Human factors

Human factors principles and methods can help aviation maintenance technicians perform their jobs with more efficiency, more safely, and less stressful. Do not let anyone of these get you. Remembering the “Dirty Dozen” will help keep you and your coworkers safe.

The Dirty Dozen
1. Complacency
2. Pressure
3. Norms
4. Lack of Resources
5. Distractions
6. Lack of Awareness
7. Lack of Communication
8. Stress
9. Lack of Assertiveness
10. Fatigue
11. Lack of Knowledge
12. Lack of Teamwork

Jock

Negotiation Update

Negotiations resumed this week in San Francisco. On June 16th and 17th the Teamsters Negotiating Team once again met with Company officials to continue discussions on non-economic items. Grievance Procedure Day 1 of the talks focused heavily on the grievance procedure, the Union feeling strongly that the system needs to be overhauled to encourage grievances to be settled at the lowest possible level. To get a sense of the direction the Union would like to take in re-shaping the grievance procedure process, the Union's Opening Non-Economic Proposal is available for viewing at: www.IBTUALNegotiations.com Discussion on the grievance procedure issue will continue when the parties reconvene in mid-July. Layoff and Recall The second day of negotiations centered on the Union's new Layoff and Recall proposal. The Company had a number of questions aimed at clarifying the portion of the Union's proposal that allows greater flexibility in the exercise of seniority in times of layoffs. You can read the language of the new Layoff and Recall Article proposed by the Union starting on page 81 of the Union's Opening Non-Economic Proposal posted on the Web at: www.IBTUALNegotiations.com

Income Taxes

This is an excerpt out of the latest SEC filing for United Airlines. I just looked at my pay stub and I will be paying more taxes then United Airlines in the second quarter? Take a look at the filing you'll also find a little more information on how well United did on "fuel hedging".

SEC

Income Taxes
Because of its net operating loss carry-forwards, the company expects to pay minimal cash taxes for the foreseeable future and is not recording incremental tax benefits at this time. The company expects an effective tax rate of 0% for the second quarter of 2009

Jock

United Airlines Shops At Paris Air Show

PARIS (Dow Jones)--Executives of United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp. (UAUA), were shopping for new aircraft at the Paris Air Show Monday, hoping to use their clout as a major buyer to make a deal with manufacturers that have taken just a handful of new orders this year.

Earlier this month, the airline said it planned to order new, more efficient planes as soon as this autumn. The airline, which hasn't taken delivery on planes since 2002, put off refreshing its fleet to conserve money.

In an interview, Kathryn Mikells, chief financial officer of the Chicago carrier, said United is meeting with plane makers Boeing Co. (BA) and Airbus as well as with engine makers.

"This is a long-term strategic decision about our fleet," she said. Although United now operates both Boeing and Airbus planes, the airline believes it would make economic sense to switch to a single fleet type over time, Mikells said.

"This decision will set our course for several decades," the executive said. United is looking to replace 100 of its large, widebody aircraft, and 94 smaller Boeing 757s. "This can happen simultaneously, although we haven't determined the size of our initial order," Mikells said. She said the large size of the order should allow United some flexibility on when it can take delivery of the planes. Mikells said United will explore financing arrangements with manufacturers as well as financial institutions, once the ordering process is further along.

The rising price of fuel makes replacing older aircraft more important than ever, since new planes can save 20% to 30% on fuel and maintenance costs.

Still, as airlines continue to struggle with weak revenue, some have worried that United may take on too great a financial burden; Fitch Ratings downgraded the airline's debt after the new fleet plan was announced.

Mikells said United remains committed to shoring up its balance sheet, and will continue to seek creative ways to do so.

Article

FedEx Launches Campaign to Derail Proposed Legislation

FedEx announced a "multimillion-dollar" campaign to derail proposed federal legislation that would make it easier for the company's workers to organize. FedEx has been the sole beneficiary of a provision that its lobbyists quietly slipped into legislation in October 1996, making FedEx the only freight and package-delivery company in the United States whose non-FAA certified employees are regulated under the Railway Labor Act governing railways and airlines. The proposed language which would put FedEx under the same labor laws as other companies like UPS which provide the same services. The Teamsters have lobbied hard for this legislation.

Hoffa Praises House for Passage of TSA Reauthorization

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa praised the House of Representatives on Thursday for swiftly passing HR 2200, which would tighten transportation security.

Hoffa also thanked House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson for his work on the bill authorizing spending for the Transportation Security Administration.

"This important legislation takes the right step toward robust national security," Hoffa said. "It tightens security for surface, air and maritime transportation, protecting our nation and provides needed security training for workers within the transportation industry," Hoffa said.

David Bourne, director of the Teamsters Airline Division, sent a letter to Chairman Thompson on Wednesday supporting the work of the Homeland Security Committee.

"I am pleased that the House recognizes the need for a single high security standard for aircraft maintenance," said Bourne, "Currently, U.S. aircraft maintained and overhauled in foreign countries do not have to conform to the same security standards as domestic repair stations. This loophole has potentially dire consequences for passengers and the aviation professionals that we represent."

HR 2200 orders TSA to issue long-overdue security standards for foreign repair stations that are comparable to domestic standards for air carriers and airports. The standards would cover background checks, access to aircraft and perimeter security in order to prevent terrorists from infiltrating our aviation system and harming the U.S. or other countries.

The bill will now move to the Senate consideration. The Teamsters will continue to lobby on Capitol Hill until this important legislation is signed into law.

Really?

Yesterday United Airlines sent out a "Retraction" to the new bid area in IAD (IADLM). The company has said they are going to recall but these mechanics will be assigned midnight shift and 6-2 RDO schedule. No ten hour shift, so much for quality of life issues.

Seattle Update

New Lead: Bob A has been awarded the Lead vacancy for SEAMM he will be starting on Monday next week on swing shift. Also we will be adding four “New” mechanics that are coming over from the recent furlough of the shops. These new mechanics will be on day shift for the first week for training then onto swing. Finally onto to midnight shift.

New Bid area: IAD has posted a new bid area and will be accepting bids. This will be IADLM the new crew will be tasked to maintain and focus on improving the “workability of items in the cabin” There will be crews similarly set up at the hub stations.

Airframe Maintenance Reorganized: Bob Madigan, managing director of Airframe Maintenance in San Francisco will be adding an operational manager for each dock to handle the “needs of the business”. Yes, I did say each dock. What ever happen to having two OM’s and having supervises do their job and what do the four VP’s we have for United Services do?

New Planes: This week, United Airlines sent a request for proposal (RFP) to Airbus and Boeing to replace the widebodies and the 757 fleet. It was reported by Bloomberg news that this could be a $20 billion order. The last year we took delivery of an aircraft was 2002. The average age of our fleet is 13 years.

Safety: Last Sunday we had a mechanic in Portland working on an aircraft engine got his right middle finger crushed between a cowling latch and hydraulic line. Remember to keep your mind on the job, get help when you need it and stay safe.

Jock