Extension of Recall Rights for Airline Workers

In united voice, we sign this petition in support of Senator McCaskills proposed Amendment 4 to S.1300 (the FAA Reauthorization bill)that would provide that an air carrier that either in the future receives, or within one year of September 11, 2001, received, more than $100 million in assistance from the federal government in the form of grants, loans or loan guarantees that lays off any employees within two years of receiving such assistance must retain the employees on a recall list for at least ten years from the date of the layoff.

Because of the horrific attacks committed by terrorists on our country on September 11, 2001, many airline workers who served the industry for up to 30+ years still have not been recalled to their jobs. Many have been terminated as their recall rights have expired and thousands more will face the same fate soon.

These same airline workers are still without comparable jobs, pensions and health insurance. After, September 11, 2001, the airline industry received a government bailout costing the taxpayers billions of dollars, while executives within the industry are receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in executive bonuses and compensation. These furloughed airline workers should not be allowed to be collateral damage of the 9/11 terrorist acts or corporate greed.

Our Congress must take a stand and promote the general welfare of these furloughed airline workers that were adversely impacted by September 11, 2001 and Extend the Recall Rights of these airline workers to ensure they have the chance to return to their jobs and pensions. It is a fair trade off to ensure that the rights of laid off airline workers are protected when the government is spending hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to bail out the airline industry.