Sixty Plus Year Career Comes to a Close for Number 1 Mechanic at UAL
(From the UAL Mechanics Dispatch, August 7, 2012)
John Hotchkiss started his career with Capital Airlines on February 2, 1952 in Washington DC. In 1965, John interviewed and was assigned to work on several Link training devices in addition to his normal work assignments on aircraft. These in flight training devices were initially located in the United Airlines hangar.
Later that same year, United determined they needed a dedicated team of technicians to maintain these devices and the company established the classification of Flight Simulator Technicians. John became a Flight Simulator Lead in December of 1989, and has been working in that capacity since.
John has been a dedicated union member for his entire career and has filled a number of union positions such as Committee Man and Steward. John visited the group for a few minutes and asked to say a few words to us. He explained the importance of staying together as a union. “I am not talking about being a Teamster or any other union; I mean you all have to learn to stick together as a group of mechanics.” His message was that of appreciation for what we are doing as a Teamster Steering Committee, but regardless of the name on the agreement, encouraged us to continue to work together and fight for our classifications as one unified group.
On Aug. 17, 2012 John will be 90 years old and will have more than 60 years’ service to United Airlines. John is planning to retire on Aug. 23, 2012. He is currently number 1 on the UAL mechanics seniority list. We wish John a very long and happy retirement.
The Airline Division joins our United brothers and sisters in saluting Brother John Hotchkiss on his exemplary career spanning over 60 years and we extend our thanks for his service to our industry. We wish him a well deserved and happy retirement.
Allegiant Pilots Maintain the High Road during Voting Process
Despite a barrage of anti union rhetoric from management and an outside, anti union consultant, the Organizing Committee and pilots of Allegiant Air have continued to take the high road and maintain a fact based, positive and focused campaign as voting continues over union representation.
In addition to inflammatory language in an anti union letter to the pilots, management has actively supported a group that is pushing for an in house union; knowing that it would never have the resources or access to experts that the pilots would need to negotiate a strong contract.
“While we certainly anticipated the possibility of a negative campaign, we and the organizing committee were disappointed by the level of false statements and mistruths being used to try and intimidate the Allegiant Air pilots” said Airline Division representative Traey Liggett. “I am very pleased that despite numerous attempts to bait them, the organizing committee has conducted a positive campaign based on providing honest, fact based answers and open communication to their pilots.”
Speaking on the election, Local 1224 President Dan Wells commented, “I’ve never seen a more focused group of pilots with a palpable energy about making a positive change for their future. I look forward to the positive outcome of their election and welcoming the Allegiant Air pilots to Local 1224. We at Local 1224 stand committed, along with the Airline Division, to provide them the support and expertise necessary to negotiate their first contract and further enhance their careers,” he concluded.
Atlas/Polar Dispatchers, Management Continue Discussions toward first Agreement
A second consecutive week of meetings between Atlas/Polar flight dispatchers and management concluded this past week as the parties work to conclude a first contract. Detailed discussions were held and proposals presented on Articles 1 (Scope) and 3 (Compensation).
There has been considerable agreement on Scope; however key issues that ensure job protections are still unresolved, with the union pointing out that the protections they seek are already in place for the company’s pilots. Without these provisions, the union feels that the jobs of the dispatchers will always be at risk. A counterproposal was presented to the company that is currently being reviewed. On compensation, additional proposals have been exchanged on the remaining open issues that hope to close the gap in the parties’ positions.
Negotiations planned for September have now been moved up to the first week of the month and the negotiators are cautiously optimistic that the remaining open issues can be settled quickly.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating damage to the fan midshaft of a GE engine in a Boeing 787. The damage was discovered after first-flight preparations for a Boeing 787 due for delivery to Air India ended up sparking a brush fire… The Federal Aviation Administration has halted "opposite direction" operations for the time being until standard protocols can be established for the procedure. The change in policy stemmed from a July 31 incident in which three regional jetliners were placed on a converging path by air-traffic controllers due to a "miscommunication."
Airlines and Labor
Members of the union representing American Airlines pilots voted this week to reject the latest contract offer from AMR, the carrier's parent company. The move could slow down the company's bankruptcy proceedings, analysts say.
David Bates, the president of the Allied Pilots Association, resigned from his position after the union rejected a tentative contract from AMR. "Although I believe that ratifying the tentative agreement would have been the best course for our pilot group, the majority of our pilots signaled their preference for taking a different path," said Bates in his resignation letter.
US Airways President Scott Kirby disagrees with the conclusion of a recent report on a possible merger between US Airways and American Airlines.
Despite union resistance, Air Canada is going forward with its plan to launch in 2013 a low-cost carrier that will fly to destinations including Nevada, Europe and the Caribbean.