This week I learned that laid-off service sector employees will be added to the TAA through the Stimulus Package. I contacted the Department of Labor regional office on Friday about this development. From what I have been told no rules are out on this yet, but it appears only people laid-off after May of this year, when the legislation goes into effect, will be eligible. In other words it most likely will not be retroactive. I am waiting on a return call from DOL in DC for clarification.
For members that are still looking for work Monster is holding a large job fair on March 9th in Crystal City. Here is a link to pre-register for the event.
The big Labor Unions are continuing to work towards unification.
For MM this week one second step was heard and two more were advanced for a total of three outstanding second steps. I'm still waiting on answers for several outstanding first steps. Regarding hangar news I'm told the company is working on the lease for the old ACA facility and we should know about the addition in 60 days. According to the Airline Division Week in Review the agreed upon expedited arbitration for the station closings will be heard in April.
For PV this week I was informed the Jetway floors will be done in-house. There was a discussion on lead assignments between the main and midfield terminal areas on the weekends. It is my opinion that the two areas are treated the same for purposes of upgrades. It should be done by seniority.
For both GQ and PV there is still no new news on the potential outsourcing at the nine stations. I do know the company is in the process of seeking bids from outside vendors. When I have more information I will pass it on.
Here is a youtube clip of Mayor Virg Bernero on Fox News with Gregg Jarrett. This guy gets the middle class and I would vote for him in a heartbeat.
There is an RLA page on the website now.
That's all for this week,
Bob
Saturday, February 28, 2009
More Unity News
Another article is out on the progress of the Labor Unions' Unity movement. Here is a link to the article on Yahoo.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hilda Solis
Here is a piece of good news. Today Hilda Solis was confirmed by the Senate as Labor Secretary.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Employee Free Choice Act
While surfing the net I came across an ad describing the destructiveness of the EFCA. Here is a link to where the ad led. It really made my blood boil when I read that website. Basically the site deals with how to keep your workplace union free, the problems that will ensue if the EFCA is passed, and sells kits and information for companies to use during union campaigns.
For those that feel the EFCA legislation does not pertain to them, I would ask are the MRO's that the company outsources our work to non-union? The answer is of course. We have to be allowed the opportunity to organize the unorganized in this industry or we will eventually be totally crushed. I understand that many of you feel we already are destroyed as a profession. While I understand that feeling I think we can return to better times.
This legislation is a huge step in re-securing our former status and I would ask that you support it. An action item has been put on the "Teamsters Take Action" page. All you have to do is fill out your name and address, hit send, and your legislators are notified of your position instantly. Please take the time to do this for yours as well as the rest of the labor forces' future.
Bob
For those that feel the EFCA legislation does not pertain to them, I would ask are the MRO's that the company outsources our work to non-union? The answer is of course. We have to be allowed the opportunity to organize the unorganized in this industry or we will eventually be totally crushed. I understand that many of you feel we already are destroyed as a profession. While I understand that feeling I think we can return to better times.
This legislation is a huge step in re-securing our former status and I would ask that you support it. An action item has been put on the "Teamsters Take Action" page. All you have to do is fill out your name and address, hit send, and your legislators are notified of your position instantly. Please take the time to do this for yours as well as the rest of the labor forces' future.
Bob
Friday, February 20, 2009
Weekly report 2-20-09
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
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
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Weekly report 2-14-09
On Monday, as I reported earlier, the shakedown was completed. After returning early Friday morning it appeared that the new members finished vacation bidding.
The Steering Committee met in San Francisco this week. We made significant progress in this latest session. No members proposal was dismissed or accepted without a thorough vetting. There was intense, respectful debate on each line of each Article we addressed prior to committee consensus. The committee decided we need a longer period for our next session so that we can finish this process. To that end we are meeting for five days in the middle of March. I feel based on the progress of the two previous sessions we will be able to finalize our non economic proposal at the next session. After this proposal has been submitted to the company it will be online for everyone to view in the same manner as the Continental unit. Here is a link to the current Continental Negotiations if anyone is interested. The pictures are of the Committee at work in San Francisco and they can be enlarged by clicking on them...
There is still time if you have contract proposals to make. While we are through about half of the CBA if there is a compelling proposal on an Article we have already finished I'm sure the committee would discuss it.
Many members have asked how long I think negotiations will last. Based on the current state of the agreement and the amount of changes needed I would be surprised if we were finished earlier than two years after the start of negotiations. A standard negotiating cycle is about eighteen months. We are far from standard and that is why I feel it will last much longer. While this may seem like a long time, it is a decent amount of time for you to prepare for a possible strike action on this carrier.
There is not much local news for me to report this week, however there have been several items of note. The IBT filed for a representational election with Horizon mechanics this week. Here is a link to their site. The FAA shut down an AAR landing gear shop in Miami. There is a link to that article on the previous blog post. Also as reported earlier on the blog the Moratorium was stripped from the stimulus bill. However I feel this is a temporary setback as the IBT is very devoted to this issue.
There are a couple of new contracts added to the website and new links on the blog.
On another note Mikey Albertin from San Francisco has made 14G buttons to protest the company's ludicrous and arbitrary policy of discipline for sick leave usage. If anyone would like to purchase one let me know and I'll have him send some out here.
That's all for this week,
Bob
The Steering Committee met in San Francisco this week. We made significant progress in this latest session. No members proposal was dismissed or accepted without a thorough vetting. There was intense, respectful debate on each line of each Article we addressed prior to committee consensus. The committee decided we need a longer period for our next session so that we can finish this process. To that end we are meeting for five days in the middle of March. I feel based on the progress of the two previous sessions we will be able to finalize our non economic proposal at the next session. After this proposal has been submitted to the company it will be online for everyone to view in the same manner as the Continental unit. Here is a link to the current Continental Negotiations if anyone is interested. The pictures are of the Committee at work in San Francisco and they can be enlarged by clicking on them...
There is still time if you have contract proposals to make. While we are through about half of the CBA if there is a compelling proposal on an Article we have already finished I'm sure the committee would discuss it.
Many members have asked how long I think negotiations will last. Based on the current state of the agreement and the amount of changes needed I would be surprised if we were finished earlier than two years after the start of negotiations. A standard negotiating cycle is about eighteen months. We are far from standard and that is why I feel it will last much longer. While this may seem like a long time, it is a decent amount of time for you to prepare for a possible strike action on this carrier.
There is not much local news for me to report this week, however there have been several items of note. The IBT filed for a representational election with Horizon mechanics this week. Here is a link to their site. The FAA shut down an AAR landing gear shop in Miami. There is a link to that article on the previous blog post. Also as reported earlier on the blog the Moratorium was stripped from the stimulus bill. However I feel this is a temporary setback as the IBT is very devoted to this issue.
There are a couple of new contracts added to the website and new links on the blog.
On another note Mikey Albertin from San Francisco has made 14G buttons to protest the company's ludicrous and arbitrary policy of discipline for sick leave usage. If anyone would like to purchase one let me know and I'll have him send some out here.
That's all for this week,
Bob
Friday, February 13, 2009
Moratorium
We were informed today that the Teamsters Moratorium language has been stripped from the stimulus package because it was considered "pork" even though it was presented as cost neutral. This does not mean this item is dead, only that we will now be looking for another Bill in which to attach this provision. There is strong opposition on the Republican side of the Aisle regarding this issue due to their relationship with big business in this country. The ARSA is lobbying hard against us as I've reported previously.
Along this line I'm sure you've all seen this article on the FAA shutting down the AAR landing gear shop in Miami.
That's all for now. The weekly report will be out later.
Bob
Along this line I'm sure you've all seen this article on the FAA shutting down the AAR landing gear shop in Miami.
That's all for now. The weekly report will be out later.
Bob
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Weekly Report 2-7-09
This week a problem was reported with continuing insurance while on lay-off. According to ADP members need to fill out the paperwork and make payment prior to the end of the month in which laid off for insurance to continue. This issue was reported with an earlier group of furloughees but I thought it had been resolved. I contacted Bob Luciano as well as Labor Relations and we are working on a resolution. The important thing for furloughed members is that you get your paperwork in quickly while we work through this.
A Station wide grievance on physicians certification has been filed in the first step. Essentially the company, through Corvel, is asking your doctor to certify that he or she will comply with the law prior to allowing you to use your personal physician instead of the Workers Comp panel doctor.
As for the rest of the grievance report the committee has the following outstanding and resolved through this week,
1 second step PV on a lead vacancy waiting hearing
1 grievance pending appeal to second step in GQ regarding bidding procedures
1 grievance for discipline in MM pending appeal to second step
2 second steps in MM for discipline
1 OT 2nd step resolved this week in MM
1 pending IRH for a Level 4 in MM
1 third step waiting on possible resolution in MM
I received notice that our TAA case was denied. It is case #64524 and I received forms from DOL to appeal that decision. I believe we will need some legislative help to get this through as I have previously reported.
Monday I went through the shakedown with Nina and Dave Nash. There were several errors and I believe we have now corrected most of them. I say most because I know of a couple outstanding RDO issues that I will address tomorrow.
There were many questions from the new arrivals regarding vacation and the one over rule in Art XIII H. When the planned vacation board is exceeded for employees entering a new work group they are required to add one extra slot by seniority to accommodate previous vacation awards. As usual the company severely limited the number of slots which did not help matters.
I continued work on non- economic proposals for the upcoming steering committee meeting. If you see an area that you feel needs addressed there is still some time.
As for the conference call update we discussed several issues including the upcoming steering committee meeting, future lobbying efforts and current organizing campaigns.
For those that do not believe we should be involved in lobbying efforts here is an interesting article.
And for those that would like more information on the Employee Free Choice Act here is a good website.
Seattle has started a blog and it can be found here.
It has now been added to the useful links.
That's all for this week,
Bob
A Station wide grievance on physicians certification has been filed in the first step. Essentially the company, through Corvel, is asking your doctor to certify that he or she will comply with the law prior to allowing you to use your personal physician instead of the Workers Comp panel doctor.
As for the rest of the grievance report the committee has the following outstanding and resolved through this week,
1 second step PV on a lead vacancy waiting hearing
1 grievance pending appeal to second step in GQ regarding bidding procedures
1 grievance for discipline in MM pending appeal to second step
2 second steps in MM for discipline
1 OT 2nd step resolved this week in MM
1 pending IRH for a Level 4 in MM
1 third step waiting on possible resolution in MM
I received notice that our TAA case was denied. It is case #64524 and I received forms from DOL to appeal that decision. I believe we will need some legislative help to get this through as I have previously reported.
Monday I went through the shakedown with Nina and Dave Nash. There were several errors and I believe we have now corrected most of them. I say most because I know of a couple outstanding RDO issues that I will address tomorrow.
There were many questions from the new arrivals regarding vacation and the one over rule in Art XIII H. When the planned vacation board is exceeded for employees entering a new work group they are required to add one extra slot by seniority to accommodate previous vacation awards. As usual the company severely limited the number of slots which did not help matters.
I continued work on non- economic proposals for the upcoming steering committee meeting. If you see an area that you feel needs addressed there is still some time.
As for the conference call update we discussed several issues including the upcoming steering committee meeting, future lobbying efforts and current organizing campaigns.
For those that do not believe we should be involved in lobbying efforts here is an interesting article.
And for those that would like more information on the Employee Free Choice Act here is a good website.
Seattle has started a blog and it can be found here.
It has now been added to the useful links.
That's all for this week,
Bob
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