Republic Hits Speed Bump with Frontier Mechanics

MILWAUKEE --

The union for mechanics at Frontier Airlines is going to court over plans to shift their work to Milwaukee.

Republic Airways bought Frontier last year, and wants to move Frontier's maintenance operation from Denver to Milwaukee. Work on other jets owned by Republic is already done in Milwaukee.

But the Teamsters, who represent Frontier mechanics, say their contract guarantees that they do that maintenance work. They say that Republic is offering to transfer mechanics to Milwaukee, but they would no longer be in the union.

Republic has not yet responded to the request for a court order enforcing their contract, which was filed late Wednesday in federal court in Milwaukee. A Republic spokesman said the company had no comment.