Mechanics Dispatch

June 22, 2014

Steering Committee Set to Meet

A notice to the steering committee was sent out for the body to reconvene July 24^th and 25^th in Denver. The notice was sent to the seventy sitting members of the committee covering all locations from Boston to Guam. The committee will be briefed on what has transpired since the last meeting and then there will be a discussion on how the talks will proceed under mediation.

Arbitration Update

On the 18^th the arbitration case on the deicing equipment was held in Newark, NJ. The oral arguments were finished in one day and now both sides will submit briefs to the arbitrator. The resource utilization case will continue on June 26^th in Newark. As soon as decisions are rendered they will be reported in the Dispatch.

Mechanics Dispatch

June 15, 2014
President Hoffa Visits SFO
On June 13th President Hoffa visited with members at the Maintenance Base in OV and Engine Shop.
Mr. Hoffa walked the floor and spoke with several members during the tour of these two areas. A short meeting was held afterwards with stewards, and Business Agents in the Union Office at the Base.
Pictured to the left are: Engine Shop Chief Steward Steve Anderson, Local 856 Business Agent Javier Lectora, General President James Hoffa, Airline Division Representative Clacy Griswold, and Local 986 Business Agent Rich Petrovsky

Rumors
Recently an individual with no facts decided to put out a “newsletter”. The term “newsletter” can only be used to describe the format as the content is nothing but speculation and innuendo.
The report outlines a new pension plan that would prohibit a surviving spouse from receiving benefits. This would be a violation of Federal law. Nothing more needs to be said about that.
Another point in the factually incorrect letter was that the APU grievance was withdrawn as some sort of a deal. The reasons for the withdrawal were relayed to the Business Agents. As the last Mechanics Dispatch reported, the grievance was withdrawn “without prejudice” meaning it can be refiled.
The reasons for the withdrawal are not being put in print for one very important reason. Past grievances have been lost as a result of previous unions on the property that tended to write down every detail of a case or meeting. These written responses were then used against this membership, whether at face value or by twisting those written words, in several arbitration cases. Since as stated this grievance was withdrawn without prejudice and may be refiled, it is
not in anyone’s interest but the company for the Division to write down the reasons for withdrawal.
There is more in the “newsletter” but devoting more resources to someone who is clearly not interested in facts is a waste of everyone’s time. Please do not succumb to rumors as a divided membership only benefits the company.
Steward and Craft Meeting at IAD
Last week Business Agent Ralph Salzano conducted a Steward meeting and a craft meeting for mechanics at Dulles. Also in attendance were Chief Stewards Jay Koreny from IAD and Vincent Graziano from Newark. The two day meeting covered contract interpretation as well as other local issues.
Happy Father’s Day
From all of us at the Airline Division, a Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there!
Furloughed members urged to update their addresses
Members on furlough are advised to keep their addresses current with the company while on layoff. It is predicted that there will be many movements this year and there have been several members that have been removed from the seniority list because old addresses were on file when notices were sent.
If you are in touch with a furloughed member, please forward this information to them. Updates may be emailed to: ESC@united.com . The ESC will provide a fax number and ask members to send the address change accompanied with a signature.

UAL Mechanics Dispatch - Week Ending May 31, 2014

Meeting in Chicago 

On May 28^th and 29^th the parties met in Chicago for the purpose of further understanding the economics of the respective proposals. However due to concerns brought up on the Chief Steward's call the week prior, there were broad issues that needed to be addressed. The Chiefs expressed concern that on the sub UA side there were still major implementation items that were causing frustration. Similarly on the sub CO side there appeared to be a reinterpretation of old and settled language. The 28^th was dedicated to discussing these issues along with proposed solutions by the IBT. The morning of the 29^th the company addressed several of the concerns that were brought up the day before. While there was no single agreed upon solution, it was agreed these issues are serious and they will be addressed in a parallel track with the ongoing negotiations.  

The afternoon of the 29^th was spent discussing open proposals. It was clear that the full committee would be needed to advance these discussions. The parties agreed that the full committee would meet for the full week of July 7^th.  

Sometime after the meeting in July, and before the August mediated session, the steering committee will meet to discuss what has transpired.

Arbitration Update 

The Resource Utilization letter arbitration case is scheduled to continue on June 26^th in Newark. The ORD Data Center case was postponed and will be heard on November 6^th. The APU grievance was withdrawn without prejudice meaning it can be refiled. The ORD Tool Room arbitration scheduled for June 4^th was moved and a discharge case has taken its place. When the new date is agreed upon it will be reported in the Dispatch. The sub CO Medical grievance will continue on August 5^th and 6^th. The sub UA Medical grievance will be heard on September 8^th. If any of these dates change it will be reported in the Dispatch.