The services of the National Mediation Board (NMB) were invoked by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) on October 31, 1997, to investigate and determine who may represent for the purposes of the Railway Labor Act, as provided by Section 2, Ninth, thereof, personnel described as "Fleet and Passenger Service Employees," employees of AirTran Airlines.

At the time this application was received, these employees were not represented by any organization or individual.

On December 16, 1997, the IBT filed an amended application covering the craft or class of "Fleet Service Employees."

The Board assigned Mediator Gale L. Oppenberg to investigate.

FINDINGS

The Mediator's investigation established that the appropriate craft or class for purposes of representation on AirTran Airlines under the Railway Labor Act is Fleet and Passenger Service Employees and the Mediator ruled accordingly on March 20, 1998. This ruling was not appealed. The Mediator's investigation established further that the organization had failed to support its application with the required number of authorizations from the employees in the craft or class as set forth in Part 1206.2 (b) of the National Mediation Board Rules.

Therefore, the Board finds no basis upon which to proceed in this matter and the application is hereby dismissed subject to Part 1206.4 (b)(2) of the NMB's Rules.

By direction of the NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD.

Stephen E. Crable

Chief of Staff