Final Offer

[deano]

You have got to be Kidding....There is nothing Guaranteed with this company.
They may have it in this offering, but will take it away later. Lifetime flying benefits....Big Deal. What good are they when you are Broke when you arrive at your destination. The Medical plan stinks now, and only gets worse as time goes on. Did you fail to notice that as soon as you get a pay increase, that your Medical contribution just "Happens" to increase along with it??? There are P/T jobs out there that have Medical plans that puts ours to shame, and cost less to boot.
Have nothing now or later....

[post="229847"][/post]​

You are absolutely correct about the medical. That is the main reason I threw in the towel having a family member who requires extensive medical needs makes working for U a fourth rate job since the co-pays and out of pockets will break you with an already very reduced wage.

Unless one has a spouse who has good coverage pray that everyone covered stays in excellent health least you go bankrupt.

Curt

 

[ClueByFour]

How's this:

1. IAM-M guarantees the company they can turn out the heavy checks at the same pace and at the same cost as the other outfits.

[post="229840"][/post]​

Cost? Maybe.

Pace? Are you nuts?

As a pax (and a relatively low-time PP/SEL) I become nervous when outsourcing firms start racing thru checks "on time." If time is the driver, I'll drive rather than fly on that aircraft (U's experiences with ST Mobile and small things like flaps-out landings bear this out).

Sans a union for your mechanics, you have unlicensed people doing the work and leads who are driven by time to sign for stuff that might be absolute crap. I'll pass.

This particular issue is all about bringing jobs to Alabama. And it's nuts.

 

[GeezLouis]

That is only if there is no consensual agreement.

The baggage handlers gave the company a counterproposal on Wednesday and the machinists did the same on Thursday. Both offers trade job losses for savings elsewhere, such as increased productivity.

[post="229776"][/post]​

700,

Any idea what was in that counterproposal?

 

[USA320Pilot]

Here are some thoughts on how to get a FSA and Mechanic/Utility TA:

-- A negotiated pay rate reduction.

-- Work rule changes.

-- Elimination of the DB plan and replace it with a PBGC award and a 401(k) match or DC Plan.

-- Eliminate retiree health care.

-- Agree to Airbus heavy maintenance outsourcing.

-- Take the Utility workers out of the IAM-M contract and combine the positions with the IAM-FSA. This would create cross utilization and improve productivity with a new job title of Ramp Personnel. Create work rule changes to permit a gradual reduction in positions.

-- Then offer a "buy out" like the company provided to the CWA and AFA to reduce head count.

I agree it will be difficult for the IAM to meet the company's cost cut target without creative thinking, like the AFA did. I believe management is overreaching, but when does management at any airline not over reach? We are now ending the S.1113 process and one thing is for sure, the court must rule one way or another shortly, without a new labor accord.

Do I like this list? No, nobody does, but it's what the other unions accepted and could be a move towards a consensual agreement between US Airways and the IAM.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[USFlyer]

Can I ask a dumb question? The company wants to outsource heavy maintenance since it costs x dollars per plane. Why can't the IAM and the Company find a way to make it cost x dollars in-house? Or, even x + a few percent more for in-house work, since outsourcing inherently introduces other headaches I'm sure many would rather avoid? What would it take to do this?

By the way, I flew US for the first time yesterday in many months (I've been flying NW since August). What is happening with the planes? I don't mean crumbs on the floor ... I mean, the entire cabin on both Airbuses looked worn, the bathrooms looked like they were hanging together with tape, the carpets (floors and bulkheads) look like they haven't been cleaned in years, etc. I hadn't realize how the Company is letting the product suffer until I flew another carrier for a few months.

 

[700UW]

The problems with trying to merge Utility with fleet service are numerous.

First of all Fleet makes $2 more an hour and then there is seniroity issues, most of fleet are senior to Utility, but Utility has been part of the IAM and paying dues since they were hired, fleet only since 99.

The company wants all utility and all base maintenance and the IAM will never agree to give up the DB plan, that will have to be done in court.

Well US flies into 89 mainline stations and there is only utility on third shift at 18 of them and there is only utility only at 1st and 2nd shift at 8 stations, the majority of the cleaning is all ready vendored out. You get what you pay for. And where there is utility it is so short staffed management tells them not to RON the airplane completely.

A Company like ST MAE only charges US for hours worked on an plane, they dont give vacation, sick time,insurance and competitive wages as the majority of the workers are independant contractors who are unlicensed mechanics working on the plane.

At US they pay a pension, medical insurance, retirement, sick time, vacation and holidays. US pays their employees even if a plane is not there to be worked on as one is finished and they are waiting for the next one to come in. So that is why it costs more to do inhouse, but does not cost much more.

 

[justaumechanic]

One thing you can bet on.

If and its a big if.. If a strike or job action were to occur with the mechanics better than 1/2 will cross the line the first day.. Take it to the bank.

The mechanics are beyond frustrated with the IAM and why pay union dues and have a labor agreement when the company just walks all over it anyway.

On top of that close to 1/2 the mechanics have 20 years in and will not want to throw it away with a strike.

No I am afraid a job action would accomplish nothing.. The IAM is a lost cause.

Keep in mind to the number of mechanics that are currently out on the street and who have been out on the street for several years now.. The company offers to pay $23 and hour and healthcare they will be lined up out the door fighting to get in.

 

[aafsc]

One thing you can bet on.

If and its a big if.. If a strike or job action were to occur with the mechanics better than 1/2 will cross the line the first day.. Take it to the bank.

The mechanics are beyond frustrated with the IAM and why pay union dues and have a labor agreement when the company just walks all over it anyway.

On top of that close to 1/2 the mechanics have 20 years in and will not want to throw it away with a strike.

No I am afraid a job action would accomplish nothing.. The IAM is a lost cause.

Keep in mind to the number of mechanics that are currently out on the street and who have been out on the street for several years now.. The company offers to pay $23 and hour and healthcare they will be lined up out the door fighting to get in.

[post="229867"][/post]​

If this is true then it does not matter if it is the IAM or AMFA representing the mechanics.

 

[700UW]

The company only wants 1,000 mechanics, you will be locked out anyhow.

And I doubt more then 1/4 would cross, it is over.

 

[deano]

The company only wants 1,000 mechanics, you will be locked out anyhow.

And I doubt more then 1/4 would cross, it is over.

[post="229869"][/post]​

I think 700UW is correct, unfortunately, but I agree with him and can't see the IAM doing itself in when that won't even guarantee a positive outcome...yes...IMO, IT'S OVER.

Curt

 

[repeet]

According to the Mechanic and Related that I work with,

-- Eliminate retiree health care,

and

-- Agree to Airbus heavy maintenance outsourcing,

are deal killers.

Everything else is negotiable.

 

[PITMTC]

Things are not looking good. We need a miracle from the nogotiators.

 

[700UW]

The company has to be realistic, the IAM knows their is a need for concessions, but will not reach a T/A when the company wants to get rid of 50% of the workforce.

 

[delldude]

The company has to be realistic, the IAM knows their is a need for concessions, but will not reach a T/A when the company wants to get rid of 50% of the workforce.

[post="229885"][/post]​

i said before....the ones on the bottom WILL vote it in for the only fact to get severance and u.c.
ask around...

 

[PITMTC]

The company has to be realistic, the IAM knows their is a need for concessions, but will not reach a T/A when the company wants to get rid of 50% of the workforce.

[post="229885"][/post]​

They truly need to be realistic if they feel someone would vote themselves out of a job. What has the union offered the company as an alternative. They wasted too much time. The union left the last decision up to the judge, He imposed a pay cut, nobody was happy but they blamed the company. Now the union was going to leave it up to the judge to abrogate the contract and everyone would have blamed the company for that also. It looks like the new path is to give the members a chance to vote on whatever the company wants to offer. That will put the blame on the company and the members.

The company may truly be unrealistic, no doubt, but what credit do you give the IAM for this?


PS 700. I had to side with Piney to make you understand that the IAM is the IAM no matter who they are representing. It looks like Levine is combining both contracts together when she talks to the judge and the media. 😉 Wrong again.