CLEVELAND TECH OPS: May 2013

Monday, May 13, 2013

Mechanics Dispatch For May 11, 2013

May 11, 2013

Update

The week was very busy for the subcommittee meetings involving benefits including medical and pensions. J.J. Johns from the Benefits committee was brought in to assist in the benefits talks between the parties last week and continued assistance in this week’s round. His history, experience, and knowledge in medical and other benefits related issues were welcomed by the committee. Meetings over all this week progressed closer to some agreements, but there are still many unresolved areas. These union subcommittee meetings were assisted by Cheiron actuaries Gaelle Gravot and Jim Holland and were facilitated by Pat Sims from the NMB.

The parties continue to make progress and the discussions will continue the week of May 13^thin Chicago.

Seniority Committee

Representatives from the Seniority Committee met with the company on Wednesday to discuss plans to create the new seniority list. Julianne Cooney, UA Senior Analyst - Labor Relations, and Mark Prpich – UA Labor Relations were on hand to discuss the many issues and concerns in combining the three lists in to one. The two member union committee will assist Julianne next week in creating a comprehensive accurate list which will be available for review should the negotiating committee reach a tentative agreement.

Furloughed members urged to update their addresses

Members on furlough are advised to keep their addresses current with the company while on layoff. It is predicted that there will be many movements this year and there have been several members that have been removed from the seniority list because old addresses were on file when notices were sent.

If you are in touch with a furloughed member, please forward this information to them. Updates may be emailed to: ESC@united.com . The ESC will provide a fax number and ask members to send the address change accompanied with a signature.

Useful links

If you would like to see a link added to this list please contact Bob Fisher at:rcfisher7@yahoo.com

Airline Mechanics Forum Airline Mechanics forum (This is a good place to discuss merger related items)

The following Locals represent these respective cities:

Boston Local 25

New York & Washington Local 210

Charleston & Atlanta Local 528

Miami, Ft. Lauderdale Tampa & Orlando Local 769

Cleveland Local 964

Chicago Local 781

Houston, Dallas & New Orleans Local 19

Phoenix Local 104

Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Hawaii & Guam Local 986

San Francisco Local 856/986

Denver Local 455

Monday, May 6, 2013

Airline Division Week In Review May 4, 2013

UAL Negotiations Update

UAL negotiations continued in Chicago this week reviewing the comprehensive proposal to Phase 2 subjects exchanged with the carrier in last week’s session. Each item from the Companies initial proposal was broken down by the committee and discussed in detail. The union team then took another look at the Teamster proposals to determine where adjustments or agreements might possibly be made. Meanwhile, the subcommittees continued to meet and discuss benefit details in an effort to come to a mutual agreement. Cheiron actuaries Gaelle Gravot and Peter Hardcastle assisted the subcommittees and were facilitated by Michael Kelleher from the NMB.

On Wednesday, the Negotiating Committee received a presentation from IBT EAP Coordinator Caleb Goode. The presentation included briefings on the company’s planned/proposed changes to their drug/alcohol policy. Discussions were held within the committee regarding how to proceed with contractual language changes with regard to the IBT’s EAP program on United Airlines, as well as clarification of the program on the property.

The parties continue to make progress and the discussions will continue the week of May 6th in Chicago.

ExpressJet Negotiations Continue

Negotiations resumed on April 29^th in Philadelphia. Discussions continued on Section Overtime and the union passed its first proposal on Section 8, Vacation.

No tentative agreements were reached at this session.

Negotiations will resume on May 21^st in Washington, D. C. at the offices of the National Mediation Board.

Airline Division Mourns the loss of National Airlines Flight 102

The Airline Division joins all in the aviation community in mourning the tragic loss of National Airlines Flight 102. The flight; which was departing Baghram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, crashed immediately after takeoff, resulting in the loss of all aboard.

“This was an especially sobering loss for all of us in the industry,” said Airline Division Director David Bourne. “We lost people from across our industry; pilots, mechanics and loadmasters in a horrific manner. While it will no doubt prove helpful during the investigation, the dash camera video of the final moments leading to the crash made this an even more painful. Having many hours experience in the 747-400, I can only imagine the heroic efforts of the crew in the final moments. This only serves to remind us of the dangers of the profession for all involved and how important it is that we do everything we can to support each other in our jobs.”

“While they may not have been fellow Teamsters, they were fellow pilots, mechanics and loadmasters. We are lessened by their loss and join in sending our thoughts, prayers and condolences to their families, friends and the National Airlines family,” he concluded.

Airline Industry News

Governmental and Regulatory

President Obama said Tuesday that the recently approved bill to end air traffic controller furloughs will not eliminate the problems the sequester will cause for airline passengers.

Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., was nominated by President Barack Obama for the post of secretary of transportation.

Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., has proposed a bill to add a second set of safety barriers to airline cockpits.

Airlines and Industry

Pinnacle Airlines emerged from bankruptcy on Wednesday as a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.

Boeing has started marketing the updated version of its 777, known as the 777X, to customers.

Compass Airlines flight attendants voted to approve a five-year labor contract on Wednesday.

Republic Airways Holdings said the company is still planning to divest its Frontier unit by June or July, but would not comment on possible buyers.

IPads eliminate pilot documentation packs and save fuel, according to an American Airlines executive.

On Saturday, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 was the first to return to the skies since the January grounding of the aircraft.

Mechanics Dispatch For May 6, 2013

May 6, 2013

Negotiations Update

This week the negotiating team traveled back to Chicago. The week was spent reviewing the comprehensive proposal to Phase 2 subjects exchanged with the carrier in last week’s session. Each item from the Companies initial proposal was broken down and discussed by the committee. The union team then took another look at the Teamster proposals to determine where adjustments or agreements might possibly be made. Meanwhile, the subcommittees continued to meet and discuss benefit details in an effort to come to a mutual agreement. These union subcommittee meetings were assisted by Cheiron actuaries Gaelle Gravot and Peter Hardcastle and were facilitated by Michael Kelleher from the NMB.

On Wednesday, the negotiating committee received a presentation from IBT EAP Coordinator Caleb Goode. The presentation included briefings on the company’s planned/proposed changes to their drug/alcohol policy. Discussions were held within the committee regarding how to proceed with contractual language changes with regard to the IBT’s EAP program on United Airlines, as well as clarification of the program on the property.

The parties continue to make progress and the discussions will continue the week of May 6^thin Chicago.