How Arbitration Works
Members are asking for a description of the arbitration process in regards to the upcoming expedited arbitration cases. The mechanics of the arbitration process are described in Article 20 of the three agreements with the expedited process described in Article 1. According to Article 20 arbitrators are asked to render their decisions within 60 days of the case being heard or after final briefs are submitted.
Essentially what the process entails is the parties present their cases to a neutral third party (the arbitrator). In presenting their cases the parties attempt to persuade the neutral that their respective positions are the correct interpretation of the language in dispute.
The following excerpt is from the NMB website under the arbitration overview tab.
"Grievance Arbitration is a process for resolving disputes regarding the interpretation or application of an existing collective bargaining agreement. Grievances, known as “minor disputes” under the RLA, must be handled through Grievance Arbitration if not otherwise resolved, and cannot be used by the parties to trigger self-help actions.
The NMB has significant administrative responsibilities for the three types of grievance arbitration in the railroad industry. These types include those of the National Railroad Adjustment Board as well as arbitration panels established directly by the labor-management parties at each railroad: Public Law Boards and Special Boards of Adjustment. Grievance Arbitration in the airline industry is accomplished at the various System Boards of Adjustment created jointly by labor and management at the parties’ expense.
The NMB furnishes panels of prospective arbitrators for the parties’ selection in both the airline and railroad industries. [A request to be placed on the NMB Roster of Arbitrators may be obtained from the Board’s web site at www.nmb.gov. See Forms on the Documents page.] The NMB also has substantial financial responsibilities for railroad arbitration proceedings in that it pays the salaries and travel expenses of the arbitrators. Grievance Arbitration decisions under the RLA are final and binding with very limited grounds for judicial review."
The full document can be found at:
While time lines are discussed in the arbitration articles in some cases arbitrators will require extra time after the case to formulate a response. These types of delays are common and should be expected. There are many dynamics to any particular case but hopefully this general description helps to explain how the process works.
Aviation Safety InfoShare Conference
Report submitted by Dave Saucedo
This year’s Aviation Safety Info share was held the first week in March in Seattle Washington, home of the World Champion Seahawks who stomped the Denver Broncos by a score of 43-8. What a game…..go 12!!
InfoShare is a confidential biannual conference sponsored by the FAA, in which government and industry representatives share aviation safety concerns and discuss current aviation safety issues and mitigations. InfoShare offers the safety community a unique opportunity to come together in a private setting to learn from each other’s experiences. Various voluntary safety programs such as FOQA, ASAP, and LOSA are used to manage safety within our respective organizations. These programs have played a vital role in advancing safety. InfoShare offers a unique opportunity to share experiences, advancing aviation safety for the industry.
Air carrier, trade association, labor organization, and FAA employees are encouraged to attend. As in past years, the Teamsters will be sponsoring several maintenance representatives from various carriers and stations who will participate in the meetings. These working mechanic members as well as some full time Teamster Representatives will lend concerns and opinions from mechanics perspectives to issues raised during the event.
InfoShare is a 3-day meeting that includes multiple sessions: a joint session, followed by individual sessions for maintenance, dispatch, cabin, ground operations, and flight operations, as well as a best practices session and breakout sessions.
