As you all know there is currently a GQ/PV maintenance review underway at the 9 non-hub stations that follow; HNL, SAN, PDX, SEA, BOS, PHL, EWR, JFK, and LGA. Many of you are wondering what the Union's role in this process is. In this case, our Union committee will be working with IBT economists to analyze the financial information collected during the process in order to find solutions that keep the work in house.
Just to be clear, we are indeed in a tough spot immersed in the following information;The total cost of the UAL mechanics performing the scope of maintenance work Versus The total cost Vendor mechanics performing the scope or work (unknown at this time.
The Company has put together "scope of work" documents for each station as part of a "request for proposals" that will be distributed to vendors next Tuesday 2/17/09. Bids will be collected over a 4 week period ending on 3/17/09. Once those vendor responses/bids are on the table we will have a better idea of where we stand.
Simultaneous to the above project the company is also working on another project know as Real Estate Optimization (REO). What does this mean to us? In Seattle it apparently means the company is selling some of its Jetways to the Port of Seattle, which ultimately means our scope of work is shrinking. To be sure, transactions like this are happening all across the system. The company confirmed this in Chicago when they stated that REO is a never ending process.
It doesn't seem right to me, offing scope work during a review process that supposed to be looking for mutually beneficial solutions that don't result in mechanic reductions. I have therefore requested that the Company suspend these transactions during the review process. We'll see how that goes.
In spite of all that, know this, the IBT is fighting for your jobs and where there's a will there's a way, so stay strong.
Phillip C. Stewart III
Teamster Local 986
SEAGQ/PV Chief Steward
