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19 September, 2001Tens of thousands of jobs will be cut as part of the fallout from the terrorist attacks in the U.S. last week.
USA: Leaders of the IMF-affiliated International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers met with members of Congress and testified before a key committee of the House of Representatives on September 19, to call for federal aid to give airlines and airline employees a chance to rebuild their devastated industry. The IAM represents 155,000 transportation workers and 132,000 aerospace employees.
In a press release issued on September 19, the IAM stated that a coordinated effort by the federal government, unions and airline management is called for, "but the concerns of airline employees, who are the backbone of the industry, must not be forgotten in the process." The IAM general vice president, Robert Roach Jr., declared that IAM members "will not support a relief package that allows airlines to recover financially at the members' expense and does not remedy the inherent lack of security that is prevalent in the airline industry today. Federal authorities must be actively involved... Airline employees can and should be an integral part of a comprehensive security solution."
With the U.S. economy already in a downturn and particularly following the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the U.S., as many as 100,000 workers in the airline industry could be laid off. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, alone, has announced 30,000 job cuts. The effects are also spreading to sectors dependent on the airline industry and are expected to reverberate in Europe and Asia.
In a press release issued on September 19, the IAM stated that a coordinated effort by the federal government, unions and airline management is called for, "but the concerns of airline employees, who are the backbone of the industry, must not be forgotten in the process." The IAM general vice president, Robert Roach Jr., declared that IAM members "will not support a relief package that allows airlines to recover financially at the members' expense and does not remedy the inherent lack of security that is prevalent in the airline industry today. Federal authorities must be actively involved... Airline employees can and should be an integral part of a comprehensive security solution."
With the U.S. economy already in a downturn and particularly following the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the U.S., as many as 100,000 workers in the airline industry could be laid off. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, alone, has announced 30,000 job cuts. The effects are also spreading to sectors dependent on the airline industry and are expected to reverberate in Europe and Asia.