| St. Louis - In early August 2007, US Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri introduced S.1992, legislation that would seek to extend the recall rights of airline workers that were laid off in the aftermath of 9/11. The legislation, if passed, would extend the recall rights of airline workers to 10 years from five if the air carrier received more than $100 million dollars after 9/11 or in future government bailouts and the employee is furloughed not later than two years after such financial assistance is received. The bill also has provisions for the hiring of recalled persons meeting employment requirements in lieu of those not on the list.
"The taxpayer has bailed out this industry and airline executives are collecting multi-million dollar bonuses as workers are being terminated from the recall list. It is time for Congress to take a stand," reiterated industry veteran Roger Graham, himself a furloughee.
In spite of a recent recall of 460 former TWA flight attendants (in part resulting from McCaskill's follow-up on a campaign promise), thousands of airline workers have been laid off, while a proportionate number are still faced with termination from their respective recall lists. Without the legislation, industry veterans will continue to be terminated from their jobs placing their pensions, insurance and other benefits in peril.
Support for the legislation by organized labor has grown in recent weeks and includes such organizations as the Association of Flight Attendants, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Communication Workers of America, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Teamsters, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Jobs with Justice, Sheet Metal Workers 36, Transport Workers 530, and the Greater St. Louis Labor Council.
American refuses to add replacements to the recent recall list
American Airlines recent recall of 460 former TWA flight attendants may come up a bit short. James Fahrmeier, 1975 TWA hire, passed away in 2005. Greg Bertolini, a former official of the union representing the attendants, was informed of Fahrmeier’s passing prior to recall notices being sent in hopes of saving one more job.
During American’s last recall, exceptions were made to allow a few more on the recall list to return to American due to extenuating circumstances regarding the few who could not return. Thus far, American has refused to make an exception in this case and allow for an additional replacement. “Apparently, death is not an extenuating circumstance," Bertolini said.
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