitrust laws.

Ross represents the pilots who fly for ABX Air, Inc. He testified in September before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and before the House Judiciary Committee.

Ross said that DHL’s plan would put more than 8,200 jobs directly at risk in Wilmington, Ohio, a town of about 13,000 people.

“The proposal is to abandon the Wilmington Air Park and the surrounding communities,” Ross said.

The hearings resulted from the efforts of a bipartisan delegation from Ohio.

Sens. George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, Rep. Mike Turner, Gov. Ted Strickland, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Wilmington Mayor David Raizk “have all been untiring in this effort,” Ross said.   

Teamsters Airline Division Director Dave Bourne, pictured next to Ross, attended the hearing before the Judiciary Committee’s Task Force.