Express Jets Mechanics Negotiations Continue
Negotiations continued on March 1st in
Future negotiation dates are tentatively scheduled through June.
Horizon Pilots Plan for Federal Mediation
With all parties agreeing to a schedule of mediated negotiations commencing in April at NMB headquarters in
The
Union officials will also be travelling to the
Airline Division Expresses Support for British Airways Workers as Strike Looms
In response to a request for support from Unite, the union representing British Airways cabin staff that now faces a strike, Captain David Bourne, Airline Division Director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, issued the following statement:
“We are very disheartened by the breakdown in discussions between Unite and BA management. After an extended period of negotiations, with the union offering specifics to management, they were presented with a less than forthright final proposal from management. Instead of walking away, the union took the proper and honorable course and prepared to present the proposal to its membership for a vote. For management to then rescind the offer; the very one they proposed and had not been modified by Unite, truly gives pause to consider management’s true objectives. Regardless, we stand with Unite and the British Airways cabin crew members. We join in the call for management to return to the process and allow the union to put the management proposal out for a vote. Should events cause the cabin attendants to be forced to strike, we will support them in any way possible in the
Strikes are currently planned for March 20-22 and March 27-30.
Local 2727 Talks Continue in
Federally mediated discussions between Local 2727 (UPS) and management continued this week at the National Mediation Board in
Week In Review News Items
Labor Developments
American Airlines’ largest union asked the National Mediation Board on Thursday to release it from mediation and start the 30-day cooling-off period that could lead to a strike. TWU’s letter came five days before APFA is scheduled to sit down with the mediation board to ask for its release into a cooling-off period…and American’s chief financial officer admits his company and its pilots' union are ''far apart'' on a new labor contract. American argues that its labor costs are higher than for its rivals.
BA's cabin crew union Unite has announced that a strike will go ahead. Strikes are planned for March 20, 21, 22, with further walk outs on March 27, 28, 29, and 30…in the tug-of-war between Delta and unions from merger partner Northwest, the flight attendants union has lobbed a new charge against Delta…AFA filed a grievance saying Delta must stop combining the two carriers' flight crews because its contract says flights flown by Northwest pilots must be worked by Northwest flight attendants…and with so many labor contracts in play, one of the main objectives for U.S. mainline carriers will be further scope clause relief.
Legislative
Sen. Bob Corker on Wednesday dropped his hold on legislation to reauthorize FAA…Senate Commerce leaders warned both parties not to bog down FAA legislation with amendments that might sink the long-awaited aviation update…legislation introduced this week, bill H.R.4788, better known as the Aviation Jobs Outsourcing Prevention Act, directs DOT to ensure that new revenue-sharing agreements between U.S. and foreign airlines are beneficial to U.S. airline workers as well as to their airlines.
Safety and Regulatory
Accident investigators say new flight simulators could help correct the biggest killer in aviation: pilots who can't recover from out-of-control situations like the one that killed 50 people in a crash near Buffalo last year…NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman encouraged the sleep research and healthcare community to continue efforts to educate policy makers of the dangers of fatigue in all modes of transportation…American CEO Gerard Arpey suggested TSA needs to do more "behavioral profiling" to separate the potential bad guys from the non-bad guys…President Obama has tapped a former Army general to lead TSA; Robert A. Harding, a retired major general with 33 years in the Army, will be the President’s choice to become TSA administrator.
Airline Industry Finances & Structure
Airlines are recovering strongly from the crisis IATA said Thursday, halving its forecast for a 2010 loss…beleaguered U.S. airlines are increasingly looking to Asia to bolster their fortunes. They're forging alliances with Asian airlines, increasing flights to major cities and competing to launch service in fast-growing markets in the region…as European LCCs expanded their capacity and traffic in 2009, their full service competitors have been in contraction mode, as they sought to reduce losses…U.S. airline passenger numbers will reach 1 billion in 2023, two years later than projected.
DOT Three-Hour Tarmac Delay Rule
The clock is ticking on the three-hour rule. Starting next month, air travelers will get something they’ve never had before: regulatory protection against tarmac delays of three hours or longer…airlines are pushing back against new rules; they are threatening to cancel scores of flights in response to the new rule…in watching CNBC one could be excused if one had the distinct impression that a large-scale and preemptive airline industry public relations strategy was being rolled out ahead of a potentially troublesome spring and summer travel season where finger-pointing could abound.