September 16, 2022

Airbus Outsourcing Award

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you are aware, the Arbitrator overseeing the Airbus outsourcing case ordered the parties to try and reach a settlement. Unfortunately, we remained too far apart to settle this case. Since the Arbitrator retained jurisdiction over the case, today we are announcing that she made an award which ends the grievance process.
In her award the Company is directed to implement a check line beginning in the first quarter of 2023 and maintain that line for one year. Further, directed that the apprenticeship program outlined in Article 23 will be implemented in conjunction with the above check line and directed that the clarifications to the implementation of the program, outlined in LOA 34 #13 of the CBA, will be a part of the award.

As a result of this award, there will be no ratification of the clarifications of the apprenticeship program. Now any future modifications to the program that may be needed, will fall to the nine-member negotiating committee during bargaining for the new CBA.

While we did not achieve everything we asked for, a one-year commitment to a check line provides an approximately $500,000 improvement to the membership as it is expected to drive around fifty positions, not counting any apprentices. Awards by third parties, in this case the arbitrator, are almost never what you expect. The good news here is that moving forward we will attempt to memorialize this work in the new CBA.

Fraternally,
Joe Ferreira, Director