Friday, March 25, 2011

Here is the Link to the Full T/A

Teamster Mechanics at United Airlines Secure Tentative Agreement with AirlineThe Teamsters Union and United Airlines Inc. (NYSE: UAL) have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for the 5,500 aircraft technicians and related employees throughout the U.S. The members will review and vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.
Tentative Agreement
UA – IBT Tentative Agreement Summary

Are You Paying Taxes?

General Electric, the nation’s largest corporation, had a very good year in 2010.
The company reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total came from its operations in the United States.
Its American tax bill? None. In fact, G.E. claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion.

Here is the rest of the story.

Monday, March 21, 2011

IBT-UAL Tentative Highlight Sheet

The IBT-UAL Tentative agreement can be down loaded here. This is just a highlight sheet more information will be out soon and the tentative will be sent to all members house to review.

Jock

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Contract Details

The latest word I have today is that the highlight sheet will be out on Monday. If anything goes out sooner I'll post it.

Jock

Friday, March 18, 2011

Message From Jim Keenan

Jim Keenan

Senior Vice President

United Technical Operations

I’m pleased to share the news that after many months of productive discussions, United and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have reached a Tentative Agreement on a labor contract that, if ratified, would apply to aircraft maintenance technicians and related employees at subsidiary United Airlines in the U.S.

As I said last November when subsidiary Continental technicians ratified their tentative agreement, we are committed to reaching fair and mutually beneficial agreements with all of our unions. I believe this agreement demonstrates that commitment.

Just as important, it is a significant milestone in the integration process. By laying a solid foundation for working together as we integrate our operations, we have a viable model for bringing technicians from both subsidiaries together under a joint contract.

Teamsters leadership will communicate the details of the contract with members in the coming days and weeks, which will then be followed by a ratification vote.

Sorry guys nothing yet on the details. As soon as I get something I will post it.

Jock

Teamster Mechanics At United Airlines Secure Tentative Agreement With Airline

(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters Union and United Airlines Inc. (NYSE: UAL) have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for the 5,500 aircraft technicians and related employees throughout the U.S., Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced today. This is the first contract negotiated by the Teamsters for the group since the workers voted to join the union in March 2008.

“This tentative agreement marks the start of new day for United mechanics,” Hoffa said. “This contract makes significant gains in a number of key areas where our members felt they had lost ground in previous contracts. Our negotiating team made addressing these areas their number one priority and did an outstanding job.”

Details of the contract will not be released until after it has been presented to and reviewed by the membership in the coming weeks. The union’s negotiation team is currently working on the scheduling of membership meetings and securing a date for the ratification vote.

“This is a historic step in the continuing merger process of United and Continental Airlines,” said Airline Division Director David Bourne. “I would like to congratulate and commend the hard work and dedication of the union negotiating team, and also want to acknowledge the positive working relationship exhibited by United’s management and negotiators during this two-year process.”

The Committee is working on the Highlight sheet and should be out soon with more details to come on Monday.

Jock

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Negotiations Update – March 10, 2011

This week the parties met in Chicago and were able to finalize articles regarding: Definitions, Classifications, Hours of Service, Holidays, Sick Leave, as well as several revised articles including: Vacancies, Field Trips, Training, Safety and Health, Union Representation, Grievance Procedure, Board of Arbitration, General and Miscellaneous, Apprentice Mechanics, Transportation, and the Savings Clause.
The parties also finalized multiple Letters of Agreement, many of which were retained for historical purposes, which include Conversion to System Seniority, Application of Seniority at time of layoff FST’s and GCT’s, Realignment of Manpower when there is Temporarily no Work, Method established to Break Ties on Master Seniority List, Retirement plan Credit prior to age 25, Intent of Company Regarding leads, Pay Rates when transferring to Other Represented Classifications, Contacting Employee for temporary work, SFOPI Lead Mechanics, Warranty Work, Checks Performed Overseas, Maintenance Instructors, Outsourcing Heavy Maintenance, Utility and CT Severance Benefits, Indemnification, Bankruptcy Exit Agreement, and two new letters which include, Working in a Lower Classification, and Tool Allowance.
The parties will meet next week in Chicago in an effort to close out the few remaining open issues.
In attendance for the Union: Airline Division: Clacy Griswold, Ed Gleason, Paul Alves, Bob Fisher; Labor Economist: Norman Weintraub; Negotiating Team: Ramon Gonzales, Javier Lectora, Harvey Wright, Roger Apana, Dion Cornelius; Business Agents: Dave Elmore, Paul Molenberg, Kevin Giegoldt, George Graham, David Saucedo
In attendance for the Company: Marcel Delhommeau, Kellee Allain, Anita Davis, Kathy Cassley, Paul Darrow, Ray Ahmes, Anil Khorana, Mark Prpich, Gary Kaplan

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Health Care Profits?

Is it morally right to gouge people for their health care just to make $119 million profit? Looking at the news online today, I came across an interesting article at Seattle PI. Two of the three health insurers showed a profit. Group Health showed a $32 million loss but an increase of 40,000 members and the CEO took a pay cut. I am not sure if those number match up. But the article says they are trying to do the right thing and bring down health care cost. (And I have a bridge for sale)
Jock

Health insurers boost profits, reserves

Washington's largest health insurers mostly bounced back from the recession last year, with bigger profits and reserves, according to annual statements filed this month.
Regence BlueShield continued its upward trend, with a $51.3 million profit and $956.5 million surplus, a record high in a decade. The insurer posted an underwriting gain of $10.5 million, reversing a two-year slide in insuring activities.
Premera Blue Cross also reversed its downward course, with $119 million in profit and $879.4 million in surplus. The company's net income was a significant rise over its 2009 earnings of $21 million, and higher than its pre-recession profits of 2006 and 2007. Like Regence, Premera's surplus also hit a 10-year high.
Click here for the rest of the story.
By VANESSA HO
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Monday, March 7, 2011

Really??

Police: 83-year-old greeter robbed own Walmart
By Associated Press
STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Police have charged an 83-year-old greeter at a North Carolina Walmart with trying to rob the store over the weekend.

Police say George Plane Jr. of Mooresville was working Sunday night when he went to his car, donned a disguise and walked back inside the Statesville store with a gun.

Statesville Police Chief Tom Anderson says Plane put the gun to a fellow employee's head and demanded money from a cash register. Anderson says Plane fired a shot in the air after leaving with the money. Plane was arrested later Sunday.

He was being held Monday on multiple charges, including robbery with a dangerous weapon.

It could not be immediately determined Monday if he has a lawyer.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Negotiations Update – March 4, 2011

The parties met in San Francisco and progressed further towards the conclusion of discussion with the company for an agreement. During the normal course of this process, situations often develop that required more attention and discussion. We were able to reach tentative agreements on articles regarding Reduction In Force, Seniority, and Overtime. Compensation, benefits and scope discussions continue.
The full committee will meet next week in Chicago to carry on with negotiations.

In attendance for the Union: Airline Division: Clacy Griswold, Ed Gleason, Paul Alves, Bob Fisher; Negotiating Team: Norman Weintraub, Ralph Salzano, Ramon Gonzales, Ken Meidinger, Javier Lectora, Harvey Wright, Dominic Gully, Roger Apana, Dion Cornelius, Kevin Giegoldt, George Grahm;
Business Agents: Dave Elmore, PaulMolenberg, Rich Petrovsky, David Saucedo

In attendance for the Company: Doug McKeen, Mike Bonds, Jim Keenan, Marcel Delhommeau, Gary Kaplan, Kathy Cassley, Paul Darrow, Mark Prpich, Anita Davis, Anil Khorana, Kellee Allain, Clint Stephen, Darren Fehring, Lincoln Lounsbury, Jeff Wall

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

It's all what you can Negotiate in your Contract

Today must be stock option day, each one of United’s top executives received there stock on March 2, 2011 according to the Securities Exchange Commission. I used today's trading value.

SMISEK JEFFERY A
President and CEO
148,573 Shares = $ 3,417,179

Bonds Michael P
Exec VP HR and Labor Relations
17,147 Shares = $ 394,381

Halbert R. Keith
EVP -Chief Information Officer
19,256 Shares =$ 442,888

Foland Jeffrey T.
EVP - President, Mileage Plus
11,759 Shares = $ 270,457

Hart Brett J
SVP, Gen Counsel and Corp Sec
13,918 Shares = $ 320,114

KENNY CHRIS
Vice President & Controller
7,516 Shares = $ 172,868

COMPTON JAMES E
Exec VP and Chief Rev. Officer
29,673 Shares = $ 682,479

Rowe Zane
Exec VP and CFO
29,253 Shares = $ 672,819

MCDONALD PETER D
Exec VP and COO
22,269 Shares = $512,187