Sub UA Tentative Agreement Update
Many members have inquired as to when the full text version of the TA will be released. To date the TA is still in edit format looking for things such as incorrect article references, misspellings and dates. The TA was sent to the printer on Monday and they are formatting the text into a blueline (printer’s software) version that will be edited, based on the noted above corrections, to ensure accuracy prior to mailing out the hard copies with the ballots on December 2nd. Prior to the ballot mailing the electronic version should be available on the web Monday the 28th and additionally will be emailed to those sub UA members for which we have email addresses.
Sub UA and CO BA's Meet with United Management
On Friday the 18th Business Agents from around the United and Continental system met with United Airlines Tech Ops management to discuss the implications of LOA 28 of the new agreement if the membership ratifies the sub UA TA. The BA's discussed the resource utilization piece of the LOA and informed the company that the transition will be monitored closely and any scope violations would be grieved. The weekly BA conference call will continue to be used as a policing tool during the time it takes to achieve an amalgamated agreement.
Sub CO Benefits Committee Meets
The CAL benefits review committee met on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in Washington DC, the purpose of this meeting was, to start gathering and discussing pensions in preparation for the amalgamation negotiations. Peter Hardcastle from Cheiron was asked to come and address the committee. With the help of Peter Hardcastle, Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution, single and multiple employer pensions as well as some different options such as "hybrid" plans, where discussed. Pete will be putting together a presentation for the committee with a comparison between the different plans.
The CAL committee will be working closely with its counterparts from UAL on the pension and benefits issues. This will be the first committee to integrate the two work groups to begin the arduous task of protecting one of the important issues that both
work groups will have to tackle.
The Benefits review committee will be meeting again December 5 2011 to continue working on both the health & welfare, and, Pension discussions. They will keep trying to come up with ways to better the benefits and keep cost under control.
Due to Thanksgiving there will be no Chief Steward or BA calls this week. Because of that, there will be no Mechanics Dispatch next week. From the Airline Division and the staff at the Mechanics Dispatch we wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving.
