American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[CremaDiLimone]

There was a 9 month time period after the Association was formed where the two parties could have begun the process to reconcile the differences between all the Contracts and been prepared to present a proposal to the Company whenever they chose to accept it, even if we were still waiting for official NMB certification.

The IAM blew that idea off believing that they would have a stronger hand if they concluded getting their agreements finished first. (Creating some animosity for those of us feeling as if we have been left behind currently)

Not to also mention the fact that their Management chose to ignore them while they courted the LAA Unions to secure their support for a merger which I’m sure left a bad taste in their mouths.

(I’m writing these things from a crusty old mind that is only getting more and more senile with the passage of time please remember)

There would be no "swooping" in. The IAM was already in the process of collecting cards in order to have themselves as an option in a representational vote against the TWU. They wouldn't have needed too many cards at that time.

Soon after they started that campaign the Association became a reality.

if none of this stuff happened or couldn't have happened prior to april 2015, when the government certified american as one carrier and not two separate entities..then, my point still stands? prior to april 2015, the company concluded a deal with the iam in the summer of 2014.

as far as 'swooping'. i meant where the twu would start the necessary machinations to eventually flex it's clear majority in a vote for a single union to hold the certification to bargain for all.

 

[WeAAsles]

if none of this stuff happened or couldn't have happened prior to april 2015, when the government certified american as one carrier and not two separate entities..then, my point still stands? prior to april 2015, the company concluded a deal with the iam in the summer of 2014.

as far as 'swooping'. i meant where the twu would start the necessary machinations to eventually flex it's clear majority in a vote for a single union to hold the certification to bargain for all.

The TWU/ IAM Association was announced back in May of 2013. The thought process of many out there is there was no need to wait to join together and begin to reconcile differences in our Contracts in preparation to Negotiate with the Airline.

Obviously that didn’t wind up being the case and many issues whether agreed with or not from any angle got in the way of beginning the process.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business...resent-american-airlines-us-airways-employees

 

[WeAAsles]

https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/policy/transportation/238319-feds-clear-american-us-air-to-operate-as-one-airline?amp

The NMB ruling follows an August 16, 2014 request for the NMB to make a determination of single carrier status for all classes and crafts covered by the different unions at the merged carrier. The NMB ruled on April 15, 2015 that American was operating as a single carrier for all groups covered by the Associations’ filing.

The NMB’s process allowed a 30-day period after a single carrier determination for any intervenor to supply a showing of interest to compete for representation of the employees affected. When no such showing of interest was filed, the Board issued a certification of the TWU-IAM Associations as the recognized bargaining agents.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/h...Labor-Board-Certifies-IAM-TWU-Partnership-New

 

[WeAAsles]

June 16, 2014


The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced it reached tentative agreements with US Airways on contracts covering approximately 11,000 mechanic and related, fleet service, maintenance training specialist and stock clerk employees.

The three-year accords provide for substantial wage hikes, significant job security improvements and maintain industry-best healthcare benefits, among many other improvements. A ratification schedule is being developed.

"We thank the negotiating committees for their dedication and resolve during these difficult negotiations," said IAM District 141 and 142 Presidents Rich Delaney and Tom Higginbotham in a joint statement. "These tentative agreements provide a solid starting point for joint collective bargaining with our Transport Workers Union (TWU) brothers and sisters.”

The IAM has been in negotiations with US Airways for the mechanic and related, fleet service, maintenance training specialist and stock clerk employees for approximately three years and has demanded a fair contract first for IAM-represented pre-merger US Airways workers before any merger-related issues would be discussed.

"My sincere thanks to the IAM membership at US Airways," said General Vice President Sito Pantoja. "When these tentative contracts are ratified by IAM members at US Airways, the IAM-TWU Alliance will then begin the process of negotiating joint contacts that will cover over 30,000 alliance members at the 'new' American Airlines. These tentative agreements provide unprecedented job security provisions that will protect IAM members as the merger of US Airways and American Airlines proceeds. I'd also like to thank the NMB, and especially Chairwoman Linda Puchala, for their help in bringing these negotiations to a successful conclusion.”

The IAM and TWU, the union that represents ground workers at pre-merger American Airlines, formed a representation alliance last year after the merger of US Airways and American Airlines was announced.

 

[WeAAsles]

my point is, if wages and major benefits were equal by 2016, and either the twu or iam was the sole bargaining representative of all; we'd all be pulling the same end of the wage & benefits rope.

correct me if i'm wrong.

Coming back to this after a reread.

Not necessarily Crema. The TWU Constitution for Negotiations has a pernicious and sometimes maybe necessary little item in it called the “Roll Call”

If the Presidents get into a tangle and there’s no movement and someone wants to move things along they yell out “Roll Call” and a show of hands does a count.

If enough Presidents representing enough Members make up the majority of the total then the ayes have it and they all must move on. So the Negotiators can use that tool as basically a bully pulpit to silence a majority if they have the support.

That in itself could move the process along much quicker even if you still need to get the Company to agree to whatever position you currently have.

 

[CremaDiLimone]

The NMB ruling follows an August 16, 2014 request for the NMB to make a determination of single carrier status for all classes and crafts covered by the different unions at the merged carrier. The NMB ruled on April 15, 2015 that American was operating as a single carrier for all groups covered by the Associations’ filing.

The NMB’s process allowed a 30-day period after a single carrier determination for any intervenor to supply a showing of interest to compete for representation of the employees affected. When no such showing of interest was filed, the Board issued a certification of the TWU-IAM Associations as the recognized bargaining agents.

so, it appears that no one entity (whether twu, iam or the assoc.) could have started bargaining for all until 30 days after april 15, 2015.


after dec. of 2015: if the twu was the sole bargainer and lus iam agents & AMTs were on wage and benefit par with laa fsc & AMTs...in what scenario would this 'roll call' be used?

the perception is and maybe reality too..is that the iam part of the assoc. is fighting for it's insurance and catering while the twu is fighting for others issues.

i was talking about everyone pulling on the same end of the rope.

thanks for the time and research pulling up those articles.

 

[WeAAsles]

so, it appears that no one entity (whether twu, iam or the assoc.) could have started bargaining for all until 30 days after april 15, 2015.


after dec. of 2016: if the twu was the sole bargainer and lus iam agents & AMTs were on wage and benefit par with laa fsc & AMTs...in what scenario would this 'roll call' be used?

the perception is and maybe reality too..is that the iam part of the assoc. is fighting for it's insurance and catering while the twu is fighting for others issues.

i was talking about everyone pulling on the same end of the rope.

thanks for the time and research pulling up those articles.

Well there’s been disagreements between myself and NYer in the past on not if the Association “could” have began Negotiations with the Company before the NMB certified it as our Bargaining Agent but whether or not the Company “would” do so?

I was in the camp that they would NOT have done so. Besides the fact I can’t even imagine how it would have looked while the TWU Line Maintenance President was in the middle of trying to sue to get out of it and everyone else thinking (LMFAO) that we were going to get to vote on it? I think it would have been VERY stupid to start early in those cases.

And believe it or not I DO believe they’re all pulling on the same rope. They just have more concern over those items you talked about because each of those is a change that effects them more personally.

 

[Tim Nelson]

They may have needed only 35% of the total which they would have only had a few short months to attempt to collect.

You do recognize how many years it takes to try to organize large groups that aren’t even yet organized right? I think the TWU JetBlue campaign took around 5 years and possibly only the fear of a merger where they would be left out put them over the top.

Irregardless. Even if the hands were reversed, neither Union would have had the time to accomplish such a monumental task even if it was only 35% of the total and not 50% which I’m unsure of the numbers.

Myself and Atkinson won organizing drives after initiating contact less than 1.5 years. That's getting the job done. I wouldn't want to destroy the careers of JetBlue by getting them all contracted out, but a ruthless organizer, who had smarts, could knock it out in 6-9 months. Unfortunately, the IAM has been O'fer since it fired myself and Atkinson. Sad.

 

[P. REZ]

dunno because I havent seen the language. Sounds like they are keeping our no displacement language and expanding it. Sounds pretty damn good. Unfortunately there is prolly a date or some negative attachment, dunno.
And I fully support the 401k idea over this IAM Pension but we need more than 5% base.

Where do they say that you can stay FT(status)?

P. Rez

 

[WeAAsles]

Philadelphia


Union Report Raises ConcernsAbout Outsourced Aircraft Maintenance
A new report commissioned by the Transport Workers Union raises questions about oversight ofairplane maintenance and inspections being carried out in foreign countries. Transport Workers UnionInternational President John Samuelsen explains why his organization feels airlines are risking safety.

(Published Sunday, May 27, 2018 )

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/new...tsourced-Aircraft_Philadelphia-483815241.html

 

[737823]

Myself and Atkinson won organizing drives after initiating contact less than 1.5 years. That's getting the job done. I wouldn't want to destroy the careers of JetBlue by getting them all contracted out, but a ruthless organizer, who had smarts, could knock it out in 6-9 months. Unfortunately, the IAM has been O'fer since it fired myself and Atkinson. Sad.

Tim: didn't Roach want carriers organized before consolidation hoping that they could avoid representational elections? Hence your work at AirTran and the IAMs multiple failed attempts at DL.

Josh

 

[WeAAsles]

Philadelphia


Union Report Raises ConcernsAbout Outsourced Aircraft Maintenance
A new report commissioned by the Transport Workers Union raises questions about oversight ofairplane maintenance and inspections being carried out in foreign countries. Transport Workers UnionInternational President John Samuelsen explains why his organization feels airlines are risking safety.

(Published Sunday, May 27, 2018 )

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/new...tsourced-Aircraft_Philadelphia-483815241.html

I don’t ever recall Jim Little and team putting in this much work when they held office?

 

[737823]

I don’t ever recall Jim Little and team putting in this much work when they held office?

Here Weezy:

TWU International President James C. Little said members of the union are aware of their responsibilities to protect every passenger.

"There's no room for error in the airline industry," Little said. "But we're not playing on a level field - not when work at outsourced facilities overseas can avoid the certification of mechanics, background checks, and alcohol and drug testing that are a regular feature of TWU workplaces."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/...cle_72e9aa6c-266a-5f94-b3c8-a2ba321da8a8.html

Josh

 

[737823]

Weez just likes John Samuelsen because he is Irish dude from NY.

Josh

 

[WeAAsles]

Here Weezy:



http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/...cle_72e9aa6c-266a-5f94-b3c8-a2ba321da8a8.html

Josh

Quite a different source on this new report.

Thomas J. Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security 2003 - 2005

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Thomas (Tom) Ridge became the first Director of the Office of Homeland Security. On January 24, 2003, Ridge became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

During his tenure, Ridge worked with more than 180,000 employees from a combined 22 components to come together as one agency to strengthen our borders, provide for intelligence analysis and infrastructure protection, improve the use of science and technology to counter weapons of mass destruction, and to create a comprehensive response and recovery division. Ridge served the nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security until February 1, 2005.

Ridge was twice elected Governor of Pennsylvania, serving from 1995 to 2001. He kept his promise to make Pennsylvania "a leader among states and a competitor among nations." Governor Ridge's aggressive technology strategy helped fuel the state's advances in the priority areas of economic development, education, health and the environment.

Born Aug. 26, 1945, in Pittsburgh's Steel Valley, Governor Ridge was raised in a working class family in veterans' public housing in Erie. He earned a scholarship to Harvard, graduating with honors in 1967. After his first year at The Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor. After returning to Pennsylvania, he earned his law degree and was in private practice before becoming assistant district attorney in Erie County. He was elected to Congress in 1982. He was the first Congressman to have served as an enlisted man in the Vietnam War, and was overwhelmingly re-elected five times.

Ridge’s official portrait was unveiled at DHS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 23, 2013.

https://www.ridgeglobal.com/tom-ridge/