World Airways Ceases Operations
One of America’s true legacy airlines, World Airways ceased operations on Thursday. A statement released by Airline Division Director David Bourne on the announcement read in part:
“Today, Global Aviation Holdings announced that it was closing operations of World Airways. With this, the airline industry witnesses yet again the destruction of another storied airline, laid to waste by greed and management incompetence.
World Airways began in 1948 with the famed Boeing China Clipper flying boats. In her history, she carried many an American soldier to the far corners of the earth, and more proudly, brought them safely home. The Teamsters have proudly served at World for decades, both as pilots and as flight attendants and honored to have been there to support our troops.
Not surprisingly, Global and its parent company Cerberus Capital are trying to blame the Teamsters for the failure of the airline. Had the pilots and flight attendants been running the Cerberus Capital and gutting the airline and the coffers, or hired inept management at Global; that had no idea or concern how to properly operate an airline, we would accept the claim. Had the pilots and flight attendants refused; despite numerous offers of assistance, to put together an honest business plan and operate the airline instead of continually looking for ways to strip the very foundation of the airline; we would accept the claim.
In fact, we will not accept blame for the debacle they created. Our repeated attempts to get Cerberus and Global to produce a legitimate business plan were met with silence. The management team put in place by Cerberus has redefined the term incompetence. It has been a revolving door, with no commitment whatsoever to the long-term success of this company. They alone brought the company into bankruptcy twice in the past two years, by overloading the company with debt and refusing to build even a simple, sound business plan. Despite over $15 million dollars in concessions just last year from less than 250 pilots, they failed less than three months after exiting bankruptcy. Their solution to their ineptitude in this, their second bankruptcy, was to demand an additional $7.5 million dollars from 47 pilots, while they lined their pockets and still had no business plan.
Despite this, our Teamsters membership never failed to show their dedication to this company and its legacy, with decades of performance under the most difficult circumstances. As the books now close on this proud and storied airline, history will show that the Teamsters members of World Airways did their jobs professionally and consistently day after day. Their performance, professionalism, skill and care for our servicemen in their charge and the cargo they carried will never be open for criticism by those who know the facts.
During both bankruptcies, the Teamsters were willing to work with the company to negotiate a reasonable way to revive the company, honoring the fact that employees were not the problem. Numerous requests made to Cerberus Capital and Global for the evidence and financial documentation we needed to go forth in good faith ask our membership for still more concessions were met with silence and refusals of proof. The choice not to discuss costs and solutions honestly was Cerberus’ and Global’s choice, and theirs alone to bear.”
A full copy of Division Director Bourne’s statement can be found on the Airline Division Website:www.teamsterair.org
NetJets Dispatchers Discussions Continue
In preparation for the meeting, the NetJets Dispatchers Negotiating Committee spent Wednesday, March 12th and continued to work counter proposals on Article 9 (Filling of Vacancies) and Article 12 (Leaves of Absence).
The Committee then met with Company representatives on Thursday, March 13th with Local 284 hosting NetJets for the negotiating session. The Company passed counters on Article 14 (Safety and Health), Article 13 (Training) and Article 20 (Union Representation) for consideration. The Parties also continued an extensive discussion regarding Operational Control with the Company, with the union continuing to press for a more defined understanding of the practical application of Operational Control and how that application includes the Dispatcher.
The Committee also passed a counter proposal on Article 12 (Leaves of Absence).
The next negotiating session is tentatively scheduled in April for the week of the 21st.
NJASAP, NetJets Unions Coalition, Local 284 Hold Informational Picket
The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 284 executive boards have announced the formation of the NetJets Unions Coalition. Citing “minimal progress and unjustifiable demands” during ongoing contract talks, they marked the announcement with a round of informational picketing at the company headquarters in Columbus, Ohioon Friday. Over 3,000 pilots who fly for NetJets are represented by NJASAP, and approximately 500 NetJets dispatchers, flight attendants, maintenance controllers, mechanics and stock clerks are represented by Local 284.
In discussing the formation of the coalition, Local 284 President Paul Suffoleto said, “senior NetJets managers made clear their intention to engage all four of its organized employees” in contract negotiations at the same time. “With the flight attendans headed to mediation and little progress being made with the remaining groups, the time to launch the coalition is now,” said Local 284 president Paul Suffoletto.
Teamsters and XJT complete Scope Arbitration and SBA this week.
The Airline Division and ExpressJet met this week in Houston to complete a Scope Arbitration that began last December with both sides concluding witness testimony and cross examination. At issue is floorboard work that the airline has outsourced.
The case is now in the Arbitrator's hands and with the sides anticipating a ruling by mid to late summer.
The day following the Arbitration, the XJT MX quarterly System Board convened. Union Stewards and Business Agents from Locals 210 and 19 brought a total of 17 cases before the board, all of which were processed.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
Members of the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Transportation Security will hold a field hearing at the Los Angeles International Airport to discuss recommendations by the Transportation Security Administration to improve on-the-job security for TSA airport workers.
American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and People Express Airlines have allsubmitted applications to the Department of Transportation for slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
A federal agency overseeing transportation safety is warning pilots to take extra precautions after a pair of recent plane landings at the wrong Midwest airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced the appointment of Teri Bristol as the new chief operating officer of its Air Traffic Organization. Bristol has been with the FAA for 21 years, with her most recent position of deputy COO. She has been serving as acting COO since former COO David Grizzle left in December.
Airlines, Industry and Labor
Last year, the number of bags properly handled by airlines improved, according to a report released by industry IT specialist SITA.
In a recent blog post, Southwest Airlines' President and CEO Gary Kelly called on the Federal Aviation Administration to speed up the implementation process of NextGen, its satellite-based air traffic control system.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday ordered an immediate fix to the latest version of Boeing Co's 747-8 plane, saying a software glitch could cause it to lose thrust when close to landing and fly into the ground. The FAA's so-called airworthiness directive covers Boeing's 747-8 and 747-8F planes with certain General Electric Co engines. It calls for replacing defective software with a new, improved version.
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