Friday, August 28, 2009
United Mechanics/IBT Cabin Crew Subcommittee
United wanted to change the work schedule of the some 150 mechanics doing interior refurbishing work on United's fleet by shifting to a five-day work week. The change would have introduced quality of life issues for the workers. The Subcommittee was able to reach accommodations with management to work out any scheduling problems. Also a monitoring system was developed to assure productivity was maintained. Representing the mechanics were Clacy Griswold, Paul Stripling, Rich Petrovsky, and Bob Fisher (IAD), Greg Sullivan (SFO), George Graham (ORD), Pete Angelos (DEN), Ramon Gonzalas (DEN), Alanzo Quijada (LAX), and Roger Apana (HNL). The company negotiating team was led by Tim Canavan, V.P. Line Maintenance.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tentative Agreement Reached on Article XI - Vacancies
Negotiations resumed this week in Chicago. On August 17th, 18th, and 19th the Teamsters Negotiating Team met with the Company officials to continue discussions on non-economic contract articles.
This week's negotiations centered on Article XI Vacancies, which covers the many different aspects of the bidding process including the posting of bulletins, transfers, and temporary assignments, including their duration. At the end of the second day, a tentative agreement had been reached on this article. Your negotiating team feels that this agreement is fair and equitable. It also more clearly defines the intent of this language in order to provide better protection for the membership. We are hopeful that this first tentative agreement will lead to more productive discussions in these negotiations for the coming months.
For the comprehensive negotiation update, please visit: http://www.teamsterstakeaction.org/ct/n1scyl91IBqi/
This week's negotiations centered on Article XI Vacancies, which covers the many different aspects of the bidding process including the posting of bulletins, transfers, and temporary assignments, including their duration. At the end of the second day, a tentative agreement had been reached on this article. Your negotiating team feels that this agreement is fair and equitable. It also more clearly defines the intent of this language in order to provide better protection for the membership. We are hopeful that this first tentative agreement will lead to more productive discussions in these negotiations for the coming months.
For the comprehensive negotiation update, please visit: http://www.teamsterstakeaction.org/ct/n1scyl91IBqi/
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Right to Life?
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence.
Did the founding fathers say that I have a right to life? Our Constitution gives us legal rights. I know the First Amendment gives me the right to free speech.
There is a lot of debate these days over health care reform. Some believe government should stay out, they cannot run a health care program. Medicare and the Veterans Administration are two examples of government run health care. I have used the VA and I like the service I received. There are even senior citizen are saying they don’t want government run health care even though they are on Medicare???
SEC filings show that between the year 2000 and the year 2007, profit of the country‘s 10 largest health insurance companies rose 428 %. In 2000, they had $2.4 billion in profit. By 2007, it was $12.9 billion.
The CEOs of the 10 largest health insurance companies were taking home an average compensation of $11.9 million each every year, while the number of Americans without health insurance for whom a burst appendix can mean bankruptcy.
Would a government health care option and reducing these gigantic profits lower health care cost and help pay for the 46 million uninsured Americans? There must be an answer. Who will pay?
The current bill in the House has a "surcharge" (you can see an example below). “All families with adjusted gross incomes below $350,000 and all individuals with adjusted gross incomes below $280,000 will not see their taxes go up.”
1. A family earning $400,000 would contribute $500 to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans – 0.13% of their annual income.
2. A family earning $500,000 would contribute $1,500 to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans – 0.3% of their annual income.
(House Bill)
Total uninsured in Washington State.
1994-96 626,493
2006-07 732,315
(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Listen to both sides, look at the bill before the debates begin. The facts are out there you just have to peel back the political B.S. We need to do something, cost continue to climb up an average of 10% each year since 1960. (Kiaser Employer Benefits) I know yours and my income has not gone up 10% each year which in turns equates to a pay cut.
Jock
Did the founding fathers say that I have a right to life? Our Constitution gives us legal rights. I know the First Amendment gives me the right to free speech.
There is a lot of debate these days over health care reform. Some believe government should stay out, they cannot run a health care program. Medicare and the Veterans Administration are two examples of government run health care. I have used the VA and I like the service I received. There are even senior citizen are saying they don’t want government run health care even though they are on Medicare???
SEC filings show that between the year 2000 and the year 2007, profit of the country‘s 10 largest health insurance companies rose 428 %. In 2000, they had $2.4 billion in profit. By 2007, it was $12.9 billion.
The CEOs of the 10 largest health insurance companies were taking home an average compensation of $11.9 million each every year, while the number of Americans without health insurance for whom a burst appendix can mean bankruptcy.
Would a government health care option and reducing these gigantic profits lower health care cost and help pay for the 46 million uninsured Americans? There must be an answer. Who will pay?
The current bill in the House has a "surcharge" (you can see an example below). “All families with adjusted gross incomes below $350,000 and all individuals with adjusted gross incomes below $280,000 will not see their taxes go up.”
1. A family earning $400,000 would contribute $500 to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans – 0.13% of their annual income.
2. A family earning $500,000 would contribute $1,500 to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans – 0.3% of their annual income.
(House Bill)
Total uninsured in Washington State.
1994-96 626,493
2006-07 732,315
(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Listen to both sides, look at the bill before the debates begin. The facts are out there you just have to peel back the political B.S. We need to do something, cost continue to climb up an average of 10% each year since 1960. (Kiaser Employer Benefits) I know yours and my income has not gone up 10% each year which in turns equates to a pay cut.
Jock
Friday, August 7, 2009
Just a BIll
“School house Rock” was a animated musical educational short films that aired during the Saturday morning children's programming on the television network ABC. One of the segment which first aired in 1975, was how a bill becomes a law, how it must go through Congress, and how it can be vetoed on.
It seemed so straightforward and educational. I wonder if that poor animated bill ever knew about the word “lobbyist”?
Just for the year 2009 there has been 667 lobbyist record in the Air Transport category ranging from Aero Astro to Xcor Aerospace with a total lobbying expenditures of $40.7 million. Now contrast that with the Pharmaceuticals/Health Products with a total number of 1,545 lobbyist and expenditures of $134 million. This is by far the highest of any group this year the second place was Oil/Gas at $82 million. It is no wonder that our Congressman and Senators have a tough time pushing a bill through.
Could you ever envision a day you could call up your representative and have a meeting with him or her?
This past Thursday I was invited to a “Town Hall” conference call with my Congressional Representative Dave Reichert from the 8th District in the state of Washington.
I had spent a few hours researching concerns of mine from aviation safety to health care. It was time for the call and I got nothing… The number they had sent me was not a valid number. Therefore, I tried his office to call his office in Mercer Island, WA and nothing but a busy signal. Maybe I am not part of the “Right” lobbing group.
Just a bill Video
A thought for the day.
Jock
It seemed so straightforward and educational. I wonder if that poor animated bill ever knew about the word “lobbyist”?
Just for the year 2009 there has been 667 lobbyist record in the Air Transport category ranging from Aero Astro to Xcor Aerospace with a total lobbying expenditures of $40.7 million. Now contrast that with the Pharmaceuticals/Health Products with a total number of 1,545 lobbyist and expenditures of $134 million. This is by far the highest of any group this year the second place was Oil/Gas at $82 million. It is no wonder that our Congressman and Senators have a tough time pushing a bill through.
Could you ever envision a day you could call up your representative and have a meeting with him or her?
This past Thursday I was invited to a “Town Hall” conference call with my Congressional Representative Dave Reichert from the 8th District in the state of Washington.
I had spent a few hours researching concerns of mine from aviation safety to health care. It was time for the call and I got nothing… The number they had sent me was not a valid number. Therefore, I tried his office to call his office in Mercer Island, WA and nothing but a busy signal. Maybe I am not part of the “Right” lobbing group.
Just a bill Video
A thought for the day.
Jock
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
FAA to order retesting.
The Federal Aviation Administration will require 1,400 airplane mechanics certified at a San Antonio facility to retest or have their licenses revoked. Click here for the rest of the story.
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