Sunday, October 23, 2011
Tea Party tells companies "Don't Hire"
Here is a story from the local newspaper describing the Tea Party's plan for jobs. It is a disgusting testament to the depths some people will go for political gain. What more needs to be said except that these treasonous bastards should be deported to some uninhabited island so their disease can't be spread.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Mechanics for Change and seniority
Seeing the latest drivel from the Mechanics for Change regarding seniority, I felt compelled to respond. Like charlatans that pick and chose sentences from well known documents to prey on the unsuspecting masses, the authors of this rag chose to frame a story comparing contracts by selecting only certain sentences in order to make it appear that only they know the true path to perfect contract language.
Now let’s examine some facts as they pertain to this seniority flyer. The protection of seniority goes far beyond a couple of paragraphs in CAL Article 3. True protection takes advantage of multiple elements. In light of that how does the UA agreement fare? First in 2000 we had over 15,700 mechanics and related employed under this agreement. Today we have 4823. During that same time the CAL mechanics never suffered a furlough of any kind, and in fact their numbers increased by 15%. How could the Mechanics for Change claim the seniority language in the UA agreement is better if 70% of the membership has been decimated while the CAL membership increased? Gaining pay seniority while laid off is little comfort if there is limited possibility of return due to the extreme numbers of mechanics on furlough.
Looking at mechanic Jane Doe in their missive, they claim that under the CAL agreement using only the terms they spell out, she would lose 2 weeks of vacation. What they don’t tell you is this would be her choice to be furloughed to the street, because CAL has job security for everyone on the seniority list. LOA 22. This is unlike the UA language which currently provides no protection for 23.5% of the UA membership because the current UA agreement doesn’t protect anyone with less than October of 1989 seniority. In addition CAL Jane Doe would be able to bump anywhere her seniority would hold, Article 6, which would create many paid system bumps, which is and was a deterrent to layoffs in the first place. Of course the UA language requires that Jane Doe could only bump the most junior employee and that mechanic could be all the way across the country. The UA agreement requires a severely reduced exercise of seniority in all situations, including layoffs, when compared to the CAL language. But there is no sense letting the facts get in the way of a good story.
In monetary terms while Jane Doe at United was accruing her extra two weeks of vacation, Jane Doe at CAL, because of her extra protections, was actually receiving wages in the amount of $150,000 if she were on dayshift. Do the Mechanics for Change really advocate the position that the UA membership sacrifices $150,000 for two weeks of vacation? This idea is the very definition of insanity!
Now let’s examine some facts as they pertain to this seniority flyer. The protection of seniority goes far beyond a couple of paragraphs in CAL Article 3. True protection takes advantage of multiple elements. In light of that how does the UA agreement fare? First in 2000 we had over 15,700 mechanics and related employed under this agreement. Today we have 4823. During that same time the CAL mechanics never suffered a furlough of any kind, and in fact their numbers increased by 15%. How could the Mechanics for Change claim the seniority language in the UA agreement is better if 70% of the membership has been decimated while the CAL membership increased? Gaining pay seniority while laid off is little comfort if there is limited possibility of return due to the extreme numbers of mechanics on furlough.
Looking at mechanic Jane Doe in their missive, they claim that under the CAL agreement using only the terms they spell out, she would lose 2 weeks of vacation. What they don’t tell you is this would be her choice to be furloughed to the street, because CAL has job security for everyone on the seniority list. LOA 22. This is unlike the UA language which currently provides no protection for 23.5% of the UA membership because the current UA agreement doesn’t protect anyone with less than October of 1989 seniority. In addition CAL Jane Doe would be able to bump anywhere her seniority would hold, Article 6, which would create many paid system bumps, which is and was a deterrent to layoffs in the first place. Of course the UA language requires that Jane Doe could only bump the most junior employee and that mechanic could be all the way across the country. The UA agreement requires a severely reduced exercise of seniority in all situations, including layoffs, when compared to the CAL language. But there is no sense letting the facts get in the way of a good story.
In monetary terms while Jane Doe at United was accruing her extra two weeks of vacation, Jane Doe at CAL, because of her extra protections, was actually receiving wages in the amount of $150,000 if she were on dayshift. Do the Mechanics for Change really advocate the position that the UA membership sacrifices $150,000 for two weeks of vacation? This idea is the very definition of insanity!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Mechanics Dispatch 10-10-11
Airline Division appoints Negotiators
With support from Local leadership in both cities, the Airline Division last week appointed two additional members to the UAL national negotiating committee.
Joe Prisco from San Francisco was appointed to provide additional input and insight regarding the line mechanics and Ken Meidenger from Denver was appointed to provide additional input and insight regarding the ground equipment and facilities mechanics. Additionally it was announced that Jim Prout from Denver TK will be the coordinator for the simulator technicians and available to the committee as needed.
The full committee will be convening on October 18th, and formal negotiations with United resume on October 24th.
Payroll issues identified at sub United
On the weekly Chief Steward call many cities reported payroll shortages relating to vacation pay. These shortages are affecting all departments as United transitions to a new payroll system. Several cities have contacted the payroll department and have been informed that the company is working to remedy the problem. Please scrutinize your pay during this transition period and notify your steward if you have been shorted.
Facilities work being outsourced systemwide
Many cities are reporting the work to rebrand terminal facilities is being outsourced. Members are encouraged to file grievances when they witness this activity. According to the Chief Stewards on the call this appears to be driven by corporate real estate and they are not reviewing this work with local committees prior to sending this work to the vendors. This is happening at both sub United and sub Continental.
CAL benefits review committee continues to meet
The review committee that was established as a part of the Continental mechanics agreement met again last week. The purpose of this committee is to provide oversight and to ensure that the company provides benefits as described in the agreement.
With support from Local leadership in both cities, the Airline Division last week appointed two additional members to the UAL national negotiating committee.
Joe Prisco from San Francisco was appointed to provide additional input and insight regarding the line mechanics and Ken Meidenger from Denver was appointed to provide additional input and insight regarding the ground equipment and facilities mechanics. Additionally it was announced that Jim Prout from Denver TK will be the coordinator for the simulator technicians and available to the committee as needed.
The full committee will be convening on October 18th, and formal negotiations with United resume on October 24th.
Payroll issues identified at sub United
On the weekly Chief Steward call many cities reported payroll shortages relating to vacation pay. These shortages are affecting all departments as United transitions to a new payroll system. Several cities have contacted the payroll department and have been informed that the company is working to remedy the problem. Please scrutinize your pay during this transition period and notify your steward if you have been shorted.
Facilities work being outsourced systemwide
Many cities are reporting the work to rebrand terminal facilities is being outsourced. Members are encouraged to file grievances when they witness this activity. According to the Chief Stewards on the call this appears to be driven by corporate real estate and they are not reviewing this work with local committees prior to sending this work to the vendors. This is happening at both sub United and sub Continental.
CAL benefits review committee continues to meet
The review committee that was established as a part of the Continental mechanics agreement met again last week. The purpose of this committee is to provide oversight and to ensure that the company provides benefits as described in the agreement.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
AA mechanics and the NMB
I’m sure many of you are aware that most union groups at American are in mediation and have been for several years. Today an article was shared with me that described the current state of negotiations in some detail, and it is eye opening to say the least. Without releasing the parties to self help, according to the article this is what happened;
“A National Mediation Board mediator recessed talks last month between American and the union for 11,000 mechanics over a lack of progress and didn’t set new sessions, after a similar outcome for baggage handlers in July. An April NMB session ended with no dates for more talks with 17,000 attendants.”
And further down in the article; “The National Mediation Board declined to comment on the status of American’s labor talks. With the freeze, American isn’t getting its sought-after savings, and its work groups don’t have payback for the 2003 concessions or the required federal clearance to move toward a strike.”
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20110929_45_0_AMRCor308390
It’s no wonder the NMB won’t comment. The NMB knows the parties are at an impasse. The NMB knows the next obvious step is release. The truth is the TWU mechanics at American won’t be able to achieve their bargaining goals until allowed to strike. The NMB won’t allow it to happen and instead just put them on ice. So now it appears it’s the TWU mechanics, and all the union employees at American, against the company and the government. The RLA is set to continue interstate commerce but there is an ultimate end provided by that statute. In researching the law, I can’t find the provision that removes forever all leverage from the represented groups at the airlines. Again, it’s no wonder the NMB won’t comment.
“A National Mediation Board mediator recessed talks last month between American and the union for 11,000 mechanics over a lack of progress and didn’t set new sessions, after a similar outcome for baggage handlers in July. An April NMB session ended with no dates for more talks with 17,000 attendants.”
And further down in the article; “The National Mediation Board declined to comment on the status of American’s labor talks. With the freeze, American isn’t getting its sought-after savings, and its work groups don’t have payback for the 2003 concessions or the required federal clearance to move toward a strike.”
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20110929_45_0_AMRCor308390
It’s no wonder the NMB won’t comment. The NMB knows the parties are at an impasse. The NMB knows the next obvious step is release. The truth is the TWU mechanics at American won’t be able to achieve their bargaining goals until allowed to strike. The NMB won’t allow it to happen and instead just put them on ice. So now it appears it’s the TWU mechanics, and all the union employees at American, against the company and the government. The RLA is set to continue interstate commerce but there is an ultimate end provided by that statute. In researching the law, I can’t find the provision that removes forever all leverage from the represented groups at the airlines. Again, it’s no wonder the NMB won’t comment.
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