Eminent Brothers to the North:
As you may or may not know, Amerijet (Teamsters Airline Division) in MIA is now on strike. Over five years of negotiations asking for the 10% back that the company took this year when the pilots would not decertify the union and a 3% increase over the 1999 pay rates and a 4 year contract. The company is demanding the right to dock 2 days pay (5 hours) for each day a crewmember calls in sick and a 5 year contract with NO PAY RAISES in the last 20 months!!
In addition, they not only refuse to provide for basic physiological needs inflight, they refuse to provide even drinking water or a box lunch for flights.
U.S. airline pilots have stood with them. UPS (IPA), American(APA) Southwest (SWAPA), USAir and America West (USAPA), IBT Local 1224 (ABX, Atlas, Polar and Kalitta), and the airlines of IBT Local 747...all stand in solidarity. Unions across Florida and the U.S. are supporting them. The Venezuelan government has impounded a plane for violating their laws.
Today, in a bid to break the strike, they have chartered a CargoJet 767 to fly through the legal picket line. They will stop at nothing to break these pilots, who make so little money they qualify for government assistance and food stamps.
Please assist the Amerijet pilots in any way possible. If you fly for CargoJet or know somone who does, please forward this. Please DO NOT cross their picket lines and fly struck freight. Canadian labor unions are being contacted about this as well and being asked for their assistance.
PLEASE DON'T FLY STRUCK WORK! STAND UP FOR YOUR INDUSTRY!!