Friday, December 21, 2012

TAMC Newsletter, Teamster Aviation Professional

Read the Latest Issue of the
Volume 3, Issue 11 of the TAMC Newsletter is Ready to Read

The eleventh issue of the TAMC (Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition) newsletter Volume 3, Teamster Aviation Professional, is out and ready to read. Check out the latest news from the TAMC today.

Click here to read the newsletter.

The latest newsletter focuses on important developments for mechanics and related in the airline industry, including:
  • New proposed maintenance rules from the FAA and what they could mean for safety and outsourcing;
  • A new book, Attention All Passengers, by TAMC friend William J. McGee on the perils of outsourcing and the decline of our industry;
  • Recent progress toward reaching an agreement on the UAL-CAL-CMI amalgamation;
  • A TAMC member report on a recent infoshare event about aviation safety;
  • An explanation of the Teamsters’ floor structure, from the rank and file to Local Union leadership to the International’s Airline Division;
  • A brief holiday message from the TAMC Steering Committee.
With yet another newsletter packed with important news and useful information, it is critical that this edition be distributed to all the aviation mechanics and related members represented by the Teamsters. Please take some time over the holidays to read this newsletter and share it with your coworkers.
The Teamster Aviation Professional is the official source of communication between the Teamsters Airline Division and the 18,000 Teamster mechanics and related craft members. This newsletter of the TAMC contains information about what our union is doing to fight outsourcing, secure wages and benefits, and ensure that airline mechanics everywhere are treated with the dignity, respect and fairness they deserve.

Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Mechanic Dispatch

Seniority Integration Committee Update 

The Seniority Committee met this week to discuss the remaining aspects of combining the three company seniority lists. The task before the committee is to create recommendations regarding seniority integration and its impact on the various contract articles of a Joint CBA. 
The committee decided on 2 representatives, (1 sUA and 1 sCO), who will assist the negotiating committee by clarifying the intent of the SIC recommendations. 
The different scenarios regarding lead and inspector seniority was discussed at length and it was determined that there would be a resounding impact to either group no matter which path was followed. Various ways to reduce that impact were discussed but in the end the group determined that following basic craft seniority principles (rather than a premium system) would be the most consistent and cleanest method. It was also determined that following craft seniority could provide more protections and allow for greater mobility by using a single craft seniority method.  
Two of the more simple resolutions included an agreement to take a position to retain lifetime recall rights, and a method to settle ties in seniority. While the three previous topics were discussed and settled, there were other subjects that were not decided on. These include discussions surrounding such issues as breaks in seniority affecting CO and MCI mechanics but not UA. How to level this point will require further discussion as well as more detailed information from the company.  
Other points that require further consideration include former management seniority adjustments, and Furloughed UA technicians currently working for CO. The committee felt more information and time was required to resolve differences and reach a consensus. An important item for the committee is maintaining adequate furlough protection language in a Joint CBA. A list of information needed to proceed was compiled and will be delivered to the company. 
The next meeting will be during the second week of December. Along with continued discussions on open issues, the committee will review information supplied by the company and continue the arduous task of reviewing the seniority lists for errors or changes.
 
Airline Division working on Merger Policy 

The Airline Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting on November 27th and 28th. A primary topic of discussion was the creation of a Division-wide merger policy. The Board members were given examples of how other unions have approached seniority list integrations in the past. These examples included integrations that have worked and others that have failed horribly. There was discussion also of the recent integrations that have occurred and which are occurring within the Division. It was also noted that the USAir pilots group currently represented by USAPA has been without a new agreement for 8 years trying to achieve a mutually acceptable solution for seniority integration. Their internal dispute regarding seniority integration has cost that pilot group millions of dollars in the form of lost opportunity costs, including wages not earned.
The Division’s Board members agreed that a Division-wide policy needed to be adopted by the Division because consolidation of the industry will continue. The Board discussed that a policy based on “date of hire” or “date of entering the craft” has considerable merit and should be included in the policy of the Airline Division.  
To that end, subcommittees of representatives from the IBT-represented crafts are now assigned to begin the construction of a merger policy based on the “date of hire” and/or “date of entering the craft” approach. These sub committees will work towards preparing a draft that can be reviewed at the next Board of Directors meeting in March for possible adoption.

Paper FAA Certificates Will Expire  

For those of you who still hold a paper license, stop procrastinating. Your paper license will no longer be valid on March 31, 2013. That means you can’t work! The good news is that it’s easy and painless to replace and it only costs $2.00. 
Just go to this link:
 
Or search Google for “FAA Paper License Replacement.” 
All paper certificate holders cannot exercise the privileges of their PAPER certificates after March 31, 2013. This includes all certificates that are issued under 14 CFR Part 63 and 65. 
14 CFR 63.15(d) and 65.15(d) reads:
Duration of certificates. Except for temporary certificates issued under §63.15 and 65.15, the holder of a paper certificate issued under this part may not exercise the privileges of that certificate after March 31, 2013. 
If your airman certificate was issued after July 2003 and is a plastic certificate, it already meets the paper-to plastic rule as specified in 14 CFR Parts 63 and 65 and you may disregard this notification. 
 
Inspection Compliance 

Please be sure if you are upgrading to inspection on the sUA side that you follow the proper procedures. Until bid area 301 is established in the hubs upgrades will continue. Don’t get into trouble with the FAA during this transition period; if you’re not sure call the inspection management group. Look for a more in 
depth report in a future issue of the Dispatch. 

Mechanic Contract Books 

Many members have asked when the company will print the new agreement. A grievance has been filed out of SFO on the matter. However given the timing of the expedited negotiations there will most likely be a new agreement in place prior to the printing of the transition agreement. To be clear, the printed copy that each member received in the mail prior to ratification is the agreement in place currently. If anyone would like an electronic copy of the agreement it can be found here:

Friday, December 7, 2012

Pearl Harbor Day, December 7.

President Roosevelt delivers the "Day of Infamy" speech to a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941. Behind him are Vice President Henry Wallace (left) and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. To the right, in uniform, is Roosevelt's son James.