The new leader of an airline industry union says he'll increase lobbying, oppose outsourcing and help unions strengthen ties to local communities.
Harry Lombardo, who started out cleaning buses in Philadelphia in 1972, was elected president of the Transport Workers Union, or TWU, during its convention in Las Vegas. Union officials Wednesday said Lombardo replaces James Little.
Little led the union for seven years and tried to cooperate with Fort Worth-based American Airlines to limit concessions on pay and benefits -- only to see the carrier eliminate thousands of TWU jobs after the carrier filed for bankruptcy protection.
Lombardo will continue TWU's support for the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
