Steering Committee Hears Proposals
The steering committee met from July 10th through 12th to begin the task of putting together the amalgamated contract for the mechanics and related group at the new United Airlines. Nearly every station was represented with mechanics participating from HNL, SFO, LAX, SEA, PDX, PHX, DEN, IAH, CLE, ORD, EWR, JFK, IAD and MCO. These members and Stewards met for three full days near LAX and were assisted by Local Business agents and IBT International Representatives.
The group spent the time discussing membership proposals as well as examining several articles for improvement. The agreement sections covered were Articles 2, through 12, 19, and 20. In addition to the proposal suggestions for each of the articles, beneficial discussions were held on how the language is currently applied at both sUA and sCO throughout the system. It was quickly apparent that the open discussions between the various stations represented between the two sub-airlines would be a benefit towards serving the membership. Discussions were open and respectful, as well as useful.
Further discussions will take place in IAH the week of July 16th.
Members from SFOMP address the Committee
Several members from the SFO Facilities Maintenance group addressed the steering committee on the first day of meetings. This group makes up SFOMP and is now listed under the BAQ’s as Trade Group 128. They are made up of several professional industries including Plumbers, Welders, Electricians, HVAC, and Carpenters among others. The “can do” attitude by these relatively few mechanics keeps the heart beat pumping for the “small city” known as the UAL San Francisco Maintenance Base.
Originally, this group of highly skilled but sometimes forgotten Tradesmen had planned on offering a tour of the facilities they are depended on to keep running. Unfortunately, since the location of the meetings changed to LAX, a new plan was quickly implemented, and they gave a presentation of their daily and often times dangerous tasks.
The Maintenance Base is unique in that it offers everything a major terminal has but is totally dependent on in-house maintenance. At a typical airport terminal; city expert professionals are called in when the facility requires a hot tap on a 12,000 volt 3 phase electrical transformer or a dig up and replacement of an underground fire suppression system, or the repair of a 12” pipe pumping steam of 375 degrees at 100 PSI. At the Base, all this and more is performed in house typically without the assistance of any outside help. The 178 IBT members who make up SFOMP are entrusted to perform these types of tasks every day.
The problem, is keeping this bid area fully staffed. On the outside, the skills and training obtained by these tradesmen can earn workers much higher pay than is provided under our agreement. Collectively, SFOMP has submitted proposals that could help rectify their concerns, without taking away from any other group of workers at UAL. The goal of this presentation was to help educate the members on the entire steering committee of this relatively unknown group. The feed back from the committee was overall appreciative and the presentation was deemed worthwhile.
UAL Teamsters EAP presentation
Employee Assistance Program Coordinators Joe Schwirian and Steve Loone addressed the steering committee in the afternoon of July 12.
The Teamsters' EAP offers free help to their brother/sister Union members and their families when a personal problem develops. The EAP Coordinators will listen to any problem and will assist in developing a plan of action that will meet the member needs. If necessary, a referral to a qualified service provider in the Community may be recommended.
The Employee Assistance Program is voluntary and it is up for the member to decide whether or not to follow through with EAP suggestions or recommendations. However, as Teamster members themselves, the EAP coordinators pride themselves in absolute confidentiality and discretion.
The services provided by EAP are free. If the referral to a community service provider is necessary, your EAP coordinator will work with you to make effective use of your insurance benefits.
The purpose of this presentation was to help educate the entire committee of the important service this group offers to UAL Teamster members. Currently, this program is offered to sub-UA mechanics and related and is protected and funded by UAL through a Letter of Agreement. The EAP group would like to continue the work they do for the entire combined M&R group across the system and needs the support of the committee to accomplish this goal.
Benefits Committee Update
On Thursday July 12, 2012, the Benefits Committee convened in LAX to receive a presentation on the WCTPT, (Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust), from administrator Walter Pentz. Much information was given, and the plan administrator had some questions of his own. Through the Q&A process it was revealed our combined work group, s-CAL & s-UAL, has an average age of 51.1 yrs, posing a potential problem with the group being accepting into the Plan.
Later in the day the presentation was shared with the entire committee followed by another Q&A session.
As discussed in past updates, the multiemployer WCTPT is only ONE type of pension option being looked into as a viable negotiating position. Many factors will be taken into consideration before the committee will make a recommendation to all the members.
The Benefits Committee will be meeting to discuss the information gathered and make sure consultant, Pete Hardcastle has all the up to date info so an accurate comparison, including the WCTPT, can be completed.
