Who we are:

The Transport Workers Union of America was founded in 1934 as an industrial union dedicated to the promise that an organization built on trust and equality for all workers cannot be denied.  Our motto is "United-Invincible".

TWU is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the worldwide International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).

Our Union Operates on 3 levels:

• The International Union

• Industrial Divisions

• Local Affiliates

All TWU members belong to Locals formed on the basis of interest and geographical location.  The members elect their own Local officers who handle most of their problems.  The International Union coordinates the activities of the Divisions and the Locals and assists in negotiations, organizing drives and legislative campaigns.  It provides professional legal, education, research and public relations services to the Locals and Divisions.  The supreme policy-making body of the union is the International Convention, which governs all union activities, is reviewed and amended at that time as well.  Between Conventions, the policy-making bodies of the union are the International Executive Council and International Executive Board.  Division Councils meet at regular intervals to discuss and formulate policies affecting their own particular memberships.

TWU's Air Transport Division:

Just 11 years after a fledging TWU was founded in 1934 to represent transit workers in New York City, the union made a bold move into another crucial area of the nation's transit system - the rapidly growing airline industry.  In April 1945, TWU chartered a new Local in Miami to represent ground service employees at the nation's premier carrier of the day - Pan American World Airways.  Shortly thereafter, the union chartered similar Locals in New York and San Francisco and several other cities.  The union signed a historic first contract with Pan Am in September 1945.  These rapid fire events signaled the emergence of TWU as a new force to be reckoned with in the airline industry of the mid 1940's.  Within a year after the breakthrough at Pan Am, TWU moved rapidly to organize ground employees at American Airlines, which at that time was overshadowed by the size and wealth of Pan Am.  In the 50 years since, TWU's Air Transport Division has experienced scores of great victories, as well as several bitter losses, most notably the shutdowns of Eastern Airlines and Pan Am less than a year apart in 1991.

TWU Airline Locals: 

 Air Wisconsin, Alaska Airlines, Aloha Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Dynair, Executive Air, Flagship, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Trans World Airways, UFS Inc, United Airlines, Wings West