Headline News
Airline Division News, Week Ending February 21, 2015
Union Negotiators, Miami Air management meet
The Local 1224 Miami Air and Miami Air negotiating committees met this past week in Florida, where they engaged in continued direct negotiations to amend the current collective bargaining agreement. The negotiations were very productive, with both sides worked collaboratively and with a mutual objective to finish the negotiations and reach a new, amended agreement in the near future.
The parties reached tentative agreements on Hours of Service and a new section, Deadheading. They also worked extensively on Scheduling and Reserves. Although they have not reached agreement on those two sections, they made important progress, and both sides have pledged to work with one another between bargaining sessions, with the hope that they can reach agreement at the next session.
The Company and Union will meet for a two-week, back-to-back round of negotiations the last week of April, and first week of May.
Union Representatives, Travel Management Company management hold first meeting
Representatives of the pilots of TMC and officials of Local 1108 held their first meeting with members of TMC management this week as a precursor to Section 6 discussions for the group. International Representative Captain Rick Dubinsky, Local 1108 President Efrem Vojta, Local 1108 Business Agent Laddie Hostalek and Captain Jim Spencer, Negotiating Chairman for the TMC pilots met with owner Pete Liegl and President Scott Wise.
In discussions that were described as cordial, the parties discussed the Section 6 process of the RLA and both expressed a desire to begin the process of negotiations. It is anticipated that discussions will commence in April.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
Private industry and members of Congress are weighing in on commercial drone rules recently proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Retail giant Amazon was disappointed that the provisions do not allow for merchandise delivery via drone, while some lawmakers fear for public safety under the new regulations.
The Global Business Travel Association warns that business travelers will be affected if Congress fails to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
A new Department of Transportation report outlines how NextGen will aid in the expected increased demand for air travel.
Airlines, Labor and Industry
American Airlines plans to take over an Alaska Airlines route from Los Angeles to Mexico City. The route transfer awaits approval from the Department of Transportation.
Jim McNerney, CEO of Boeing, said the aircraft manufacturer will transition to production of the 777X at the end of the decade “without a hit to production rates” to the 777.
As Boeing works out a replacement for its 757 aircraft, it has become clear that the company will not opt to refurbish the current aircraft with new engines, according to this article.