Teamsters Airline Division Commitment to Safety Evident at FAA Safety Info Share
Teamster Safety Representatives including Pilots, Mechanics, and Stock Clerks came together on March 20th through March 22nd Dallas to discuss safety issues across the industry. The FAA info share, which is held every six months, brings together safety minded individuals from all disciplines in aviation; Labor, Airlines, Manufacturers, Military and MRO all with the same mission, to improve aviation safety.
IBT members present at the meeting representing mechanics were: Tom Reid UAL Local 210, PT Thomas UAL Local 781, Angel Cantu UAL Local 19, Vic Austin UAL Local 455, John Fischbach UAL Local 856, Johnny Vance XJT Local 19, Mike Keating UAL Local 856, Curtis DeArmond Local 856, Bob Kohler UPS Local 2727, Jim Kelley UPS Local 2727, Chuck Landis UPS Local 2727 and future Teamster mechanic Todd Lynch from Shuttle America and Airline Division Representative Chris Moore. Southwest Airlines Material Specialists Kevin Morris and Leo Fair from Local 19 attended as well. From Teamsters Local 357 Pilots were Eric McClish, Josh Bochnowski and Ryan Wissinton from CHQ, Kevin Richardson and Brett Faford from Shuttle America, Dan Findley and Anthony Campo and Jeremy Glunt from Republic and Mark Eden from Frontier.
SWA / AT Stock Clerk Seniority Integration Talks Continue
Members of the SWA / AT Stock Clerks / Material Specialists Seniority Integration Committees met in Houston on March 22, 2012. Solid progress was made as the committee members were able to agree on a game plan that will benefit both our AirTran and SWA members.
The group is currently determining a next set of dates to meet and present their proposal to the Company.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
The Federal Aviation Administration has failed to meet deadlines from Congress requiring improved pilot-training standards and minimum pilot qualifications, according to Senate testimony from Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovel III. The FAA has said the new rule, which requires co-pilots to hold an Airport Transport Pilot certificate and to have accumulated 1,500 hours of flying time, cannot be met until August 2013.
Airlines and Labor
AMR Corp., parent company of American Eagle, says it needs to trim $75 million in annual labor costs at the regional carrier…and they will likely seek U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval to void its union contracts at American after failing to reach agreements with labor to cut costs, two sources say…US Airways CEO Doug Parker says that despite the tough economic climate for airlines, the carrier does not need to merge…however, US Airways is said to be briefing creditors of AMR Corp. on plans for a possible merger with American Airlines, sources say. US Airways would seek to create a merger plan before American's parent exits bankruptcy protection.
Airlines that are already struggling to stay aloft will be grounded by rising fuel costs, predicts the top man at Emirates airline…the chief executive of International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, says American Airlines' reorganization will boost the Oneworld alliance…Canadian MRO Aveos has filed bankruptcy…