Airline Division Week In Review For March 22, 2014

NetJets Technicians and Related 

The Negotiating Committee met at Local 284 Headquarters the week of March 17^th to complete and pass counter proposals to the company on Article 7 (Union Representation) and Article 13 (Funeral Leave). The Committee also completed and passed the Union’s opening proposals on Articles 20 (Training), 25 (Sick Leave) and 32 (Hours of Service). Additionally, the committee began work on Article 14 (Leaves of Absence). The Union and the Company were able to reach a Tentative Agreement on Article 35 (Tuition Assistance Policy). 

The Union and the Company will be working to set dates for the next round of talks. 

United Airlines Flight Simulator Technician and Related Negotiations Update  

A very busy second week of negotiations between the Union and United Airlines Management for the Flight Simulator Technicians and Related Amalgamated agreement concluded this week. The parties exchanged proposals on Articles 7 (Hours of Service), 13 (Training), 14 (Safety and Health), 17 (Overtime), 18 (Union Security and Representation), 19 (Grievance Procedures) and 20 (Board of Arbitration) with progress being made on several items. 

The next session will be in Denver the week of April 28^th. 

Piedmont Negotiations Continue    

Piedmont negotiations resumed on Monday, March 17^th with a productive week reported as the parties discussed various aspects of both the company and union proposals and some new ideas. While no agreements were reached and the parties did not pass any paper proposals, both sides left with a clearer prospective on what the other side wants in the final Agreement. 

Discussions also took place regarding external events that may possibly impact the discussions. The Company advised the committee that it has reached a tentative agreement with the flight attendants and the ratification process will be concluded on April 9^th. 

The American Eagle pilots’ tentative agreement is also out for ratification and should be concluded on March 28^th.  If ratified, it will assure that Eagle will maintain a minimum fleet of 170 aircraft.  That most likely will account for all the jets that AA is committed to purchase. 

In a message to members, the union advised the membership that they remain committed to and believe that they should be able to reach agreement with the Company on a new contract that will be fair to all sides. 

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on May 5^th. 

ANPRM on Drug/Alcohol Testing for Foreign MRO’s is Applauded by Airline Division, TAMC 

The announcement by the FAA on March 13^th that the agency would be seeking publiccomments on an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that would require drug and alcohol testing of maintenance personnel who work on aircraft operated by U.S. air carriers (Part 121) in facilities outside the United States was met with strong support by the Airline Division and the Teamster Airline Mechanics Coalition (TAMC). 

“This is a very positive first step,” said TAMC Chairman Chris Moore. “For too long, foreign MRO facilities have been operating on a lower level of compliance than U.S. based facilities. We believe that there is no justification for anyone who works on a U.S registered aircraft to not fall under the same safety and security guidelines that our members must follow,” he continued. 

“When it comes to safety issues, there can be only one standard; Foreign Repair Stations working on US Carriers Aircraft must be equal to the standards imposed on US Mechanics” said Airline Division Director David Bourne. “The American travelling public and all U.S. flight crews deserve nothing less than 100% assurance that the people working on the airplanes they fly have been held to the same stringent safety standards as the crewmembers themselves. The Airline Division and TAMC have worked together since 2007 on this issue and we will continue to pursue this issue through the ANPRM process and to a final rule on the process” he said.   

Airline Industry News 

Governmental and Regulatory 

Airlines carrying passengers to and within the U.S. served 1.3% more travelers in 2013 than in 2012, according to U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

 Airlines, Industry and Labor 

In a letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly furthered his case for why the carrier should receive two more gates at Love Field. "For a variety of reasons, Southwest's only option for expansion in the Metroplex is at Love Field. Southwest expansion would bring additional competition that would not otherwise be possible. Experts agree that Southwest's proposed 20 flights to 12 new destinations will generate far more economic benefit to the Metroplex," wrote Kelly.  

American Airlines plans to relocate 100 accounting jobs to Tempe, Arizona. 

United Airlines is renewing its fleet with the fuel-efficient Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, according to Matt Miller, managing director, Japan and Pacific sales. 

American Eagle pilots have begun voting on a new contract. 

More than 95% of Lufthansa pilots have voted in favor of going on strike, union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), which represents about 5,400 Lufthansa pilots, announced Friday. 

Atlas Air and Qantas Freight, the cargo unit of Australia’s Qantas Airways, have extended their aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) contract.  

Speaking at a recent conference, Centurion Cargo Chairman Alphonso Rey was the most upbeat of the panelists, noting that hard times for all-cargo carriers are not only a recent phenomenon, pointing out that more than 100 all-cargo airlines have disappeared in the last twenty years. Regarding competition from belly capacity, he said that passenger airline belly cargo offerings are less flexible and less reliable than what is offered by freighter operators. He urged greater attention to air cargo’s value proposition and warned against complacency, “the enemy of all-cargo airlines is doing nothing.”