Teamsters Win another Subcontracting Case
Local 2727, representing aircraft mechanics and related employees at UPS recently won an important subcontracting case involving UPS Technical Publication Specialists. In July 2012, UPS purchased a new software program for performing updates to its maintenance manuals. Teamster Technical Publication Specialists had been performing manuals updates for years using the prior software. But UPS subcontracted that manual update work to a vendor using the new program and laid off five Teamster members. Local 2727 grieved the subcontracting as a violation of the mechanics CBA.
In the recent decision, the arbitrator upheld the Local’s grievance, ordered UPS to cease and desist from subcontracting manuals revision work and immediately reinstate the five laid off members with full seniority and back pay. The arbitrator held that the manuals update work by the vendor using the new software was the same work Teamster members had been performing for years. Local 2727 President Bob Combine said, “We are very pleased to win this grievance and protect the work and jobs of Teamster members. Our Technical Publication Specialist members are overjoyed with this win and are eager to get back to work.”
NetJets Technicians and Related Talks Continue
Talks between the Negotiating Committee and company continued on April 4th. Discussions were conducted surrounding Article 22 (Job Classification), with the Union responding to the Company’s proposal. The Union also provided the Company with proposals on Article 1 (Recognition) and LOA 00-03, regarding Scope. The Company provided the Union with a list of Articles which included their principal interests on Articles 16 (Holidays), 20 (Training), 27 (Shifts and Days Off), 30 (Vacations), and 32 (Hours of Service). The Union spent time clarifying the Company’s proposed changes and will respond when negotiations resume in May.
International Representatives Paul Alves and Chris Moore were joined by IBT Attorney Nick Manicone who assisted the Negotiating team of Paul Suffoletto, Chad Morrison, John Wolfe, Isaac Thielman, Trent Rutledge, and Carl Rollins. The company was represented by Dave Makowski, Myron Becker, Brian Buehrer and Anthony Mosso.
The next scheduled negotiating session is scheduled for May 8-9, 2013.
Piedmont Negotiations Update
Contract negotiations resumed on Tuesday, April 2, and concluded on Friday April, 5, 2013. The contract sections discussed were Article 12 (Expenses) and Article 17 (Sick Leave). Progress was made on both articles and a Tentative Agreement was reached on Article 12 (Expenses).
Negotiations are scheduled to resume on May 28, 2013.
“Representing Members under the Railway Labor Act” Training to be held in Washington
A three-day program is designed to give an overview of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) for those who represent members in the airline or rail industries will be offered at Teamsters Headquarters in Washington from May 29-31st. Topics will include the history of the RLA, negotiations, organizing and grievance handling in accordance with the Act and functions of the NMB, among other RLA regulatory agencies. It will also provide participants with a comparative analysis of the differences between the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act.
If you are interested in attending, before making travel arrangements, please contact Marie Nolan in the Training and Development Dept. at (202) 624-8965 to confirm space availability.
“Air Safety at Risk” Informational Picketing Scheduled at Trenton, NJ Airport (TTN) on April 8th.
“Despite the last minute decision to hold off on shutting down FAA control towers until June, the decision by Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA), Michael Huerta, to close down 149 Federal Contract Towers (FCT’s) due to sequestration is unjustified, absurd and needs to be stopped,” says Ron Taylor, President of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association (PATCO). The FCT program has been around for almost 30 years and has been lauded by the DOT’s Inspector General as highly efficient, cost effective and safe.
In a press release announcing informational picketing at the Trenton, NJ Air Traffic Control tower on Monday, April 8th Taylor went on to say, “The Air Traffic Controllers that man these towers are highly professional and meet or exceed the same jobs requirements as FAA controllers. They provide a critical service at their respective community airports to ensure that "air safety" is the number one priority.
Contrary to what the FAA says, the closing of these towers will seriously jeopardize "air safety" and the overall efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). The "No Margin for Error" slogan is out the door because the control towers will not be manned.
Beyond the tower closure, the rippling effect will cause serious delays, confusion and loss of revenues to local airports and the business community as a whole. The FAA's decision to close control towers is wrong, and their sanity on this issue should be called into question,” Taylor concluded.
Picketing will be at the tower from 1-5pm.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
The FAA announced on Friday that it will delay the shutdown of 149 air traffic control towers until June.
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge by three U.S. airlines against Department of Transportation rules that require taxes and fees to be included in advertised airfares.
The TSA’s position on MRO’s is impacting U.S. airlines.
Airlines and Industry
Analysts surveyed by FactSet predicted United Continental would report a first-quarter loss of $1.01 per share.