U.S. approves United, Continental merger

The U.S. Justice Department said Friday it has approved the proposed merger of United Airlines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc.

In a statement posted on its Web site, the department said approval of the $3 billion merger came after United and Continental agreed to transfer takeoff and landing rights "and other assets at Newark (N.J.) Liberty Airport to Southwest Airlines Co."

The decision clears the way for the merger to be completed within a few weeks, The New York Times reported. United and Continental shareholders are to vote on the merger Sept. 17.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Coke Provokes Strike

August 24 -
More than 500 Teamsters went on strike in Western Washington over a proposed 800% increase in health care costs by their employer Coca-Cola.

Washington Teamsters United, which includes Teamsters Local Unions 38, 117, 174, 252, 313, and 589, represents approximately 500 Coke employees at six Western Washington area locations, in Bellevue, Marysville, Fife, Tacoma, Aberdeen and Bremerton.

For more info visit IBT Local 117

Negotiatios Update

Negotiations continued August 17th, 18th, and 19th at Teamsters Local 856 offices in San Bruno, CA. Over the course of the meetings a new article, Emergency Field Service, was discussed extensively. This article is being constructed uses the current Continental contract language as a model, with modifications to best serve the United membership.



Negotiations are scheduled for the week of August 30th in Chicago

FAA Proposes $580,000 Civil Penalty Against Hillsboro Aviation

SEATTLE — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $580,000 civil penalty against Hillsboro Aviation, Inc., of Hillsboro, Ore., for allegedly performing improper repairs, deliberately falsifying maintenance records and operating a helicopter in a reckless manner.

The FAA alleges that Hillsboro mechanics used incorrect parts and an unqualified individual to make repairs to a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter. The FAA also alleges the company made no record in the aircraft maintenance logs of work performed, and deliberately falsified maintenance documents claiming an airworthiness directive had been completed when the work had not been done.

In all, the company operated the helicopter on at least 103 flights when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations between June 29 and Sept. 9, 2008. At least four of these operations were conducted under Part 135 (Commuter and On-Demand Operations) of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA also alleges that Hillsboro mechanics failed to perform the required inspections after specified flight intervals on another Jet Ranger helicopter when the aircraft returned to service after maintenance. Hillsboro operated the aircraft on at least 430 flights, including at least 349 revenue flights under Part 135 between Jan. 13 and Sept. 7, 2008.

The third violation involved the operation of another Jet Ranger on a passenger-carrying flight, July 8, 2008. The pilot flew under the Interstate 5 and 205 highway bridges over the Columbia River in Portland, Ore. The FAA alleged the flight endangered the lives and property of others, because it was conducted within 500 feet of a structure, and at a low altitude where a safe emergency landing might not have been possible.

Hillsboro Aviation has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.


OK the third violation sounds fun..
Jock

Must Read

A JetBlue flight attendant left his job in dramatic fashion yesterday, allegedly cursing out passengers on his flight before exiting via the plane's emergency exit -- beer in hand -- and eventually driving off in a car he had parked at the airport.
Click here for the rest of the story.

New Grandkids and the Dog

Just a slow day for news. Have a good weekend.
Jock

Today in History

August 5th 1981 after a two day strike of the Air Traffic Controllers represented by the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, known as PATCO. President Ronald Regean fired 11,500 of the striking workers, stating that the strike was a violation of federal law.

PATCO workers were then replaced with non-unionized employees. President Reagan through an Executive Order in 1982, prevented any of the fired air traffic controllers from being rehired in the future by the Federal Aviation Agency.

In 1993, also by Executive Order, President Bill Clinton rescinded Reagan’s Order, allowing previously fired PATCO workers to be hired again by the FAA, which presently includes several hundred of the previously dismissed.

Voter registration deadline

If you are not registered to vote but want to vote in the August 17 Primary, you still have time. Monday, August 9 is the deadline for in-person registration at your county elections office.

July 19 was the deadline to register via online or mail for the upcoming Primary.

Go here to visit a county Web site to get more information about the upcoming Primary Election and candidates listed on the ballot. Click here to see a list of candidates who have filed with the Office of Secretary of State.

Remember to vote and if you need more information on the candidates please contact me.

Washington State Teamsters Political Endorsements Click here


In the last Senate Primary election you may remember that one Candidate "Goodspaceguy" ran and got 9454 votes, well he is back again along with "Mike the Mover". Do a little homework before you vote. The top two candidates regardless of party advance to the general election.

"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government. "
Thomas Jefferson

Jock

FAA Finds Mexico Does Not Meet ICAO Safety Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Mexico is not in compliance with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), following an assessment of the country’s civil aviation authority. As a result, the United States is downgrading Mexico from a Category 1 to Category 2 rating.

As part of the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or have applied to fly to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations. With the IASA Category 2 rating, Mexican air carriers cannot establish new service to the United States, although they are allowed to maintain existing service.

While Mexico has been responsive to the FAA’s findings and has made significant improvements in recent months, it was unable to fully comply with all of the international safety standards. However, under the leadership of Director General Hector Gonzalez Weeks, Mexico continues to make progress. The FAA is committed to working closely with the Mexican government and providing technical assistance to help Mexico regain its Category 1 rating.

A Category 1 rating means the country’s civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures.

Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

IASA information is at www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/.

Negotiations Update

Negotiations continued July 27th, 28th, and 29th at Teamsters Local 856 in San Bruno, CA.
Tentative agreements were reached on Articles 1(Purpose of Agreement), 3 (Status of Agreement), 19 (Apprentice Mechanics), and 26 (Savings Clause). These articles had no proposed changes.
Your Negotiating Committee has revised several of the originally proposed articles to include more Continental contract language, the amount of which varied from article to article based on what which provisions best help the Membership.
These articles included Article 6 (Hours of Service), Article 10 (Seniority), and Article 12 (Leave of Absence); as well as two of the new articles, Field Trips and Layoff & Recall.
Over the course of this week’s negotiations, these articles were individually presented to the Company with explanations on the changes. On July 29th, the Union received a counterproposal from the Company on Article 12 (Leave of Absence). After some discussions, the parties have come close to an agreement on this article.
Upcoming Negotiations
Negotiations will continue the week of August 16th in San Francisco and again during the week of August 30th in Chicago.