2014 Fleet Service Discussion

[NYer]

So the TWU union door was shut on all future American Eagle employees

The confusion lies in the brand American Eagle, which most of the regional feeder to the mainline fly under. Then you have American Eagle Airlines which is a direct subsidiary of American Airlines. To avoid confusion after the merger American Eagle Airlines changed their name to Envoy. The Envoy employees are unionized. The employees working for other airlines flying under American Eagle aren't, they're third party. 

 

[ograc]

The confusion lies in the brand American Eagle, which most of the regional feeder to the mainline fly under. Then you have American Eagle Airlines which is a direct subsidiary of American Airlines. To avoid confusion after the merger American Eagle Airlines changed their name to Envoy. The Envoy employees are unionized. The employees working for other airlines flying under American Eagle aren't, they're third party. 

You're post is confusing. In my station American Eagle employees who were given the new name Envoy have never been union represented. Above wing or below wing. Envoy employees and their work is considered vendor work. Both above wing and below wing. The new AA is now insourcing the below wing vendor work. The former Envoy employees were give preferential interviews to be hired as newly hired employees. The former American Eagle, now called Envoy, employees in my station have never been or are not currently unionized. This smoke and mirrors is very confusing to say the least. 

 

[NYer]

So the TWU union door was shut on all future American Eagle employees

All Envoy (formerly American Eagle Airlines) are TWU. Employees flying third party, like Republic, that fly under the American Eagle brand are not.

There are a few smaller cities that are outsourced, but there are not many.

(American Eagle Airlines is a different entity from American Eagle, the brand.)

 

[NYer]

You're post is confusing. In my station American Eagle employees who were given the new name Envoy have never been union represented. Above wing or below wing. Envoy employees and their work is considered vendor work. Both above wing and below wing. The new AA is now insourcing the below wing vendor work. The former Envoy employees were give preferential interviews to be hired as newly hired employees. The former American Eagle, now called Envoy, employees in my station have never been or are not currently unionized. This smoke and mirrors is very confusing to say the least.

The unionized workers are typically in the hubs and former hubs.

 

[john john]

You're post is confusing. In my station American Eagle employees who were given the new name Envoy have never been union represented. Above wing or below wing. Envoy employees and their work is considered vendor work. Both above wing and below wing. The new AA is now insourcing the below wing vendor work. The former Envoy employees were give preferential interviews to be hired as newly hired employees. The former American Eagle, now called Envoy, employees in my station have never been or are not currently unionized. This smoke and mirrors is very confusing to say the least.

Agree their are American Eagle now Envoy employees that are direct subsidiary of American Airlines that are non-union thru out the system

 

[john john]

The unionized workers are typically in the hubs and former hubs.

Did TWU every try to unionize the nonunion American Eagle now Envoy employees

 

[NYer]

Did TWU every try to unionize the nonunion American Eagle now Envoy employees

 
"This Agreement is  made and entered in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended by and between AMERICAN  EAGLE  AIRLINES, INC. and  EXECUTIVE AIRLINES, INC., hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”, and the TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA,  AFL-CIO, hereinafter  known as the  “Union”. Whenever reference is made herein to the “Company”, such reference refers to either American Eagle Airlines, Inc. or Executive  Airlines, Inc. whichever is the  employer of the applicable employee."
 
1.F.--"After the date of signing of this agreement any new city/cities staffed by the Company with the TWU Fleet Service Clerks as a result of the provisions of Article 1.E., above, will not be subject to the provisions of Article 1.D. For purposes of this paragraph a new city is defined as any city other than BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD and SJU."
 
1.D.--"D. Contracting Out of Work - The Company reserves the right to contract in or contract out any or all such work covered by this Agreement if by so doing the Company is able to accomplish such work more economically, provided however, that the Company will not layoff any employee covered by this agreement solely by reason of the fact that the work ordinarily done by such employee has been contracted out. It is understood and agreed that should the Company at such time not have the manpower, facilities or tooling to do a particular job, such work may be contracted out without limitations."
 
1.E. "Prior to the staffing of any new cities, or upon notice of a significant growth of any existing cities, not currently staffed with Fleet Service Clerks represented employees, the Company agrees to meet with the TWU within a reasonable timeframe in order to provide the TWU an opportunity to demonstrate that the work can be accomplished at an equal or less total cost to the Company by American Eagle TWU Fleet Service Clerks covered by this agreement. The Company will provide a quarterly report to the International Union, which will identify the annual departures of American Eagle flights by city/location. In such locations where the TWU is unable to demonstrate that they can accomplish the work required at an equal or less total cost basis, such work will continue to be performed by station agents."
 

 

[Real tired]

The Envoy people in my station are non union both above and below the wing, and the below the wing people have been given their layoff paperwork effective Dec. 8th.  They are being replaced with JetStream (non union, minimum wage, no benefits) on the express, and replaced with mainline Fleet with the mainline flights.
 
The above the wing employees fate is uncertain.

 

[ograc]

 
"This Agreement is  made and entered in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended by and between AMERICAN  EAGLE  AIRLINES, INC. and  EXECUTIVE AIRLINES, INC., hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”, and the TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA,  AFL-CIO, hereinafter  known as the  “Union”. Whenever reference is made herein to the “Company”, such reference refers to either American Eagle Airlines, Inc. or Executive  Airlines, Inc. whichever is the  employer of the applicable employee."
 
1.F.--"After the date of signing of this agreement any new city/cities staffed by the Company with the TWU Fleet Service Clerks as a result of the provisions of Article 1.E., above, will not be subject to the provisions of Article 1.D. For purposes of this paragraph a new city is defined as any city other than BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD and SJU."
 
1.D.--"D. Contracting Out of Work - The Company reserves the right to contract in or contract out any or all such work covered by this Agreement if by so doing the Company is able to accomplish such work more economically, provided however, that the Company will not layoff any employee covered by this agreement solely by reason of the fact that the work ordinarily done by such employee has been contracted out. It is understood and agreed that should the Company at such time not have the manpower, facilities or tooling to do a particular job, such work may be contracted out without limitations."
 
1.E. "Prior to the staffing of any new cities, or upon notice of a significant growth of any existing cities, not currently staffed with Fleet Service Clerks represented employees, the Company agrees to meet with the TWU within a reasonable timeframe in order to provide the TWU an opportunity to demonstrate that the work can be accomplished at an equal or less total cost to the Company by American Eagle TWU Fleet Service Clerks covered by this agreement. The Company will provide a quarterly report to the International Union, which will identify the annual departures of American Eagle flights by city/location. In such locations where the TWU is unable to demonstrate that they can accomplish the work required at an equal or less total cost basis, such work will continue to be performed by station agents."
 

So the TWU agreed to representation of the employees in the stations listed (8) under 1.F only. The employees in the rest of the stations are subject to 1.D and 1. E. Pretty much agreeing to outsource all work and jobs in all but 8 stations. Another example of failure to protect work and jobs. Another agreement to outsource to third party vendors. I wonder how many AE stations and jobs were left unprotected. 

 

[DFWFSC]

So the TWU agreed to representation of the employees in the stations listed (8) under 1.F only. The employees in the rest of the stations are subject to 1.D and 1. E. Pretty much agreeing to outsource all work and jobs in all but 8 stations. Another example of failure to protect work and jobs. Another agreement to outsource to third party vendors. I wonder how many AE stations and jobs were left unprotected.

It's been that way for years at AE. Those 8 cities had a big enough AE operation where the agents and ramp work groups were separate. All other AE stations were staffed with station agents who were cross utilized and did everything above and below wing. At the hubs AE never had their own ticket counters so AA agents did all that work. AE used their own gate agents at some of the hubs. SJU and maybe a few others don't have TWU ramp anymore for AE. RDU and CMH had AE TWU ramp at one time as well. I will have to go on Jetnet and see where the AE TWU at staffed.

 

[DFWFSC]

Here's a break down of AE TWU staffed stations and headcount. DFW-717 JFK-72 LAX-217 LGA-114 MIA-375 ORD-876 RDU-73. Total of 2444 AE TWU ramp. There were other stations at one time, and if AE go's over a certain amount of flight activity they may be required to staff new stations as well, but im not real familiar with their CBA.

 

[ograc]

Here's a break down of AE TWU staffed stations and headcount. DFW-717 JFK-72 LAX-217 LGA-114 MIA-375 ORD-876 RDU-73. Total of 2444 AE TWU ramp. There were other stations at one time, and if AE go's over a certain amount of flight activity they may be required to staff new stations as well, but im not real familiar with their CBA.

 
Is the company contractually obligated to bring the work in house in new stations? Or only contractually obligated to entertain a cost advantage bid, by the TWU, verse a third party vendor? If the latter is the case... good luck with that. Agreeing to compete with vendor's bids is no way to gain new or lost represented work. Shame on any labor organization that agrees to such terms. Additional shame to the members who ratify any such TA! 
 

 

[DFWFSC]

Is the company contractually obligated to bring the work in house in new stations? Or only contractually obligated to entertain a cost advantage bid, by the TWU, verse a third party vendor? If the latter is the case... good luck with that. Agreeing to compete with vendor's bids is no way to gain new or lost represented work. Shame on any labor organization that agrees to such terms. Additional shame to the members who ratify any such TA!

In years past, AE was wholly owned by AMR and it was one just one carrier for the purpose of TWU staffing. Now there are multiple carriers providing feed, and some cities have AE/Envoy flights operated by 2 or 3 different airlines...etc. So, Im not sure how the AE/TWU CBA addresses that issue. I know at LAX a lot of AE/Envoy flying was transferred to SkyWest and Mesa and soon Republic and the AE TWU kept all the work so far. Your right, nobody can compete with vendors most of the time. However, United has been giving a lot of outsource work to regular AE/Envoy employees vs. Eagle Ground Handling or other no benefit vendors.

 

[ograc]

It's been that way for years at AE. Those 8 cities had a big enough AE operation where the agents and ramp work groups were separate. All other AE stations were staffed with station agents who were cross utilized and did everything above and below wing. At the hubs AE never had their own ticket counters so AA agents did all that work. AE used their own gate agents at some of the hubs. SJU and maybe a few others don't have TWU ramp anymore for AE. RDU and CMH had AE TWU ramp at one time as well. I will have to go on Jetnet and see where the AE TWU at staffed.

 
It's been that way for years and cross utilization doesn't cut it in my book. Go after the below wing work. Force the company to separate the above wing from the below wing. In my station the employees were "cross utilized" by definition. Yet the work schedule was structured where the vast majority either worked above wing or below wing. Now that we are insourcing the ramp under the IAM there seems to be a distinct separation on the former AE side. If you are currently below wing and not qualified above wing on the AE side you have no job. Call it what you want... it's another example of labor organizations, conceding below wing work and jobs to third party vendors. On a brighter note... the recent Fleet Service agreement at US may have put a stop to this self destructive trend. Protect existing work while obtaining future work is the key to success for labor. These mega-carriers are projected to make billions in profits. The labor concession stands should be considered closed! "It's been that way for years..." is no longer acceptable!
Lock and Load!    

 

[DFWFSC]

I agree with everything you've said. Im not sure why the TWU never went after the AE station group years ago.