Summit Meeting between Airline Division and UAL Addresses Issues, Sets Dates
The Airline Division and United Airlines held a summit meeting in Washington, DC on October 29th. Among the items discussed were the carriers plans regarding the SOC and issues the Division had identified as potential contractual violations of the respective United, Continental, and Continental Micronesia agreements.
In addition the parties set dates for future negotiations for the United and Continental Micronesia mechanic agreements. For United mechanics, the parties have agreed to meet in Chicago starting October 24th and for Continental Micronesia mechanics, the parties will meet November 7ththrough November 9th.
Airline Division Advisory Board Meets in DC
The Airline Division Advisory Board of Directors met in Washington, DC this week. Topics discussed included UAL, CAL, CMI merger and the AirTran / SWA mechanic seniority integration negotiations. Updates we also provided on Republic and Frontier mechanics as well. Chris Moore, Safety Coordinator for Maintenance and Related presented a six month plan to begin overhauling the Safety Program for the Airline Division.
The TAMC also introduced the Mechanics License protection program and provided training for all of the program administrators. Details of the program will be provided to the members in the very near future.
Airline Division Representative Bob Fisher hosted a Chief Steward Conference call for UAL,CAL and CMI on Thursday, 9/29. The call was viewed as a very productive first step toward building a more solid communications network between the Airline Division and our members.
Locals to Conduct Accident Investigation “Go Team” Training, Review Recent Incidents
For two days later this month; October 17th and 18th,IBT Locals 1224 and 357, will jointly conduct Aircraft Accident Investigation Go-Team training and exercises at the Republic Airlines facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana. The training will provide attendees the requisite expertise to become a recognized party to an NTSB Investigation.
The exercises will be conducted by former NTSB Investigator Greg Feith, and former NTSB Board Member John Goglia. Blood Borne Pathogen Training will be conducted by IBT Occupational Safety Expert Enjoli DeGrasse. Kalitta Air pilot and Local 1224 Safety Committee member Daniel Garner will be giving a two-hour presentation on recent international accidents, in which Kalitta has been involved.
Industry and Financial
With the arrival of the CEO of Qatar Airways in Seattle on Friday, hopes to ending the delivery issues of Boeing'sfirst 747-8 freighters to now Cargoluxappear to have been resolved…Dismissing some industry critics about the pace of the UAL/CAL merger, United Continental Holdings CEO Jeff Smisek said, "We're precisely where I expected to be at this
time," he said in a recent interview…American Airlines' parent company, AMR Corp. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to raise $725.7 million, using planes as collateral for the debt…The head of Thai Airways called the turmoil in the financial markets "frightening" and said that he can see results of the economic slowdown in Europe and the U.S.
Labor
The pilots of Southwest and AirTran will begin voting soon on a revised seniority list integration plan…A Federal Judge has denied the request by the pilots of United to order the company to delay the implementation of integrated cockpit procedures between UAL and CAL…Fears of a possible Chapter 11 filing by American Airlines sparked a second month of record retirements by senior pilots…
Governmental and Regulatory
A U.S. District Court Judge has prohibited USAPA, the US Airways Group's pilots union from conducting a work slowdown as a contract negotiation strategy…Clarifying previous comments, NYPD Chief Raymond Kelley said he’d consult with the Mayor and federal authorities before seeking to shoot down a plane…