At Least The Teamsters Fight For Sick Pay

[TWU informer]

America West owes sick pay to its mechanics, arbitrator says

Dec. 23, 2003 12:00 AM


An arbitrator has ruled against America West Airlines in a two-year dispute with its mechanics union over sick-time benefits.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters claimed the airline improperly reduced sick pay accruals by half in violation of a contract.

The union pegged the cost of accumulated sick time for 830 America West mechanics at $1 million.

The union also said the ruling will cost the airline $650,000 annually going forward.

"We had different interpretations of the policy," said Janice Monahan, a spokeswoman for the Tempe-based airline.

She said Monday that the company hasn't yet calculated the financial effect of the ruling from the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C. America West claims about 700 mechanics are affected.

The dispute covered January 2002 to the present.

Labor has been a major issue for America West this year. Pilots at the airline, the nation's eighth-largest, are voting for a third time this year on a new contract. The pilots rejected agreements in March and earlier this month.


At American Airlines however,

TEAM TWU - WITHOUT FURTHER RATIFICATION 50% SICK PAY and SEVEN LESS DAYS PER YEAR.

TEAM TWU - THE WORST UNION ON THE PLANET

 

[TWU informer]

Meanwhile,

More signs the economy is improving while AA Mechanic suffer under the worst and longest concessions in aviation history.

Special Thanks TEAAM TWU. You have buried the profession once again.

Your negotiating skills and continued defense of worthless union leadership is worthy of elimination via National Mediation Board election in 2004.

 

[Oldweirdharold]

Yes this remindes me of the master stroke that was the 1995 contract, you'll recall we had several industry leading firsts back then including implementation of SRP program whereby the company hires people paying less money for doing essentially the same work...The idea was born of the twu and the company asked for 10 shops to be converted to SRP status... Here's the kicker somehow that original 10 turned into 25 ... I can only imagine twu saw this a way to increase dues. :huh:

1995 contract also in a naked power grab pandered to retiring mechanics with a 5 and 5 deal to pass this turkey... Icing on the cake came when the cry of foul became so loud a recount was demanded, but guess what the paper ballots had mysteriously been* DESTROYED OR LOST* Meanwhile A scalers like myself worked from 1995 to 2001 while gaining a whopping $1.25 per hr. increase over the life of the agreement, we were actually way behind in 2001 considering cost of living. :angry:

To arrive at this twu sent out a questionare asking membership what they thought important issues were but instead of keeping it confidential they broadcast the results and viola 1995 contract came to life with job security as #1 concern per the membership.. The company promised the union a protected status date for all employees at signing date which cost them zero and was later given back as a concession....Now flash back to 1988 and in preperation for 1989 contract agreement the outside firm of Hay was contracted by the company to reveal how the membership felt and get to the hot button issues.... For completing this while tipping your hat and showing your hand you recieved two D-2 passes with twu's blessing. :blink:

Does anyone see a patern here??? does history repeat itself?? It would appear so. At a much different time than we have now ( 1989 ) and when companies were begging for mechanics we managed to give concessions, why?? Does anyone remember the push during the early 90s to have mechanics negotiate seperate contracts, this was centered on the mistaken belief we could somehow do better not being attached to stores and fleet service at the negotiating table.. twu resisted this but eventually gave in however with the stipulation that every member must vote in person and that anyone not voting would be counted as a no vote... This bit of slight of hand has been used before to pervert the will of the membership, shame on you... What has all this done ??? do people forget??? does time heal these wounds??? As long as I'm able to draw a breath I'll be asking these and other questions... CYA in the funny papers..

Jim-

 

[TWU informer]

How many years must a TWU member go without a contract when the TWU negotiates?

Today is December 19, 2003, and this is a special edition of your TWU Local 556 Hotline.


The Union and Management just completed three days of Contract Negotiations. The talks were held at the headquarters of the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C.


Although proposals have been exchanged, we regret to report that no progress was made during this round of bargaining. In fact, since NMB mediation has begun, absolutely no progress has been made whatsoever. Management has not agreed to any single Flight Attendant proposal still left on the table.


Your team came to Washington fully prepared to reach an agreement. Unfortunately, it appears that Management was not so inclined.


As the Membership is well aware, your Negotiating Team is focusing on key issues important to all of us. We seek fair pay protection. Yet Management won’t agree to a fair resolution of the issues. We seek equitable pay raises. Still Management won’t agree. Your Negotiating Team is disappointed that Negotiations have ground to a halt over something as basic as paying Flight Attendants for their time at work. We are calling upon Jim Parker to take responsibility for moving these talks along. We stand ready to finalize a fair Contract if and when Management is truly ready to recognize the worth of the Flight Attendant work force.


We will head back to bargaining under Federal Mediation January 7, 8, and 9 in Dallas. Please continue to perform your work in our customary professional manner.


Remember, our Unity is our strength.


I believe the SWA/TWU Flight Attendants are approaching TWO YEARS past amendabale date?????

And the TWU claims they will get our pay/benefits back at AA in what year?

 

[Buck]

I just hope that the TWU that represents the flight attendants, given the long negotiations, holds these January meetings in 2004 instead of 2003, as with TWU Local 514 holding a debate in TUL.

 

[Bob Owens]

How many years must a TWU member go without a contract when the TWU negotiates?

Today is December 19, 2003, and this is a special edition of your TWU Local 556 Hotline.


The Union and Management just completed three days of Contract Negotiations. The talks were held at the headquarters of the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C.


Although proposals have been exchanged, we regret to report that no progress was made during this round of bargaining. In fact, since NMB mediation has begun, absolutely no progress has been made whatsoever. Management has not agreed to any single Flight Attendant proposal still left on the table.


Your team came to Washington fully prepared to reach an agreement. Unfortunately, it appears that Management was not so inclined.


As the Membership is well aware, your Negotiating Team is focusing on key issues important to all of us. We seek fair pay protection. Yet Management won’t agree to a fair resolution of the issues. We seek equitable pay raises. Still Management won’t agree. Your Negotiating Team is disappointed that Negotiations have ground to a halt over something as basic as paying Flight Attendants for their time at work. We are calling upon Jim Parker to take responsibility for moving these talks along. We stand ready to finalize a fair Contract if and when Management is truly ready to recognize the worth of the Flight Attendant work force.


We will head back to bargaining under Federal Mediation January 7, 8, and 9 in Dallas. Please continue to perform your work in our customary professional manner.


Remember, our Unity is our strength.


I believe the SWA/TWU Flight Attendants are approaching TWO YEARS past amendabale date?????

And the TWU claims they will get our pay/benefits back at AA in what year?

I think in this instance I can understand where management at SWA is coming from.

In every other airline the TWU offers employers the lowest costs in the industry. Why shouldn't SWA expect the same deal from the TWU that they give to everyone else?

The SWA local is a pretty good Local, they along with Local 100, 562 and 501 were the only ones pushing for democratic reforms at the last Convention.

Since they cant go to the APA they should try for the PFAA.

As far as the TWU getting us back what we just lost you have to remember that they never even recovered what they lost in 1983. So you have to figure that it would take at least 20 more years.

Its time for Airline workers to belong to airline industry unions, not the "airlines" unions.