Airline Division News Items
Continental Section 6 Negotiations to be Under NMB Mediation
Although good progress on a variety of non-economic issues was being made in the mechanics’ Section 6 negotiations, when it came to economic issues the company took a take-it-or-leave it approach and progress was halted. The company then requested mediation from the NMB. The union did not join in that request. Nevertheless, under the Railway Labor Act’s provision that requires the NMB to mediate when one party requests it, the NMB assigned Marvin Sandrin as the mediator. Mr. Sandrin’s biography can be found here: http://www.nmb.gov/directory/sandrin-bio.html. The tentative dates being discussed for the first mediated negotiation session are January 20 to 22, 2010. The location is still to be determined.
In another matter, Continental has taken disciplinary action against several mechanics in EWR, MCO and IAH for allegedly engaging in job actions. The IBT believes that none of its members were involved in job actions and our members were simply doing their jobs. In addition, the IBT maintains that the company has violated the contract in its treatment of the disciplined employees. We have been filing grievances to that effect and will continue to pursue them diligently. The only case involving an employee who has been discharged is tentatively scheduled to be heard at an expedited System Board hearing scheduled for December 22 in MCO. We will continue to keep you updated on these cases as they progress.
NMB Sets Dates for the Representation Election for Continental Fleet Service Workers
The dates for the representation election for the fleet service workers have been set by the NMB. The election will be conducted by Telephone Electronic Voting and Internet Voting. The notice and sample instructions will be sent out on December 28, 2009. The voting instructions will be mailed to the employees on January 4, 2010. The voting period will be from 12:01 a.m., ET, on January 4,2010, through February 8, 2010. The tally will take place at the NMB on February 8, 2010, at 2 p.m. ET. More information regarding the election can be found at: http://calfleetserviceteamsters.com.
New
With the opening of reballoting this week at
The Airline Division appreciates that the NMB was so prompt in notifying all parties involved and for their taking immediate action to ensure that the corrected information is being sent to all parties. What is most important is that the crewmembers of
Representatives from the Airline Division have had the opportunity to meet with many
House Passes Three-Month FAA Extension
The House on Tuesday passed another short-term extension that would allow the Federal Aviation Administration to keep operating for three months into 2010. The bill, which passed by voice vote, would provide authority for the FAA to continue collecting fuel and ticket taxes to fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and to continue to make expenditures from the fund for agency programs through March 31, 2010. The current extension expires at the end of this month.
The measure also would provide contract authority for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants to airports for various types of projects. The legislation would also authorize funding for the first six months of fiscal 2010, which began Oct. 1, for certain programs, including $4.7 billion for FAA operations, $2 billion for AIP, $1.5 billion for air navigation facilities and equipment and $92.5 million for research programs.
The extension would provide Congress more time to enact a long-term FAA authorization bill. The last long-term authorization for the FAA (PL 108-176) expired on Sept. 30, 2007. Since then, the agency has been operating on a string of short-term extensions, the seventh of which expires at the end of the year.
The House passed its long-term reauthorization bill (HR 915) in May, and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a version (S 1451) in July. The Finance Committee has not taken up the revenue portion, which has left the bill stuck in the Senate. Senate aides are hopeful that the
chamber will complete work on a full reauthorization very early in 2010. The Senate is expected to quickly approve an extension of FAA’s operating authority.
National Mediation Board Testimony by Teamsters
Teamster V.P. John Murphy and Continental fleet service workers who are forming their union with the Teamsters testified on Monday at the NMB hearing on a rule change that would make rail and airline elections easier. Murphy and three Continental workers spoke in favor of an NMB proposal that would base Railway Labor Act (RLA) elections on a majority of those casting votes. The current rule requires at least 50 percent plus one of all the employees in a craft, including those who don’t bother to vote for whatever reason or are on furlough, to have a union voted in.
United Mechanics Negotiation Update
After extensive discussion over a number of bargaining sessions, the Union and Company have come to tentative agreements on Article XX – Safety and Health as well as Article XXI – General and Miscellaneous.
The parties will now proceed to prepare for an accelerated negotiation schedule that, if successful, could lead to significant progress toward reaching a comprehensive agreement. While the bargaining team is proceeding to accelerated negotiations with the aim of securing a strong contract, rest assured that the Union negotiating team is entering this process responsibly and with the appropriate level of understanding of the history here at United.
On December 17th in
Week in Review News Items
Labor Developments
Thirty-four representatives of aviation labor and management spoke this week at the public meeting called by the National Mediation Board to consider its proposed rule to change how unions are elected…the country's two largest private package-delivery companies, UPS and FedEx, have their horns locked in battle on Capitol Hill over the patchwork of laws that determine the rights workers have to form unions…over the strenuous objections of its pilots, US Airways is proceeding with its plan to eliminate more than 250 jobs at La Guardia Airport…it took years for British Airways and Iberia to come to mutually acceptable merger terms. Now comes the hard part: getting their governments and employees to go
along with the deal…And Hawaiian Airlines has reached a tentative four-year contract with its largest work group. The pact announced Thursday would cover the 1,245 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers-Clerical Division.
Regulatory & Safety
An Arkansas aviation company may be fined $4 million by U.S. regulators for carrying passengers on at least 798 flights without the proper certification or an approved pilot-training program…U.S. regulators said they will gather information that could lead to restrictions on commuting by airline pilots, who often travel hundreds of miles to their jobs…the family group that formed after the deadly Continental Airlines commuter plane crash in February is sharply criticizing the Obama administration's stance on airline safety…you can check fares, fees and flight schedules for just about any airline in the world with a few keystrokes or a single phone call. But checking the safety of an international airline is a much more complicated task…and the Senate Thursday night passed H.R. 4217, a bill to extend FAA programs and excise taxes through March 31, 2010.
Airline Industry Finances & Structure
Several U.S. airline executives this week expressed cautious optimism that the revenue environment will improve in 2010, while US Airways President Scott Kirby was outright bullish about the coming year. However, while United, American and Delta airlines predicted rosy skies with rising profits and business travel in 2010, Southwest’s Gary Kelly decides to say, “Business travel still lags.”
International Aviation Developments
Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara said on Friday that Japan and the United States have not yet reached an agreement on bilateral aviation talks…Brussels Airlines yesterday became the 26th member of Star Alliance in ceremonies in the Belgian capital, 12 months after it was invited to join and following the conclusion of a strategic partnership with Lufthansa, which acquired 45% of parent SN Air Holding in June.
Miscellaneous
Five TSA employees have been placed on administrative leave since it was discovered that sensitive guidelines about airport passenger screening were posted on the Internet… FAA will give out more information about airport delays, the agency announced Wednesday…taking advantage of the economic downturn United Airlines split its widebody order between 25 Airbus A350XWB-900s and 25 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to ensure maximum flexibility on many fronts.