This week for MM there were several issues.
The first concern seems to be Kevin Harte. Kevin sat with a group of us about two weeks ago and described his function as a mechanic performing safety audits for the company. Kevin assured us that he informed management that he would not participate in any program that would lead to discipline for any of our members. I previously discussed this with the management team and they confirmed that was what transpired. I again discussed this with Ron and Stuart this week and they described Kevin as an in house MSAP style program. Both of these managers said they spoke for Don Burbank in this matter and that anything Kevin finds will be ignored as far as discipline is concerned.
The next issue is engine change field services. This week there was a GEM mission to San Antonio. Domestically the company has to use the overtime list and qualifications to determine who is to go on each trip. We also have the Furline grievance which specifies how planned trips are to be called. Shop Steward Howard Hawthorne on dayshift has been tasked with researching the grievance for all shifts. Internationally there is a different process. A grievance in 2007, the Mayerhoffer decision, was lost in arbitration based on some very weak language regarding the selection process for international EFS. Many members have brought to my attention that a local agreement was made in New York and the company should follow that proceedure. Unfortunately the company is not willing to concede something they won in arbitration, and the New York agreement was made prior to the Mayerhofer decision.
Also in MM there are several grievances advancing to the second step next week. Hearings will be scheduled for two outstanding second steps either Tuesday or Wednesday. There are two lead openings and there are three laid off leads at the point. The hangar is still being discussed by the company with UAL Services justifying it financially and corporate real estate reviewing the proposal.
In GQ/PV there are many concerns regarding the nine line stations currently being reviewed for potential outsourcing. I understand from the conference call today further meetings took place in Chicago this week but I have no additional information. Here is a link to the Seattle blog with Phil Stewards report.
In PV there was a question about the potential outsourcing of the replacement of Jetway floors. This is our work, it is not normally contracted out, and grievances will be filed if the company proceeds with the awarding of this contract to an outside vendor.
According to Chris Moore the TAMC newsletter will begin soon. The newsletter will be in electronic format similar to the Teamsters week in review. TAMC continues to work on overseas outsourcing and they were meeting with Jack Albertine from the Albertine lobbying firm today to discuss strategy
Thanks to Rick Barnes from SFO there will be some RLA question and answers posted on the website.
That's all for this week,
Bob
