Force Majeure Grievances..settled?

[Tim Nelson]

I haven't checked of late but are there any force majeure [french manure]grievances on your property or did the unions on the property waive them?
The reason why I ask is because AMFA just won the reinstatement with full backpay and benefits of around 150 mechanics who NW laid off a couple years back because of so-called force majeure. This must have a potential cost of well over $5 million for NW to make things Just and fair.

At any rate, this ruling should spell good things for other airline workers in similar situations.

regards,

 

[aerosmith]

Don't even go here the company stole the force majeure & hmo grievances from the IAM not to mention the Airbus debacle.

 

[700UW]

Tim,

Northwest laid off 2,000 mechanics in that Force Majuere case, only 150 were brought back, a hollow victory.

Northwest Told to Restore Mechanics Jobs
Monday June 14, 7:45 pm ET
Arbitration Board Rules That Northwest Airlines Must Restore About 150 Aircraft Mechanics Jobs

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- An arbitration board ruled Monday that Northwest Airlines Corp. must restore about 150 aircraft mechanics jobs that were eliminated after the start of the war in Iraq.

Northwest laid off about 2,000 mechanics last year in the wake of the war's start and the SARS outbreak. The airline invoked the "force majeure" clause of its contract, which allows layoffs for some events outside of the company's control, such as an act of war.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said the layoffs were due to economic conditions, and that the airline used the war and SARS as an excuse to make layoffs.

"We're happy we were able to put the brakes on this excessive behavior and get these jobs restored with full compensation for lost wages and benefits," said Jeff Mathews, the contract coordinator for the Northwest unit of the AMFA, in a news release.

Northwest said in a release that it would "honor the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement" regarding the 150 furloughs that were not sustained by the arbitrator.

Earlier this year, Northwest won a similar battle when an arbitrator ruled that the company was justified in invoking the 2001 terror attacks to lay off hundreds of mechanics.

 

[Dilligas]

Northwest laid off 2,000 mechanics in that Force Majuere case, only 150 were brought back, a hollow victory.

700,

Unless of course, you are one of the 150. Then I'd say it was pretty good news.

 

[700UW]

Agreed.

 

[to much time to quit]

Don't even go here the company stole the force majeure & hmo grievances from the IAM not to mention the Airbus debacle.

I believe it was the members who voted YES TWICE who stole force majeure & hmo grievances. And the company is currently stealing the airbus work, at least until August. And the iam should share the blame also for bringing back the same contract for a revote after the membership voted NO. Those 2 items were about the only part of the contract that was not tenatively agreed upon. Even though agreeing to a revote was and will forever be 100% WRONG, they should have at least forced the company to change something. I guess they couldn't live up to the fighting machinists name, it has been more like the frightened machinists. Just wait the chest pounding about not reopening the contract has become quieter and quieter, this is by far not finished yet.

 

[700UW]

The IAM WON the HMO Grievance Arbitration and money was paid out to the effected employees and the IAM won the 401K match arbitration and money was paid out.

 

[Tim Nelson]

The IAM WON the HMO Grievance Arbitration and money was paid out to the effected employees and the IAM won the 401K match arbitration and money was paid out.

700

This is nothing about AMFA.

If you laid aside your loyalties to the IAM you would plainly see that the arbitration award was significant and a good thing for workers. Likewise, if the IAM wins arbitration for airbus it will also be a victory for workers.

Regarding the IAM, what ever happened to the major contract dispute on fleet service with MDA catering? Haven't heard a thing....did they go to court for fleet service or did fleet service get MDA catering?

regards,

 

[700UW]

There was never a need to file on MDA as the company DID NOT vendor out the catering where US Airways had thier own caterers, mainline catering is working the flight.

 

[ua767fo]

Layoff 2,000, lose an arbitration and rehire 150 2-3 years later. Guess what in that time 150 have probably atritted out of the workforce. Net new employment probably zero.

rehiring back pay cost of 5 Mil to get rid of another 1,850 seems like a bargain

Piney Bob, your right on the mark. One of the drawbacks of the RLA is that contract ratification is left up to management, if labor doesnt like it, they can grieve it.

Well, this is the reality of the industry. Management does what it wants, and says "tough beans" to labor. Arbitrating and ajudicating a grievance is a long process, so in the mean time, management wins. Perhaps this gives insight as to why there seems to be an industry wide perception that people at AAA, and other airlines simply dont care anymore. LOTS DONT. Why bust your butt for managers who have screwed you?

Denver, CO

 

[to much time to quit]

Perhaps this gives insight as to why there seems to be an industry wide perception that people at AAA, and other airlines simply dont care anymore. LOTS DONT. Why bust your butt for managers who have screwed you?

Denver, CO

You hit the nail right on the head. Going the extra mile for these type of companys will get you no where, :down: The hero days are gone forever for many.