American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[CremaDiLimone]

The ord problem resulted in "altercations" as well but the main problem is that envoy has almost no breakrooms or toilets. Nobody there seems smart enough to make one simple osha call. The envoy bagroom has 150 agents, one toilet, and a breakroom with 4 chairs. Same on the ramp. So packs of them rush and overtake american lunch areas. Loud, seemingly unruly, and trash the place then leave like a tornado been through. This is a management problem as our contracts allow for sanitary space etc. The previous twu local leadership didnt address this from what I observed but the new executive board has been impressive with the businesslike approach by Elvira and his bulldog Shwed?? After a short time in office, we are getting quck results and this includes the bus lots.
I blame some envoy peeps who act like undeireables but management treats them like dogs with no space so it incites imo a dangerous or unhealthy situation. Hopefully, we can get a few things clarified in the contract. I want the envoy work and i think we should be running express bags tail to tail. Unfortunately the twu agreed to give this work up for management. We need this work back.

- the previous regime worked with the company to get envoy out of aa intl. ready-rooms and pushed the company to get a small spot for envoy. we had an episode of an envoy employee taking a bird bath and brushing his teeth in the kitchen/cooking sink of an aa ready-room. i was convinced that that was done to dare us to do something about it

the sooner we recognize that envoy are/could be our replacements, the better. there is no mystery about pay, benefits and quality of work life...if you work for envoy, you do not work for aa...despite all the happy/'family' talk from management, trying to boost envoy's morale.

Why don't YOU step up to the plate and call OSHA? There are the same number of digits in their number, as there are in the DOL number...

>SPIT<

why would anyone from laa/lus lift a finger to improve envoy's quality of work life? they are represented by the twu, that's their job.

some of them are very good workers and God bless them. others, do more harm to aa's bottom line and stats than any corporate spy could inflict upon us.

money that would go to us, could get diverted to envoy.

this isn't an ord issue, it is and could spread even more to be a system-wide problem, for laa & lus employees.

 

[ALUS78]

ord is a station that has lost apprx. 1,000 f/t jobs since 2000-2001. many of those jobs have been replaced by eagle/envoy. the company's strategy of regionals over mainline has gutted this station.

naturally, there is some animosity on both sides. where i work, the company rented a broom closet for envoy...after a few episodes in the aa ready room.....lack of seats/microwaves for all and arguments over what to watch on tv.

envoy was told by the aa management, NOT to come into the aa ready room anymore. there was some tension for awhile.

That tension is good perhaps they will think twice about outsourcing more.Did I just write that?

 

[CremaDiLimone]

obviously, after 9-11, everything changed. less demand for seats....aa hit ord very hard.

within 3-4 years, normality came back and people started flying again. aa got caught with their pants down. the regionals have how many business class seats and business class lavs? aa moved the toggle switch too much in eagle/envoy's direction.

aa lost a lot of corporate travel back to ua in those times. ua flying 757s to yyz/yul out of ord. aa flying RJs to yyz & yul?

brilliant move, aa. this is why the 'bring crandall back' talk continues to this day.

increase regionals? you lose out in the end.

 

[ALUS78]

i believe so, yes. different locals, though.

the union got involved and they discussed the issues with management and management got behind the aa fscs and told envoy to stay out.

i have no problem with anyone personally, but envoy is a contract company. if we let envoy in the room, take the door off and let everyone come in. swissport and other riff-raff. before aa put a lock on the door, other ground handlers would sleep, eat and watch tv in the aa ready room overnight...raid the refrigerator..etc.

currently, someone broke the lock on the door and the room is open overnight. company doesn't seem to be too bothered to fix the lock. electric tractor charging cords are being stolen by the dozens over the past few months...likely to be sold for copper. company knows...as far as i know, they are not pressing for camera evidence to present to corporate security/police. as i said, no one cares. CSMs coasting...earning $75k/yr...don't want to be bothered.

envoy uses our equipment (bag carts) and many of them wear aa vests/hats and maybe they just assumed they could come into the aa ready room for air conditioning/refrigerate their food/have loud conversations and watch what they want on tv.

TWU represents both and there is tension yet I've been told by many posters on this site its not a conflict of interest to which I say horse chit

 

[ALUS78]

obviously, after 9-11, everything changed. less demand for seats....aa hit ord very hard.

within 3-4 years, normality came back and people started flying again. aa got caught with their pants down. the regionals have how many business class seats and business class lavs? aa moved the toggle switch too much in eagle/envoy's direction.

aa lost a lot of corporate travel back to ua in those times. ua flying 757s to yyz/yul out of ord. aa flying RJs to yyz & yul?

brilliant move, aa. this is why the 'bring crandall back' talk continues to this day.

increase regionals? you lose out in the end.

Well UA is in trouble cause Kirby loves those smaller planes

 

[WeAAsles]

Company witness Jerry Glass, recognized as an expert in labor relations, states that he has done extensive labor and HR consulting for various industries, with heavy emphasis on RLA airlines and railroads. Mr. Glass states he is Envoy’s principal labor advisor, and has represented it and other airline managements in over 200 collective bargaining relationships.

Supplementing the testimony of other Company witnesses, Mr. Glass testified that all regional air carriers win flying from mainline carriers through a cost-based bidding process. Carriers with the lowest costs are awarded the purchase agreements. In support, Mr. Glass cited anecdotally Air Wisconsin’s loss of Delta’s flying based upon that regional’s high cost structure. A similar fate befell Comair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta which ceased flying after losing all mainline carrier flying in late 2010. Sky West, on the other hand, is highly competitive because of its low costs. It has flown for American since 2012 and in 2016 was awarded additional flying. In sum, according to Glass, the fact that a regional is wholly-owned by a mainline in no way assures it will get it parent’s business, and history has shown it has absolutely no competitive advantages solely on that account. Glass says the regional airlines that are growing due to their low costs are Compass, CummutAir, Mesa Airlines, PSA, SkyWest and Trans States. Those which are stagnant or shrinking include Envoy and Piedmont, both owned by American. Thus, in 2011 Envoy had 304 aircraft; today it has 152, its fleet size reduced due to stiff competition from other regional carriers who fly for American, while SkyWest has grown from 294 to 358.

https://local576.twuatd.org/wp-content/uploads/InterestArbitrationAward.pdf

 

[WeAAsles]

The rest of the read is quite interesting.

 

[CremaDiLimone]

what glass is saying is no surprise. it's a cycle, like the fly-by-night ground handling companies.

company A is a new start-up. it got 4 contracts for 4 intl. airlines. $12/hr starting pay.

after 3 years, company A's employees are now earning $13.50/hr and company A goes back to the 4 intl. airlines and asks them for $500 more per flight.

new ground handling company B moves in with $12.25/hr workers and can do those 4 flights without increasing the costs to those 4 intl. airlines.

now, company B works those 4 intl. flights and company A disappeared, after selling it's owned equipment to company B.

seen it for over 30 years.

 

[CremaDiLimone]

Well UA is in trouble cause Kirby loves those smaller planes

wall street is speculating that ua has surpassed aa in terms of quality and overall direction.

ua has beefed up in some hubs...our management team is seeking out tony orlando and dawn.

 

[WeAAsles]

what glass is saying is no surprise. it's a cycle, like the fly-by-night ground handling companies.

company A is a new start-up. it got 4 contracts for 4 intl. airlines. $12/hr starting pay.

after 3 years, company A's employees are now earning $13.50/hr and company A goes back to the 4 intl. airlines and asks them for $500 more per flight.

new ground handling company B moves in with $12.25/hr workers and can do those 4 flights without increasing the costs to those 4 intl. airlines.

now, company B works those 4 intl. flights and company A disappeared, after selling it's owned equipment to company B.

seen it for over 30 years.

Exactly. And the Catch 22 though being that the “Fight for 15” and many Airports implementing “Airport Minimums” is over time eroding the cost effectiveness of shifting Mainline Flying over to Regional. And a tightening job market also isn’t helping.

Eventually and I’ve been saying this for years, small towns and cities are going to lose all Air service as they won’t be able to generate the Revenue to afford the cost of flying to them.

BTW extending out the wage steps to reach TOS could be the first step in bringing that work back to us Mainline handlers? Eventually it could reach a stage of critical mass that the turnover rate for sub contractors gets to a point where it’s not worth hiring them or them even existing much longer?

About a year ago now Management discontinued any cross over agreements for ENVOY Employees to come over to the Mainline and keep their Company time. Now they have to quit to even consider being hired at AA. Seems to me as if they are trying to hold them Prisoner to those crappy wages and benefits?

 

[ALUS78]

Exactly. And the Catch 22 though being that the “Fight for 15” and many Airports implementing “Airport Minimums” is over time eroding the cost effectiveness of shifting Mainline Flying over to Regional. And a tightening job market also isn’t helping.

Eventually and I’ve been saying this for years, small towns and cities are going to lose all Air service as they won’t be able to generate the Revenue to afford the cost of flying to them.

BTW extending out the wage steps to reach TOS could be the first step in bringing that work back to us Mainline handlers? Eventually it could reach a stage of critical mass that the turnover rate for sub contractors gets to a point where it’s not worth hiring them or them even existing much longer?

About a year ago now Management discontinued any cross over agreements for ENVOY Employees to come over to the Mainline and keep their Company time. Now they have to quit to even consider being hired at AA. Seems to me as if they are trying to hold them Prisoner to those crappy wages and benefits?

At the Same time hold down Envoys turnover rate

 

[WeAAsles]

At the Same time hold down Envoys turnover rate

Here at MIA the TWU doesn’t only represent the Mainline Ramp they also represent both Envoy and Swissport who fuels our Aircraft.

Here’s an update from 2016 for Swissport in MCO.

Published 15 Sep, 2016

Nearly 200 employees at Orlando International Airport now have the benefits of workplace protection, courtesy of TWU. In an overwhelming victory, ramp workers employed by Swissport voted for TWU representation on Sept. 9 and will become part of Local 525.

The workers approached TWU after years of struggling with low wages, long hours, and poor working conditions at the airport. They knew TWU’s proven track record of fighting for its members in the aviation industry and their confidence in their new union is reflected in the vote count. “No matter the size of the work unit, every employee deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said TWU Organizing Director Steve Roberts. “And our supporters were able to convince their co-workers to vote for TWU because of our history.”

Even a small unit working for a corporate behemoth such as Swissport, a global provider of ground and cargo handling services, deserve fair wages and the benefits of a strong union contract. Now, with TWU and Local 525 on their side, these new members will be able negotiate for that and more.

Welcome to the TWU family!

 

[WeAAsles]

https://www.transportation.gov/poli...unity-rural-air-service/essential-air-service

 

[ALUS78]

Here at MIA the TWU doesn’t only represent the Mainline Ramp they also represent both Envoy and Swissport who fuels our Aircraft.

Here’s an update from 2016 for Swissport in MCO.

Published 15 Sep, 2016

Nearly 200 employees at Orlando International Airport now have the benefits of workplace protection, courtesy of TWU. In an overwhelming victory, ramp workers employed by Swissport voted for TWU representation on Sept. 9 and will become part of Local 525.

The workers approached TWU after years of struggling with low wages, long hours, and poor working conditions at the airport. They knew TWU’s proven track record of fighting for its members in the aviation industry and their confidence in their new union is reflected in the vote count. “No matter the size of the work unit, every employee deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said TWU Organizing Director Steve Roberts. “And our supporters were able to convince their co-workers to vote for TWU because of our history.”

Even a small unit working for a corporate behemoth such as Swissport, a global provider of ground and cargo handling services, deserve fair wages and the benefits of a strong union contract. Now, with TWU and Local 525 on their side, these new members will be able negotiate for that and more.

Welcome to the TWU family!

How much of a raise did the TWU get them?Did it offset their ne dues payment?How many members are left at swissport from 2016? Does the TWU truly care for the Swissport workers or is it a dues grab?

 

[Rogallo]

Here at MIA the TWU doesn’t only represent the Mainline Ramp they also represent both Envoy and Swissport who fuels our Aircraft.

Here’s an update from 2016 for Swissport in MCO.

Published 15 Sep, 2016

Nearly 200 employees at Orlando International Airport now have the benefits of workplace protection, courtesy of TWU. In an overwhelming victory, ramp workers employed by Swissport voted for TWU representation on Sept. 9 and will become part of Local 525.

The workers approached TWU after years of struggling with low wages, long hours, and poor working conditions at the airport. They knew TWU’s proven track record of fighting for its members in the aviation industry and their confidence in their new union is reflected in the vote count. “No matter the size of the work unit, every employee deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said TWU Organizing Director Steve Roberts. “And our supporters were able to convince their co-workers to vote for TWU because of our history.”

Even a small unit working for a corporate behemoth such as Swissport, a global provider of ground and cargo handling services, deserve fair wages and the benefits of a strong union contract. Now, with TWU and Local 525 on their side, these new members will be able negotiate for that and more.

Welcome to the TWU family!