| St. Louis - The antitrust immunity being sought by American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia not only has the potential to outsource thousands of American jobs, it also can further bruise an injured economy, say members of Missouri labor organizations.
The Greater St. Louis UAW Council and Missouri’s Jobs with Justice Organization representing over 80 community, labor, student and religious groups have called on members of Congress and the Department of Transportation to block the carrier’s application for antitrust immunity until they can provide worker assurances and protections from outsourcing.
“We have seen the devastating impact on Missouri’s middle class, communities and labor after American received regulatory approval to merge with TWA in 2001, their application for antitrust immunity equates to a de facto merger” said Glenn Kage, president of the Greater St. Louis UAW C.A.P Council. “The Obama Administration must reference the past and seek protections for these workers if we are to build an economically sound future”. Kage knows fist hand the impact of outsourcing, he is currently fighting for over 4,500 automotive workers in the St. Louis area that have recently been given notice of layoff.
Lara Granich, managing director of Missouri Jobs with Justice stated “Missouri labor has taken it on the chin over the years, our aviation and automotive workers have bore the brunt of mergers, outsourcing, lack government oversight and policy. We have antitrust laws for a reason. To immunize a corporation from these laws will only act to serve as a catalyst for more outsourcing of American jobs.”
American Airlines currently has over 1,200 flight attendants on furlough. Many were spared termination of their jobs after Missouri labor activist Roger Graham launched a successful campaign to extend their recall rights. Since, Graham has worked to oppose the alliance citing the dramatic impact and reduction of workers an antitrust immunity can have without government oversight and regulation.
Graham stated, “It is ironic to me that we have members of Congress supporting this antitrust application at the same time legislators are seeking to strip longstanding antitrust exemptions from the railroads.” Echoing Congressman Hank Johnson, D-GA., Graham said, “We should shy away from antitrust exemptions.”
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