AirTran Airways’ Fleet and Passenger Service/Reservation employees vote to join the IAM

March 29, 2011 — AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) (Orlando Magic) ATL (Norbert G. Raith), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways’ (Orlando) 2,900 Fleet and Passenger Service/Reservation employees have voted to join the Machinists Union (IAM).

The National Mediation Board conducted the Internet and telephone vote from February 28-March 28, 2011. A majority of participating employees voted in favor of the Machinists Union.

The IAM represents Passenger Service/Reservation employees at AirTran’s proposed merger partner, Southwest Airlines. IAM members at Southwest earn $8.56 an hour more per hour than AirTran Passenger Service Agents, and $9.66 an hour more than AirTran Reservation Agents.

AirTran issued the following statement:

“AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI – News), announced today that the results of the representation vote by its customer service, ramp and reservations agents have been released by the National Mediation Board (NMB). Ballots for the election, which was conducted by the NMB, were counted today in Washington. The Board informed the airline that 34 percent of the 2,904 eligible voters cast votes in favor of representation by the International Association of Machinists (IAM)-a majority of the votes cast. Thirty percent of eligible voters voted against representation and 36 percent of eligible voters did not vote.”

Copyright Photo: Norbert G. Raith. Please click on the photo for additional aircraft details.

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