Dear Members,
I am writing this letter to address the, while justified, heightening rise of frustration conveyed by this membership regarding the lack of progress at the negotiating table. The sCAL group is just under two and a half years past the amendable date of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The sUAL group is just under two years past the amendable date of their CBA. While negotiations under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) are extremely tedious and typically take two or more years this set of talks frustrates more so due to the lack of movement by the carrier and minimal dates set, specifically early on, by the National Mediation Board (NMB).
Further increasing the frustration level is the fact that this industry, UAL no exception, has been and is poised to continue to make record profits. On January 27, 2015 the USA Today reported: Air travelers wondering how they would experience the recent wave of airline mergers appear to have an answer. Airplanes are more crowded than ever, fares remain at a five-year high despite plummeting fuel costs — and airlines are reporting record profits and soaring stock prices. Wall Street agrees and has lifted share prices of the four major airlines — American, Delta, Southwest and United — to record levels in recent days following year-end earnings announcements. United's stock, which was $3.17 on June 24, 2009, closed at $73.62 on Monday. "The airline industry has transformed itself over the last several years," United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek said last week.
Some members have been venting their frustration at the rank and file negotiating committee members, us local Union representatives and the IBT Airline Division. We all share your frustration. Please understand that all the representatives have been standing firm and are fighting to achieve an industry leading Agreement.
In an effort to keep this membership informed and move forward the following has occurred in the past 5-6 months alone. Membership meetings were held in EWR on 12/11/14, 1/8/15, 2/12/15, and another date is scheduled for 5/28/15. Membership meetings were held at LGA on 2/11/15 and at JFK on 2/10/15 with additional ones being scheduled in the near future. Meetings were held in IAD on 2/17/15 and 2/18 15 with another meeting tentatively being set up for 6/10/15. Negotiations and/or negotiating committee meetings were held during the weeks of 1/12/15 (IAH), 2/2/15 (ORD), 2/23/15 (EWR), 3/9/15 (ORD), 4/20/15 (FLL) and 5/11/15 (LAS). This is obviously all in addition to the day to day local issues and/or grievances being worked in an effort to enforce both the sCAL and sUAL stand alone CBA’s.
Through all the meetings and the entire negotiating process to date one message has remained constant. Like the last Mechanics Dispatch stated, it is our goal to achieve and industry leading agreement and we will accept nothing less. This agreement must contain an acceptable all in wage rate, keep the cost of health and welfare plans down while maintaining a comparable benefit, procure a defined benefit plan for the combined group, while maintaining a 401K match, and provide an ongoing level of job security. It is the committee’s goal to achieve the above as well as maintain the day to day contract language our members have come to rely on (i.e.; Holidays, Vacation, Bridge Retiree Medical, Profit Sharing, Sick and OJI accruals and payouts, Trade Days and Field Trip provisions just to name a few).
Let me be clear, the carrier has other ideas. They have shown signs they are willing to move on wages that best the industry (SWA, DL, AA and UAL) but in return they want concessions in many other areas of your CBA. They want those areas to better mirror those of their industry competitors. Such concessions would drastically erode any wage increase realized. Your Union and its’ rank and file negotiating committee have made it clear we will not, nor do we believe there is any plausible reason to, negotiate in a concessionary environment.
We will be sharing more information at the membership meetings. I urge you to do all you can to attend. We will also be discussing ideas to help move the process forward in a positive direction. Please get all the facts, avoid all the rumors and falsities being put out to support the agenda of some members who would rather speak negatively towards their own Union rather than share their frustration with the carrier. Your Union and all its’ representatives say you deserve more and we strongly believe now is the time to get it. United Airlines says no!
I respectfully request that you stay informed, and more than anything else get involved in a positive way. As always my office door is open when on the field, my cell phone, office phone and email are available to any of you all the time. Feel free to call with any questions you may have.
In Solidarity,
Ralph Salzano
Business Agent – Local 210
973-681-2750 (Office)
646-244-1364 (Cell)
[email protected]