American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[ALUS78]

Again, from opinions on this forum alone, it appears the IAM will not accept ANY increase in medical.

I'm okay with meeting in the middle since the alternative is losing the US medical

 

[Racer X]

We are NOT one group yet.....That is not true.....

We are at the table

 

[MetalMover]

What don’t people get?? We are all ONE group now.

That’s not 100% accurate either. Fleet stands to possibly lose over 1,000 jobs by the company position on fleet scope

We are at the table

I do not think we are one group until we have a JCBA...If that were the case, there would be no divisions between the IAM and TWU....
And please don't tell me the ASSociation is all one big happy family and are on the same page.

 

[WeAAsles]

I do not think we are one group until we have a JCBA...If that were the case, there would be no divisions between the IAM and TWU....
And please don't tell me the ASSociation is all one big happy family and are on the same page.

Metal IMO you’re right. The stars are not perfectly aligned. You have two sides who had/have two ideologies for items inside multiple CBA’s. The one thing though that I know they have been aligned on is not accepting concessions in an environment the Airline industry hasn’t seen since before Deregulation if ever.

Anyway once they get to the JCBA’s (And they will) the hard part is over. I’m sure they’ll be 5 year deals and both Unions and their Leaders will over time become acclimated to all the new language and it will become their norm.

So next time they go to Negotiations there won’t be any of the “squabbles” there were putting this thing together like this time.

And who knows maybe by then you’ll be an ANT, I’m sorry AMP guy? (Joking ok)

 

[737823]

At the time, the IAM was in the midst of a card drive which would have triggered a vote considering they didn't need that many cards to tech the needed numbers.

Aside from that, the issue isn't the IAM or the TWU is what the Company wants and fighting against that

Again why didn’t the TWU laugh all this off and get the USAIR members as dues payers?

And didn’t the IAM try that after TWA with the (unorganized) nAAtive agents, there was a drive in 2001 and did the IAM try to build on the CWA’s failed attempt?

Bottom line is the TWU ultimately honored the process and stepped aside after America West and they gained dues payers, whenever the IAM is involved they try to look out for their own institutional interests.

Josh

 

[MetalMover]

Metal IMO you’re right. The stars are not perfectly aligned. You have two sides who had/have two ideologies for items inside multiple CBA’s. The one thing though that I know they have been aligned on is not accepting concessions in an environment the Airline industry hasn’t seen since before Deregulation if ever.

Anyway once they get to the JCBA’s (And they will) the hard part is over. I’m sure they’ll be 5 year deals and both Unions and their Leaders will over time become acclimated to all the new language and it will become their norm.

So next time they go to Negotiations there won’t be any of the “squabbles” there were putting this thing together like this time.

And who knows maybe by then you’ll be an ANT, I’m sorry AMP guy? (Joking ok)

Doesn't bother me one bit. I will probably never get to reap the rewards of a new union given my time left til retirement.

 

[ALUS78]

Alright Metal let’s say that the IAM side relents on their Medical, are you prepared to relent on your Scope growing to a 50% outsourcing ratio?

You have tons of time in the Company so I’m guessing again you don’t care?

I mean honestly let’s see. Neither of those issues will dramatically affect me either so I guess I should also be screaming for something to vote on too right?

“Instead, “We commit that no less than 50% of all aircraft overhaul work done for the airline will be performed by TWU-IAM members,” wrote Kerry Philipovitch, senior vice president and Dave Seymour, senior vice president for integrated operations, in a letter to employees. They also committed to retain engine work, auxiliary power work and some component work.”


“American’s outsourcing share is at the low end. Among the five largest carriers, Southwest outsources 52% of its maintenance; United outsources 51%; Alaska outsources 49%; Delta outsources 43% and American outsources 33%, the report said.”


https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedree...ced-jobs-it-seeks-more-in-contract-talks/amp/

That's something that goes right over the head of many of them

 

[Tim Nelson]

I do not think we are one group until we have a JCBA...If that were the case, there would be no divisions between the IAM and TWU....
And please don't tell me the ASSociation is all one big happy family and are on the same page.

he cant even tell you who the F is we?
Fake dude

 

[Tim Nelson]

Again why didn’t the TWU laugh all this off and get the USAIR members as dues payers?

And didn’t the IAM try that after TWA with the (unorganized) nAAtive agents, there was a drive in 2001 and did the IAM try to build on the CWA’s failed attempt?

Bottom line is the TWU ultimately honored the process and stepped aside after America West and they gained dues payers, whenever the IAM is involved they try to look out for their own institutional interests.

Josh

Little and his peeps obviously got greased. they had 70% of the vote and would have won.

 

[Tim Nelson]

In my opinion, the company will drag out our current negotiations until after the midterm elections in November. They will assess their position after that point, and if the GOP holds onto the current majorities, it will be MORE leverage for the company. With GOP oversight, the prospect of the NRTA will rattle labor, and delay Section 6 negotiations, as the company simply stalls, and waits for a more favorable regulatory environment....

We only have a few months to prove if I'm right, or wrong...

>SPIT<

your opinion dont count so it doesnt matter. Sorry.

 

[gulfcoast1]

It would be YOUR Medical too...lol

Yes, but it is not our Medical now, and I am getting the impression that most of the TWU is tired of waiting. We have been under concessionary contracts since 2003. Your medical would be great, and I think most of us would like to have it, but if that is what takes us into Section 6, and you end up losing it anyway, the IAM keeping it an extra year or two probably will not seem like much of a victory to many in the TWU.

Yes it is important and yes you might get to keep it for a couple more years, but those couple more years will come at a cost to the TWU side. That is why I said I do not see a good resolution to this. If the association is forced into section 6 for a couple years, the anger and frustration on the TWU side will only increase, and if you read these forums, you have seen it is substantial. If a vote is forced and the TWU is mostly for it while the IAM mostly against and it passes, then the IAM side will probably be angry with us.

That is why I said the only good outcome is for the company to move on the medical but from everything I have seen and read from them, they will not. It is possible but I do not think it is probable as good as that would be for most of us (excluding part time and possibly single employees). The company may even know this is happening and maybe that adds to their decision to dig in on medical. I do not know. Maybe they do not. Cheaper healthcare is certainly a noble cause, and I do not fault the IAM for fighting for it. The money you save could be offset by the frustration you will see from your TWU brothers the longer this goes on.

I will say if you are single the LAA medical is very affordable. If you are part time the LAA medical is more affordable than LUS. Not to complicate matters too much, but it is not LUS medical you are fighting for. It is LUS medical for full time employees with families. Now try to convince single LAA employees or LAA part time employees that the IAM medical is worth fighting for. These employees might end up paying about the same or more in the case of part time. Cheaper medical for all LAA and LUS employees is a worthy fight. If the main difference is asking because employees want cheaper medical for their families, that might be a harder sell.

I am not trying to place blame. Honestly I am numb from the years of concessions, bad news, and bad changes at work. I am glad we got the raises. That makes life more bearable. If LUS medical forces us into section 6, then that's what happens. I won't fight or yell. I do not have enough energy for that anymore. I am sad to see what has become of our airline jobs. It used to be fun. Now it is difficult to find too much of that.

I think there are many who will hold that grudge for the rest of their careers though, especially if section 6 ends up being a losing battle for LUS medical in the end. None of us can predict the future or know if the fight that the TWU could be dragged into is worth it. Sorry, I cannot fight for it with you. I am too tired and do not have the energy. And I think with human nature it is already difficult for the TWU to fight to keep something we do not have yet.

 

[gulfcoast1]

In my opinion, the company will drag out our current negotiations until after the midterm elections in November. They will assess their position after that point, and if the GOP holds onto the current majorities, it will be MORE leverage for the company. With GOP oversight, the prospect of the NRTA will rattle labor, and delay Section 6 negotiations, as the company simply stalls, and waits for a more favorable regulatory environment....

We only have a few months to prove if I'm right, or wrong...

>SPIT<

I do not see any way the gop holds the House after trump's pathetic performance with putin. I do not think many Americans are too fond of being part of the new USSR. The House is all we need to stop the union busting until 2020. The Senate would be great though at keeping anti-union judges off the bench. The Senate will be a challenge to take, but again trump's performance at the summit only helps Democrats in November. As always it is a battle for the middle and if many fox news pundits are trashing trump for his summit then his troubles are not over.

 

[WeAAsles]

Doesn't bother me one bit. I will probably never get to reap the rewards of a new union given my time left til retirement.

Don’t give up until that day comes. And hold your head up high knowing that you tried as hard as you could. You can’t do more than that.

 

[Bin Stretcher]

Gulfcoast1....I am in my 40th year. My family has more vested interest in the medical than a very large number of employees. They've been here longer than most of you thru me.
As far as being tired of waiting, buck up young fella!
Once the company sees you're willing to give up on an item truly worth fighting for, then the door is open for them to continue to find other benefits they can take a hard stand on. Everyone once, at every opportunity, should make their voices heard to the company on what we expect and how we wish to be treated. They constantly speak out of both sides of their mouth. "We wouldn't be this profitable without our excellent employees", yet they don't want to allow us to keep jobs and the health insurance to care for ourselves. They SHOULD want to protect their assets (you and i)!

 

[ALUS78]

Gulfcoast1....I am in my 40th year. My family has more vested interest in the medical than a very large number of employees. They've been here longer than most of you thru me.
As far as being tired of waiting, buck up young fella!
Once the company sees you're willing to give up on an item truly worth fighting for, then the door is open for them to continue to find other benefits they can take a hard stand on. Everyone once, at every opportunity, should make their voices heard to the company on what we expect and how we wish to be treated. They constantly speak out of both sides of their mouth. "We wouldn't be this profitable without our excellent employees", yet they don't want to allow us to keep jobs and the health insurance to care for ourselves. They SHOULD want to protect their assets (you and i)!

Ageed but what makes it difficult is the 100k already on the plan