Us Air Maintenance And Related

[gonzo]

By Don Treichler, Teamsters Airline Division Director

Over the past few days, a number of you have asked questions concerning the Teamsters’ position on a number of issues. Many of your questions were prompted by memos and flyers published by the Machinists (IAM) that are misleading, in error, and intended to falsely inform you. The IAM does not want you to know that Teamster contracts, representation, and bargaining are better. Below are questions and answers that should put to rest the incorrect information you have been given.




US Airways Maintenance and Related Questions About the Merger

 

[delldude]

Question: The IAM states that it is bargaining a transition agreement with the Company (US Airways). Is that true and what does that mean?

Answer: If the IBT is certified, the company is required by law to bargain with us. That would make irrelevant anything that the IAM is doing now.

transition agreement does not mean opening up the contract.....
the contract could become IBT supervised but is not up for section 6 openers until 2009.

Question: Is it true, as the IAM claims, that there exists a danger that less than 50% of the total members may vote thereby resulting in loss of representation?

Answer: This is technically possible, but it really is only an IAM scare tactic. The IAM said the same thing at Piedmont and they were as wrong there as they are here. The IBT anticipates an election and we expect a high turnout of voters, well in excess of 50% of the total post merger mechanic class and craft.

don't believe this for an instant as there are enough people at U fed up with the company and union to let this very thing happem.

Question: Is it correct, as the IAM alleges, that the IBT will not bargain to retain heavy maintenance?

Answer: NO. The IBT will bargain to retain all heavy maintenance and bring in additional business. The IBT did this at Continental and other carriers. IBT job security language (scope) is the strongest in the industry, while the IAM’s has been weak.

this is why they line up at AWA for heavy maintenance....

 

[allstrike]

Question: Is it correct, as alleged by the IAM, that US Airways mechanics risk a loss of seniority under IBT policies? Is the rumor true that the IBT will insist on dovetailing the seniority list?

Answer: NO. As the IBT stated previously, we expect seniority integration to be based on date of hire with no further furloughs because of the merger.

Depends on your defonition of date of hire doesnt it.
IAM does not dovetail....all IAM people know its done by time time under the agreement,and time in classification.

Hey I know guys with date of hire from 1985 that will be senior to you guys at AWA based on this and they have only been mechs 6 yrs.

When the IBT took over from the IAM the contract stayed until it expired.IBT and AMFA were beating on the door looking for votes and wanting to settle....IBT said this is the best we can get..sound familiar..go look it up..

 

[gonzo]

Depends on your defonition of date of hire doesnt it.

My definition of DOH has nothing to do with it. The definition is the NMB's job.

 

[delldude]

My definition of DOH has nothing to do with it. The definition is the NMB's job.

doh or time under the agreement??

 

[allstrike]

Ok,Ok its the NMB's job.

1.There is company date of hire
2.Time under the agreement
3.Time in classification

As the IBT stated previously, we expect seniority integration to be based on date of hire.

Thats ok for company time,but the mechanics time is determined a whole differant way isnt it.

Question for awa contract,gonzo etc........If we started our mechs time one the same day IAM vs IBT who would be the most senior by your cantract.

http://www.teamsterslocal104.org/Files/con...rticle_5_ta.pdf

whats your thoughts on this.

 

[320tech]

Hey I know guys with date of hire from 1985 that will be senior to you guys at AWA based on this and they have only been mechs 6 yrs.

you guys haven't seen our sen. list have you awa started in 1983 and has had techs sence the beginning, we still do have techs that have been around sence then. with out having the list if front of me right now I would guess that about a 1/3 of our techs are higher then your layoff date of 1989.

 

[AP Tech]

I have a DOH of 89 and looking at the AW senority list I slot in about middle of the 3rd page.....

 

[gonzo]

Hmmmmm........very good question allstrike. Honestly I have not even considered that detail of this merger. I would only think that the NMB would be the final word no matter what any of the contracts imply. I would only be guessing what the NMB would do, the atmosphere in the industry has changed. They could use "company" DOH, "craft" DOH, identical DOH could be given to the "oldest" individual. These are details that only the NMB can give information about.

 

[700UW]

The NMB has nothing I repeat nothing to do with seniority intergration, they only determine the representation certification in this matter.

Seniority intergration is done by the unions.

 

[allstrike]

Hmmmmm........very good question allstrike. Honestly I have not even considered that detail of this merger. I would only think that the NMB would be the final word no matter what any of the contracts imply. I would only be guessing what the NMB would do, the atmosphere in the industry has changed. They could use "company" DOH, "craft" DOH, identical DOH could be given to the "oldest" individual. These are details that only the NMB can give information about.

Understood Gonzo,but 700 is right NMB has nothing to do with it.It will all be done by what ever contract we are under per what union were under.In other words itll be a family affair.

The IBT says it will be done by date of hire.
The IBT contract says date of hire,for vacation purposes,and then there is mechanics seniority.
Question is ( how will the mechanics seniority be merged between the 2 work groups according to your contract)

Lots of talk about the Alleghany/Mohawk stuff has been spewed around but that only says it will be done fairly and no one will be layed off.

What is fair,and what is in your IBT contract that governs this.Dont depend on any of this to come from the NMB
it needs to be discussed. B)

 

[gonzo]

The NMB has nothing I repeat nothing to do with seniority intergration, they only determine the representation certification in this matter.

Seniority intergration is done by the unions.

While Mr. 70 is busy "repeating" himself.

Section 19.2 Authority

Persuant to Section 2, Ninth, the NMB, upon an application, has the authority to resolve representation disputes arising from a merger involving a Carriers covered by the RLA. The NMB will consider these representation issues on a case-by-case basis.

Section 2.1 (basically if you have questions then the investigator will answer them)

This may or may not cover the seniority issue but it seems to leave it up to the investigator to determine what is relevant.

I am not going to say the the NMB has "nothing" to do with any part of the Merger Investigation.

What is fair,and what is in your IBT contract that governs this.Dont depend on any of this to come from the NMB
it needs to be discussed. B)

Agreed there will need to be discussion about this.

 

[smmech]

Understood Gonzo,but 700 is right NMB has nothing to do with it.It will all be done by what ever contract we are under per what union were under.In other words itll be a family affair.

The IBT says it will be done by date of hire.
The IBT contract says date of hire,for vacation purposes,and then there is mechanics seniority.
Question is ( how will the mechanics seniority be merged between the 2 work groups according to your contract)

Lots of talk about the Alleghany/Mohawk stuff has been spewed around but that only says it will be done fairly and no one will be layed off.

What is fair,and what is in your IBT contract that governs this.Dont depend on any of this to come from the NMB
it needs to be discussed. B)

Dont the Alleghnany/ Mohawk " Fair and Equitable" statement require someone other then the prevailing Union to detirmine what is fair and equitable?

Section 3. Insofar as the merger affects the seniority rights of the carriers employees, provisions shall be made for the integration of seniority lists in a fair and equitable manner, including, where applicable, agreement through collective bargaining between the carriers and the representatives of the employees affected. In the event of failure to agree, the dispute may be submitted by either party for adjustment in accordance with section 13.

Section 13. (a) In the event that any dispute or controversy (except as to matters arising under section 9) arises with respect to the protections provided herein which cannot be settle by the parties within 20 days after the controversy arises, it may be referred by any party to an arbitrator selected from a panel of seven names furnished by the National Mediation Board for consideration and determination[/b]. The parties shall select the arbitrator from such panel by alternatively striking names until only one remains, and he shall serve as arbitrator. Expedited hearings and decisions will be expected, and a decision shall be rendered within 90 days after the controversy arises, unless an extension of time it is mutually agreeable to all parties. The salary and expenses of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the carrier and (i) the organization or organizations representing employee or employees or (ii) if unrepresented, the employee or employees or group or groups of employees. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties.