nrthvlle said:
What is source of this quote? I'd like to read the whole item. I can't find it on the CWA website noted.
[post="167019"][/post]
07/07/04
Some Good News: CWA wins important arbitration protecting rights
of furloughees...
CWA scored a 100 percent win over management attorneys in
Monday's expedited arbitration on whether management has to pay
full-time furlough severance pay to full-timers who are
involuntarily displaced to part-time, and then furloughed.
The arbitration panel ruled on the spot that our contract
clearly says those part-time employees must be paid their
full-time furlough allowance and benefits, and those denied the
pay and benefits must be made whole.
Management has violated that provision and sent many employees
to the street without their correct furlough allowance and
benefits. They will now have to go back and pay those employees
an additional 5 weeks pay and up to 125 days of
medical/dental/life insurance benefits (90 days plus 5 weeks -
35 days). If anybody can use the money, those employees can.
Management's attorney added insult to injury by commenting out
loud to the arbitrator, "This union is just trying to make a
grab. They're just trying to grab something at the company's
expense."
The CWA attorney replied to the arbitrator, "This is a
negotiated benefit clearly spelled out in the contract. If
anybody is trying to grab something, it's labor relations
management trying to grab the pay and benefits from an employee
who has just lost his or her job and is on the way to the
street."
As we said, the arbitrator agreed with CWA and ruled against
management.
If you believe you are eligible for benefits under this award,
please contact your CWA local union office ASAP.
Agent and Rep response to management's recent concession demands
are hot and heavy...
It is fair to say that Passenger Service agents and reps are
stunned by the disrespect and insult shown by management's
proposal. Here are a couple of email messages typical of the
many we have received:
** After reading your update July 27, 2004, I personally feel
that management is "marking" time until they file another
bankruptcy. I am an agent in TPA, and will start my 28th year in
August. I would like for the company to survive, expand, and
start making a profit. However, what they are proposing is
simply STUPID. Not ONE customer service agent would vote for
this proposal. Is this what I have worked for my entire career,
to be pushed into POVERTY? And what about all those single moms
and dads that rely on this job to support their family?
** This is not acceptable in any way shape or form. Not even
close! How in God's name are our families supposed to
survive???????
** Please do all within your abilities, to bring to the
management of US Airways, the message that the rank-and-file do
not consider anything they have said acceptable. These are
demands, not negotiations. I do not accept anything that has
been offered so far. A 35 percent cut in pay is just not going
to happen. This kind of strong arm, take it away and renegotiate
all over is not what we are all about. We want to help the
organization survive, but not at the
expense of personal bankruptcies or health and well being. If we
need to find another job, it will be that all of US Airways
needs to find another job and the "money men" get their due in
bankruptcy court!
** I just saw the latest proposal from the company. First, I
would like to say that I have no intention of giving a single
cent until they first address a decent buyout that has been
shown to save millions for the company and then use that figure
to offset the burden for the remaining employees. Also, has CWA
considered doing informational picketing around the system? I'm
sure a lot of our customers could care less about us; however, I
feel a lot of our top
customers would be interested to know how little US Airways
cares about and values their employees.
** Please tell management to..."Go butt a stump"...No way!
** After reviewing the company's NEW proposal for CWA US Airways
agents, I would like to ask you to quit "negotiating" with the
company on our behalf. This is not negotiating and is not an
offer that I would hope that the CWA would even put out for a
vote. It is a slap in the face to every hard-working CWA US
Airways agent out on the line. Please do not open the contract.
The buyout is not worth the detrimental effects that it will
have on our retirees or those who are unable to accept the
leave. If the company cannot budge on anything and only adds
more reductions to their offer, there really is no need to
discuss things with them in my opinion.
CWA Local Presidents, staff, analysts and attorneys will meet in
DC on Tuesday, August 3rd, to plan a strategy for the response
to the management's Transformation Plan.
These discussions cannot stay on track if management will not
acknowledge our legitimate proposals and alternative cost
savings strategies. If management's goal is to save the airline
and passenger service careers, then we should be able to
accomplish that.
If their goal is to degrade the passenger
service jobs and to profit by undermining our standard of
living, then there is a big fight looming on the horizon. We
need to prepare for both possibilities. 
