Contract Negotiations

A two‐day bargaining session held May 26th and 27th in San Francisco, the Union met with the Company for contract negotiations. After brief opening comments by Teamster Airline Division Representative Clacy Griswold and Company lead negotiator Marcel Delhommeau, the remainder of the two days of meetings focused on the presentation of the Union’s Non‐Economic proposals. With the 2009 negotiations being the first for the Teamsters on behalf of the Mechanics and Related at UAL, the number and scope of these Non‐Economic proposals are wide‐ranging. Non‐Economic Items covered in negotiations include:
Article IV – Classifications of Work and Qualifications, Article V – Progression, Examinations, and License Requirements, Article VI – Hours of Service, Article IX – Travel Pay, Article X – Seniority,Article XI – Vacancies, Article XII – Leave of Absence, Article XIV – Sick Leave, Article XV –Extended Illness Status, Article XVII – Disciplinary Action, Article XIII – Bargaining and Grievance Procedure, Article XX – Safety and Health, Article XXI – General and Miscellaneous, Article XXV –Union Representation, New Article – Layoff and Recall, New Article – Field Service, New Article –Training

Pension SubCommittee
As reported in previous updates, the Union and Company have agreed to form a Joint Pension Sub‐Committee. The parties have exchanged information pertinent to exploring the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension and a meeting is expected in the coming weeks. Participating on the Pension Sub‐Committee for the Teamsters will be:
Clacy Griswold – Union Chair; Ed Gleeson– I.B.T. Legal; Peter Finn – Communications, Kevin Giegoldt – ORD; Dion Cornelious – LAX; Larry Calhoun – East Coast Line; Jock Creach – West Coast Line; Bob Fisher – IAD; Joe Schwirian – SFO; Selection for Denver Forthcoming

Upcoming Negotiations
In San Francisco: June 16th, 17th and July 23rd and 24th. In Attendance for the IBT: Clacy Griswold ‐ Airline Div. Rep., Ed Gleason IBT. Legal, Paul Alves, ‐ Airline Div. Rep., Negotiating Team: Roger Apana, Rick Barnes, Larry Calhoun, Chris Cermak, Dion Cornelious, Bob Fisher, Kevin Giegoldt, Ramon Gonzalez, George R. Graham, Dominic Gulley, Ken Meidinger, David Saucedo Business Agents: Dave Elmore, Matthew Fazakas, Peter Finn, John Hennelly, Bob McAllister, Paul Molenberg, Rich Petrovsky, Paul Stripling In Attendance for the Company: Marcel Delhommeau, Anita Davis, Mark Prpich, Kellee Allain, Paul Darrow, Lilian Song, Gary Kaplan, Kathryn Cassley.

To see a complete list of proposed changes click here.

Jock

System shakedown

May 21, 2009, the company completed the system shakedown for mechanics impacted by the reduction in automotive and building maintenance work at 9 line stations.
Participating from the Union were Mark Gabriel SFO, Rick Barnes SFO, Kevin Giegoldt ORD, Dion Cornelius LAX, Al Quijada LAX and Phil Stewart SEA.
· The initial number of mechanics identified as surplused was approximately 80.
· Due to about 25 voluntary layoffs, early outs, and additional retentions at some locations, the number impacted was reduced to about 55 mechanics.
· Approximately 27 mechanics took station layoffs.
· Approximately 8 mechanics filled vacancies on the system.
· Approximately 7 mechanics in the PV and GQ skill displaced the junior mechanics on the system.
· Layoff notices have been sent out to impacted employees with an effective date of June 7.
With the announcement by the company of mechanic staffing adjustments at the hubs earlier this afternoon, there remains approximately 100 A&P vacancies on the system. These will be filled from mechanics on layoff AND from those with local permanent bids. IF a station recall list is exhausted, the company will then go to the system bid list.
The final numbers and the resulting juniority dates for each station will provided as soon as the recalls are finalized.
This is the first voluntary movement for mechanics in over a year. Anyone who desires to move locally or on the system should make sure they have a current bid on file.

TAMC News Letter

Check out the first editon of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition news letter. There is a lot of good information and a very good article from Dave.
TAMC Nuts & Bolts

United Welcomes Back 107 Mechanics in Recall

Today we announced the recall of approximately 107 Line Maintenance mechanics from furlough as an investment in our key areas of focus related to our Clean, Workable Product and operational reliability initiatives. These mechanics will focus on improving the workability of items in our cabins, reducing the number of out-of-service aircraft and ensuring the reliability of our airplanes. "The International Brotherhood of Teamsters approached us to discuss opportunities to efficiently improve the workability of our aircraft, and we are pleased that collaboratively we were able to work out a way to bring these mechanics back," says Jim Keenan, SVP-United Services. "It is essential that we make strategic investments in our product, to continue providing our customers with great service." The 107 mechanics will be recalled at all of our hubs. The recall process will begin immediately.

This is out of todays United Airlines "NewsReal"

Have a Safe Memorial Day.
Jock

PBGC

House Labor Committee Opens Investigation into Alleged Improprieties by Bush Pension Agency Head. Click here to visit Congressman George Miller press statement.

Negotiations Next Week

The Teamsters Negotiations Steering Committee has a fully drafted non-economic proposals and the Union is ready to present them to the Company at the May 26th negotiations session in San Francisco. After presenting the proposals to the Company, they will be made available for viewing by the membership.

Negotiations Dates in San Francisco
May26th & May 27th
June 16th & June 17th

Reductions

With the reduction of the mechanics in our GQ and PV shops four mechanics will be bumping out to aircraft maintenance, two have system options to bump to another station and two more will take the early out and voluntary furlough options.

With the four bumping into aircraft maintenance, I was notified this morning that there would not be a secondary layoff here in Seattle for “at least a couple of months”.
Jock

Take a quick second to check your paperwork

“I have my faults. But being wrong ain’t one of them.”
-- Jimmy Hoffa

Normally those of us in the aviation maintenance field can associated with that famous quote from Mr. Hoffa because at 30,000 feet in the air, we can’t afford to be wrong. Lately however, there is a new trend showing its ugly little head. Across the system we are seeing many more incidents of injuries, aircraft damage and mistakes. We are asked daily to do more with less and in a shorter amount of time. The deep cuts of the beginning of the year are beginning to take their toll and it would appear that the company has found the maintenance “quick” or that point at which we start to bleed.

I have reflected on you many times of the pride I feel for the work and professionalism we are all displaying. We have met the company’s many challenges, and where possible exceeded the expectations. We truly need to continue that trend, but must become more aware of our surroundings. Please use a bit of caution, and take a quick second to check your paperwork. That second set of eyes we were used to having around is too often just not there anymore, so again please be careful.

Straight on to the local front with the GQ/PV issues, the company has begun the shake down procedure here like at many other stations. As of today, there is still no official word on how this will affect those of us in MM, at least not here in Seattle. The latest we did hear, in opposition to the claims by the station manager of a seamless transition, is the GSE mechanics bumping in to the MM line maintenance area will be allowed some time to come up to speed. Those of us, who were looking to get a summer “vacation” will now be getting a paycheck for a bit longer. We do not know how long the “break in” period will be or the status on the early out - voluntary lay off option for MM, but as we learn more we will share.

There has been much talk generated from the proposal for the company to consider participating in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund. One query dealt with the IBT’s history of questionable investments with pension plan funds, as sensationalized by books and the big screen. According to the Encyclopedia of White-collar & Corporate Crime, former IBT President James R Hoffa was convicted in a 1964 Chicago case of diverting $20 Million dollars from the Teamster pension fund, and although the fund continued to grow through this dubious transaction, he served 4 years in jail. Today, CEO’s can completely trash pension programs and savings accounts of hard working families while personally making millions in the process, and then are rewarded for their accomplishments. Thank you, but I’ll put my faith in the Teamsters pension fund -- Dave

Pension Discussion

David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division, has proposed to the Company that it consider participating in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund http://www.wctpension.org/. The Company responded with a willingness to analyze and seriously consider the idea. The Union and the Company then agreed to form a Joint Pension Sub. Committee to explore the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension option. Stay tuned for further updates on the Pension issue as discussions with the Company progress. Rest assured, the IBT is committed to fully educating the membership on the Pension issue. Ultimately, if the parties can agree at the bargaining table, you will make the final decision through a vote of the membership.