Negotiations Limp Along as Self-Imposed August 1st Deadline Approaches

Negotiations Limp Along as Self-Imposed August 1st Deadline Approaches

Jun 24, 2022 | Front Page, JetBlue, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Row 2, Uncategorized, United

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Negotiations Limp Along as Self-Imposed August 1st Deadline Approaches

 

24 June 2022

This week, IAM District 141 and United Airlines management continued negotiations in Chicago, IL. We continue to be frustrated with the pace of the talks. We are doubtful we will reach the mutually agreed upon, self-imposed deadline of August 1, 2022, to reach tentative agreements for approximately 25,000 IAM-represented workers at United Airlines.

This week’s talks focused on the many facets of Article 2 Job Security and LOA 9, Article 4 Hours of Service, Article 9, Investigations, Grievances and Arbitration, and the vital quality of work/life issues of mandatory overtime and outage relief. While we did make some marginal progress, we still do not have agreement from United management that our job security and scope of work will be at the very least equal to what we have presently. This is very concerning at this stage of the expedited negotiations process.

In other news, this past Wednesday, IAM District 142 announced tentative agreements with Alaska Airlines on a two-year contract extension, which provides industry-leading pay rates that range between 9-17 percent. The tentative agreements cover over 5,000 IAM-represented ramp, customer service, stores, and office and clerical employees. The top-of-scale wage rate is $34 per hour, and the starting rate is $18.50.

Click here to view the Alaska COPS TA.

Click here to view the Alaska Ramp TA.

IAM-represented United Airlines workers in similar classifications earn approximately 10 percent above that of Alaska Airlines workers at the top of the scale. This is due to United being over five times the size of Alaska Airlines. This is welcome news for our contract talks as a rising tide lifts all boats, and United Airlines is poised to report record-breaking revenue generation for the second quarter of 2022.

Make no mistake; if United Airlines management believes it can stick its head in the sand regarding what is currently happening and what has already been negotiated at other carriers, it is sorely mistaken. Our only goal for IAM members at United Airlines is the best contract in the airline industry in all areas.  

Negotiations will continue July 13-15 and the week of July 25.

In solidarity,

Your District 141 Negotiating Committee

Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Andrea’ Myers
Terry Stansbury
Faysal Silwany
Erik Stenberg
Sue Weisner

Michael G. Klemm

President & Directing General Chair,
IAMAW District 141
#LGR

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin boards.

Get Printable Copy

Machinists Union Negotiates $34/Hour at Alaska Airlines

Machinists Union Negotiates $34/Hour at Alaska Airlines

Jun 22, 2022 | Front Page, GOIAM Stories, JetBlue, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized

Machinists Union Reaches Historic Deal at Alaska Airlines

Justice at JetBlue
22 June 2022

Machinists Union Reaches Historic, Industry-Leading Tentative Agreement Extension for 5,300 Members at Alaska Airlines

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2022 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has reached a tentative agreement with Alaska Airlines that, for the first time in the carrier’s history, will put approximately 5,300 Alaska Airlines workers at the top of the airline industry’s pay scale.

The tentative agreement extension covers IAM members who work in Ramp, Stores, Clerical, Office and Passenger Service at the carrier. Alaska Airlines hubs include Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle-Tacoma; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and Los Angeles.

If ratified by IAM members at Alaska Airlines, the four-year contract would:

  • Raise base wage rates for all classifications to between 8.9% and 17.4% on Aug. 10, 2022.
  • Further raise all base wages rates for all classifications by 2.5% on Aug. 10, 2023
  • Base wage rate will also increase a minimum of 2.5% on Aug. 10, 2024 and Aug. 10 2025, subject to an industry review.
  • In 2024 and 2025, the agreement calls for an industry review, which will give employees a minimum 2.5% base wage rate or the percentage required to match the top of the scale as the No. 4 airline, whichever is greater.
  • No changes to strong existing medical and other benefits.
  • Longevity pay increases starting after year 6 at 5 cents per hour, and topping out after year 12 and beyond at 35 cents per hour.
  • Strong existing job security language extended until Sept. 27, 2028.

Read full highlights of the tentative agreement here.

IAM members at Alaska Airlines will vote on the tentative agreements in the coming weeks. IAM representatives will also hold contract educational meetings at locations across the country.

“The IAM’s tentative agreement with Alaska Airlines is historic for our union, the carrier, and the entire airline industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “IAM members have built Alaska Airlines into a perennial top-performing airline, and now, they have an industry-leading contract to vote on that rewards their dedication, skill, and sacrifice.”

“The IAM’s negotiating committee at Alaska Airlines has put in countless hours of hard work obtaining this tentative agreement,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John Coveny. “From our leadership to our membership and everyone in between, this tentative agreement is the result of our union’s strength and solidarity.”

“As the largest air transport labor union in North America, our membership knows that they have the strength of the entire IAM at the bargaining table,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “We are proud to present this industry-leading tentative agreement to our hard-working IAM membership at Alaska Airlines.”

“I could not be more proud of the IAM negotiating committee and our membership,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Airline Coordinator Tom Regan. “We look forward to speaking to IAM members at Alaska Airlines from coast to coast about this industry-leading, historic contract.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is the largest and most powerful airline union in North America, representing more than 100,000 air transport members in North America. The IAM is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

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JetBlue Ups its Bid for Spirit: Now $3.7 BILLION

JetBlue Ups its Bid for Spirit: Now $3.7 BILLION

Jun 22, 2022 | Front Page, JetBlue, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized

Up, Up and Away; JetBlue Management
Again Ups its Bid for Spirit: Now $3.7 BILLION

Justice at JetBlue
22 June 2022

Washington, June 16, 2022 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for approving the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 7321). 

JetBlue management yesterday once again upped its bid to $3.7 BILLION to merge with Spirit Airlines. This is approximately 68% more than the Frontier offer.

You read that right, yes, 68% more.

JetBlue management is totally obsessed with merging with Spirit, and it appears no price is too high.

Management previously cut the summer flight schedule by about 10 percent due to staffing concerns. JetBlue could be investing much more in its people to retain workers that we need and attract new workers, which we also need. But, it seems management is more concerned with merging with Spirit, even as many economists predict a slowing economy
due to rising interest rates to battle inflation.

The tough questions are:

(1) Could this money be utilized more wisely?

(2) Is the total obsession with merging with Spirit good for us?

Management has claimed it will divest routes in the Northeast and gates in FLL. Without a union contract to protect our interests in a merger, we are certainly at risk and that needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

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Apple Store Workers Win Historic Vote to Join the Machinists

Apple Store Workers Win Historic Vote to Join the Machinists

Jun 21, 2022 | Front Page, Organizing, Page Five, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized

Apple Store Workers Win Historic Vote to Join the Machinists

GoIAM.org
21 June 2022

TOWSON, Md., June 18, 2022 – Over 100 Apple store employees in Towson, Md., who recently organized into the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE), have overwhelmingly voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

The National Labor Relations Board vote count was announced on Saturday, June 18.

CORE and IAM sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook in May 2022 informing him of the decision to organize their union, listing “access to rights we do not currently have” as a driving reason for the move, which has strong support from a majority of the workers.

WATCH: Why Apple Workers in Maryland are Organizing with the Machinists Union

“I applaud the courage displayed by CORE members at the Apple store in Towson for achieving this historic victory,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “They made a huge sacrifice for thousands of Apple employees across the nation who had all eyes on this election. I ask Apple CEO Tim Cook to respect the election results and fast-track a first contract for the dedicated IAM CORE Apple employees in Towson. This victory shows the growing demand for unions at Apple stores and different industries across our nation.”

The IAM has launched organizing campaigns in non-traditional industries to grow the strength of the IAM and working families over the past few years, including the Baltimore County Public Library system, tech industry, healthcare, and veterinary medicine. This campaign was an employee-driven campaign from the start and can take credit for Apple’s decision to raise the starting wages for every Apple retail employee across the nation. 

READ: Maryland Apple Store Employees File for Election to Join Machinists Union

“The IAM Eastern Territory has provided every resource to ensure the employees in Towson were given every opportunity to win this election,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “I want to thank IAM Special Representative David DiMaria for his dedication to this historic campaign. David was instrumental in keeping this group together, allowing their voices to represent Apple employees everywhere. The IAM and the Eastern Territory will provide the necessary resources to help achieve a first contract.”

READ: Maryland Apple Store Employees Move to Join the IAM 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

@ACOREUNION | @ACOREUNION Instagram | goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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Why the Machinists Honor Juneteenth

Why the Machinists Honor Juneteenth

Jun 20, 2022 | Front Page, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized

Why the Machinists Honor Juneteenth

GoIAM.org
19 June 2022

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the IAM,

We have had a whole year to prepare our nation for Juneteenth as a federal holiday. A holiday that remembers June 19, 1866, the day Afro-Texans gathered to commemorate the first anniversary of the ending of slavery.

This was acknowledged and celebrated across America throughout African-American communities. It signaled a new start to a brighter future. Many of these celebrations gave rise to fighting for workers’ rights. 

Our union is committed to ensuring that we never forget the successes and failures of our past. It helps us as our nation continues to fight against racism and against the erosion of civil rights. This holiday allows us to reflect on how we can better serve our community, fellow citizens, and union.

We can celebrate Juneteenth by recognizing how far we have come together and how much work we have to do in our society. Our union is always at its best when celebrating our diversity, and on this Juneteenth, we will fight to ensure every one of us is respected and treated with dignity.

In solidarity,

Robert Martinez Jr.
IAM International President

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Machinists Union Supports Bill to Toughen Safety Rules for Foreign Repair Stations

Machinists Union Supports Bill to Toughen Safety Rules for Foreign Repair Stations

Jun 17, 2022 | Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Row 2, Safety, Uncategorized

Machinists Union Supports Bill to Toughen Safety Rules for Foreign Repair Stations

GoIAM.org
17 June 2022

Washington, June 16, 2022 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for approving the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 7321). 

The panel’s action advances the legislation for full House floor consideration of DeFazio’s bill, which would include measures such as unannounced FAA inspections of foreign repair stations, and set minimum qualifications for mechanics and other workers, including drug testing and background checks.

“Our hard-working members take pride in making sure their work at carriers such as American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and others focuses on safety regulations set by the federal government,” said IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “It’s only fair that their counterparts working at facilities overseas abide by such high U.S. standards.”

The IAM is the largest airline union in North America, representing over 100,000 airline workers.

“I want to thank Chairman DeFazio for introducing this very important legislation that will help ensure airline passenger safety is a top priority globally,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “The lack of uniform regulatory standards and oversight sets an unlevel field with carriers increasingly enticed by the financial incentives to push this work overseas. This results in job losses in the U.S. and risks passenger safety.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 900 aircraft maintenance and repair stations have been certified by the FAA outside the U.S., which includes countries such as China, Singapore, and Brazil.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

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