UAL Go Team members attend training
UAL Maintenance “Go Team” members Pramod “PT” Thomas and Edison Herrera from ORD and John Alioto from SFO attended National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Accident Investigation Training this week in IND.
The training; which encompassed two days, was sponsored by Locals 1224 and 357 and covered a wide range of topics including; how to form and operate a “Go Team,” occupational hazards at an accident site and what to expect when investigating an accident both Domestically and Internationally. Additionally, a briefing from an air carrier on the obstacles they encountered during a recent international investigation was also presented in addition to many other subjects.
The training was conducted by Greg Feith, former NTSB accident investigator and Enjoli DeGrasse from International Brotherhood of Teamsters Safety and Health Department.
The Airline Division is exploring additional avenues to provide training members that will allow the development and deployment of “Go Teams” at all Teamster represented airlines.
Cape Air negotiations continue
International representatives continued working with the Cape Air pilots negotiating committee as the move closer to an agreement with management. With certain items remaining unresolved in Compensation, Benefits and Scope, the group remains optimistic that the agreement can be concluded.
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for the week of November 8th.
Revised Omni Tentative Agreement now complete
With discussions now completed, the revised Omni Air Tentative Agreement is in final draft stages with management and should be completed by early next week. No date for a ratification vote has been set at this time.
Aloha Air Cargo negotiations to resume in HNL
Negotiations for Aloha Air Cargo will resume in HNL on Nov 15-17th. Representatives from the Airline Division will join Aloha negotiators as they meet with management to continue discussions on the three sections presented at the September meeting and the five additional sections to be presented at the upcoming meeting.
United Mechanic’s Negotiating team meets
This week the UAL Mechanics negotiating committee convened at Local 856 in San Bruno, CA. The focus of the meeting was developing proposals for next week’s upcoming session with the company. The work of the Committee will continue on Monday as they finalize their proposal to the Company in order to try and achieve an interim transition agreement prior to entering mediation.
AirTran Seniority Integration Committee meets with the AMFA Committee in Dallas
The AirTran Seniority Integration Committee met with their AMFA counterparts at Southwest on October 19th and 20th to continue discussions on seniority integration. Hoped for progress was not achieved as AMFA moved even further backward from the previous proposal they had made. That proposal was determined by the AirTran committee to be a proposal not worthy of serious consideration. The AirTran committee has requested that AMFA reconsider their last proposal and determined that it is in the best interests of both parties to step back from the current discussions to consider other options as they move forward.
While no date has been announced for the parties to resume discussions, it is expected that the groups will reconvene sometime in November.
"Pay shortages at sub UA addressed
As a result of the recently instituted weekly conference calls between UAL Chief Stewards and BA’s and the Division, the payroll issues discussed that caused shortages in paychecks for vacation and holidays have now been addressed.
Airline Division Director David Bourne contacted UAL management after learning of the situation and informed them that current situation was unacceptable and the company leadership agreed and began developing a fix. As of Friday afternoon a temporary fix was put in place with a long term solution in the works that will include an audit of each of the former vacation databases and input them into a new program. The target date for completion is the end of October. During the interim members that notice shortages in their checks are to contact their local payroll department who will cut local checks immediately. If there are problems getting a local check, members should contact their Chief Steward or BA right away to ensure quick resolution.
Local 781 President to lead Air Canada negotiations
Newly elected Local 781 President Paul Stripling has been selected to lead the continuing negotiations for Air Canada employees represented by the Teamsters, it was announced this week.
Stripling, who has a long record of service to the membership of Local 781 has held various positions and has been involved in RLA negotiations with the IBT Airline Division since 2000 with many craft and class, including Passenger Service and Reservations, Fleet Service, Mechanics, Stock Clerks, representing many Teamster airline properties, including Air Canada.
United Mechanic’s Negotiating team meets
This week the negotiating committee convened at local 856 in San Bruno CA. The focus of the meeting was developing proposals for next week’s upcoming session with the carrier. The work of the Committee will continue on Monday as they finalize their proposal to the Company in order to try and achieve an interim transition agreement prior to entering mediation.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
Presidential Candidate Ron Paul of Texas says he would abolish the Transportation Security Administration if he were to be elected president, saving $1 trillion dollars. Paul believes airlines are in a better position to protect aviation than the federal government…Already $300 million over budget, the much touted NextGen air-traffic-control system may still be years away from implementation because of cost overruns and congressional inaction. Congress has yet to pass legislation funding the government's more than $20 billion tab for the project…Concerns over cracks found on inspections, Boeing and the FAA are calling for increased inspections on wing skins on Boeing 767’s.
Industry and Labor
Spirit Airlines’ CEO Ben Baldanza says the airline's policies are not for everybody. "There's a trade-off flying Spirit," he said…Atlantic Southeast Airlines will now be re-branded as ExpressJet…the pilots of United Airlines ALPA unit have elected a new chairman…USAPA, the labor union representing USAirways pilots, has asked that the judge who issued a restraining order on their pilots modify his ruling.