Important Statement Re: Hybrid Move Teams At Line Stations

Important Statement Re: Hybrid Move Teams At Line Stations

United Contract Negotiations Update

30 June 2025

To our Brothers and Sisters at United Airlines,

I’m writing to clear up some confusion regarding a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established Hybrid Move Teams specifically for LINE STATIONS. It appears there’s been a misunderstanding, leading to some inaccurate information circulating among our Move Team members across the system.

First and foremost, this MOU has had, and will have, absolutely NO impact on our Move Team members in the hubs.

This MOU was created in response to requests from many line-station members who move aircraft around airports using Super Tugs and/or crossing active taxiways but were not receiving the $3.00 premium for this work. In 2021, we agreed to a trial run in Orlando (MCO) to see if we could implement “Hybrid” Move Teams. The goal was to ensure Ramp Service Employees (RSEs) in line stations received the $3.00 move-team premium when moving aircraft to and from the terminal and remote areas. A successful trial would lead to the creation of Hybrid Move Teams in other line stations, which would create many jobs for the RSE classification around the system. Our Move Team members in MCO deserve commendation for successfully demonstrating that Hybrid Move Teams can be effective in line stations.

Due to miscommunication within United management, the MCO team posted 12 full-time Move Team vacancies on September 8, 2021. When senior leadership questioned the need for a full-time Move Team in MCO, local management was told to follow the 2021 MOU instead. The Union pushed back, insisting that everyone who had bid on those vacancies keep their Move Team status through the end of 2025. As a result, the MOU was amended in May 2025, giving those members the option to stay or bid elsewhere in line with their seniority.

Adding unnecessary fuel to the fire, Tampa management—along with Line Station Regional Managers and HR—recently held a town hall in the Tampa ramp break room. The topic of discussion was to answer questions and concerns pertaining to the MOU. The perception and takeaways from employees were that Lou Farinaccio, the Line Station Regional MD, blamed the Union for the negative impact the MOU is having. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The reality is that the negative impact was carried out solely by United management, and Lou was instrumental in the decision to use the MOU negatively. The intent of this MOU is to create jobs in line stations and properly compensate RSEs who perform Move Team work in line stations, which has been requested by these members for years.

Shame on management for weaponizing the MOU to try to cover up their mistakes and misapplication of the agreement, causing unnecessary anxiety and frustration for our membership.

In Solidarity,

Michael G. Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
IAM District 141

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all IAM Union bulletin Boards.

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express (UGE) Contract Negotiations Update

23 June 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Over the week of June 16—20, our IAM District 141 negotiating team met in Chicago with United Ground Express management. We worked to advance the remaining sections of our first collective-bargaining agreement.

We are pleased to report continued forward movement and several new tentative agreements.

We now have tentative agreements on:

• Section 1 — Recognition
• Section 2 — Classification & Vacancies
• Section 7 — Union Representation
• Section 8 — Grievance Procedure
• Section 9 — General: this Section was a major focus, and includes Jury Duty; Uniform Point allowance; a more acceptable time allotment to obtain any required security badges; Bereavement Leave; Adverse-Conditions language; and Lead step-down protection.

Work continues on Section 3—Compensation & Benefits—along with Section 4 (Hours of Service), Section 5 (Paid Time Off), and Section 6 (Seniority).

Negotiations will resume the week of 25 August. We will update you as soon as that session concludes. Please stay engaged and be ready to make your voice heard when it is time to vote on a complete tentative agreement. Details on balloting will follow once we reach that point. In solidarity,

IAM District 141 Negotiating Committee
Warren Glenn
Robert Jesel
Chris Lusk
John Staton Jr.
Gary Welch

Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all UGE bulletin Boards.

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Contract Negotiations Update

17 June 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Last week in Chicago, our IAM District 141 team met with United management to resume work on all seven collective-bargaining agreements. The Fleet Technical Instructor (FTI) and Security Officer sub-committees were also present and submitted updated proposals.

Security Officers
A tentative agreement is in place for Article 8—Union Representation, securing stronger representation rights. We are still fighting for paid lunch and trauma pay; United is resisting both items.

Fleet Technical Instructors (FTI)

Article 4—Hours-of-Service: solid progress on limits for working past midnight before vacation, reserve-release timing, rest-period notice, overtime, and daily/monthly scheduling caps.

Importantly, the National Mediation Board has ruled that the newly organized Flight Operations Technical Writers (FOTW) are part of the FTI bargaining unit. An advisor representing the FOTW group sat with us in Chicago; we discussed which parts of the FTI contract will cover this workgroup and what adjustments are still needed.

Article I – Classification Language was the primary focus this week.

Passenger Service & Fleet Service
Discussions centered on Article 4—Outage Relief, the membership’s second-highest priority after economics. After months of exhausting and frustrating debate, United’s latest offer is concessionary and a step backward. We will keep pressing for language that protects seniority and ends the misuse of outage-relief assignments.

Negotiations resume the week of 11 August 2025. We will report back as soon as that session ends. Your support and engagement remain critical as we push for the contractual improvements we deserve.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee
Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Jill Hazamy
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Terry Stansbury
Faysal Silwany
Erik Stenberg
Sue Weisner

Michael G. Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
IAM District 141

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

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

IAM141.org

You don’t need to be the best writer in the world to win a scholarship. You just need to follow a few smart rules, speak from the heart, and—this part is important—show up.

Here are four ways to give yourself the best chance at winning.

 

Know the Rule Book Better Than the Competition

 

Did the contest ask for proof of enrollment? Did you include all your contact info? These might sound like small details—but in scholarship contests, small things matter.

Think of it like college football: the team that knows the rulebook inside and out walks onto the field with an advantage.

Every year, there are great essays that miss out because of a missing signature, an extra word, or a tiny rule slip. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying sharp. Double-check everything, and you’ll already be ahead of the game before the judges even read your first sentence.

Double Check the Official Rules for the Adolph Stutz Memorial Essay Contest Here > 

 

Write Like a Real Person

 

 

Most scholarship essays sound the same: stiff, overly formal, and just plain boring..

Want to stand out? Be real.

Tell a true story about yourself. Talk about something you care about. Explain how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, or what you hope to change. Write the way you talk—just cleaner. If it sounds like you, that’s a good thing. You want the judges to remember your essay… and you want them to remember you.

Great writing isn’t about big words—it’s about honest ones.

 

Ediit… Ed it… Edit!

 

Even the best essay in the world can lose points if it’s full of spelling mistakes or clunky sentences. That’s why editing is so important.

After you finish writing your first draft, step away from it for a bit—then come back with fresh eyes. Read it out loud. Check for grammar, flow, and tone. Ask yourself: “Does this sound like me?” A clean, confident, and clearly written essay will always stand out.

Tools like spellcheck and even AI writing assistants can help you find grammar mistakes or suggest better wording. AI can even help you brainstorm ideas. Just don’t let it take over. Scholarship judges want to hear your story, in your voice. Use AI to sharpen what you’ve already written—not to speak for you.

Better yet, ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read your essay before you submit it. A second opinion can catch little mistakes you might miss.

Bottom line: Good writing is rewriting. So take your time. Edit, polish, and then edit again.

 

 

Just Show Up… In Case Nobody Else Does.

 

Here’s a little-known secret about essay contests: sometimes… not that many people enter.

That’s right. There are years when amazing scholarships go unclaimed simply because too few people turned something in. So while others might talk themselves out of it, you just have to show up.

Don’t psych yourself out thinking the competition will be too intense. You might be the only one who actually follows the rules, finishes the essay, and hits “submit.” And if that happens?

Money.

Related News

Important Statement Re: Hybrid Move Teams At Line Stations

Important Statement Re: Hybrid Move Teams At Line Stations

I’m writing to clear up some confusion regarding a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established Hybrid Move Teams specifically for LINE STATIONS. It appears there’s been a misunderstanding, leading to some inaccurate information circulating among our Move...

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

Over the week of June 16—20, our IAM District 141 negotiating team met in Chicago with United Ground Express management. We worked to advance the remaining sections of our first collective-bargaining agreement. We are pleased to report continued forward movement and...

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

Last week in Chicago, our IAM District 141 team met with United management to resume work on all seven collective-bargaining agreements. The Fleet Technical Instructor (FTI) and Security Officer sub-committees were also present and submitted updated proposals.United...

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the District 141 of the Machinists Union

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

IAM141.org

You don’t need to be the best writer in the world to win a scholarship. You just need to follow a few smart rules, speak from the heart, and—this part is important—show up.

Here are four ways to give yourself the best chance at winning.

 

Know the Rules Better than the Competition

Did the contest ask for proof of enrollment? Did you include all your contact info? These might sound like small details—but in scholarship contests, small things matter.

Think of it like college football: the team that knows the rulebook inside and out walks onto the field with an advantage.

Every year, there are great essays that miss out because of a missing signature, an extra word, or a tiny rule slip. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying sharp. Double-check everything, and you’ll already be ahead of the game before the judges even read your first sentence.

Double Check the Official Rules for the Adolph Stutz Memorial Essay Contest Here > 

 

Write Like a Real Person

Most scholarship essays sound the same: stiff, overly formal, and just plain boring..

Want to stand out? Be real.

Tell a true story about yourself. Talk about something you care about. Explain how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, or what you hope to change. Write the way you talk—just cleaner. If it sounds like you, that’s a good thing. You want the judges to remember your essay… and you want them to remember you.

Great writing isn’t about big words—it’s about honest ones.

 

Ediit… Ed it… Edit!

Even the best essay in the world can lose points if it’s full of spelling mistakes or clunky sentences. That’s why editing is so important.

After you finish writing your first draft, step away from it for a bit—then come back with fresh eyes. Read it out loud. Check for grammar, flow, and tone. Ask yourself: “Does this sound like me?” A clean, confident, and clearly written essay will always stand out.

Tools like spellcheck and even AI writing assistants can help you find grammar mistakes or suggest better wording. AI can even help you brainstorm ideas. Just don’t let it take over. Scholarship judges want to hear your story, in your voice. Use AI to sharpen what you’ve already written—not to speak for you.

Better yet, ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read your essay before you submit it. A second opinion can catch little mistakes you might miss.

Bottom line: Good writing is rewriting. So take your time. Edit, polish, and then edit again.

 

 

Just Show Up… Just In Case Nobody Else Does.

Here’s a little-known secret about essay contests: sometimes… not that many people enter.

That’s right. There are years when amazing scholarships go unclaimed simply because too few people turned something in. So while others might talk themselves out of it, you just have to show up.

Don’t psych yourself out thinking the competition will be too intense. You might be the only one who actually follows the rules, finishes the essay, and hits “submit.” And if that happens?

Money.

Related

Important Statement Re: Hybrid Move Teams At Line Stations

Important Statement Re: Hybrid Move Teams At Line Stations

I’m writing to clear up some confusion regarding a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established Hybrid Move Teams specifically for LINE STATIONS. It appears there’s been a misunderstanding, leading to some inaccurate information circulating among our Move...

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

Over the week of June 16—20, our IAM District 141 negotiating team met in Chicago with United Ground Express management. We worked to advance the remaining sections of our first collective-bargaining agreement. We are pleased to report continued forward movement and...

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

Last week in Chicago, our IAM District 141 team met with United management to resume work on all seven collective-bargaining agreements. The Fleet Technical Instructor (FTI) and Security Officer sub-committees were also present and submitted updated proposals.United...

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update

United Ground Express (UGE) Contract Negotiations Update

May 28, 2025

Dear IAM District 141 UGE Members,

Your negotiating team and United Ground Express (UGE) management met in Chicago last week to continue our discussions regarding the UGE contract.

During these sessions, we focused on Section 4 (Hours of Service), where we exchanged and discussed proposals aimed at improving shift bidding processes and the annual frequency of company-initiated shift bids. We also addressed concerns regarding mandatory overtime and the confusing “wheels up” policy, among other important topics. While no Tentative Agreement was reached, we made headway on these vital quality-of-life issues

Furthermore, we continued our dialogue on Section 9 (Paid Time Off). Our discussions and proposals centered on adverse conditions, uniform points, and bereavement leave. We continue to work to reach a tentative agreement on this article.

As is common in most contract negotiations, we also continued to discuss economics, which we anticipate will be the final tentative agreement reached.

The Negotiating Team is scheduled to return to the bargaining table in Chicago the week of June 16, 2025, to continue our discussions with UGE. Our priority remains to secure stronger protections and improvements to your quality of life.

Your input remains crucial to this process. Please stay informed, communicate with your Negotiating Team, and be prepared to make your voice heard when it’s time to vote.

In Solidarity,

IAM District 141 Negotiating Committee
Warren Glenn
Robert Jesel
Chris Lusk
John Staton Jr.
Gary Welch

Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all UGE bulletin Boards.