Monday, October 31, 2011

United Airlines announces insourcing of B757 landing gear work

UAL management notified the United Mechanics Negotiating Committee that previously outsourced Continental Airlines B757 landing gear work will now be insourced to the SFO landing gear shop.
The work is expected to begin starting in January of 2012.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Negotiations Update

The parties met starting on the 25th and the Union presented their opening proposal. The proposal included the items addressed in the bargaining survey as priorities including maintaining the current medical coverage, retro pay, buyouts, lead ratios, and the inclusion of an EAP LOA.
The Company made their priorities known later in the day and informed the committee that the overall economic package would need to mirror the previous tentative agreement.
The parties passed counters through the week. Minor progress was made but the parties remained far apart on the major issues at the end of the week.
Due to the Union’s proposal regarding buyouts, the Company engaged it’s accountants to cost out the proposal and expect to have an answer for the Union when the parties reconvene on November 10th in Chicago.
The bargaining committee remains committed to achieving the priorities as expressed through membership feedback over the last several months.
In addition, Marcel Delhommeau announced that previously outsourced B757 sub Continental landing gear work is being brought in house to sub United in San Francisco starting during the month of January.

In attendance for the Union were Local negotiators Larry Calhoun – NYC, Jay Koreny – IAD, Mike Pecoraro, Scott Baroni – ORD, Mitch Hunt, Scott Brown – DEN, Roger Apana – HNL, Dion Cornelious - LAX, John Lauren, Don Stevens, Mark DesAngeles – SFO, Business Agents, Javier Lectora - 856, Rich Petrovsky, Dave Saucedo, Dave Elmore – 986, John Hennelly – 455, George Graham, Kevin Giegoldt – 781, Ralph Salzano – 210, for the Division Joseph Prisco SFO, Ken Meidinger DEN, Representatives - Clacy Griswold, Paul Alves, Bob Fisher, IBT Legal - Ed Gleason, and Labor Economist - Norman Weintraub.
In attendance for the Company were Doug McKeen, Joe Ferreira, Marcel Delhommeau, Jeff Wall, Anil Khorana, Juan Ruiz, Ray Ames, Anita Davis, Michael O’Dell, Mark Prpich, Kathy Cassley, Gary Kaplan, Kellee Allain

Monday, October 24, 2011

United Mechanic’s Negotiating Team Meets

Last week the negotiating committee convened at local 856 in San Bruno CA. The focus of the meeting was to develop proposals for the upcoming session with the carrier which is scheduled to begin in Chicago on the 24th of October. The work of the Committee will continue on Monday as they finalize their proposal to the Company in order to try and achieve an interim transition agreement prior to entering mediation. As a result of the bargaining survey, the two most important issues the membership would like to see the committee address are maintaining current medical benefits and retroactive pay. The committee discussed other issues that were brought forth from the individual cities. These items largely echoed the results of the bargaining survey and included items regarding lead ratios and buyout packages for those wanting to leave the company.

The rank and file Committee also established their internal method of voting on proposals to be presented by the Union as well as accepting or rejecting proposals from the Company. The committee determined there will be eleven votes using the one person one vote system from the eleven members sent from the Locals. It was further determined by the rank and file committee that Brothers Prisco and Meidinger will serve as full members of the committee in all matters with the exception of voting.

In attendance at this session were Local negotiators Larry Calhoun – NYC, Jay Koreny – IAD, Mike Pecoraro, Scott Baroni – ORD, Mitch Hunt, Scott Brown – DEN, Roger Apana – HNL, Dion Cornelious - LAX, John Lauren, Don Stevens, Mark DesAngeles – SFO for the Division Joseph Prisco SFO, Ken Meidinger DEN, Representatives - Clacy Griswold, Paul Alves, Bob Fisher, IBT Legal - Ed Gleason, and Labor Economist - Norman Weintraub.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

American Airlines Plans to Outsource 757 Maintenance

Tulsa, OK (USA Today) -- American Airlines says it plans outsource heavy maintenance on four Boeing 757s by the end of the month, the Tulsa World reports.

American Airlines has notified its Transport Workers Union in Tulsa that the company will outsource heavy maintenance on four Boeing 757 aircraft by Nov. 1, company and union officials said.

The 757 work will be performed by TIMCO Aviation Services, an independent aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul provider in Greensboro, N.C.

The 757 heavy maintenance, or "C checks," normally are performed at American's Maintenance and Engineering Center at Tulsa International Airport, company and union officials said, and the work takes from three to four weeks to complete.

American executives said a backlog of maintenance work at the Tulsa base compels the company to outsource the 757 maintenance as a temporary solution.

Source:

Friday, October 7, 2011

Negotiations Update - October 7, 2011

The Airline Division appointed two additional members to the national negotiating committee this week. These two Brothers are from San Francisco and Denver and Locals 986/856 and 455 support their appointment. Joe Prisco, from San Francisco, was appointed to provide additional input and insight regarding the line mechanics and Ken Meidenger from Denver was appointed to provide additional input and insight regarding the ground equipment and facilities mechanics. Brothers Prisco and Meidenger have both participated in prior national negotiations and, along with their colleagues on the newly constituted negotiating team, are fully committed to reaching a United mechanics’ agreement with the Company. The full committee will be convening on October 18th, and formal negotiations with United resume on October 24th.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Summit Meeting between Airline Division and UAL Addresses Issues

The Airline Division and United Airlines held a summit meeting in Washington, DC on September 29th. Among the items discussed were the carriers plans regarding the SOC and issues the Division had identified as potential contractual violations of the respective United, Continental, and Continental Micronesia agreements.

In addition the parties set dates for future negotiations for the United and Continental Micronesia mechanic agreements. For United mechanics, the parties have agreed to meet in Chicago starting October 24th and for Continental Micronesia mechanics, the parties will meet November 7ththrough November 9th.