Headline News
Airline Division News, Week Ending June 8, 2013
Airline Division, Air Canada Officials Meet to Jump Start Stalled Discussions
On Thursday, June 6th, Airline Division Director David Bourne, Airline Division representatives and counsel met at IBT Headquarters in Washington, D.C. with officials of Air Canada to attempt to jump start the stalled negotiations, which had ended on a negative note in April 2013. Very significant progress was made, and the Airline Division believes a final TA is now within striking distance that will protect and advance the members interests on the core issues the parties have identified: job security, health care benefits, pension and compensation.
Further meetings with the carrier are scheduled for July 24th and 25th in Chicago, at which time the company’s proposals will be presented and discussed with the IBT negotiating committee. If the parties are able to reach a TA at this meeting, the IBT we will send out the final negotiated agreement for membership ratification, which should occur in August. Commenting on the meeting, Airline Division Director Bourne said, “While we will continue to keep the Air Canada membership updated of any new developments; we wanted you to be aware that yesterdays discussions has resulted in the carrier’s negotiating stance taking a very positive turn.”
“I want to thank all of the members of the IBT team involved in the discussions and feel that the meeting will produce positive results in our efforts to secure a tentative agreement with Air Canada in the near future,” he concluded.
NMB Clears Path for Election at USAirways
In a letter dated June 7th, the NMB advised the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that the Board has authorized an election for the mechanics of USAirways. In part the letter said:
The National Mediation Board (Board) has authorized an election in the above-referenced case. The election will be conducted by Telephone Electronic Voting and Internet Voting. The Notice and Sample Instructions will be sent out on July 1, 2013. The Voting Instructions will be mailed to the employees on July 8, 2013. The voting period will be from 12:01 a.m., ET, July 8, 2013, through August 12, 2013. The tally will take place at the Board’s offices on August 12, at 2 p.m., ET.
Full letter may be read here: http://www.teamster.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CHOB_6_7_2013.pdf
Commenting on the notice, Division Director David Bourne said, “We are very grateful for the NMB’s prompt action on this matter and we look forward to winning the election both at USAirways and when held, at American, and helping their members move forward in their new airline towards a brighter and more secure future.”
Opposition From Teamsters, Airline Workers Led TSA To Keep Knives Off Planes
Following fierce opposition by the Teamsters and many other industry groups, this week the TSA reversed its announced plan to allow small knives to again be carried in the cabins of commercial aircraft. A press release from the Teamsters commenting on the ruling said:
The Teamsters Union today lauded the Transportation Security Administration for reversing its plan to allow knives on planes after facing months of fierce opposition, saying the move ensures the continued safety of flight attendants, pilots and the flying public.
“Airline employees and their passengers made it clear that there is no place for dangerous weapons on airplanes,” said Teamsters General James P. Hoffa. “We commend TSA for hearing those real concerns of workers on the front lines and rethinking the agency’s position. We will all be safer because of it.”
The Teamsters Union is part of a coalition of unions representing 90,000 flight attendants that fought the proposal to allow knives of up to 2.36 inches on planes. First announced in March, TSA’s proposed rule would have permitted knives in the cabin of passenger airplanes for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Teamsters and its coalition filed a legal challenge to prevent the knives from coming on board and legislation was introduced in Congress.
“This decision marks a big victory for airline workers and the flying public,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. “The current rules, which allow knives to be included in checked luggage, have been shown to work. There is no reason to change course from the safety measures put in place after September 11th.”
ExpressJet Negotiations Continue
Negotiations resumed on June 6th and 7th in Philadelphia. While the session was brief, continued progress was reported Section 8, (Vacations). The parties continued where they had previously left off and passed proposals; continuing to have constructive dialogue which the negotiators believe should help improve the bidding process and allow greater flexibility in using vacation; however, the Company is still insisting on reducing the number of vacation days that each member would be entitled to use.
The negotiating committees will reconvene on July 15th.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
Airlines, Industry and Labor
Columnist Loren Thompson says Boeing is shifting workers away from its facilities in Washington state due to several factors.
Airlines for America praised the passage of a bill in the House that prohibits a customs preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The facility would have been built with taxpayer dollars, despite the fact that no U.S. carriers serve the Abu Dhabi International Airport. TravelPulse
Delta Air Lines plans to reduce positions for 230 non union employees at its hub in Memphis, Tenn., through voluntary-retirement packages, job transfers to other locations or furloughs with severance pay.
United Airlines has signed an agreement to buy 15 million gallons of cost-competitive renewable jet fuel from AltAir Fuels over a three-year period.
In an interview at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association, AMR CEO Tom Horton and US Airways CEO Doug Parker indicated that by the middle of this month, they plan to announce a new management structure.
U.S. airlines are seeking to improve their market share now that they are better positioned to compete globally and have invested in more fuel-efficient aircraft, said International Air Transport Association CEO Tony Tyler.
The International Air Transport Association forecast a 20% increase in airline earnings in 2013 as carriers have trimmed capacity to boost load factor. The group predicted North American carriers will earn $4.4 billion in 2013.