September 26, 2015

Negotiations Update

The IBT and Company negotiating committees are meeting through the weekend Las Vegas, Nevada in hopes of getting closer to completing an amalgamated contract. The session, which began on Tuesday, September 21^st, continued discussions on areas previously was discussed in small committees through the beginning of the month. Sufficient progress was made through the week that the Company made a comprehensive proposal on Friday.  

The IBT rank and file committee had several questions regarding the proposal, with small committees focused on specific articles of the agreement. Work began on getting answers on Saturday; and as of this time, that work continues.  

A comprehensive counter from the Union will follow when this work is finished.

Negotiations Update

September 12, 2015

Negotiations are scheduled to reconvene in Las Vegas for two weeks beginning on September 21^st. Given the recent tone from the Company, we expect to continue making progress towards a tentative agreement that can be presented to the membership for ratification. The committee remains focused and dedicated to that end and so far have received no indication that the company has changed directions towards this goal as well.

The change in CEO should not affect the negotiations process. The general consensus from analysts and the financial community is that our new CEO needs to get the house in order at United, and tantamount to that process is better labor relations and reaching agreements with the IBT and AFA.

The proof will be at the negotiating table, but we are cautiously optimistic that new leadership at UAL will want to make further progress toward the promised “industry leading agreement” and improved relations with the Technicians that make his planes fly day after day.

September 11, 2014

Once again, we take time to reflect on the events of this day. It seems difficult to accept that a bright, sunny fourteen years ago; a day that should have been like any other, would become a tragic day for our generation that many will remember in the future with, “where were you that day?”

The names, locations and images will always be with us just as our memory of where and what we each were doing. As we remember, let each of us re-commit to the memories of our fellow employees, the families and friends of those who were lost that day. And let us live each day as a celebration of their lives, refusing to surrender to those who committed those senseless acts and never giving in to the fear they hoped to instill in us.

Negotiations Update 

July 10, 2015

Sub UA Medical Arbitration Update
 As many of you are aware, the 60 days time frame prescribed by the arbitrator in this decision has passed. The arbitrator contacted the parties for a status update and she was informed that an information request was made by the Division, that the Company had provided information and that the Division's actuary, Gaelle Gravot, was digging through the data. The arbitrator then suggested since it appeared the parties were making progress she would not immediately reconvene the panel. If however it looks like the parties are unable to come to agreement she would quickly schedule the remedy hearing.

JFK Update 
The Airline Division informed the Company, without prejudicing its position in the current RUL arbitration, that the Company was in violation of the resource utilization letter. The Company disagreed and per the terms of the letter a summit meeting will take place. If the matter cannot be resolved then the issue will move forward to arbitration. Copies of the letters between the Division and the Company can be found on the Airline Division website (www.teamsterair.org) or by clicking the links below:
http://teamsterair.org/sites/teamsterair.org/files/uploads/pdm-bourne2015-07-06ltrrejfkredeployment.pdf
http://teamsterair.org/sites/teamsterair.org/files/uploads/07915bourneltr_tomckeen.pdf

FST Committee Meets in Chicago
On Thursday, Gene Bray, Randall Overstreet, Don Ramsey, Bob Fisher, led by Bob Clever, had an opportunity to meet and discuss, with Company representatives, objectives and processes for furthering our goal in reaching an amalgamated agreement. The open discussions included maintaining our current process and supplementing our time spent in the Technician negotiations in sub-committee meetings with the Company, addressing issues and language concerns from both sides. To better facilitate these discussions we are going to bring the full committee back together the last week of this month. Depending on the progress made,
dates will be set accordingly to maintain momentum and in paralleling the Technician advancement in mediation. We will update accordingly as we have during previous negotiations.

IBT “Career Move” available for UAL Members 

In March of 2013 the Teamsters and UAL settled a dispute which resulted in a new benefit for IBT represented members. The new benefit is a one-time career move which provides for many or all costs associated with moving to be paid for by the company. An IBT-represented employee is eligible for a “Career Move” once in their career, provided they is not on probation or returning from inactive status (Furlough, Illness Leave, etc.).   

A Career Move can only be used for a job transfer from an active status at one location to an active status at another location. Your new residence must be within 50 miles of your new work location—services will not be provided to a residence outside this distance. 

To get the process started, UAL Form UPE-1682 needs to be filled out and signed by a supervisor at the station you are departing from. HR must also approve and the form is then sent to the career move department. Take care to fill out the entire form accurately to avoid added delays. 

More information on the process and benefits can be found by going to the company “Flying Together” website. First click on the “Employee Services” tab along the top of the home page then scroll down to the “Career” box. Next, click on the “Relocation” link. Once on that page find and pull up the “IBT Career Move Policy” tab. These pages will offer all the details about the move policy, the documents needed to get started, and instructions for requesting benefits.    
Documents can also be found on our sidebar under documents.
 

Negotiations Update

June 19, 2015

The parties met this week in Las Vegas. The Union worked on finalizing its comprehensive proposal on Tuesday. The work on finalizing the proposal was delayed by the announcement of the closing of JFK at the beginning of the session. After the closure announcement, the committee discussed ways to defend against the loss of positions in JFK. Several ideas were floated, and throughout the week members of the committee, along with the IBT leadership, worked with the Company to accomplish that goal. In addition, the IBT leadership is exploring all possible legal and contractual options in determining the path forward. Updates on this situation will be provided in future articles of the Dispatch.

The IBT passed a comprehensive counter proposal to the Company.  After some discussions at the table about the proposal, the Company caucused. When the parties reengaged before lunch, the mediator suggested face to face, across the table discussions regarding the remaining open items could help facilitate progress. Sub-committees were formed quickly to address items that were agreed to in principal but required clarification/amendment to reflect the understandings. Significant progress was made in these small committee meetings.   

These committees met again on Thursday and further progress was made, including more complex economic items on several Articles. TA's on the following were signed:  Article 2, Article 12, Article 13 and Article 19. These are in addition to Articles addressed and agreed to or TA’d previously during the expedited process at the start of these negotiations. Those previously TA’d articles are Articles 20 and 23, with Articles 21 and 22 agreed to in principal but requiring some minor edits or clarification.  Significant progress was also made on Article 5. If not TA’d they will be addressed during the next round of talks.  There are still some economic articles that require modification to reach agreement. These articles will be addressed in the coming sessions.  Sub-committee discussions were also held to address outstanding issues regarding health and welfare.  In addition to the Articles, two LOA’s dealing with Field Trips and Line Premiums were TA'd and an agreement in principal was reached on a station recall rights LOA. 

The positive change in the direction of negotiations was refreshing. It was agreed that due to the progress made, sub committees would continue to meet to attempt to finalize several issues prior to the next session. The next round of mediated talks will be the last week of July. At the writing of this Dispatch the location was yet to be determined. As soon as the information is available regarding the city it will be reported here.

United Maintenance Technicians send a Message to Shareholders, “Contract NOW” 

On June 10^th, over 100 UAL / IBT members gathered at Willis Tower in Chicago in a show of strength and unity to demonstrate frustration with the Company's lack of urgency in negotiating the promised industry-leading contract for United Technicians. The picketers were so loud and boisterous at 233 Wacker Drive that they could be heard in the shareholders meeting being held 10 stories above. They were so raucous that they could be heard all the way to Lake Michigan, according to reports of passersby.

Several of the demonstrators also attended the shareholders meeting. These Teamsters accounted for roughly half of the total attendees at the meeting. Several of the Teamster members in attendance asked questions of Jeff Smisek and the Board of Directors, related to the Company’s finances, governance, and operations. Canned answers were given and were of no meaningful substance. Meeting attendees believed this action by the Company showed blatant disrespect for its technician workforce. Mr. Smisek promised additional time for questions at the end of the meeting but, contrary to that promise, he and the BOD cut short the promised Q&A and unceremoniously walked out of the room to jeers from the IBT represented share owners.

The demonstration and shareholders meeting activities were coordinated; and advice given, by Carin Zalenko and Louis Malizia of the IBT Capital Strategies Division, who held a pre-rally meeting on June 9^th that lasted several hours to prepare those that would be asking questions at the shareholder meeting.

In a press release prior to the event, rank and file negotiator John Laurin, a 29-year United Airlines maintenance technician; explained the need for the protest by saying, “as employees and shareholders of this company, we have a long-term interest in the success of the airline and it’s time for management to do the right thing and offer us a well-deserved, industry-leading contract.”

“I would like to thank all those who attended the event” said Division Representative Bob Fisher. “In addition, I would like to also thank the Local Principal Officers for doing whatever it took to get their members to the event in such large numbers.”

Future activities and demonstrations are being planned and will be announced when finalized. Rank and file member cell phone videos of the June 10^th demonstration are posted at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7YF9kQqjHVjnmJJLZzuZfA

To view press coverage of this event, click the links below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2015/06/10/united-airlines-mechanics-pound-the-war-drums-as.html?ana=yahoo

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-united-airlines-protest-0611-biz-20150610-story.html

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/united-airlines-maintenance-workers-warn-shareholders-of-problems-at-airline-2015-06-10

National AMT Day

Sunday May 24th is National AMT day and the TAMC and the Teamsters Airline Division would like to take a moment to recognize our thousands of Aviation Maintenance Technicians. Your hard work and dedication to aviation safety is without a doubt a corner stone in the success of our outstanding industry safety record. This day honors the birthday of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight and the man who designed and built the engine that powered the first successful Wright Brothers airplane.

On this day we should pause to remember the many men and women who have come before us. It is through their unwavering commitment to continually improve aviation safety standards that we have many of the processes and procedures in use today. As we move through our careers, we too have met the challenge of contributing our piece to improving safety as will the generations that follow us, because we are Aviation Maintenance Technicians, and that is what we do. In the hangars, on the line, in the backshops, in the blistering heat, freezing cold and the pouring rain, in the dead of night and the light of day, one thing never changes and that is our commitment to the safety of those who fly on the Aircraft we maintain. We have to get it right every time.

Thank you for all you do!

Negotiations Update

May 14, 2015

The parties assembled the week of May 11th in Las Vegas under the direction of the National Mediation Board in hope of receiving a full comprehensive proposal from the company. On Tuesday morning the Company passed their version of a comprehensive economic proposal, which was in the form of a two-page bullet point presentation. The proposal did not meet the Union Negotiation Committee’s expectations or industry benchmarks.

The Company’s bullet points addressed wages, premiums, longevity, shift differentials, vacation accrual schedules, sick accruals, holiday schedule, profit sharing, active medical plan designs as well as longer contract duration than the previous pass. Additionally, the company opened the idea of creating changes to the current retirement plan.

The Union Negotiation Committee was less than impressed, and certainly not amused, with the new tone and direction of United’s comprehensive proposal. However, continuing in good faith, the Union Negotiating Committee reviewed the terms of the proposal in caucus after the parties broke. During the caucus, the Union committee developed a series of enquiries for the Company.

On Wednesday the parties again held a face-to-face session, in which the union presented its enquiries to the Company. Once the enquiries were answered there was further discussion between the parties. After the face-to-face session, the economists from both sides met to review the economic data. The work of reviewing and determining the valuations of the Company’s proposal is ongoing.

Also on Wednesday, a discussion was held on TeamCare. Both committees along with representatives from the fund talked about ways to finalize the health care proposal. Some of what was discussed is subject to the approval by the Plan Trustees.

On Thursday the Union Negotiation Committee met internally to work on the counter proposal that should be delivered in the next round of negotiations in June.

As stated above during this week’s session, the Company changed direction and tone on key items of importance to this membership. It is still our goal to achieve an industry leading agreement and we will accept nothing less.

News from the Street
Tension is growing between airline management and workers. That's
worrisome for an industry better known for bankruptcies and failures than it
is for long-term stability.

 May 11th 2015
This week the IBT and Company committee's are reconvening under the direction of the Mediator in Las Vegas Nevada. Next weekend a report of the session will be released.
Last week John Goglia put out a report on AIN Online describing industry wide mechanic intimidation discovered in NASA reports.
Here is the link to the report
 http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/blogs/torqued-nasa-data-reveals-intimidation-airline-mechanics
Remember, if you get caught up in a situation like the ones described in John's report, contact your Union Representative for guidance.

UA Medical Arbitration Update May 2, 2015

A decision has been reached in the sub UA medical arbitration case. The majority decision is sustained in part and denied in part. The Board ruled that the institution of a 90-10 coinsurance violated Art 16 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. With respect to the other increases such as co pays and out of pocket maximums the Board ruled that those elements were not in violation of Article 16. According to the decision; “The remedy is remanded to the parties for a period of 60 days, after which the remedy will be returned to the Board for resolution. The Board maintains jurisdiction of the remedy portion of this Award.” When a remedy has been agreed upon it will be reported in the Dispatch.
What this decision established was that the with the HMO’s there was a three decades old practice of not instituting, or describing a possible, split in respect to coinsurance. In writing the opinion the arbitrator found; “Thus, the language in the Agreement providing employees with an HMO option, when read together with the Company’s description of its HMO offerings, in the context of the Company’s practice over more than 30 years, persuades a majority of the Board that the Company violated Article 16.A.2. of the Agreement when it imposed 90% co-insurance as part of its HMO offerings, a change that was not in line with employee expectations.”
While it is disappointing that the out of pocket maximums were not considered protected aspects of the plan, in practice, the co-insurance would be the big reason for why a member would hit that limit. In other words the ruling on the co-insurance essentially shields most members of HMO plans from ever paying close to the out of pocket maximums. As the Board discussed; “A majority of the Board agrees that the effects of introducing co-insurance into a long-standing existing program can be significant. At worst, in the case of inpatient services, in the absence of annual out-of-pocket maximums, the financial impact on employees can be extreme. At best, with an existing annual out-of-pocket maximum cap, it is likely that more employees will be bumping up against that cap and, in some cases, chronically.”

The full decision along with the transcripts can be found here.
http://teamsterair.org/sites/teamsterair.org/files/uploads/arbtranscriptday1-3.pdf
http://teamsterair.org/sites/teamsterair.org/files/uploads/arbitrationtranscriptday2.pdf
http://teamsterair.org/sites/teamsterair.org/files/uploads/subuamedarbitrationdecision.pdf

(Please note that the court reporter made a mistake in the day one hearing and titled this hearing as between Continental and the IBT. The day two transcript is correct.)