In June of this year, the membership was advised that the TWU/IAM Associations had retained the services of Neutral Joshua Javits to create final integrated seniority lists. Shortly thereafter, Neutral Javits met with TWU/IAM negotiators and seniority committee members to receive their thoughts, input and guidance and then sent a communication to members requesting that they submit comments and information for his consideration during the fact-finding stage of the seniority integration process. Neutral Javits advises that he received 836 comments in total, many of which were lengthy and contained considerable detail, and that he is carefully reviewing all of the comments received. In addition, Neutral Javits has found it necessary to request some follow-up information from the Company in order to complete his work, and the Company is undertaking a review of its records in order to provide the requested information.
It is now anticipated that Neutral Javits will issue his Report and Recommendations and proposed seniority lists in the closing months of this year. Once the proposed lists are issued, affected employees will have 45 days to file in writing any protest they may have regarding their placement on the list. The Neutral will provide details regarding how to file a protest when the proposed lists are published. In addition, we will continue to update the membership as needed regarding the progress of the seniority integration process.
Both the Fleet Service and Mechanic and Related/Stores negotiating committees met this week in Washington, DC. The week began with each committee meeting with company representatives to discuss outstanding articles and continue to exchange proposals.
The M&R/Stores committee exchanged proposals on Overtime and Rebids and have further narrowed our position for each article. The company has yet to respond to our proposals regarding Vacations, Holidays and Limited Duty.
The Fleet committee received the company’s counter proposals on Part Time, Temporary Assignments and Vacations. The Temporary Assignments article has been narrowed down to two issues. Some issues regarding Part Time and Vacation provisions were resolved, but fell short of meeting the memberships’ needs. We also finalized our counter proposals regarding Overtime and Vacations.
On Wednesday, the company presented the Association with a Power Point presentation for Fleet Service cross-utilization that they previously shared with their leadership team. The company’s presentation exceeded the cross-utilization of L-US and L-AA employees that is permitted in our recent pay adjustment agreement. Their plan, as presented, undermines our existing seniority system and contracts, and attempts to prematurely achieve the efficiencies that can only come from joint collective bargaining agreements.
Your representatives made it clear to the company that this is unacceptable. The company has requested to meet with the Association committees early next week to continue dialogue in an effort to resolve these issues.
The Association committees stand shoulder to shoulder and will not tolerate the company unilaterally making changes to existing agreements.
Help Protect Airline Customer Service Representatives from Assault
September 22, 2016
When a TSA agent or law enforcement officer is assaulted at an airport, it’s a serious federal crime. And rightfully so, since we’re counting on them to keep us safe.
But airline gate and ticket agents, who also have critical security functions, are not currently protected by federal law, even though they control access to aircraft.
Across the country, Airline Customer Service Representatives are being physically assaulted on a daily basis. They’ve been kneed and punched in the face, struck by luggage thrown at them and had their clothes ripped. In some cases, injuries have been life-altering.
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, passed by Congress in the wake of 9/11, sets penalties for interfering with airport and airline workers who have security duties. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation have excluded Customer Service Representatives from these protections.
The IAM and a coalition of airport worker unions support a letter from U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) urging DOJ and DOT to give Airline Customer Service Representatives the same protection from assault as TSA agents and law enforcement personnel.
As you know, in May, 2013, following the merger of American Airlines and US Airways, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (lAM) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) formed the TWU-IAM Associations. The Associations were subsequently certified as the bargaining representatives at American Airlines by the National Mediation Board (NMB) in May, 2015 after the NMB determined that American Airlines was a single transportation system.
The representation structure of the Associations is based on the relative active membership size of the IAM and TWU at specific locations. For example, since the TWU has a larger membership in Dallas, the TWU will assume representation responsibilities for all Association members at that location once a joint contract is ratified by all Association members. The same is true for the IAM in Charlotte, since the IAM has more active members at that particular location.
Boston, however, has presented a very unique issue. Active membership size for both the IAM and TWU in all covered classifications at that location is essentially equal. Initially, representation at BOS was assigned to the IAM. However, due to the long traditions, strong fraternal bonds and unique history of the TWU and IAM locals in that city, the Association leadership-as required by Association agreement language-engaged in discussions regarding modifying the representation structure in Boston.
The Association Chair and Vice Chair have voluntarily resolved this issue without the need for third party adjudication. Effective on membership ratification of joint collective bargaining agreements, representation responsibilities for all Association classifications at the Boston location will remain the same, with the IAM maintaining representation of the pre-merger US Airways workforce and the TWU maintaining representation of the pre-merger American workforce. New members will be split one for one.
Further, it has been agreed that for efficiency of representationthat the IAM will assume principal representation responsibilities for all Tower Planners throughout the American Airlines system, including those previously unrepresented Tower Planners at pre-merger American Airlines.
This agreement is yet another example of the mutual respect that permeates our Association and our commitment to fostering a collaborative and strong partnership so we can maintain our focus on our only goal: bettering the lives of all Association members and their families.
This week marks the fifteenth year that has passed since the attacks of September 11 changed the course of American history forever.
Those of us that call New York City home, and those of us that have built our livelihoods in the airline industry, are all personally bound to this date in a way that many others cannot fully understand. Our way of life was devastated, and we needed years to overcome the challenges that we faced together.
On September 11th 2001, we faced a cruel test. Solidarity kept us together. Solidarity made us strong again, and solidarity will move us into the future together.
On this anniversary of the September 11 attacks, please take a moment to remember the good friends, the coworkers, and the thousands of other people that were denied the chance to complete their lives as intended.
