CitationAir Negotiations Continue in White Plains

The CitationAir Negotiating Committee assembled in White Plains, New York on Monday, August 19^th to resume bargaining with management towards their first Collective Bargaining Agreement. Local 1108 President Captain Mat Slinghoff and Interim MEC Chairman F/O Tim Carter joined with the team for the session. The group met with the expectation of receiving new information about CitationAir’s future operations as it had been almost six months since the last meeting with management.

CitationAir President Terry Clark addressed the representatives on Tuesday, offering his comments on the company’s short term plans and only briefly touching on long term considerations. He confirmed the company’s commitment to continue bargaining in good faith with the union.

The committee had anticipated management would be in a position to reveal their long-awaited refinements to the Company’s business plan, which would allow them to begin bargaining as it relates to those changes. However it became clear that management remained unable to present the negotiators with any reliable information regarding the direction CitationAir is headed, asking for “understanding” and a “little more time.”  Clark assured the negotiators that

management was very close to finalizing a plan of action and would share their decision with us as soon as they could. He also indicated that the pilot group could expect the company’s flight operations environment to remain status quo, for the present.

Prior to leaving, the parties exchanged proposals for the Negotiating Protocol Letter of Agreement, which had been sitting idle for an extended period of time.

Bargaining is scheduled to resume September 24^th through 26^th in White Plains.

Sub ASA Technicians and Related Talks Continue

Negotiations for a stand-alone Technician and Related, Subsidiary ASA contract resumed this week in Atlanta under the auspices of the Federal Mediator.

The union advised the Company that it would be interested in accepting the Company’s offer of additional wages and work rules with the understanding that it would only apply to the S-ASA side. The company has yet to respond to the union offer.

Traditional negotiations continued with the Mediator and a Tentative Agreement was reached on Section 12 – (Field Trips). Additionally the Union and the Company made proposals on Section 10 – (Leaves of Absence) and Section 3 – (Classifications).

On the stand alone Sub-ASA contract, Tentative Agreements have been reached on Articles 4 (Seniority), 5 (Filling of Vacancies), 6 (Reduction in Force and Recall), 13 (Training), 14 (Health and Safety), 16 (Moving Expenses), 20 (Grievance Procedure), 21 (Board of Arbitration) and the Interim Agreement which gives the members a process to fight Discipline and Discharge up to and including Arbitration.

Additional meetings with the Company outside of mediation have been scheduled for the first week in October as well as joint meetings with the Company and the Mediator during the last week of October. Concurrently, talks will continue in mediation on the Sub-XJT side. If it is determined during the mediation process to be advantageous to the members, the negotiators we will entertain offers from the Company for a combined agreement for the S-ASA and S-XJT Mechanic and Related work group.

Piedmont Mechanics Negotiations Update    

The Negotiating Committees resumed work on Monday, August 26^th.  The Company presented their response to the Unions economic proposal, as well as full proposals on Benefits and additional proposals on Holidays and Vacation as well as a proposal on Scope.

Although disappointed with the Company response on wages, the Union committee is committed to working and negotiating what they considered to be a fair and equitable contract for the membership to vote on.

The week was spent in direct discussion, working on the cost impact of proposals and discussing the results. Prior to the end of the weeks discussions, further proposals were exchanged on Compensation and Benefits, which remain the largest unresolved issues.

Negotiations will resume on September 23, 2013.

ASA / XJT Stock Clerks

Negotiations for a combined ASA / XJT Stock Clerk contract resumed this week in Atlanta.  The Union made proposals on Section 6 – (Reduction in Force and Recall) and Section 16 – (Moving Expenses). The Company made proposals on Section 10 – (Leaves of Absences).

Tentative Agreements were reached on Section 6 and Section 16.

At present for combined ASA/XJT Stock Clerk contract Tentative Agreements have been reached on Sections 3 – (Classifications), 4 (Seniority), 5 (Filling of Vacancies), 6 (Reduction in Force and Recall), 13 (Training), 14 (Health and Safety), 16 (Moving Expenses), 20 (Grievance Procedure) and 21 (Board of Arbitration).

Additional meetings with the Company have been scheduled for the first week in October 2013.

Airline Industry News

Governmental and Regulatory

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly will consider the date will consider the date for the Justice Department's antitrust trial against US Airways and American Airlines.

American Airlines, US Airways and the Justice Department all appear open to the idea of a settlement on the proposed merger. In a joint court filing, the carriers said they had tried to settle the case before the complaint was filed "and continue to believe there ought to be a realistic possibility of settlement."

Airlines, Industry and Labor

Questions are being raised about production problems in Charleston, South Carolina as Boeing is forced to increase production at the 787 line in Everett, Washington plant will have to make up the difference in orders for the company to reach its overall goal of 10 jetliners a month by year's end.

Columnist Ted Reed credits US Airways CEO Doug Parker's vision and experience for the decision to merge with American Airlines.

With the sale of Frontier possibly occurring by the end of September, DIA is planning for the loss of a major tenant.

If the DOJ is successful in blocking the USAirways / American merger, Doug Parker may set his sights on JetBlue 

Boeing has forecast demand for 498,000 additional pilots by 2032, as well as demand for 556,000 more maintenance technicians. Airlines for America spokeswoman Katie Connell said airlines will be adequately staffed and no pilot shortages are expected.

 

Airline Division Offices Closed On Labor Day

In honor of the sacrifices made by millions of hardworking men and women over the decades that built our nation; and holding sacred the traditions and unity shown by our union brothers and sisters whose courage brought about this day of recognition for the trade union movement, the offices of the Airline Division will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2013.

As we enjoy this day of rest and celebration with our families, friends and coworkers, let us remember the sacrifices of those who came before us and share the story of union labor and how it has helped strengthen our nation.

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