IAM Members assemble Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Airlines clear for takeoff?
March 12, 2010 — Even as the state of Hawaii struggles to recover economically, Hawaiian Airlines goes full throttle with fleet expansion.
Hawaiian aims at serving two out of four coveted landing slots at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, with newly ordered wide body aircraft. The company has firm commitments for delivery of ten new aircraft, according to the Honolulu Star Bulletin.
Hawaiian isn’t the only buyer. After more than a decade in the doldrums, United Airlines’ recent announcement in December calls for an order of fifty new aircraft, including twenty five Boeing 787 Dreamliners. United will replace less efficient 747 and 767 aircraft.
Members recently ratified contract with
15% pay raise, improved health care
"We are extremely fortunate to be in a position where we can contemplate growth," says Hawaiian Airlines president and ceo, Mark Dunkerley. Growth and good fortune appears to be spreading.
District 141 successfully completed negotiations with Hawaiian Airlines, inking a newly amended contract in December. In it, the company agreed to a 15 percent wage increase over three years, a reduction in health care benefits, an increase in paid holidays, and contractual improvements. Members at Hawaiian ratified their contract in January, 2010.
Hawaiian Airlines plans to phase out older, U.S. made Boeing 767 aircraft and replace them with Airbus A330s. The European product seats 30 more passengers and flies with greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions than its aging 767 American rival.
“Our aircraft is certainly going to be fully used," the company says. "We always have a range of options in terms of beefing up existing routes and flying to new destinations if we are unsuccessful in getting a (Haneda) route, but I don't think we will be unsuccessful because we think our case is the strongest of all the applicants.”
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United Negotiations, Survey,
March ref vote
United Airlines Negotiations
March 10, 2010 — Note: The February 27 update remains current.
February 27, 2010, Rich Delaney — Negotiations resumed between United Airlines and District Lodge 141 this week. Mediator Brown was also in attendance. The week was very productive. Our discussions of issues, especially Seniority, Overtime, and Vacation flexibility, that have been subjects of previous meetings were tentatively agreed to and now will be brought up only towards the end of negotiations when a finalized agreement is reached.
Company Proposed Health Scheme
The company presented new information regarding their Insurance proposals. In response to our questions and positions regarding the company proposals, specifically the idea of shifting from the current HMO system to a new type of coverage called Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO), the company presented a revised document. The changes to the company proposal bring the coverage and cost structure of their suggested EPO more closely in line with what our Members know as the system of their HMO’s. We will now have our insurance subcommittee review this information and compare it with the several different HMO’s our Members belong to for evaluation and response. Our concern is still the proposed cost increase to Members.
We believe we are making progress in negotiations as we move forward towards the issues of most importance to our Members – job security and compensation.
United Member Survey
District 141 has formulated, along with our Grand Lodge, a new Membership Survey focused on United Airlines contract negotiations. A year ago we asked Members to participate in a proposal survey before negotiations began so we could effectively prioritize the contract proposals. The Negotiating Team wants to insure that our discussions are in line with the issues the Membership determines are the most important. While we are not requesting new proposals we are interested to measure the Membership’s concerns.
Please take a few minutes and participate in the survey. It is linked from the District 141 home page, with a button like this.
The survey will be available to Members through March 19, 2010.
March Referendum–VP and Trustee Pay
Voting on the District 141 Referendum will begin next week and continue at local lodge throughout the District during the month of March.
The proposed changes to the District Lodge 141 Bylaws were proposed, discussed, and endorsed by Delegates to the 2009 District Convention. The action of the Delegates must now be accepted or rejected by Membership ratification. The proposals subject to vote regard the financial administration of our District.
One is a housekeeping issue that moves the existing language of Trustee reimbursement from its current place in our Financial Policy to a more transparent position in our Bylaws. This proposal does not change or modify the amount of reimbursement for Trustees.
The second proposal seeks to modify the compensation of District Vice Presidents. Currently, a Vice President receives a monthly compensation of $75.00 but receives a salary equivalent to an Assistant General Chairman if assigned specific duties during the month. The modification calls for an increase to $200.00 per month for normal Vice President duties and a reduction to 60% of an Assistant General Chairman’s salary if assigned to specific duties during the month. The Delegates determined that a greater use of the Vice Presidents for Membership representation duties was an efficient use of their office and that a reduced rate would allow the District to assign them to such work.
Please check with your local lodge for the day and time of voting and participate in this referendum.