- Aug 25, 2005
- 1,171
- 5
25 Louisiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.624.6800
www.teamster.org
JAMES P. HOFFA
General President
C. THOMAS KEEGEL
General Secretary-Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
DON TREICHLER, Director, Airline Division
6242 Westchester , Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90045 • phone (310) 645-9860 fax (310) 645-9869
May 24, 2006
TO: US Airways Mechanics and Related Employees
FROM: Don Treichler, Airline Division Director
RE: Teamsters Election Update
We want to let you know that the IBT is ready to run the representation election against
the IAM as soon as the National Mediation Board (NMB) authorizes the vote. We share
your frustration at these delays.
Here is an update on the situation:
The NMB is reviewing the voter eligibility list that the company provided on February 28,
2006. Since then, the IBT has made multiple submissions to the NMB about challenges to
the eligibility list. The IAM has also submitted challenges to the list. This is a normal “back
and forth†known as the “challenge and objection process†that happens before an election
is certified to go forward.
Thus far, the IBT, the company and IAM have only agreed to disqualify 33 people from
the list of 6400. We are all close to agreement on including the MOC, QAC and planners
from “West.â€
The outstanding issues include:
1. Voter eligibility date: The IBT is disputing the NMB’s contention that employees
who left US Airways or America West after September 2005 should have the right to vote
in this election.
2. Stock clerk craft and class: The NMB Investigator has deferred the question of
whether stock clerks are part of the Mechanic and Related Employees craft or class. The
IBT intends to represent the stock clerks no matter what the craft and class decision is by
the NMB.
3. Submission of IBT authorization cards after February 13, 2006: The NMB typically
accepts authorization cards from a petitioning Union until the company submits the eligibility
list. The IAM has made every attempt to disqualify cards that were delivered after
February 13, 2006.
4. Utility furloughed employees: The IBT will represent utility workers to the fullest
extent under the current agreement and work towards getting more jobs back at US
Airways. The overwhelming majority of furloughed utility workers have indicated that they
support the IBT. It has been difficult to find those that have relocated and determine
whether they have a reasonable expectation to return to work. The NMB will make the
final determination. This will not affect your recall rights under the current contract.
It appears to us that the reason for the deferral on a certified election is that no matter
how the NMB Investigator rules on any of these issues, the losing party would then appeal
that decision to the full Board, thus delaying the process before other challenges and
objections even had a chance to be made. By having the parties start the challenge and
objection period now, the NMB has made it possible for any appeals of the Investigator’s
rulings on the stock clerk, authorization cards or challenge issues to be made in one single
appeal to the Board. This process eliminates the possibility of multiple and successive
appeals of different Investigator rulings to the Board.
What the IBT is doing to move forward with an election:
On May 23, 2006, the IBT filed a brief with the NMB that addresses all of the information
that the company and the IAM have provided. In the brief, the IBT also backed up and
defended its previous positions about challenges to the eligibility list.
The IAM is fighting as hard as they can to ensure that you do not get to vote on your representative
with the newly merged airline. This is not a surprise.
The Teamsters will continue to advocate for your interests so that we can secure a representation
vote. You deserve the right to choose the IBT as your union — a union that will
fight harder and win you more.
In Solidarity,
May 24, 2006
My comments: Don't shoot the messenger please.
Washington, DC 20001
202.624.6800
www.teamster.org
JAMES P. HOFFA
General President
C. THOMAS KEEGEL
General Secretary-Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
DON TREICHLER, Director, Airline Division
6242 Westchester , Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90045 • phone (310) 645-9860 fax (310) 645-9869
May 24, 2006
TO: US Airways Mechanics and Related Employees
FROM: Don Treichler, Airline Division Director
RE: Teamsters Election Update
We want to let you know that the IBT is ready to run the representation election against
the IAM as soon as the National Mediation Board (NMB) authorizes the vote. We share
your frustration at these delays.
Here is an update on the situation:
The NMB is reviewing the voter eligibility list that the company provided on February 28,
2006. Since then, the IBT has made multiple submissions to the NMB about challenges to
the eligibility list. The IAM has also submitted challenges to the list. This is a normal “back
and forth†known as the “challenge and objection process†that happens before an election
is certified to go forward.
Thus far, the IBT, the company and IAM have only agreed to disqualify 33 people from
the list of 6400. We are all close to agreement on including the MOC, QAC and planners
from “West.â€
The outstanding issues include:
1. Voter eligibility date: The IBT is disputing the NMB’s contention that employees
who left US Airways or America West after September 2005 should have the right to vote
in this election.
2. Stock clerk craft and class: The NMB Investigator has deferred the question of
whether stock clerks are part of the Mechanic and Related Employees craft or class. The
IBT intends to represent the stock clerks no matter what the craft and class decision is by
the NMB.
3. Submission of IBT authorization cards after February 13, 2006: The NMB typically
accepts authorization cards from a petitioning Union until the company submits the eligibility
list. The IAM has made every attempt to disqualify cards that were delivered after
February 13, 2006.
4. Utility furloughed employees: The IBT will represent utility workers to the fullest
extent under the current agreement and work towards getting more jobs back at US
Airways. The overwhelming majority of furloughed utility workers have indicated that they
support the IBT. It has been difficult to find those that have relocated and determine
whether they have a reasonable expectation to return to work. The NMB will make the
final determination. This will not affect your recall rights under the current contract.
It appears to us that the reason for the deferral on a certified election is that no matter
how the NMB Investigator rules on any of these issues, the losing party would then appeal
that decision to the full Board, thus delaying the process before other challenges and
objections even had a chance to be made. By having the parties start the challenge and
objection period now, the NMB has made it possible for any appeals of the Investigator’s
rulings on the stock clerk, authorization cards or challenge issues to be made in one single
appeal to the Board. This process eliminates the possibility of multiple and successive
appeals of different Investigator rulings to the Board.
What the IBT is doing to move forward with an election:
On May 23, 2006, the IBT filed a brief with the NMB that addresses all of the information
that the company and the IAM have provided. In the brief, the IBT also backed up and
defended its previous positions about challenges to the eligibility list.
The IAM is fighting as hard as they can to ensure that you do not get to vote on your representative
with the newly merged airline. This is not a surprise.
The Teamsters will continue to advocate for your interests so that we can secure a representation
vote. You deserve the right to choose the IBT as your union — a union that will
fight harder and win you more.
In Solidarity,
May 24, 2006
My comments: Don't shoot the messenger please.
