July 3, 2009Having reservations about the union?

Today’s hotline message addresses the need to have a Union at Delta – and especially in the Reservation Division. IAM organizers in the field at various Delta Reservation Centers report that DAL Reservation Agents are being walked off the property and suspended indefinitely for failing to make daily stats. They are also being severely disciplined for minor infractions after being monitored by company supervisors or managers. How would you like to live in that culture of fear? An environment where on
any given day, no matter how hard you work, your failure to meet daily company standards causes you to lose your job? The scariest part is that those daily standards can be changed for the worst, at any time, at the whim of Delta management. Compare that to the workplace at Northwest where Reservation Agents work under an IAM union contract.

• The minimum performance requirements for the Reservation Division are 95% “occupancy” and 25 seconds “after call work time (ACW)” for domestic sales and 95% occupancy and 35 seconds ACW for international sales.

• Reviews of Employee Performance are performed in monthly review periods.

• The Union can still file grievances contesting the standards, and the Company cannot modify occupancy and ACW so as to increase occupancy or reduce “after call work time” through December 31, 2010 or 2011, if applicable --- the contract expiration date.

• Monitoring reservation calls, by the way, will be done as a source of information for instruction and to provide quality assurance. Agents will promptly receive a written copy of the results of any monitoring session.

When the monitoring session indicates a need for quality improvement, the agent will receive the results by the end of his/her shift. If you’re a Delta Reservation Agent, you can plug into a reasonable work environment with reasonable work rules – guaranteed in writing through a union contract. Start the process today by signing an A-card. Give it to a union organizer or mail it in yourself. And when the election comes... Vote Union…Vote IAM! PRINT MESSAGE

See all Wired HOTLINE updates

June 30, 2009Machinists Union files for AirTran representation election

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced it has asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to hold a representation election for more than 2,000 fleet service, passenger service and reservation employees of Orlando-based AirTran Airways.

"The two main issues driving this campaign are respect and wages," said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. "AirTran does not value their fleet and passenger service employees despite the entire company relying on their professionalism. The Machinists Union will ensure these AirTran employees are properly compensated and treated with the dignity every worker deserves."

Under NMB rules, a union seeking an election must submit signed election authorization cards from a minimum of 35 percent of the group to be organized. The NMB will review the machinists Union's submission before setting an election date. Employees typically cast votes electronically through an Internet web site or by telephone.

"Most other AirTran employees already have the protection of union contracts," said IAM District 141 President Rich Delaney. "It is time for AirTran's fleet service, passenger service and reservation employees to have a voice in their future and benefit from the security an IAM agreement provides."
  
More information about the IAM's AirTran organizing campaign is available at www.airtrancrewmember.com.

June 23, 2009Machinists Union ratifies new Southwest Airlines agreement

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 142 today announced membership ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with Southwest Airlines. The four-year agreement covers the carrier's 5,300 customer service and reservation agents and was approved by 54 percent of the members voting.

"This agreement provides financial security for our members while giving Southwest Airlines the stability it needs to continue growing in a very difficult economic climate," said IAM District 142 President Tom Higginbotham.

The new agreement provides an immediate three percent wage increase, retroactive to November 1, 2008, with top pay increasing to $26.61 per hour over the life of the accord. Other improvements include a significant increase in retirement benefits, with company-paid 401(k) contributions increasing one percent, to 8.3 percent, retroactive to January 1, 2009. The contract calls for Southwest to again increase 401(k) matching contributions to 9.3 percent on January 1, 2011.

The previous IAM-Southwest Airlines collective bargaining agreement became amendable on October 31, 2008, and a tentative agreement on new terms was reached on May 5, 2009. This new agreement becomes amendable on October 31, 2012.

More information about the IAM-Southwest Airlines agreement is available on the District 142 website, www.iamdl142.org.  

June 17, 2009Alaska Airlines – Seattle Ramp arbitration update

District 143 representatives met in Seattle yesterday for the continuance of the Seattle Ramp Lockout Arbitration case.  As you are aware, District 143 won the arbitration case, however the arbitrators award stipulated that both parties (IAM & Alaska Airlines) negotiate an appropriate remedy for the arbitrators decision and if both parties were unable to reach an amicable resolution then the arbitrator would retain jurisdiction and issue proper resolution.

By way of background, almost a year now both parties have met on several occasions, as well as have had several teleconference meetings in the hopes of reaching an agreement; unfortunately Alaska Airlines has refused to accept any proffer that includes returning members back to the Seattle ramp from the union.  “Clearly we are disappointed in the Company’s position; a position that is contrary to their numerous public statements where they claim that their employees are their number one asset; unless you are from Seattle”, stated President Stephen Gordon.

District 143 asked arbitrator LaRocco to exercise his authority and make a ruling for a remedy.  Our attorney Dave Campbell made oral arguments to the arbitrator requesting that he rule in favor of the IAM and return the approximately 476 jobs back to the Seattle ramp.  Throughout the day several executive board discussions took place, President Gordon met with Company representatives in an attempt to resolve the matter at hand; unfortunately the Company refused to return the work back to the IAM.  “We are fully prepared to accept the decision at hand from arbitrator LaRocco since we are at a stalemate with Alaska airlines”, stated PDGC Gordon, “We must have closure to this case; we have waited over four years, and our members have conducted themselves with respect and should expect the same from their Company.”

Oral arguments to the case have concluded and now our fate rest in the hands of the highly regarded arbitrator.  Both executive board members will participate in an executive session with the arbitrator in the upcoming weeks, and then we will await Mr. LaRocco’s decision or further direction.  Once further information becomes available District 143 will update the membership.

June 17, 2009Know what to expect from "Union Avoidance" industry; read it all in latest Union "Yes" Delta Worker

The “Union Avoidance” industry, a term used heavily by employers, employs
more than 10,000 lawyers and consultants, and Delta Air Lines management
is no different. These lawyers and consultants are usually called in the moment
a company hears that employees are interested in unionizing.

Companies, including Delta Air Lines are charged upwards of thousands of dollars a day, as well as first class expenses, to be trained and advised on how to psychologically manipulate employees in order to attempt to defeat your efforts to bring justice and fairness into the workplace with your IAM contract.

READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER

June 12, 2009Operation: Organize Delta on Facebook

Become a Facebook member and check out the Iam Northwest page. Once you are a friend of the Iam Northwest page join the cause Operation: Organize Delta. From here you will be able to get fast, pertinent information from your union concerning the merger and representation vote. Find out what is happening at other stations, ask questions, and read the postings.

June 11, 2009Winpisinger Center hosts NWA/Delta strategy meeting

More than 50 District 143 representatives and local activists attended a Northwest Airlines/Delta Air Lines organizing campaign strategy meeting this week at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Maryland.

“Delta/Northwest is ground zero for a crusade to de-unionize the airline industry,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “The Machinists Union will use all available resources to defend our Northwest membership and extend the benefits of union representation to the Delta workforce.”

Participants reviewed the IAM’s campaign to date and developed strategies for the upcoming representation elections. When Delta and Northwest are operating as a single carrier for representation purposes, the IAM will ask the National Mediation Board to officially rule they are a single carrier. Following the NMB’s ruling the IAM will have 14 days to provide evidence that there is sufficient interest for unionization from the combined
workforce to warrant elections. A single carrier ruling and demonstration of
interest for elections will occur for each class and craft in which the IAM
represents Northwest workers.

“The IAM’s most potent weapon is our membership,” said Roach. “This
week’s participants are the key to motivating our membership and winning
these critical elections.”

May 29, 2009Alaska Airlines responds to COPS RSSA contract extension proposals

District 143 has received Alaska Airlines' response to your negotiating committee’s counter proposal regarding the COPS and RSSA contract extension proposal that was submitted to the district for review by your elected negotiators.

On May 19, 2009 District 143 received a letter from Alaska Airlines Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Dennis Hamel stating, “We have reviewed the IAM’s proposals for both COPS and RSSA contract extension agreements. Neither of these proposals are acceptable and the company will not be submitting counter proposals.” All proposal exchanges are listed on the web site for the membership to view.

READ ENTIRE BULLETIN

READ RESPONSE

May 22, 2009 “Me-Too” arbitration completed
District 143 is pleased to report to the membership that the long anticipated “Me-Too” arbitration case has been completed.  The arbitration case took place on May 19th & May 20th in Minneapolis, and we now await the decision from the arbitrator.

For those of you who remember, representatives from District 143 along with representatives from Northwest Airlines had several discussions and meetings related to the Air Line Pilots Association’s modification of their collective bargaining agreement of which was negotiated under the 1113 bankruptcy agreement.

Soon after NWA emerged from bankruptcy protection, NWA and ALPA reached an agreement that provided for enhancements (some monetary / some non-monetary) of their collective bargaining agreements, which in our opinion was certainly not “cost neutral” as stated by the Company.

“Any modifications to a collective bargaining agreement post bankruptcy most certainly changes the rules of engagement of the entire bankruptcy concessionary bargaining”, stated President Stephen Gordon, “Clearly District 143 does not believe that the NWA/ALPA deal is not “cost neutral”, substantial gains were achieved, as noted by numerous ALPA communications”.

After two full days of arbitration both parties concluded their case.  Now the process is as follows; both parties will await the transcripts of the case which will be available to them on June 5, 2009.  Once the transcripts are received by the parties, each will have approximately thirty days to draft and submit written closing briefs to the arbitrator which will be due on July 3, 2009.  Finally, both parties will have an opportunity to file any rebuttal briefs to the arbitrator which will be due by July 17, 2009.  Once all of the aforementioned has been completed we will await the arbitrator’s decision.

“Our case was presented by Carmen Parcelli, one of our attorneys from the Guerrieri, Edmond, Clayman & Bartos law firm.  We were assisted by our financial advisor Tom Roth from the Labor Bureau Inc.; both have a long history in representing District 143 and the membership thereof”, stated President Gordon, “I am very grateful for the assistance of our professional team for an outstanding job in presenting an extremely complex arbitration case”.

District 143 would like to thank everyone for their patience throughout this process.  We will update the membership with any new information regarding this case as they become available.

May 15, 2009Alaska Airlines/IAM proposals for RSSA and COPS

REDIRECT TO PROPOSALS

May 12, 2009Notice of District 143 Nominations

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF RERUN OF ENDORSEMENT OF NOMINEES FOR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEES ALASKA AIRLINES COPS AND RSSA

April 9, 2009District 143 answers questions from Delta's employees

READ Q & A HERE

April 7, 2009Machinists, United Airlines open contract negotiations

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 141 today exchanged opening contract proposals in Chicago, IL, with United Airlines for the carrier’s 16,000 Ramp & Stores, Public Contact, Food Service, Maintenance Instructor, Fleet Technical Instructor and Security Guard employees. The current IAM agreements become amendable on December 31, 2009.
 
“It has been nearly a decade since our members had an opportunity to propose changes to their collective bargaining agreements,” said IAM District 141 President Rich Delaney. “Since our last negotiations, United abused the bankruptcy laws to extract $4.6 billion from our members. The challenge we face in these negotiations is bridging a canyon of distrust.”

IAM District 141 conducted a pre-bargaining membership survey and received more than 50,000 proposals and recommendations from members. “The three main areas of focus during these negotiations will be job security, improved wages and improved benefits,” said Delaney. IAM District 141’s opening contract proposals and frequent negotiation updates will be available on the District 141 web site, www.iam141.org.
 
IAM members were forced during United’s three-year bankruptcy to accept a 13 percent wage reduction in 2003, as well as another 5.5 percent cut in 2005. Additionally, United terminated its employee pension plans in bankruptcy, although IAM members are the airline’s only employees to successfully negotiate a replacement defined benefit pension plan, the IAM National Pension Plan.
 
The Machinists Union is the largest airline union in North America, representing more than 100,000 airline and airport service workers. More information about the Machinists Union at United Airlines is available at www.iam141.org. 

March 29, 2009Top union leaders ramp up support for Delta organizing drive

BLOOMINGTON - Flanked by supporters from organized labor and elected officials, the leaders of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers vowed to unionize the world’s largest air carrier, Delta Airlines. Union members gathered Sunday for a solidarity rally in what promises to be a long and difficult campaign to win representation for ground workers at Delta, which has been non-union except for its pilots. Last year, it merged with Northwest Airlines, where nearly all 31,000 employees were covered by a union contract. The workforce at the combined carrier totals 75,000.

“We’re going to win this campaign . . . and we’re going to get justice for working people,” said R. Thomas Buffenbarger, international president of the IAMAW.

Read Workday Minnesota article here

February 24, 2009Integration of Stores into Tech Ops?: See your District's response

“The McCaskill-Bond legislation which you referred to applies “[w]ith respect to any covered transaction involving two or more covered air carriers that results in the combination of crafts or classes that are subject to the Railway Labor Act…” (emphasis added). Therefore, McCaskill-Bond only applies when there has been a combination of crafts or classes, something the NMB has not yet determined for this group of employees. Significantly, no integration talks can take place until the NMB has made these important craft and class determinations. We do not know whose seniority will be integrated until we know what the craft and class lines will be. If your group and/or the IAM were to try to engage in these discussions now, we would be violating the law, as we would be usurping the exclusive authority of the NMB.” – PDGC Stephen Gordon. Read both letters here.

 

February 12, 2009Attention Delta Air Lines' employees: Read some of the collective bargaining contracts that IAM members have negotiated and ratified

See it in writing. Read some of the contracts that our members work under in the airline industry. These contracts are enforceable by law. Forget about what you have been told. See it with your own eyes.

NOTE: Some of these PDF files are hundreds of pages. File uploads will differ depending on connection speed. You can also view contracts at Alaska Airlines, Air Wisconsin, Great Lakes and Big Sky by using the "airline" tab above. Each airlines' contracts are listed on their corresponding page.

Northwest ESSC - Ramp and Stock Clerks
Northwest COFPS - Customer Service, Clerical and Reservations
United PCE - Customer Service
United Ramp and Stores
United Fleet Technical Instructors
United Food Service
United Maintenance Instructors
Southwest Airlines

Members hammered out these agreements by submitting contract proposals; by negotiating contract language, by renegotiating when necessary and negotiating some more, until finally, they ratified their new agreement with a vote. Why shouldn't you have legal language protecting you and your job?

December 10, 2008Every member and future member should view this DVD video

Read PDGC Gordon's letter that accompanied each DVD sent to members. A Windows Media Player version is available for download: "Organize the Organized" and "NWA-Delta Merger, a Future Bailout" or you can watch below. Download times will vary, depending on your connection speed. If you experience difficulty with your player make sure your browser (Explorer, Firefox) has an updated Media Player extension.

 

©Copyright 2008 IAM District 143. All rights reserved. The IAM authorizes you to print or download one copy of IAM-copyrighted materials on this web site for your  personal, non-commercial use. The IAM further authorizes you  to use such materials for purposes of education or organization and to distribute such materials to members of the IAM, other unions, their families, or for other educational or organizational purposes. For other uses, please contact staff@iamdl143.org.