IAM Fleet Service topic

[bagchucker]

saywhat,
cargo work in LAS, LAX and PHX is protected under the current contract. It is my understanding LAS cargo employees handled and accepted cargo for other airlines. The company, since they cannot outsource the work, terminate the cargo handling agreements with the other carriers thus reducing the volume of cargo being handled. With this reduction in volume they were able to reduce the staffing. Slick move... Again I ask who is the real enemy?
ograc

please visit http://lfp12.com

Sorry guys, I misunderstood the person I was talking to. I was informed that 24 agents were affected and I heard that it was contracted out, but misunderstood. It was actually due to loss of contract work that was the reason for the reduction. Either way, we lose again! It begs the question though... Is the removal of 150 Fleet Service jobs across the system making THAT much of a difference in the Company's bottom line? Is it "streamlining" to better suit a merger? I can't imagine that the Company is so hard pressed that they are nickel and diming to the point that 150 jobs makes the difference? I realize we are the sacrificial lambs in the eyes of the Company (hell, I had my own neck wrung back in Jan and am still out on the street), but this is ridiculous! You know another round of station closures is on the horizon, too. Makes you feel real good to know you are a "respected, integral part of your company" ...NOT!

 

[ograc]

Sorry guys, I misunderstood the person I was talking to. I was informed that 24 agents were affected and I heard that it was contracted out, but misunderstood. It was actually due to loss of contract work that was the reason for the reduction. Either way, we lose again! It begs the question though... Is the removal of 150 Fleet Service jobs across the system making THAT much of a difference in the Company's bottom line? Is it "streamlining" to better suit a merger? I can't imagine that the Company is so hard pressed that they are nickel and diming to the point that 150 jobs makes the difference? I realize we are the sacrificial lambs in the eyes of the Company (hell, I had my own neck wrung back in Jan and am still out on the street), but this is ridiculous! You know another round of station closures is on the horizon, too. Makes you feel real good to know you are a "respected, integral part of your company" ...NOT!

bagchucker,
I regret that you, like many, are another casualty of the company's self centered agenda. An agenda that sees all of us (Fleet Service) as a liability and drag to the bottom line. Make no mistake about it the bottom line from PHX is about profit and return to the shareholder. Are they streamlining to better suit a merger? I believe they are. Is another round of station closures in their plans? I believe so. Will they propose, in contract negotiations, that catering in the hubs be allowed to be outsourced? I believe that's their next move. Their agenda, at this point, should be evident to all. Eliminate as many IAM represented Fleet Service positions as possible. Any contractual gains, from those left, will be cost neutral.
ograc

 

[necigrad]

Regarding negotiations progression (since I've been AWOL for a few days on the board):

I disagree... agreements have not been reached! Agreements are reached when the Membership says they are reached... (Ratification)!

Agreements have been reached, but not with the membership, nor will there be an agreement with the membership until the TA is presented. The agreements are between the company and NC as to what goes into the TA. It's stupid to deny agreements being made simply because the general membership hasn't agreed to it as that argument would be out of context.

How much value has most people's 401ks lost when the market tanked?

Mine dropped, but didn't tank. It's now above what it was in early 2008 and going up at almost 11% so far this year. A pension or 401(k) is simply a personal investment preference. None is better then the other overall.

Has anyone heard that LAS cargo is either closing or being contracted out? If you have, what are the details of it?

Rogue

LAS Cargo does service for US, HA, CO, UA, AS, and F9. All of those contracts are being ended, leaving only US. Since cargo volume in LAS for US is small (HA was the largest volume by far I believe) there will be only 7 FT including leads and 7 PT. This is down from close to 30 FT and 11 PT. To contact out Cargo in LAS, as mentioned, would be a violation, thus they are not closing it.

 

[ograc]

Regarding negotiations progression (since I've been AWOL for a few days on the board):



Agreements have been reached, but not with the membership, nor will there be an agreement with the membership until the TA is presented. The agreements are between the company and NC as to what goes into the TA. It's stupid to deny agreements being made simply because the general membership hasn't agreed to it as that argument would be out of context.




Mine dropped, but didn't tank. It's now above what it was in early 2008 and going up at almost 11% so far this year. A pension or 401(k) is simply a personal investment preference. None is better then the other overall.




LAS Cargo does service for US, HA, CO, UA, AS, and F9. All of those contracts are being ended, leaving only US. Since cargo volume in LAS for US is small (HA was the largest volume by far I believe) there will be only 7 FT including leads and 7 PT. This is down from close to 30 FT and 11 PT. To contact out Cargo in LAS, as mentioned, would be a violation, thus they are not closing it.

necrigrad,

The company followed the same strategy in PIT with catering. Can't outsource the department completely, per the contract, but chose to cut it to skin and bones. The company's thirst for Fleet Service jobs is never ending. This hemorhaging of jobs must be addressed and stopped in the new contract. This issue adversely affects the whole US membership. It's time, the negotiating committee and especially the membership, look past hourly wage proposals and pay attention to the details of the contract. The devil is in the details.
ograc

Please visit: http://lfp12.com

 

[niblet]

necrigrad,

The company followed the same strategy in PIT with catering. Can't outsource the department completely, per the contract, but chose to cut it to skin and bones. The company's thirst for Fleet Service jobs is never ending. This hemorhaging of jobs must be addressed and stopped in the new contract. This issue adversely affects the whole US membership. It's time, the negotiating committee and especially the membership, look past hourly wage proposals and pay attention to the details of the contract. The devil is in the details.
ograc

Please visit: http://lfp12.com

I concur with that. The mini leaders that we are in our stations, we need to keep the members informed when contract votes finally come about. We need to keep educating the members on all issues.

 

[ograc]

I concur with that. The mini leaders that we are in our stations, we need to keep the members informed when contract votes finally come about. We need to keep educating the members on all issues.

niblet,
I fully agree on informing and educating the members on the importance of the details of the contract. Too often, our members in the hub stations, are only concerned with the economic issues in the contract. In their defense, the importance of subcontracting language eludes them, without appropriate presentation from the union. The end result is a decline in membership, combined with a lack of solidarity, followed by a subsequent lack of leverage at the bargaining table. In the end the membership, as a whole, suffers. I strongly believe our lack of cohesivness remains the obstacle. This has to change before we can expect to obtain gains for the members. Would you agree?
ograc

 

[niblet]

niblet,
I fully agree on informing and educating the members on the importance of the details of the contract. Too often, our members in the hub stations, are only concerned with the economic issues in the contract. In their defense, the importance of subcontracting language eludes them, without appropriate presentation from the union. The end result is a decline in membership, combined with a lack of solidarity, followed by a subsequent lack of leverage at the bargaining table. In the end the membership, as a whole, suffers. I strongly believe our lack of cohesivness remains the obstacle. This has to change before we can expect to obtain gains for the members. Would you agree?
ograc

Yes I agree. I am commited to personaly calling all my friends in the hubs and other downline stations that I know and discussing with them all that entails. dood, bad, and the ugly. Just hope its worth discussing. Last T/A was a ####. I remember using the plus and minus method of what changes were made. I remember more minuses than pluses

 

[Harry Callahan]

necrigrad,

The company followed the same strategy in PIT with catering. Can't outsource the department completely, per the contract, but chose to cut it to skin and bones. The company's thirst for Fleet Service jobs is never ending. This hemorhaging of jobs must be addressed and stopped in the new contract. This issue adversely affects the whole US membership. It's time, the negotiating committee and especially the membership, look past hourly wage proposals and pay attention to the details of the contract. The devil is in the details.
ograc

Please visit: http://lfp12.com

While I don't disagree with paying attention to contract how can you look past hourly wages ? I'm tired of being bottom of the barrel.

 

[ograc]

While I don't disagree with paying attention to contract how can you look past hourly wages ? I'm tired of being bottom of the barrel.

Harry Callahan,
Hourly wage increase is indeed an issue that needs addressed. My point was there is much more to a CBA that needs attention. Let's face it, regardless of what negotiating committee that is in place, there are countless areas in our CBA that need improvement, as a result of two restructuring agreements under bankruptcy. Going forward, we should appreciate, the importance of language regarding work rules, outsourcing of covered work, agreed to remedial action in the event of a contractual violation, merger or acquisition protection, company contribution to the IAM pension and so on. All of these issues encompass our employment with US Airways. They deserve respective attention and consideration in negotiations. Equally, they deserve consideration from the membership when presented for ratification. My point was a contract is not solely about the hourly wage increase. What good does it do a member to vote for a wage increase if the said member is also voting for the company's ability to outsource their job?
ograc
please visit: http://lfp12.com

 

[ChockJockey]

I'm bumping this thread back up because the other one has been overtaken with election fever. What's going to happen to fleet if we end up merging with American? Will there be an election to determine who the bargaining agent will be or will we become de facto TWU because of their numerical superiority? It sounds like a lot of the AA people are ready to throw the TWU out the window, or at least their mechanics are. Thoughts?

 

[pjirish317]

I'm bumping this thread back up because the other one has been overtaken with election fever. What's going to happen to fleet if we end up merging with American? Will there be an election to determine who the bargaining agent will be or will we become de facto TWU because of their numerical superiority? It sounds like a lot of the AA people are ready to throw the TWU out the window, or at least their mechanics are. Thoughts?

ChockJockey,

IMO, it all depends on how many Fleet/Ramp service workers are cut at AA. If AA cuts deep enough for the numbers to be somewhat even, I believe there would be an election. The only problem with this scenario, as I see it, is the class & craft take a chance of decertificaton with a representation vote. Even if the choices are all union, there would still need to be a 50% + 1 of eligable voters to place a vote for either union. If that happens, the union with the most percentage of votes from the 50% +1 would win the election. Subsuquently, if only 49% cast a vote, both unions would be decertified, and we would become "at-will" employees. I also think its a coin flip as to the AA Fleet/Ramp service switching to the IAM. That's just my take anyway.

 

[IAM Informer]

Pj,
remember the new rules on elections are still in play you only need 50% +1 of votes cast not the total number
of employees as it was in past elections. I would think you would have around 70 percent participation in a union vs union
election so don't think losing representation will be an issue. look at the UA/CO ramp election dont have numbers but pretty sure
they were well above the 50 percent threshold

 

[roabilly]

I'm bumping this thread back up because the other one has been overtaken with election fever. What's going to happen to fleet if we end up merging with American? Will there be an election to determine who the bargaining agent will be or will we become de facto TWU because of their numerical superiority? It sounds like a lot of the AA people are ready to throw the TWU out the window, or at least their mechanics are. Thoughts?

CJ…

The million dollar question is this… WOULD we be in a Representation Election scenario… or… would we be “folded” into the TWU? All of this could very well depend on the interpretation of (H.R.658.) that just recently passed congress.

Would we not be the first group to fall under this new legislation in the event of a merger between two carriers containing two groups in the same class and craft, having separate representational labor unions?

Is the amended RLA language specific in this regard? If it is…I haven’t found it yet! I see this as an argument going forward that will serve to set a precedent.

Maybe 700 or someone may have a further understanding… but that’s my take…

 

[roabilly]

The plot thickens...

In another development, it appears as if the TWU has hammered out another deal with AA, and is about to present an enhanced “final offer” pre-abrogation option for TWU members to vote on. It is said to mirror that of the US post merger T/A…

Click here for story!

Could this the be the deal that will by-pass the judge?

 

[saywhat]

Quote name='roabilly' timestamp='1335847274' post='896670']
CJ…

The million dollar question is this… WOULD we be in a Representation Election scenario… or… would we be “folded” into the TWU? All of this could very well depend on the interpretation of (H.R.658.) that just recently passed congress.

Would we not be the first group to fall under this new legislation in the event of a merger between two carriers containing two groups in the same class and craft, having separate representational labor unions?

Is the amended RLA language specific in this regard? If it is…I haven’t found it yet! I see this as an argument going forward that will serve to set a precedent.

Maybe 700 or someone may have a further understanding… but that’s my take…
[/quote]

roabilly,

I was thinking that same thing about HR 658. I talked to a negotiator and he concurs that corporate america would want a vote between 2 Unions every time because there would always be the possibility of decertification. No election, no chance of decertifying.