GoJets Negotiations Update
Negotiators for GoJets pilots met with the Company on Wednesday, January 15th and Thursday January 16th.
On Wednesday, the IBT passed counters on Section 23 (Discipline and Discharge), Section 24 (Grievances), Section 25 (System Board of Adjustment) and Section 13 (Vacations). The Company passed counters on Section 7 (Hours of Service), Section 8 (Scheduling) and Section 9 (Reserves). The union passed a counter on Section 7 (Hours of Service). Section 25 was Tentatively Agreed to by the parties. Mark Nubold, from TSH Planning briefed the committee regarding electronic vacation planning software.
On Thursday the union passed counters on Section 23 (Discipline and Discharge), Section 24 (Grievances), and both sections were Tentatively Agreed to.
The Negotiating Team continued with prep work throughout the week, working on several contract sections.
The next negotiating session is scheduled in the week of February 10th through February 14th.
World Airways Talks Fail to Yield Agreement as Management Refuses to Provide Any Information about Business Plan
On January 10th, Teamster representatives of the Flight Attendants and Pilots of World Airways announced that bankruptcy discussions with their employer failed to yield an agreement on concessions their carrier was seeking.
Approximately one year ago, Teamsters members sacrificed $75 million in concessions to allow World to emerge from bankruptcy for the first time. Less than nine months after emerging in February 2013, the company again declared bankruptcy in November 2013.
“While the Teamsters remain committed to finding some way forward with the management of World Airways, our members have spoken loud and clear that we cannot make more concessions without assurances that sacrifices will be shared equally among stakeholders and that the sacrifices will be remembered and honored should the company return to profitability,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. “So far, the company has been unwilling to give us such assurances. Moreover, the company has failed to provide up-to-date information about their business plans, or solid accounting supporting their requests for concessions.”
This round of concessionary negotiations marks the second time Teamsters-represented Pilots and Flight Attendants were asked to cut wages and benefits. No further negotiations are scheduled at this time.
UAL Arbitrator Selected
On January 25th, union representatives the company confirmed an agreement on an arbitrator and date for the expedited arbitration regarding the resource utilization letter. The parties will present their cases to the arbitrator on April 9, 2014. In the interim, stewards are requesting that members please continue to gather information to be used as evidence in this case.
The parties continue to work on choosing arbitrators and scheduling the additional cases such as the medical benefits and the other previously reported scope issues.
TAMC takes the FAA to task on Lack of Oversight at Repair Stations, Seeks Moratorium on MRO’s
This past week the TAMC sent a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta requesting a moratorium on certification of any new domestic or international repair stations, until the FAA can prove they have the ability to provide adequate oversight of the facilities.
In addition this week, they sent follow up emails to the eleven Congressional and Senate staffers they met with in November, as well as Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-3rd).
In the letter, Chris Moore, Chairman of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC) stated:
“Certification of new Foreign Repair Stations has been on hold awaiting TSA Rule making regarding security at these facilities. With the Rule being issued on January 13, 2013 the industry will be pushing for additional certifications thus increasing the burden on an FAA that, according to three IG reports, AV-2013-073, AV-2008-090 and AV-2003-047, cannot adequately oversee the more than 4800 Repair Stations it is currently responsible for.
We request your help, and the help of the Committee, in our effort to enhance the Safety of the Flying Public by supporting our request to the FAA Administrator to issue a rule placing a Moratorium on Certification of any new Repair Stations, both Foreign and Domestic, until such time as the FAA demonstrates it can manage the oversight it is currently responsible for as well as any additional Repair Stations that may be certified.”
ExpressJet Negotiations Update
Having not yet reached a new collective bargaining agreement, the process of Federal mediation for ExpressJet Mechanics and Related continues.
The committees met in Philadelphia this past week. Work continued on Section 22 (General and Miscellaneous) and while discussions and proposals were passed and the parties’ proposals are closer, they are not yet finished with this section.
Agreement was reached on Section 19 (Union Security and Representation).
Negotiations will resume next month.
Federal Air Surgeon Responds to Letter Outlining Concerns about New OSA Rules
In a letter dated January 3, 2014, Federal Air Surgeon responded to a letter sent from Airline Division Director David Bourne to DoT Secretary Anthony Foxx, regarding the FAA’s arbitrary implementation of new rules for pilots suspected of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA.
Commenting on the letter, Division Director David Bourne said, “While I am pleased that the Federal Air Surgeon responded and in fact has put the implementation on hold, this is an issue that we will monitor very closely. The impact of these proposed changes; not only on members who are denied any process or redress, but also on the industry if a number of pilots suddenly find themselves grounded in a process that has no end game and an agency without the proper staffing to handle current reviews in a timely manner is troubling to say the least.”
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
The House of Representatives and Senate passed the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill this week, and the bill includes $7.3 billion for staffing at the Federal Aviation Administration, which will make furloughs unnecessary.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx appointed 10 new members to the Federal Aviation Administration Management Advisory Council (MAC). Appointees include Bill Ayer, the former chairman of Alaska Air Group; Montie Brewer, the former Air Canada president and CEO; Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO; as well as Steve Alterman, president of the Cargo Airline Association.
Airlines, Industry and Labor
American Airlines Group announced network changes for 17 cities from Washington Reagan airport as part of the slots divestiture the Department of Justice required in approving its merger.
United Continental Holdings cancelled an order for 12 Airbus aircraft. The order for six A319s and six A320s was worth more than $1 billion in list prices.
Boeing announced a "major breakthrough" in renewable aviation fuel on Tuesday. The aircraft manufacturer's research shows that green diesel can be used to power aircraft.
American Eagle will fly under the new name of Envoy, announced parent company American Airlines.