Stop Foreign Control Of U.S. Airlines
June 09, 2006
Ladies and Gentlemen:
While AFA Committees work diligently on issues that affect our daily work lives from safety regulations, schedules and hotels to Family Medical Leave and Occupational Benefits, Mr. Tilton continues work on a plan that jeopardizes all of our jobs. Tilton urged his friend Speaker of the House Denny Hastert of Illinois to squash protections against foreign ownership of U.S. airlines earlier this week. We will have to act fast and collectively to protect our jobs and the U.S. aviation industry. Before we leap to action we should review the twist and turns this issue has taken recently at the hand of President Bush and Tilton.
Late last year the Bush Administration announced that they were going to arbitrarily change long standing aviation law through a rules change that would give foreign investors and foreign airlines greater control of U.S. airlines and direct control over day to day operations. Decisions such as route structures, aircraft purchasing, staffing and hiring could be made by a foreign airline or investor if this change goes into effect. Each of these decisions could have a dramatic impact on the viability of our jobs.
There is a real question of whether carriers controlled by foreign interests will be as willing to assist as US airlines do today in the event of a national emergency. Will the Department of Defense still have the ability to obtain the civilian airlift it so critically needs for operations of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) or other military charters? National security concerns alone should dictate that the basic U.S. aviation infrastructure should not be controlled by foreign interests. It is crucial that we take collective action to stop this plan, which is identical to the issue of who owns our ports.
Over a month ago, an amendment was added to the Hurricane Katrina and Iraq War Supplemental spending bill by Senators Inouye and Stevens in the Senate appropriations committee. The amendment language would have prevented the White House from circumventing Congress and moving forward on its proposal to arbitrarily change the rules for greater foreign control of U.S. airlines. When we received word that Senator McCain planned to offer an amendment to strip out the Inouye/Stevens language during the debate on final passage of the spending bill, we launched thousands of calls to Senate offices and within 36 hours Senator McCain withdrew his amendment before it came to a vote.
This week, during a conference meeting that includes members of the House and Senate to discuss resolving any differences in language between each house's version of the Hurricane Katrina and Iraq War Supplemental Spending bill, Hastert made sure that the Inouye/Stevens amendment would be stripped from the legislation. As it stands, the White House will get its way with foreign ownership and Mr. Tilton, who has pushed for this publicly over the past several years, is increasing new industry speculation about a foreign airline such as Lufthansa participating in a merger scenario with United. Conversely, Continental Airlines along with many other U.S. Airlines adamantly oppose allowing foreign control of U.S. airlines.
Next week there will be an amendment offered on the House floor to the Transportation Appropriations bill. The wording of the amendment will mirror language in stand alone legislation H.R. 4542, which was introduced by Representatives Oberstar (D-MN) and LoBiondo (R-NJ) in opposition of foreign control of U.S. airlines. The best way to support the amendment before it is introduced on the House floor is to call your Representative's office and ask them to co-sponsor the Oberstar-LoBiondo bill, H.R. 4542. We are working closely with the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO and the Air Line Pilots Association, while other airlines echo our message as well. Find your Representative's contact information through our website, www.unitedafa.org, or dial the House of Representatives switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected with your Representative.
It is crucial that each of take action and call our Representatives on this issue immediately. Stay tuned to AFA communication channels for the latest updates on our efforts to stop foreign ownership or control, protect our jobs and ensure the safety of the U.S. aviation industry.
In Solidarity,
Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council
