United Airlines Negotiations Update for March 18, 2025

United Airlines Negotiations Update for March 18, 2025

United Contract Negotiations Update

18 March 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Your IAM District 141 negotiating team and United Airlines management met last week in Chicago to continue contract negotiations for seven different contracts. The subcommittees of the Central Load Planners (CLP) and Maintenance Instructors also joined us to work on their respective contract proposals.

Regarding the CLP issues, we continue to advance on proposals submitted by the membership. We’ve had productive discussions about limiting mandatory overtime and improving the language around overtime eligibility rules. Additionally, we reached a tentative agreement regarding moving packages.

Our Maintenance Instructors’ subcommittee also made progress this week. Specifically, in Article 4 we proposed that management consult with and consider input from the System Chair before posting the quarterly schedule. We also discussed and submitted proposals for Article 8 which will improve the Union’s ability to serve the membership.

However, negotiations over the Passenger Service and Fleet contracts have been the most frustrating so far. Despite our repeated efforts to advance member proposals—many of which would cost the Company nothing—United remains focused on dictating where and when you work, with little regard for seniority. This is unacceptable. We are making it clear that our members expect fair scheduling practices that respect their time, stability, and seniority. 

We will continue to fight for what our members want. Your continued support and engagement are critical to securing the contract improvements you deserve.

We will return to the negotiating table the week of April 7, 2025.

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,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

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

United Airlines Negotiations Update for March 18, 2025

United Negotiations Update

United Contract Negotiations Update

3 March 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Your IAM District 141 negotiating team and United Airlines management continued contract negotiations last week in Orlando, Florida, for seven different contracts. The Fleet Technical Instructor and Related (FTI) sub-committee joined us to work on their contract proposals.

During discussions regarding FTI issues, we made progress on Article 4 proposals submitted by our members from that classification. The issues we addressed included limits on working past midnight before vacation, reserve release time, rest period notification, AUTO, overtime, and monthly and daily scheduling. We also discussed and worked on EPI/FTI scheduling issues at the DENFTC.

The session also focused on Article 4 language for the Passenger Service and Fleet contracts. While we continued making progress on key issues for our members – such as shift bidding, part-time meal periods, and increasing flexibility in trade language to align with industry standards – we have not yet reached agreements that we feel meet the needs of our membership.

It is crucial for all our members to understand that there is no definitive meal period window for part-time employees in these two classifications. More importantly, there is no penalty when these employees – who make up 45-50% of our membership – are not provided a meal break at all. In 2025, failing to guarantee a defined meal period or compensation when one is not provided is unacceptable, especially when the company we work for continues to generate billions of dollars in profit year after year.

We will return to the negotiating table the week of March 10, 2025, when the subcommittees from the Maintenance Instructors and Central Load Planner contracts will join us.

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,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

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

United Airlines Negotiations Update for March 18, 2025

United Contract Negotiation (14 January 2025)

United Contract Negotiations Update

14 January 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Your IAM District 141 negotiating team met with United Airlines management last week in Houston, Texas to continue discussions on seven collective bargaining agreements. This session focused on the Passenger Service and Fleet contracts.

The team focused on Article 4, addressing important topics for our members, including:

  • Shift bidding
  • Part-time meal periods
  • Enhancing flexibility in trade language to better align with industry standards

While a Tentative Agreement was not reached on these issues, the conversations on these very important topics were positive and productive.

Negotiations will continue the week of February 24, 2025, and will include the Fleet Technical Instructor sub-committee.

IAM Workers Lead the Way.

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,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

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

United Airlines Negotiations Update for March 18, 2025

United Negotiations Update

United Contract Negotiations Update

18 December 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Your IAM District 141 negotiating team met with United Airlines last week in Chicago, Illinois, to continue talks on seven different contracts covering our United Membership. The Storekeeper and Security Officer subcommittees were present to cover items specific to those two Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Here are the highlights of these talks.

Storekeeper Subcommittee: The Storekeeper Subcommittee reached tentative agreements (TAs) on Designated Station Trainers (DST) and probationary employees. We also discussed tooling and recovery trips, both domestic and international. However, these topics need more discussion.

Security Officers: To improve Security Officer compensation, we proposed premium pay for special qualifications. We are now waiting for the Company’s response.

Security Officer Article 1 Tentative Agreement: We reached a Tentative Agreement on Article 1 of the Security Officers Contract that includes updated language to reflect and respect the modern roles of Security Officers. Discussions about meal and break periods are ongoing.

Passenger Service and Fleet Service Agreements: Talks for the Passenger Service and Fleet Service agreements also continued throughout the week. This session focused on the key issues of shift bidding, preferencing, outage relief, part-time meal periods, and mandatory overtime. While no Tentative Agreements were reached, we believe the Company now better understands why the improvements we proposed matter to our members.

We will return to the bargaining table the week of January 6. The Storekeeper Subcommittee will also be present to resume work on their contract.

Remember: IAM WORKERS LEAD THE WAY.

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,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

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

United Airlines Negotiations Update for March 18, 2025

United Negotiations Update

United Contract Negotiations Update

26 November 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Your IAM District 141 negotiating team and United Airlines management made significant progress in contract negotiations last week in Chicago, Illinois. We addressed seven separate contracts, including important discussions led by the Fleet Technical Instructors (FTI) subcommittee.

Here are the highlights of our recent efforts:

Fleet Technical Instructors (FTI) Agreement: Progress was made on Article One classification and vacancies, along with productive discussions about strengthening job security.

Fleet Service, Passenger Service, and Stores Agreements: We reached our most productive session to date, achieving a tentative agreement on temporary assignments—a key milestone in our negotiations.

Upcoming Sessions: Negotiations will resume the week of December 9th, with the addition of subcommittees representing Storekeeper and Security Officer contracts.

We are committed to ensuring that each step in these negotiations delivers meaningful improvements for our members. Your unwavering support remains crucial to our success, and we thank you for standing united with us.

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,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

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

Spirit Airlines Announces Plan to Restructure, Files Bankruptcy

Spirit Airlines Announces Plan to Restructure, Files Bankruptcy

Spirit Airlines Announces Plan to Restructure, Files Bankruptcy

November 19, 2024

Sisters and Brothers,

Yesterday, Spirit Airlines announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a comprehensive restructuring plan. While this news may cause concern among our members, I want to be clear: this development does not mean Spirit Airlines is ceasing operations or reducing wages for our front-line Union Members. Rather, it represents a strategic move to reorganize and address its financial challenges while maintaining business operations.

This filing begins a legal process that requires court approval to proceed with the proposed restructuring plan. As of now, there is no public information indicating that the bankruptcy court has approved Spirit’s filing. The airline has stated that it expects to continue normal operations during the proceedings and aims to emerge from bankruptcy sometime between January and March of 2025.

Spirit has made public assurances that Team Member wages and benefits will continue to be paid and honored.

Furthermore, existing labor contracts, including those between the Machinists Union and Spirit, remain intact unless otherwise modified by the bankruptcy court – a possibility we will monitor closely.

The Machinists Union has significant experience navigating airline bankruptcies. Although this situation is not new to us, we approach it with a steadfast commitment to ensuring fair treatment for all our members at Spirit Airlines. We trust that Spirit will honor its public pledge that this restructuring will not impact employee compensation and benefits.

We are prepared to stand by our members and provide the necessary support throughout this process. Rest assured, the Machinists Union will keep all Union Members informed and up to date with any developments related to Spirit’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Thank you for your continued trust and dedication. Together, we will navigate these challenging times with the strength and unity that define our Union.

The Press Release from Spirit Airlines can be found here, or at Spirit.com under the “Press Releases” tab.

In Solidarity,

Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin Boards.