Delta Pilots Contract May Pose Risk for Comair Flight Attendants
The recent ratification of the pilots’ contract at Delta Airlines may create significant risks for the Comair flight attendants whom are represented by Local 513. Under the new agreement, both Delta management and pilots have agreed to specific fleet changes to the 50 seat aircraft fleet that are operated for Delta; removing 5,580 seats from their regional network, a move that would have serious implications for the flight attendants.
“While negotiations have been moving forward at a steady pace with the company, this is an issue that will have an effect on our Flight Attendants,” said Elaine Morris, President of Local 513. “Our focus is not only on concluding a good agreement for our membership; it is also to ensure job security. Delta’s change on their long range fleet plan shows that many of the assumptions in the current contract did not consider this possibility, making our job of finding better solutions more challenging. Throughout the negotiations and now with the new challenges we face resulting from the Delta pilots agreement, we have been receiving outstanding support from the Airline Division. They have provided negotiating assistance, as well as outstanding economic analysis and any support we have needed,” she went on to say.
Commenting on the situation, Airline Division Director David Bourne said, “I am very pleased with the direction and the focus that Elaine and her leadership team have shown in the negotiations. Obviously they must now deal with additional matters that will have a great impact on the Comair Flight Attendants. I have every confidence that under her leadership, the best agreement possible will be reached for the flight attendants and the Division stands ready to support her fully in that goal,” he concluded.
UAL / CAL Flight Safety Committee Discusses Issues
The UAL / CAL Flight Safety Committee (FSC) held a conference call on Tuesday to discuss proposed language in Article 14. In addition to discussing how committees should be structured with the GSC, other topics including additional points where mechanics are located, Go Teams, EAP and the MSAP were also discussed. The proposals were turned over to the San Francisco station steering committee chair Fred Wood.
The committee also discussed the computer systems used by the membership to access information about maintenance tasks to be preformed. The FSC encourages all aircraft technicians to be familiar with the task documents by reviewing them before starting any airplane related work. If members are unable to review these documents through the company’s computer system, they should call the “IT” repair phone number listed on the work station, and inform their supervisor of the problem. If the computer repair remains unsatisfactory, they should contact their supervisor and if necessary, file a MSAP report.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
Southwest Airlines will to fly a new route from Washington to St. Louis with slots bought from Spirit Airlines, which is transferring a route to the Baltimore airport. The Department of Transportation is expected to approve Southwest's use of the slots by September…AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, has received approval from a bankruptcy judge to extend the deadline for filing its reorganization plan. The Chapter 11 reorganization plan will now be due December 28th.
Labor and Industry
JetBlue Airways needs to perform around $600 million worth of engine overhauls in the next three years, according to an analysis by Aviation Week Intelligence Network…Delta Air Lines' new contract with the Air Line Pilots Association, which went into effect Sunday, guarantees an average 4% increase in pilot pay and a further 8.5% increase slated for the beginning of next year. The deal also will institute a net loss of 5,580 seats for Delta Connection affiliates… Mechanics, stock clerks and flight attendants at American Airlines may not vote in favor of ratifying new labor agreements, an analyst says.
Delta Air Lines has reopened the former ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer, Pa. Workers are returning to the refinery under the management of Delta subsidiary Monroe Energy…Boeing delivered 150 commercial aircraft in the second quarter, a 27% increase over the same quarter last year.
Doug Parker, CEO of US Airways Group, says in a note to employees that the company is in no hurry to merge with American Airlines, which recently requested additional time to complete its strategy for exiting bankruptcy. "That delay is fine by us," Parker said.
Southwest Airlines and Boeing have asked the FAA for more time to inspect 717s for cracks in the frame. Boeing did not have enough repair kits in stock for the 717s, and faced a 90-day reorder period.