Airmen Removed From TSA's 'Selectee List'; Accuser Unknown
WILMINGTON, Ohio, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Three pilots represented by Teamsters Local 1224 will be returned to active duty after being informed by the FBI that they are no longer "subjects of an investigation" related to the mailing of unsolicited items to ABX Air, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABXA) executives.
"We are obviously very pleased by the FBI's decision," said Lynne Nowel, Local 1224 General Counsel. "However, we are puzzled and outraged by a fundamentally flawed system that forced these outstanding airmen to be removed from their jobs for an indefinite period of time while the FBI conducted its investigation. It's a mystery why these airmen were singled out." In mid-July, the crewmembers were placed on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) "Selectee List" after the executives received unsolicited items -- i.e., magazine subscriptions and feces -- in the mail. While on the TSA's list, the crewmembers were prohibited from performing flight duties.
The pilots' exemplary records -- two are former United States Air Force pilots granted high-level security clearances; the other has transported Secret Service agents and serves as a Federal Aviation Administration check airman -- make the TSA's list questionable and raise questions about the investigation's source. The FBI confirms only that the airmen were initially placed on the list as a result of an "independent investigation" conducted by someone other than the FBI. Company officials would not confirm the extent of their involvement in the investigation.
"How our pilots were ever associated with this type of behavior is beyond belief," said Capt. Rob Boyd, Local 1224 President. "Furthermore, we would unequivocally oppose this type of behavior and would be shocked to learn that any union member would engage in such reprehensible actions." Boyd added that Local 1224's Executive Board holds its membership to the highest levels of professionalism.
Teamsters Local 1224 is an affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and represents more than 700 crewmembers employed by Wilmington- based ABX Air. DATASOURCE: Teamsters Local 1224 CONTACT: Lynne Nowel of Teamsters Local 1224, +1-937-383-2500 Web site: http://www.teamster.org/
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