IBT Hosts FAA Rulemaking Committee Meeting on Pilot Records
The Washington, DC headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters was the location of this past week’s meeting of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee for the development of a Pilot Records Database. The legislation for the database; which is intended to be a central repository of information for industry users, came about as a result of intense lobbying by the IBT and the Coalition of Airline Pilot Associations (CAPA) and was part of the FAA Extension Act of 2010 signed by President Barack Obama last year.
The rule making committee; commonly referred to as the ARC, is headed by IBT Airline Division Safety Coordinator Captain Russ Leighton of ABX (Local 1224) and comprised of industry members with expertise in the area. They are responsible for reviewing pertinent data and making recommendations to the FAA Administrator on the most effective ways to implement the program for the benefit of the users. Captain Leighton is functioning as Chairman on behalf of CAPA, of which Local 1224 is a member. Representatives of eleven industry groups comprise the ARC, including Captain Juliana Haacke of USA 3000 and Business Agent John Herron of Local 1224, who are representing the Airline Division.
“I could not be more pleased with how well the meetings are progressing,” said committee Chairman Leighton. “There is unanimous consensus on most issues surrounding the PRD, and even in areas where opinions differ, the group is working cooperatively, and professionally, to find middle ground.” Echoing the sentiments of the committee, Leighton said, “The group could not have been more pleased with the hospitality shown them by the folks at IBT headquarters.”
The ARC expects to wrap-up its work and forward their report to the FAA Administrator, by July 31st, 2010.
NMB Orders Mediation for UAL Mechanics after Tentative Agreement is Rejected
Despite the efforts of Airline Division representatives to convince management to return to the table; upon notification that the UAL mechanics had rejected the proposed tentative agreement, United moved immediately to request mediation and asked the NMB to assign the case to a Federal mediator.
In a letter to the Airline Division and UAL dated June 8th, the NMB advised both parties that they had accepted the case for mediation and would be assigning a mediator in the coming days. In their letter to the Board, they noted that while single carrier status had not yet been determined for the mechanics; it had been agreed to for other bargaining units at UAL and CAL. Based upon those determinations the company has announced they intended to no longer negotiate a separate agreement for the UAL mechanics or to renegotiate the CAL agreement when it becomes amendable in 2012 , but would move forward to negotiations for a single combined contract that will cover both mechanic groups at UAL and CAL.
“I will be in touch with the NMB and UAL management again on Monday morning,” said Division Director Bourne when reached for comment on Saturday. “While we are legally required to participate in mediated discussions, I believe it is in everyone’s best interests to try and reach back to resolve the outstanding issues in the tentative agreement. The UAL mechanics have been in negotiations since January 2010 and as a result, their rates and work rules have not changed. To now face what could be a very long and drawn out mediation process while in status quo, with their wages are frozen and the company having the ability to continue outsourcing jobs puts them at serious risk,” he concluded.
Week In Review News Items
Legislative, Safety and Regulatory
Both the NTEU and AFGE are lobbying senators to reject a proposed reduction in the funding for airport security screening… A single carrier designation combining United Airlines operations with Continental Airlines should be done by the end of the year, CEO Jeff Smisek said.
Airline Industry Finances and Structures
Delta Air Lines' announcement that it is closing facilities in Minnesota puts the airline in violation of its loan agreement and they will be required to repay the approximately $175 million left on the loan. Delta CEO Richard Anderson said Delta is "firmly committed" to Minneapolis-St. Paul in a letter sent to employees.
Miscellaneous
J.D. Power and Associates recently released its 2011 North American Airline Satisfaction Study…following this week’s PR disaster, Delta Air Lines said it will allow U.S. troops on assignment to check four bags, rather than three, free of charge.