View attachment 9705
As you know, the IBT is raiding USAirways.
I received this in the mail. Please help me discern the fact from fiction, because I truly do not know which are lies and which are not.
Line by line would be nice.
For my part, its part truth, part distortion, and some lies thrown in.
Okay I'll try to go line by line.
The Preface:
Misleading - We were in bankruptcy under AMFA, you at USAir know what that entails, yet the ibt try to play it up as if AMFA had any other choice than concessions while at the same time fanning the flames of fear about NWA. Better representation? Not from my point of view.
Buyout and signing bonus:
Misleading - The $11,500 number is accurate but it comes no where close to the retro the ibt promised. As for the buyout, that's shows the ibts LACK of negotiating prowess. The company simply agreed to a buyout to pass the vote, the actual contract language wasn't written until AFTER the vote passed. The company put such draconian requirements on the buyout that only about 450 took it system wide and most of those were leaving anyway. The company was looking for 900 to 1000.
Regained 80%:
Misleading - this doesn't begin to address what we gave up in out old agreement. Remember, the ibt basically tried to mold us into a mirror of the ibt CAL agreement. 80% would best be determined by balancing what you got by what value you placed on what language you gave up. For me, not 80%
We are back at the table, in expedited negotiations.....AT UNITEDS INVITATION.
Stronger Scope:
While we have a "No-Furlough" clause, nothing protects us from losing work due to attrition. The teamsters gave up language in our previous agreement that kept work by name.
Average 15%:
Just what it says.....AVERAGE.
Increase in Line Premium,Longevity, Shift pay
Distortion approaching Lie - Yes all those went up, but the teamsters gave up our Skill Pay language which was what was used to fund these increases - it was just moving money around and calling it an increase.
Double Time:
Repeat - we had this before, so it should be included in their 80% regained line above.
1.5x for Training:
True - that said in my 20+ years at UAL I've only had to attend training following a shift once. NOTE: this is only for training following or preceding a shift - NOT Offshift training. The Travel time pay is good.
Strengthened Grievance Process:
Having served as a Steward for all three UAL unions IAM-AMFA-ibt, I disagree.
Hours of Service Improvements
IMHO No - Here in SFO we lost better language, loss of Sat-Sun off schedule to rotation, and the company can junior mechanics on to 10hr shifts where under our previous CBA 10hrs where strictly voluntary
Missed Paid lunch:
True - a situational/niche improvement
Moving Expenses:
True - we had this previously as a reference to company policy, this clarifies language in the CBA
Longevity Pay
Repeat/Distortion - Again already mentioned, and this was funded in part by the loss of Skill Pay language.
Run/Taxi
True - extremely situational - While not familiar with USAirs situation here at UAL we seldom run engines for more than an hour...if that.
COLA Committee:
True - the language is there, so far not a single report.
Per Diem
True
Lead/Insp Premium
True
1.75x for Field Service
True - situational
Our two latest CBAs - AMFA & ibt are available online for direct comparison.
In summary, there are a lot of little situational increases, ie; taxi/run, and EFS pay increase but for the rest of the CBA, I think we surrendered things we shouldn't have, and didn't get enough in return. Add to it, the ibt FAILED in two of their biggest organizing promises - 1) to open the contract early, and 2) to get us a double vesting pension.
Yea we got some of our money back, but after almost 10 years, we should've gotten more and not have had to give up to get it.
JMHO
