Net Jet Flight Attendant negotiations continued this week at Net Jet headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The Company provided the Union with an economic overview of the Company’s current and projected forecast. IBT Economist Jim Kimball joined the team to analyze the company financials and advise the committee during the negotiating of the economic package.
NetJet Mechanics Identify Issues for Upcoming Negotiations
The Net Jet mechanics negotiating committee also met this week in Columbus. Committee members Chad Morrison, John Wolfe, Isaac Thielman and Trent Rutledge were joined by Local 284 Business Agent Paul Suffoletto and IBT Airline Division representatives Paul Alves and Chris Moore. The committee reviewed the current contract and based on member input began identifying the issues that will need to be addressed during negotiations including adding the Maintenance Controllers to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Airline Division Working on Merger Policy
The Airline Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting on November 27th and 28th. A primary topic of discussion was the creation of a Division-wide merger policy.
The Board members were given examples of how other unions have approached seniority list integrations in the past. These examples included integrations that have worked and others that have failed horribly. There was discussion also of the recent integrations that have occurred and which are occurring within the Division. It was also noted that the USAir pilots group currently represented by USAPA has been without a new agreement for 8 years trying to achieve a mutually acceptable solution for seniority integration. Their internal dispute regarding seniority integration has cost that pilot group millions of dollars in the form of lost opportunity costs, including wages not earned.
The Division’s Board members agreed that a Division-wide policy needed to be adopted by the Division because consolidation of the industry will continue. The Board discussed that a policy based on “date of hire” or “date of entering the craft” has considerable merit and should be included in the policy of the Airline Division. To that end, subcommittees of representatives from the IBT-represented crafts are now assigned to begin the construction of a merger policy based on the “date of hire” and/or “date of entering the craft” approach. These sub committees will work towards preparing a draft that can be reviewed at the next Board of Directors meeting in March for possible adoption.
FAA Paper Certificates Set to Expire Soon
For members who still hold FAA paper licenses, the time for conversion to the new, plastic card is fast approaching. Paper licenses will no longer be valid as of March 31, 2013. Information can be found by accessing the following link:
Or search Google for “FAA Paper License Replacement.”
All paper certificate holders cannot exercise the privileges of their PAPER certificates after March 31, 2013. This includes all certificates that are issued under 14 CFR Part 63 and 65.
14 CFR 63.15(d) and 65.15(d) reads:
Duration of certificates. Except for temporary certificates issued under §63.15 and 65.15, the holder of a paper certificate issued under this part may not exercise the privileges of that certificate after March 31, 2013.
If your airman certificate was issued after July 2003 and is a plastic certificate, it already meets the paper-to plastic rule as specified in 14 CFR Parts 63 and 65 and does not need to be reissued.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
The Federal Aviation Administration and other industry groups informing pilot training are calling for changes in stall training, a key aspect of pilot training critical for maintaining airplane safety.
Airlines and Industry
In the current economic environment, unions are looking at creative ways to protect members’ hard fought gains.
At the request of the mediator assigned to talks between Boeing and one of its unions, both parties have agreed to suspend negotiations until after the first of the year.
Boeing has decreased the weight of the 747-8 Freighter and tweaked its configuration to increase aerodynamic performance. The move comes after customers complained about the plane's performance.
Delta Air Lines has inquired with Singapore Airlines about purchasing its 49% stakein Virgin Atlantic. Singapore says it is hosting talks to possibly sell its stake, but didn't say Delta was involved.
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