I'm not affected by the retro argument. That's for sUA to decide over. It's due to them. But if this is a substandard agreement, I will vote "no". There are a few good points in this TA that is way better than TA1. But I have some questions that need some clarification.
Tim mentioned something about "Temporary Work Assignments" or something to that effect. Why would the union allow something like that? That kills the overtime that members want. And more hours to pick up, when the staffing needs are tight. That is something that needs to be explained to me. IMHO, that shouldn't be allowed, since there are enough members to do the work. Is that mainly for ATW? Also Tim keeps mentioning about the scope for the mainline work. Out of the now 77 stations, how much of it has M/L flights every day that need protecting? I asked because I don't know the exact number, since everybody keeps talking about the Express work. And of course the ever changing medical situation? At least they explained the rationale for not releasing the seniority lists till after ratification. We only have 6 days to make a decision here. I didn't hear of any visits or roadshows to explain it. Even though I didn't make the last union meeting at the LL, this TA should be explained further.
But IMHO, I think it will pass with a combination of people wanting their money; people looking to get out; and apathy, since this is a one day in-person ballot. How close it will be, no one knows. This isn't like the horrible TA1.
T5,
As usual, Nelson either disports the issue, or doesn't understand the issue. Regarding temporary work assignments, there are two different types: (1) Short-term or seasonal assignments and (2) Longer term, usually temporary full-time assignments.
In the current sUA Ramp and Stores CBA, it allows for 6 month temporary full-time assignments and in the current sUA PCE CBA it allows for 5 month temp assignments. Something Nelson conveniently forgot to mention. Longer-term assignments are temp FT vacancies filled by existing PT employees.
The short-term or seasonal assignments are staffed by temp PTs. The current Ramp and Stores CBA allow for such assignments for 3 months in the summer and 60 days in at any other time of year. Same language in the current PCE CBA.
The sCO ASAs have no contract, so UA can do anything it wants regarding temp employment. The IBT Fleet CBA allows UA to "transfer" or contract out the work of any FSE to other employees at any time, for any amount of time and for any reason.
The new contract allows short term temp assignments of 100 days or less in a rolling 12 month period and longer term temp FT assignments capped at 5 months. Also, the temp FT assignments must be filled in seniority order, something that is missing in current agreements. The language is better in the new contract.
The entire United flight schedule is 67% UAX. There are 60 stations that have 2 or less mainline flights. What that means is we don't have much protection because we have no right under current sUA agreements to UAX work and the sCO have no right to any of the work.
The new agreement protects 96% of the membership either through scope or seniority based protections that have no expiration date. 26,000+ out of 28,000 cannot be involuntarily furloughed due to outsourcing. That places a hard limit on the Company's ability to outsource. There is no doubt that the new language protects many more people than existing language.
Nelson's claims of only 7 stations will be left is hogwash. They can't fit all those employees in 7 stations. Just can't happen. Will some smaller stations be lost? Yes. Will some people have to move to stay with UA? Yes. But that has always been the case in the airline industry. Location protection has NEVER been the case.
