CWA/Teamster labor thread -

[blownkneesbob]

love the way the CWA is intertwined with management . Jose Gomez used to be a Duty Manager (MANAGEMENT). and is local 3641 President.
the CWA is managements union for sure..

 

[The Janitor]

Here are some CWA updates on the alliance






A Strong Alliance to Maintain Our Passenger Service Careers
9-19-2005
An alliance between CWA at US Airways, and Teamsters at America West, is best for the job security, standard of living and working conditions of passenger service employees at both airlines.
The lack of an alliance would be dangerous for agents at both airlines...
With the airline industry in chaos, and employees suffering cuts at every airline, agents at US Airways and America West cannot afford an antagonistic conflict against each other that would risk our salaries, our protections and our benefits.
We have worked out an alliance which will preserve the US Airways agents' CWA contract, their CWA locals and their access to information and participation in their union.
The alliance (called Association of Airline Passenger Service Employees IBT + CWA) will allow us to remain CWA members while the America West employees remain Teamster members. US Airways agents will remain protected by the terms and conditions of their CWA contract.
In the future, the goal is to bring the AWA salaries and conditions up to the CWA contract level, and to improve aspects of the CWA contract (for example: activate our "snap backs" sooner for holidays, vacation, sickdays, premiums, etc.). We eventually want a single, improved contract protecting the entire passenger service group.
When that future, single, contract is achieved, the Teamster agents in eastern stations would be CWA-represented. The CWA agents in western stations would be Teamster-represented. The Alliance will allow us to work in a concerted effort to resolve major contract issues that would affect all members, regardless of location. But that is in the future. For now US Airways agents, East and West, remain protected by their CWA contract.
Those are big goals and we can accomplish them by working together for a united passenger service group.
For the good of our careers, for the good of our new airline, it makes sense to form an alliance between the two work groups that maintains their current representation and contract (US Airways/CWA) and status quo conditions (AWA/Teamsters).
For that reason we recommend and request that you approve this Alliance when you receive your ballot and Alliance proposal in the mail.
Thank You,
CWA US Airways Local Presidents

John Hanson, Local 1171
Pam Terry, Local 2000
Becky Gerald, Local 3640
Jose Gomez, Local 3641
John Tyler, Local 3140
Betty Grove, Local 4404
Chris Fox, Local 13302
Robert Megel, Local 13301 (acting)
US Airways CWA’ers have voted overwhelmingly for the proposed alliance…
10/13/2005
After much discussion and debate, and following the recommendations of the CWA Local President’s, the US Airways passenger service employees have voted by a margin of 84% YES to 16% NO in favor of the proposed passenger service alliance to jointly represent the US Airways and America West agents.
The CWA Local Officers and Staff want to thank all who voted and participated in the discussions prior to this vote.
We also want to assure all those who took the time to write suggestions and messages on their ballots that we will compile those messages and make them available to all local officers and staff.
The ballots were picked up from the US Post office in DC today and counted by the local presidents. The local presidents and staff will continue meeting today to discuss strategy going forward. We’ll keep you posted on these discussions and on any meetings with management (none scheduled this week - probably next week).
CWA’ers participating in today’s strategy discussion were CWA President Larry Cohen, local officers and representatives Robert Megel (13301), Sean Linehan and Pam Terry (2252), Jose Gomez (3641), Chris Fox (13302), John Hanson (1171), Vonda Hardy (3640), AFA-CWA Collective Bargaining Manager Clare Burt, CWA attorney Nick Manicone, and CWA staff Velvet Hawthorne and Rick Braswell.
Again, thanks for your participation in this important vote.
CWA Local Officers and Staff




Here is the CWA update on the last contact you voted on. It is the one we have NOW minus the snap backs and transitions agreement and express pay increases. The amendable date it the same





Agents Approve Contract at US Airways
12-23-04
Washington, D.C. - US Airways passenger service agents, members of the Communications Workers of America, have ratified changes to their contract with US Airways to help the troubled airline as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy.
The settlement was approved by a 60 percent vote in an Internet and telephone ratification process under the aegis of the American Arbitration Association. The contract, covering about 6,000 active agents, is amendable beginning Jan. 1, 2012.
The bargaining committee of local union presidents recommended approval of the settlement, given the carrier's bankruptcy status and the past decision of the bankruptcy judge to allow US Airways to temporarily cut workers' wages by 21 percent and implement further benefit cuts while negotiations continued.
Those cuts will end as the new ratified agreement takes effect on Jan. 1.
This agreement reduces average wages by 12. 9 percent, an "improvement" over the 34 percent wage cut US Airways management was demanding in earlier bargaining.
For More Information:
Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson
CWA Communications,
202-434-1168

The contract you quoted is simply not the contract you now have. During the second bankruptcy [think 2005, k?] the CWA and the IBT formed the 'front union' known as the airline passenger service association. Unfortunately, the 'front union' does not have a constitution, thus, NO customer service agent has ever voted on any association contract. Do you need me to cite the proper references for you? Any union that refuses to allow its own to vote on a contract is poison.

 

[usa1]

Customer service staffing has hit a record low. Will new TSA rules affect USAirways customer service
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-11-03-bagtags03_ST_N.htm?csp=34
Get ready to add another "customer service" to the growing list of do-it-yourself tasks at airports.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Delta-eye-letting-apf-3964888062.html?x=0&.v=1

 

[The Janitor]

I know IAM fleet Service came out with a sweetheart contract two years later ……..RIGHT

a sweetheart contract is generally considered a contract where the union refuses to allow its membership to vote, such as the case with the 'front union'. The IAM membership voted on their contract so it was not a sweetheart. The IAM has a secure defined pension with a payout of $80 month x number of years. The 'front union' and every other union on the property chose not to secure a defined benefit pension.

 

[The Janitor]

I think you might want to do a little more research on the TWU. Southwest RAMP is TWU and they top out somewhere around 26 -27 dollars an hour plus have a better PENSION and company 401k match.

Blownoutknees is correct. The Southwest Customer Service are IAM members. Currently, they top out at $26.32 with a boost to $26.61 in 2011. 9.3% 401k match. The TWU represents the ramp but they get paid less than $26.

SEIU and TWU won't raid the IBT. IAM won't raid the CWA. So, unless relationships break down, there is nowhere for the C/S at US AIRWAYS to turn to.

 

[usa1]

The IAM has a secure defined pension with a payout of $80 month x number of years. The 'front union' and every other union on the property chose not to secure a defined benefit pension.

Don't worry we have the PBGC plan ... if the government can find a way to fund it .... $16.00 per month X years of service! 😛h34r:

 

[wench1]

looked @ the TWU website--looks better & better then the CWA>

 

[john john]

The contract you quoted is simply not the contract you now have. During the second bankruptcy [think 2005, k?] the CWA and the IBT formed the 'front union' known as the airline passenger service association. Unfortunately, the 'front union' does not have a constitution, thus, NO customer service agent has ever voted on any association contract. Do you need me to cite the proper references for you? Any union that refuses to allow its own to vote on a contract is poison.

It is simply the same contract you voted on minus the snap backs and transitions agreement and express pay increases

 

[john john]

Blownoutknees is correct. The Southwest Customer Service are IAM members. Currently, they top out at $26.32 with a boost to $26.61 in 2011. 9.3% 401k match. The TWU represents the ramp but they get paid less than $26.

SEIU and TWU won't raid the IBT. IAM won't raid the CWA. So, unless relationships break down, there is nowhere for the C/S at US AIRWAYS to turn to.

OPS agent $26.35
Ramp agent $25.97
http://www.twu555.org/uploads/2008-2011%20CBA.pdf

 

[john john]

The contract you quoted is simply not the contract you now have. During the second bankruptcy [think 2005, k?] the CWA and the IBT formed the 'front union' known as the airline passenger service association. Unfortunately, the 'front union' does not have a constitution, thus, NO customer service agent has ever voted on any association contract. Do you need me to cite the proper references for you? Any union that refuses to allow its own to vote on a contract is poison.

It is the same contract you voted on minus the snap backs and transitions agreement and express pay increases

*******************************************************************************
Agents Approve Contract at US Airways
12-23-04
Washington, D.C. - US Airways passenger service agents, members of the Communications Workers of America, have ratified changes to their contract with US Airways to help the troubled airline as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy.
The settlement was approved by a 60 percent vote in an Internet and telephone ratification process under the aegis of the American Arbitration Association. The contract, covering about 6,000 active agents, is amendable beginning Jan. 1, 2012.
The bargaining committee of local union presidents recommended approval of the settlement, given the carrier's bankruptcy status and the past decision of the bankruptcy judge to allow US Airways to temporarily cut workers' wages by 21 percent and implement further benefit cuts while negotiations continued.
Those cuts will end as the new ratified agreement takes effect on Jan. 1.
This agreement reduces average wages by 12. 9 percent, an "improvement" over the 34 percent wage cut US Airways management was demanding in earlier bargaining.
For More Information:
Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson
CWA Communications,
202-434-1168
***************************************************************************
12-6-2005
The new Passenger Service Employee Association IBT + CWA has reached an Interim Transition Agreement with US Airways management on all the outstanding seamless service and transition issues, and we will accordingly withdraw our change of control grievance. After two months of negotiations by the committee (CWA Local Officers, attorneys and staff and IBT attorneys and staff) the agreement calls for the following:
1. End the pay step freeze for US Airways agents effective this coming April 1, 2006 – snap up to $18 per hour top rate from the current $17;
2. Reinstate the Vacation Option II (bid holidays as vacation) for US Airways effective the next vacation bid (Fall 2006);
3. Raise US Airways Mainline Express Agents to the Mainline pay scale in the following steps:
• $.40 raise on 4/1/06;
• four months later MLE Agents will be increased 25% of the difference between their current rate and the Mainline rate;
• six months later MLE Agents will be increased to 50% of the difference between their then current rate and the Mainline rate;
• five months later MLE Agents will be increased to 75% of the difference between their current rate and the Mainline rate;
• five months later MLE Agents will be increased to 100% of the Mainline rate.

 

[JetguyCLT]

Let me see if I can get this right, so because of this Front Union the Passenger Services Association, we the dues paying members have nothing to say about anything? We don't get to vote on anything?

 

[The Janitor]

Let me see if I can get this right, so because of this Front Union the Passenger Services Association, we the dues paying members have nothing to say about anything? We don't get to vote on anything?

You have not voted on any contract since you got the 'front union'. That is why US AIRWAYS voluntarily recognized it in 2005. Within 30 days after the voluntary recognition, the 'front union' agreed to a contract without the membership voting. My point is that you have no control over your union. When was the last time you voted out those that service your contract, i.e, velvet? You have a limbo union. Can you vote out any IBT business reps who will be negotiating your next contract? Are you even IBT members? Or which ones are CWA members? It's a cluster. Show me where you have the right to vote on your contracts? Show me how you can vote out Blue Velvet [CWA?] or IBT business rep?

 

[dexter]

CWA 2010 Constitution clearly states that anything to do with hours and wages must be put our for membership ratification. The IBT merged into the existing CWA contract. IBT is not part of the AFL-CIO anymore, therefore my question is how we could merge a non affiliate to the AFL-CIO into and affiliate AFL-CIO agreement. There is a Consitutuion with the Passenger Service Association but no BI-LAWS in place so we follow the CWA Constitution. It is indeed a cluster and we are losing BIG TIME. Our grievances that have laid in piles for years following bankruptcy have not been heard and we indeed have a major issue going on that should be revealed as DFR asap.

 

[dexter]

One more interesting item. When IBT merged into our existing contract did the membership vote on it? NO? Was there a reason to vote on it ?? That answer is YES.
There were changes to wages. AWA did not lose 15 months of pay in the newly integrated contract but CWA members lost 15 months of pay. Now do you really think there was no need to vote. I didn't think so. Our locals have been poorly represented on the EAST by CWA. IBT has been plugging hard for their grievances and arbitrations to be heard and won. We just found out that we won the shift swap arbitration in our station that shows that management cannot continue to take our swaps away when we call out sick on a swap. This arbitration was heard by the IBT, thankfully. KUDOS for the west side to have such great representation and we don't on the east. Also, I heard that during BK era CWA stated our grievances and arbitrations were put on hold and we found out that the company continued to hear the IAM's arbitration cases. So, IBT and IAM are protecting airline workers and CWA is a laughingstock of a Union for all of us EASTIES.

 

[wench1]

dexetr.,thank you ,thank you, thank you!