2014 Fleet Service Discussion

[WeAAsles]

Further, the "PI good ol' boys" comment was certainly meant to inflame and divide. The committees are well diversified and contain more than just PI members. Anyone that refuses to accept the fact Fleet Service will become even more diversified as the latest merger finalizes is living in the past. PSA is GONE... PI... is GONE... America West is GONE... US Airways is GONE... 
 
There is only ONE dynamic to focus on!

On that note I also thought I would share this item. Although currently there is an ongoing issue between our two Unions I don't feel that it should be a concern among the rank and file for what we need to build together and focus on. Our TWU Local Presidents have begun to put surveys together to gauge the pulse of the memberships wants and needs for this next round when we get the decision from the NMB as to how we will progress moving forward. So whether or not you have heard otherwise at this moment things are progressing here on our side and I'm sure that eventually we'll all come together for the benefit of the entire membership as a whole in all good time.
 
On November 6, the TWU American Airlines / US Airways Presidents Council convened for a meeting to coordinate and strategize for continued effectiveness in negotiations with airline management. The Council meeting was held at the International office in Washington, DC at the request of TWU International President Harry Lombardo. 
 
All AA / US Airways TWU presidents were in attendance, as were members of the International Administrative Committee, the TWU Division Directors, TWU Vice Presidents and ATD Staff Representatives.

http://www.twu.org/blog/tabid/84/vw/1/itemid/627/default.aspx

 

[WeAAsles]

Glad to see you back Weaa...
 
Hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season...

Never really left. Was just waiting for some of the heat that has been going on to die down a little was all. Too many out there were in the middle of doing a little freaky dance and maybe needed a bit of deep breathing to set the calming motion back on display.

Going to be with my cousins next Saturday to get in a some gobble gobble and probably get stuck once again doing a little karaoke Billy Joel moments that her guests seem to enjoy.

Hope everyone is keeping (at least somewhat) warm this season? Seems a little brutal up there away from my wonderful warmer locale down here.

 

[737823]

Where is BLUTO?

Josh

 

[Dog Wonder]

DOOSH DNT
KNOW JACK!
 
BILL

 
 

ROA> I EVN
OFFRD 2 
BUY DRINK>
HE STIL NO
SHOW!

Feel better?

Carry on.

 

[NYer]

 

On that note I also thought I would share this item. Although currently there is an ongoing issue between our two Unions I don't feel that it should be a concern among the rank and file for what we need to build together and focus on. Our TWU Local Presidents have begun to put surveys together to gauge the pulse of the memberships wants and needs for this next round when we get the decision from the NMB as to how we will progress moving forward. So whether or not you have heard otherwise at this moment things are progressing here on our side and I'm sure that eventually we'll all come together for the benefit of the entire membership as a whole in all good time.
 
On November 6, the TWU American Airlines / US Airways Presidents Council convened for a meeting to coordinate and strategize for continued effectiveness in negotiations with airline management. The Council meeting was held at the International office in Washington, DC at the request of TWU International President Harry Lombardo. 
 
All AA / US Airways TWU presidents were in attendance, as were members of the International Administrative Committee, the TWU Division Directors, TWU Vice Presidents and ATD Staff Representatives.

http://www.twu.org/blog/tabid/84/vw/1/itemid/627/default.aspx
 

 
They're not progressing at all. That meeting they referred to was a "Presidents Council" meeting and not a negotiations prep meeting. As a matter of fact, that was the meeting where the letter in support of the TWU actions were signed by the TWU Local Presidents.
 
As far as the surveys, they are being distributed by the Locals and so far all the surveys are different, with different methods of collecting information and even different options to choose from.
 
Real progress towards negotiations prep will entail both the TWU and IAM having their respective negotiations committee members get together and create one survey to cover both work groups. Doing any information gathering separately will only delay and curtail a unified approached towards securing the best possible contract.

 

[AANOTOK]

Facts only please...No spin!!

 

[NYer]

Facts only please...No spin!!

 
Where is the alleged spin?

 

[AANOTOK]

 
Where is the alleged spin?

That was directed at what you responded to...not you

 

[NYer]

That was directed at what you responded to...not you

 
Copy.

 

[ograc]

 
They're not progressing at all. That meeting they referred to was a "Presidents Council" meeting and not a negotiations prep meeting. As a matter of fact, that was the meeting where the letter in support of the TWU actions were signed by the TWU Local Presidents.
 
As far as the surveys, they are being distributed by the Locals and so far all the surveys are different, with different methods of collecting information and even different options to choose from.
 
Real progress towards negotiations prep will entail both the TWU and IAM having their respective negotiations committee members get together and create one survey to cover both work groups. Doing any information gathering separately will only delay and curtail a unified approached towards securing the best possible contract.

Agreed. Any meaningful survey must be agreed upon by both the TWU and the IAM (The Association). First things first though. What must be established first is the NMB's recognition of the Association as the Bargaining Representative of the combined group. To my knowledge the NMB has not ruled on this matter. Automatic recognition or the calling for an election among the affected members? If an election is ordered; what choices will be on the ballot? IMO... these issues must be resolved first. Until this is accomplished; all other actions are premature. An illusion that things are progressing when, in fact, they are not. The next step is not in either union's or company's court. The next step is in the NMB's court. IMO... all parties are waiting for decisions by the NMB.
 

 

[NYer]

Agreed. Any meaningful survey must be agreed upon by both the TWU and the IAM (The Association). First things first though. What must be established first is the NMB's recognition of the Association as the Bargaining Representative of the combined group. To my knowledge the NMB has not ruled on this matter. Automatic recognition or the calling for an election among the affected members? If an election is ordered; what choices will be on the ballot? IMO... these issues must be resolved first. Until this is accomplished; all other actions are premature. An illusion that things are progressing when, in fact, they are not. The next step is not in either union's or company's court. The next step is in the NMB's court. IMO... all parties are waiting for decisions by the NMB.
 

 
Don't agree. When the NMB issues their SCS for the Association there will be a 30 day window to allow another third party to submit enough cards to trigger another choice in an election. In the event another 3rd party does not surface the choices will be Association and No Union. That being the case, it is absolutely in our collective interest to start the process of trying to gather all the information of two vastly different CBA's  and prioritize what the attention will be.
 
To combine two CBA's is not an easy task and that work should be taking place right now so that when the NMB says "go," we are ready to spend the time actually negotiating and not trying to put together a strategy.
 
Each work force has very different cultures, contract language, histories with OT, bids, changes of shifts, rules, and processes.
 
Why waste time now when we could be getting the heavy lifting done. Having each Local send out a different survey will create confusion and "lines to be drawn" before we even get together with the IAM. Then once all the issues are sorted out with each Local we will have to start the process all over again with the IAM. If there are any changes to agreed priorities negotiated with each Local, then the process goes back to the Presidents and the whole thing is mired in controversy and finger pointing.
 
Not a good way to start a set of negotiations with the conditions in our favor since the contracts of 2001. Are we going to waste this opportunity?

 

[ograc]

 
Don't agree. When the NMB issues their SCS for the Association there will be a 30 day window to allow another third party to submit enough cards to trigger another choice in an election. In the event another 3rd party does not surface the choices will be Association and No Union. That being the case, it is absolutely in our collective interest to start the process of trying to gather all the information of two vastly different CBA's  and prioritize what the attention will be.
 
To combine two CBA's is not an easy task and that work should be taking place right now so that when the NMB says "go," we are ready to spend the time actually negotiating and not trying to put together a strategy.
 
Each work force has very different cultures, contract language, histories with OT, bids, changes of shifts, rules, and processes.
 
Why waste time now when we could be getting the heavy lifting done. Having each Local send out a different survey will create confusion and "lines to be drawn" before we even get together with the IAM. Then once all the issues are sorted out with each Local we will have to start the process all over again with the IAM. If there are any changes to agreed priorities negotiated with each Local, then the process goes back to the Presidents and the whole thing is mired in controversy and finger pointing.
 
Not a good way to start a set of negotiations with the conditions in our favor since the contracts of 2001. Are we going to waste this opportunity?

Not sure we are disagreeing here. NMB must rule first. SCS is issued by the FAA. Either way... this ruling must come first. At this point the TWU and the IAM are not acting as an "agreed to" and united "Association" by surveying TWU members regarding JCBA wish lists, with no input from IAM members. Not a good start. I hope the TWU and the IAM get together, get it right and don't waste this opportunity.

 

[NYer]

Not sure we are disagreeing here. NMB must rule first. SCS is issued by the FAA. Either way... this ruling must come first. At this point the TWU and the IAM are not acting as an "agreed to" and united "Association" by surveying TWU members regarding JCBA wish lists, with no input from IAM members. Not a good start. I hope the TWU and the IAM get together, get it right and don't waste this opportunity.

Absolutely.

 

[737823]

BLUTO how is CLT? Are you ready for all the Thanksgiving traffic?

Josh

 

[WeAAsles]

 
They're not progressing at all. That meeting they referred to was a "Presidents Council" meeting and not a negotiations prep meeting. As a matter of fact, that was the meeting where the letter in support of the TWU actions were signed by the TWU Local Presidents.

Is this your perception of things or were you in the room when discussions were taking place. Yes that is where the letter of support was signed after the explanations as to what was going on at that moment was given from the TWU perspective, but I'm quite sure with the length of that meeting many other items were discussed as well.
 
As far as the surveys, they are being distributed by the Locals and so far all the surveys are different, with different methods of collecting information and even different options to choose from.

Correct and there should have been a more uniform approach to conducting those surveys IMO.
 
Real progress towards negotiations prep will entail both the TWU and IAM having their respective negotiations committee members get together and create one survey to cover both work groups. Doing any information gathering separately will only delay and curtail a unified approached towards securing the best possible contract.