Airline Division Week In Review - June 22, 2014

TAMC visits XJT MX Base in Columbia, SC 

On June 19^th, TAMC Chairman Chris Moore, Local 528 Business Agent Robert Breaux and Local 528 XJT Chief Steward Geoff Maloney visited with members at the Columbia, SC maintenance base.  

An update on contract negotiations was presented along with a question and answer period. Due to the amount of uncertainty in the regional industry a good bit of time was spent discussing what the future may hold as the regional carriers work to reinvent themselves. In addition to the members questions about training requirements, an explanation of FMLA benefits and ASAP was provided.  

The meeting concluded with the Local BA and Chief Steward committing to working more closely with the 80 Mechanics and Stock Clerks at the Base.  

Negotiations for a Stand-alone Technician and Related and Subsidiary ASA Contracts resume 

This past week in Atlanta, the Union and the Company met in federal mediation negotiations. 

Talks continued with the union making passes on Article 7 – (Hours of Service) and Article 22 – (General and Miscellaneous) and the Company passing Article 7 – (Hours of Service) Article 22 – (General and Miscellaneous). The union and the company were able to reach a Tentative Agreement on Article 7 – (Hours of Service). 

With the Stand-Alone Sub-ASA contract, Tentative Agreements have been reached on the Articles 4 – (Seniority), 5 – (Filling of Vacancies), 6 – (Reduction in Force and Recall), 7 – (Hours of Service), 13 – (Training), 14 – (Health and Safety), 16 – (Moving Expenses), 20- (Grievance Procedure), 21 – (Board of Arbitration) and the Interim Agreement which gives the members a process to fight Discipline and Discharge up to and including Arbitration.  

The parties are working with the mediator to set dates for the next round of negotiations, meanwhile, talks will continue in mediation on the Sub-XJT side. 

UAL Arbitration Update 

On the 18^th, the arbitration case on the deicing equipment was held in Newark, NJ. The oral arguments were finished in one day and now both sides will submit briefs to the arbitrator. The resource utilization case will continue on June 26^th in Newark. As soon as decisions are rendered they will be reported to the membership. 

Norwegian Airlines Update 

Recently, Norwegian Airlines filed an application to start transatlantic flying with outsourced planes and crews. This proposed scheme is designed to allow the airline to circumvent the labor laws of its own country as well as those of the US. If approved, and if the airline’s scheme becomes successful, this application would also have the longer term effect of undermining safety and labor in the United States as more airlines attempt to copy this model. To that end, the Airline Division asked Albertine Enterprises to meet with members of Congress to fight the effort by Norwegian.  

To date, there have been 141 meetings with both Democratic and Republican Senators, Congressmen, staff and committees. One result of these meetings was the DeFazio amendment to the Transportation Subcommittee of Appropriations bill which suggested that DoT not use any funds to process an illegal application for a permit to allow Norwegian Airlines to achieve status as a US carrier.  

In continuing this battle Jack Albertine of Albertine Enterprises stated, “We intend to leave no public policy lever unused to defeat this outrageous attempt to circumvent our US labor agreements in the airline industry.” 

NetJets Dispatchers Update 

On Wednesday June 11^th, the union committee met with company officials and proposed Articles 4 – (Overtime), Article 6 – (Vacations and Holidays) and Article 7 – (Hours of Service).

A Tentative Agreement was concluded on Article 13 – (Training). With these Articles complete the only remaining new language to exchange is Compensation and Scope.

Airline Industry News

Governmental and Regulatory 

U.K. investigators linked the fire on board a parked Boeing Co. (BA) 787 Dreamliner at London’s Heathrow Airport last year to faulty wiring in the plane’s emergency locator transmitter. 

Officials with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agencyhave certified Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliner for commercial use, clearing the way for delivery to its first customer, Air New Zealand.  

Airlines, Industry and Labor 

American Airlines Group announced plans to send 20 Embraer E175s to Compass Airlines, a new regional carrier for American. "We are looking forward to Compass operating these new aircraft to provide an exceptional travel experience to American's customers connecting to our extensive global network," said Kenji Hashimoto, senior vice president of regional carriers at American.  

Charles Leocha, the co-founder of Travel United, writes that the Transportation Security Administration is defying Congress by increasing security fees through a new definition of what constitutes a round trip. "Basically, TSA's interpretation of the new law and budget presented an opportunity for TSA to get into travelers' wallets as well as peering and feeling beneath their clothing," he writes.

The Envoy Air flight attendants union criticized American Airlines management for contracting with another carrier to fly new regional jets for the airline. 

Steve Dickson, senior vice president for flight operations for Delta Air Lines, said the AirbusA380 does not make sense for the carrier. "The reliability of the two-engine airplanes and the efficiency of them is just too compelling," he said. Delta ordered 15 Airbus A321s earlier this month.  

The iconic Boeing 747s, which can seat up to 500 passengers, are being replaced by more fuel-efficient aircraft. Michael Thomas, a Delta Air Lines spokesman, said the 747s are "coming up on an age where it makes sense to replace them."