The Tulsa chapter of the Transport Workers Union is planning three rallies on Wednesday to protest sending aircraft maintenance jobs overseas.
“Aircraft worked on inside the USA are inherently safer with more FAA oversight,” TWU Local 514 said in a statement released on Tuesday. “Unfortunately these days it is not uncommon to turn on the news and hear of a fatality airliner crash. Safety should always be the (No. 1) priority.”
Local 514 President Dale Danker says after American filed bankruptcy in 2012, it started outsourcing jobs to save money.
He says the outsourcing is planned to increase, continuing beyond what was needed in bankruptcy.
“American has been doing much of its own maintenance in Tulsa dating back to 1946,” he said in a statement. “For decades, American has been one of Oklahoma’s largest employers.’
According to the Local 514, American’s base in Tulsa had about 7,300 workers in 2003. That workforce has reduced to about 4,200, they say.
Wednesday’s rallies will be held at Tulsa International Airport from 6-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
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