The Airline Division has three overriding objectives for the new Administration and the new Congress and they are the protection and expansion of American jobs, the safety and security of the flying public and last but far from least the restoration/replacement of airline industry employee's pensions.

We are very well aware of the difficult economic environment that faces the American Commercial Airline Industry. The current recession which has started may be very severe and it may well last a year to eighteen months.

That is, of course, going to affect the demand for commercial airline travel particularly for non business travelers. We are very willing to work with the Obama Administration and with the Congress and with the industry to forge legislative packages that help keep America's airlines flying.

However, we will insist that the industry act in good faith to keep American jobs here in the USA. To that end, we will be pressing for legislation which prevents the outsourcing of airline jobs to foreign countries. There is a growing trend of companies outsourcing critical maintenance activities, for example, heavy check maintenance when commercial aircraft are literally taken apart piece by piece in many countries where mechanics are unqualified, not certified, background checks are nonexistent, alcohol and drug testing is not done and security is lax. This represents a threat to good, highly technical American jobs and equally important poses a severe safety and national security threat to America's flying public. I wonder how many Americans want to get on an aircraft serviced and maintained in substandard operations in places like China or El Salvador. I wonder how many Americans appreciate the massive security hole these operations present because with no real oversight terrorists might well find a way to place an explosive device on an aircraft and detonate it days later when it is flying over America's skies.

We will be working for legislation which imposes the same regulatory standards in all foreign countries where American jobs have been outsourced and American planes are maintain as applies in the United States. That is the only way to protect American jobs and ensure the safety and security of the flying public.

We also will be working to reform America's outdated, one sided bankruptcy laws. Under current law, many American airline companies have manipulated the bankruptcy laws to eliminate the pensions that hardworking Teamsters have worked decades for and to which they are rightfully and morally entitled. This is a disgraceful situation. American companies are also using the bankruptcy code to outsource American jobs again to substandard operations in many parts of the world.

The Teamsters are also committed to a healthy and green environment. To that end, we oppose the practice of some companies which make needless flights without passengers to places like El Salvador generating enormous energy waste and emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

We are ready, willing and anxious to help get the American economy back on track working with the new Administration, the new Congress and yes with the industry on these initiatives to save, preserve and expand jobs in the airline industry. Tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters have built this industry through their skill, their energy and their creativity. We are so proud of the great work our members perform day in and day out for the American people. We want their jobs to stay here in the USA.

Capt David P Bourne
Director, Airline Division
International Brotherhood of Teamsters