General Items
This week I attended a third step discharge hearing with JFK Coordinator Larry Calhoun in New York. Larry represented the Union and did a fantastic job. The case itself has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese and Larry found every one of them. I rarely speak in absolutes regarding these procedures because of the unknown when going before an Arbitrator, but I am absolutely convinced the Grievant will be returned to work even if the Company decides to take the case that far.
Negotiations continue next week in San Francisco on Tuesday and Wednesday. The official update will be found here when released.
Upon my return Thursday Chris Moore from the TAMC is tentatively scheduled to walk the property to report on the Teamsters Airline Mechanics Coalition and ask for your input. Also two mechanics from Dulles will be Lobbying on Capitol Hill with the TAMC on Wednesday.
MM
The van for transportation into and out of work was taken away again because of a decision made by Station Manager Sharri Kawell. Knowing this was a possibility a contract proposal was included in the Union's opener. The proposal can be found here on page 69 new paragraph P.
The Company has informed me that they will be testing any members bumping or transferring into the shop without a current license (current defined as exercised within the last 24 months). The Company claims they can do this because of the FAR's and the MOP. I am still researching this issue as it has never been done before and it doesn't seem to be happening at any other station.
I got a verbal on one of the second steps for an overtime bypass and it was sustained, and another OT bypass was still being considered. The other answers which are denials are promised in written form for Monday as I have a meeting with Labor Relations to discuss them next week. I will also be discussing our open third steps at this meeting.
There was a question of seniority usage on the Afternoon shift this week. There is a practice of using seniority for work areas as evidenced by the ESS sheet, and a grievance was filed. Like the van above the best way to eliminate questions is to memorialize this practice in the Agreement. As such there is a proposal in Article VI to further clarify this.
GQ
I believe I found the answer to the recall question when researching another item. As stated above I have a meeting scheduled with LR and will discuss this issue next week.
PV
Grievances continue to be filed on the PV outsourcing and there are currently two slated to be presented in the second step during the Labor Management meeting at the end of the month.
That's all for now,
Bob
