New Airline Division Website Now Online
This week capped the culmination of many weeks of hard work when the new Airline Division website went live on Thursday. The new site brings together all the information from the many Division locals as well as information and links from the International and a newer and improved newsfeed link that is airline labor and industry focused to provide the membership timely information on issues that may affect their careers.
“This was a ground up, total revision of our website. We started with a clean page and went from there,” said Division Director David Bourne. “While I am very pleased as I am confident the membership will be with the new website, the real credit for this project belongs squarely with Assistant Director Allynn Allen, who took this project on and led it from start to finish. She did an outstanding job and deserves the credit for bringing the project seamlessly from start to finish,” he went on to say.
NetJets Technicians and Related
With no meetings scheduled with the Company this week the committee worked on, and completed proposals for Article 22 – (Job Classifications). With the assistance of IBT Airline Division Attorney Nick Manicone and International Representatives Paul Alves and Chris Moore, the committee also did a complete review of the scope provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The committee has requested future meeting dates from the company and is currently awaiting their reply.
Piedmont Mechanics Negotiations Begin
Contract negotiations for the mechanics of Piedmont Airlines commenced in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Monday January 28th and continued through Friday, February 1st. The week was viewed as very productive with a considerable amount of face to face meetings, leading to several proposals and counter proposals passed between the two sides.
Tentative Agreements were reached on Article 4 – (Seniority), Article 7 – (Hours of Service), Article 9 – (Overtime), Article 10 –(Training), Article 18 – (Alcohol and Drug Testing), Article 20 – (Safety and Health), Article 22 – (Grievance Procedure), Article 23 – (System Board of Adjustment) and Article 27 – (Uniforms).
While some of the changes were minor, each was viewed as an improvement in the Agreement and moves them closer to reaching a new agreement with the Company.
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for the week of March 4th in Harrisburg.
Airline Industry News
Government and Regulatory
The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it was working on a detailed investigation of the causes of the lithium-ion battery fire that took place aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Boston but does not have any answers yet. The board also said that U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center are examining a second, undamaged battery taken from the same plane.
Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., has introduced a proposal to alter the tax treatment of derivatives, eliminating a provision that allowed some investors to claim 60% of earnings from derivatives as long-term capital gains.
The National Transportation Safety Board recommended more duty-time regulations for maintenance workers. The recommendation stems from a case where maintenance workers who had worked more than 12 hours were called in to cover another shift.
Ray LaHood, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has announced that he will leave President Barack Obama's administration. However, he will stay in his position until a successor makes it through the confirmation process.
Industry and Labor
Tom Horton, the CEO of AMR Corp., is in discussions about his new role if American Airlines merges with US Airways, sources say.
The union representing USAirways flight attendants has reached a tentative deal with the carrier that outlines contracts in case of a merger with American Airlines.