United Airlines Contract Negotiations

Mar 20, 2023 | Front Page, United

United Contract Negotiations Update

IAM and United management negotiators met this past Friday in Washington DC for 14 hours in an effort to reach agreement on seven IAM contracts covering almost 30,000 United Airlines workers. While United management has finally recognized that to reach any agreement, whether in the current expedited process or traditional “Section Six” negotiations, the issue of job security must be resolved. The parties, however, still remain apart on a mutually acceptable job security construct.

As we have stated since the onset of this expedited process, IAM-represented United Airlines workers need and deserve job security that prohibits outsourcing and protects our employment and job status (full-time/part-time). While we have made significant progress in the outsourcing and employment protection components of job security, United management has still not offered acceptable protections for full-time and part-time employment and opportunities for part-time employees who seek full-time employment to obtain those positions.

United management representatives, whether high-ranking officials in negotiations or frontline management personnel have stated to IAM negotiators and IAM-represented United workers across the system that they have no intention of “casualizing” the Ramp and PCE and making those classifications majority-plus part-time work classifications.

They just refuse to put it in writing.

Every IAM contract in the airline industry includes protection of full-time employment, which consequently protects part-time employment. Your District 141 Negotiations Committee has proposed language that is reasonable and which exists in other IAM contracts at major airlines. While protecting full-time and part-time employment, our proposals also provide United management the flexibility to grow the carrier, which we all want, and the needed flexibility in case of a reduction in force.

After Friday’s talks, the gap on the remaining issues has narrowed. But, United management negotiators are still pushing back against what we view as acceptable resolutions to these issues. While there may be a path to an agreement, we are now forced to review our options to exit the expedited process and enter traditional “Section Six” negotiations and possibly request the assistance of the National Mediation Board (NMB) and enter federally mediated negotiations.

We appreciate the patience and strong support of all IAM members at United Airlines. The almost 30,000 IAM members at United Airlines do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens in the realm of Job Security.

We deserve to know that our jobs and paychecks are secure so that we can care for our families with dignity.

We will advise the membership of next steps later this week.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee
Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Andrea’ Myers
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.

Get Printable Copy

Buy Tapentadol Online: How to Safely Purchase Your Medication Order Xanax Online Buy Provigil Online: Everything You Need to Know Buy Ativan Buy Diazepam Online Buy Clonazepam Without Prescription Buy Lyrica

Justice Department Expected to Block JetBlue / Spirit Merger

Mar 6, 2023 | JetBlue, MNPL, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Row 2

DOJ Expected to Block JetBlue / Sprit Merger

IAM141.org

March 6, 2023

According to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the Justice Department plans to file a lawsuit as early as Tuesday to prevent JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines. The lawsuit alleges that the acquisition would remove an essential low-cost carrier, further consolidating the industry and increasing prices, potentially resulting in antitrust concerns. If the DOJ ultimately decides to block the merger, it will be the second antitrust action JetBlue faces.

As reported by Bloomberg, the Biden administration’s recent efforts to enforce antitrust regulations in the airline industry have led to the likely lawsuit against JetBlue’s proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

A spokesperson for JetBlue confirmed that the airline is bracing for a lawsuit, which it expects “this week.” Spirit and the Department of Justice did not issue public statements.

According to Bloomberg, a lawsuit from the Department of Justice could foil the merger between the two carriers for over a year. However, if the JetBlue / Spirit merger gets approval from Federal Regulators, it will create the fifth-largest carrier behind American, United, Delta, and Southwest.

The Justice Department has taken a dim view of the argument from JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes that a merger between his airline and Spirit would create lower prices for air travelers. In public statements, Hayes predicted that a post-merger Spirit would adopt JetBlue boarding policies, which use fewer seats. Hayes explained that removing seating capacity from the market would lower prices since fewer seats for sale would mean faster boarding times and more flights overall.

The Department of Justice has studied the effect a JetBlue / Spirit merger will likely have on airfares. If the Department moves to block the merger, it will signal that Federal Regulators have come to the opposite conclusion.

In response to concerns expressed by the Department of Justice, JetBlue has proposed a plan to sell Spirit’s assets in their entirety at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, New York’s LaGuardia Airport, and Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts, and five slots at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. Jetblue is not offering to divest itself of assets related to its “Northeast Partnership” with American Airlines. That deal has been called a “de facto merger” by the Justice Department.

Related News

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional Coordinator

Mar 18, 2023

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional CoordinatorIAM141.org March 15, 2023IAMAW District President Mike Klemm and EAP Director Bryan Hutchinson have appointed Kris N Treder to serve as the new District 141 Midwest Regional Coordinator. Kris will...

Michigan Senate Passes Right to Work Repeal

Mar 15, 2023

Michigan Senate Passes Right to Work RepealIAM141.org March 15, 2023On Tuesday, the Michigan Senate passed a bill to revoke the state's right-to-work legislation, which permits employees in unionized positions to collect union-negotiated wages, pensions, and work...

Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?

Mar 15, 2023

Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?IAM141.org March 15, 2023On March 3rd, American Airlines' flight attendants union and company managers requested mediation from the National Mediation Board, hoping to resolve an ongoing...

« Older Entries

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

Sign up for Email Alerts

DOJ Expected to Block JetBlue / Spirit Merger

March 6, 2023

According to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the Justice Department plans to file a lawsuit as early as Tuesday to prevent JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines. The lawsuit alleges that the acquisition would remove an essential low-cost carrier, further consolidating the industry and increasing prices, potentially resulting in antitrust concerns. If the DOJ ultimately decides to block the merger, it will be the second antitrust action JetBlue faces.

As reported by Bloomberg, the Biden administration’s recent efforts to enforce antitrust regulations in the airline industry have led to the likely lawsuit against JetBlue’s proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

A spokesperson for JetBlue confirmed that the airline is bracing for a lawsuit, which it expects “this week.” Spirit and the Department of Justice did not issue public statements.

According to Bloomberg, a lawsuit from the Department of Justice could foil the merger between the two carriers for over a year. However, if the JetBlue / Spirit merger gets approval from Federal Regulators, it will create the fifth-largest carrier behind American, United, Delta, and Southwest.

The Justice Department has taken a dim view of the argument from JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes that a merger between his airline and Spirit would create lower prices for air travelers. In public statements, Hayes predicted that a post-merger Spirit would adopt JetBlue boarding policies, which use fewer seats. Hayes explained that removing seating capacity from the market would lower prices since fewer seats for sale would mean faster boarding times and more flights overall.

The Department of Justice has studied the effect a JetBlue / Spirit merger will likely have on airfares. If the Department moves to block the merger, it will signal that Federal Regulators have come to the opposite conclusion.

In response to concerns expressed by the Department of Justice, JetBlue has proposed a plan to sell Spirit’s assets in their entirety at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, New York’s LaGuardia Airport, and Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts, and five slots at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. Jetblue is not offering to divest itself of assets related to its “Northeast Partnership” with American Airlines. That deal has been called a “de facto merger” by the Justice Department.

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional Coordinator

Mar 18, 2023

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional CoordinatorIAM141.org March 15, 2023IAMAW District President Mike Klemm and EAP Director Bryan Hutchinson have appointed Kris N Treder to serve as the new District 141 Midwest Regional Coordinator. Kris will...

Michigan Senate Passes Right to Work Repeal

Mar 15, 2023

Michigan Senate Passes Right to Work RepealIAM141.org March 15, 2023On Tuesday, the Michigan Senate passed a bill to revoke the state's right-to-work legislation, which permits employees in unionized positions to collect union-negotiated wages, pensions, and work...

Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?

Mar 15, 2023

Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?IAM141.org March 15, 2023On March 3rd, American Airlines' flight attendants union and company managers requested mediation from the National Mediation Board, hoping to resolve an ongoing...

« Older Entries

Buy Tapentadol Online: How to Safely Purchase Your Medication Order Xanax Online Buy Provigil Online: Everything You Need to Know Buy Ativan Buy Diazepam Online Buy Clonazepam Without Prescription Buy Lyrica

Do Airline Contracts Expire?

Feb 22, 2023 | Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, United

Do Airline Contracts Expire?

IAM141.org

February 22, 2023

You’ve probably heard of the Railway Labor Act if you work at an airline or are a frequent air traveler. This federal law, enacted in 1926, established a framework for labor-management relations in the railroad and airline industries. One of the Railway Labor Act’s most significant features is how it governs airline labor contracts.

Compared to most labor contracts with an expiration date set in stone, union contracts at airlines never truly expire. Instead, they become amendable after a particular date. This means that even if a union contract has passed its amendable date, it remains in effect until a new agreement is reached. Another way to think of it is to consider a union contract at an airline or railroad as “updatable” after a specified date instead of “expired.”

This unique feature of airline labor contracts results from the Railway Labor Act’s goal of promoting stability and avoiding disruptive labor disputes in industries essential to the national economy. Under the Act, airlines and their unions must engage in bargaining and mediation procedures before any work stoppages or strikes occur. This is intended to provide a safety net against any disruption to air travel that could have far-reaching consequences.

Many union contracts governed by the Railway Labor Act have amendable dates about three years after they are signed. Once the amendable date has passed and the agreement can be updated, both sides have a 30-day window to request to open negotiations. The contract will renew if the parties do not request talks during this time.

It’s important to note that the amendable date is one of many opportunities for airlines and their unions to change their labor agreements. Both sides can agree to negotiate outside of this window, and many airlines and unions do so regularly to address changes in the industry and other factors.

The Railway Labor Act’s framework for airline labor contracts has helped to promote stability and avoid disruptions in air travel for almost a century. While negotiating new agreements can be lengthy and complex, it has also led to a relatively stable labor environment in an industry essential to the nation’s economy.

The Railway Labor Act got its name because it was first drafted to prevent powerful rail unions from paralyzing national transportation, which relied heavily on railroads at the time. Airlines were added to the Act once they began to rival rail as a critical method of travel and shipping.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has been negotiating with United Airlines for months over new labor contracts covering thousands of employees. The two sides have made some progress, but one sticking point has yet to be resolved: job security and status protections for workers.

According to the Machinists Union, these protections are critical for ensuring United employees have a stable and secure work environment. The union has proposed specific language that would provide significant job security and protections for customer service and ramp workers, stores, trainers, and load planners at the airline. However, United has yet to include these provisions in any updated contract, leading to an increasingly tense negotiation stalemate.

By putting profits ahead of its workers and failing to provide the job security and protections necessary in today’s airline industry, United is positioning itself at a competitive disadvantage. Staffing issues continue to plague the airline industry as carriers seek to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. While most air travel was grounded in 2020, United offered lucrative payouts to entice as many people as possible to retire as soon as possible. The policy allowed United to pocket millions in unspent wage support payments the airline collected from taxpayers.

United, for its part, has stated that it is committed to achieving a fair and equitable agreement with its union workforce. Still, CEO Scott Kirby has repeatedly demanded the airline return to its dark history of outsourcing employees to low-wage contractors – a return that no union worker supports.