Aug 16, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Featured, Home, Organizing
The National Mediation Board (NMB) held separate meetings with TWU/IAM Association Leadership (first) and American Management (later) on Thursday in Washington D.C. The purpose of the meetings was for the three NMB Board Members to discuss the status of our negotiations with both parties. The Federal Mediators who attended our earlier negotiations were also present.
Both parties were granted an opportunity to state the reasons they felt were preventing both sides from reaching an agreement. The Association, which was represented by Director Sito Pantoja and Vice Director Alex Garcia, told the Board it is American’s failure to return to the negotiating table that is preventing us from reaching an agreement. The Association also impressed on the Board that there are still five major issues that need to be resolved: Scope, Wages, Profit Sharing, Medical and Retirement. The Board Members asked follow-up questions about these open issues. Our responses made it crystal clear to the Board that we are willing to negotiate anytime, anywhere.
The Association also made the Board aware of the Company’s blatant attempt to divide our members by spewing misinformation about the bargaining sessions on Jetnet.
We expect the NMB Board Members to contact both parties next week with their plan for further negotiations.
In other related news, Association Negotiation Committees along with TWU Local and IAM Lodge leadership also met in Washington D.C. to discuss Monday’s court decision, the subsequent court filing by American on Tuesday and the Association’s appeal filed on Wednesday. To be clear, we must comply with the orders of the court.
Our discussions also reaffirmed that the court orders do not change the objectives of the negotiation committees to obtain the best contract in the industry. After years of sacrifices, an industry leading contract has been earned – and also promised by top American executives.
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Aug 14, 2019 | Airlines, Departments, Featured, Home, MNPL, Organizing
Machinists Union Members from all over New Jersey gathered in Atlantic City this week to tell their congressional representatives what they need in Garden State workplaces and communities.
Similar state council conferences are taking place in states around the nation, connecting elected leaders and candidates directly to front-line workers.
According to Dave Roderick, the Legislative Director for Machinists Union District 141, the events offer an opportunity for everyday working people to speak with power to lawmakers. “Normally, working people will never meet with their members of Congress. Union events like this create a platform for us to tell the stories of working people to lawmakers.”
Council President Ines Garcia-Keim agreed, saying the events help level the balance of power between lawmakers and workers.
“These events give working people a chance to meet elected officials and to show our numbers, our ability to organize, and our ability to deliver a message. That gives us the credibility we need when we go before lawmakers on Capitol Hill,” Garcia-Keim said.
Ines is the first woman to serve as President of the New Jersey State Council, a position she has held since January of 2018.
”This gives front-line workers an opportunity to have a one on one conversation with a representative from congress,” Ines explained. “We also have leaders from all the different parts of our union coming in to give updates about what’s going on at their workplaces. There’s a lot going on that we want lawmakers to know about, things like work rules, organizing, contract negotiations.”
“Our main goal is to make sure that everyone is informed and participating, so we can do our jobs better,” she said.
And, the conversations are often helpful for policymakers. “Our members tell lawmakers things that they don’t already know all the time,” Ines said. “Very often, we help them understand the way that laws are actually affecting the workplace from a perspective that they don’t often get to see – the position of the workers themselves.”
Union members organize the legislative councils at the state level. Voluntary donations to a separate division of the union, called the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) are used to support candidates who earn the council’s endorsement. “No dues can ever go to any candidates,” explained Legislative Director Roderick, “We get the money we need from recurring donations from members, selling T-Shirts and other fundraisers.”
“It is so important for members to support this work,” Roderick said. “This is how working people can band together in union to make workplaces work better.”
According to Ines, the more participation they can attract from front-line workers, the better. “We need everyone. Our union does not engage in every hot-button political issue, but we care passionately about company mergers, international trade agreements and outsourcing, a living wage and secure retirement and the like. These are the things that hit home for working people,” Ines said.
“If you are a member of our union, you are invited to play a role,” she said.
The event attracted several important members of Congress and key figures within the Machinists Union. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also addressed the conference via video message.
Attending from the House of Representatives were Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, (D-NJ), and Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ). Union leaders included IAMAW Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja, IAMAW District 141 President Mike Klemm, IAM141 Legislative Director Dave Roderick, Eastern Territory General Vice President, James Conigliaro, Sr., MNPL Political Director, Rick De La Fuente and many others.
Representatives from the IAM National Pension Fund and Guide Dogs of America were also in attendance.
District 141 President Mike Klemm delivered the keynote address. The invocation was delivered by Rev. Derrick Monk, a Committee Rep from Local 1776 in Philadelphia.
IAM Local 1776 President Rich Howell presented the annual Frank Darcy Leadership Award to Obie O’brien, in recognition of his lifetime of service to the Machinists Union and the working people of Philadelphia.
Machinists Union members who want to participate in upcoming Legislative Councils for 2020 can get started at their Local Lodge’s next Monthly Union Business Meeting.
Fraternally,
Michael G. Klemm
President & Directing General Chairman
IAMAW District Lodge 141
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Aug 5, 2019 | Airlines, Departments, Featured, Hawaiian, Home
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Aug 2, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, EAP, Hawaiian, Helping Hands, Home, Philippine, Spirit, United
Because there is a lot of confusion around legalization of marijuanna and THC (the active ingredient in marijuanna that gives people a “high”) and now – CBD oils, we cover information about CBD this month. CBD oil has been touted as a treatment for pain. The information about CBD oil is mixed. The federal government, through the FDA, has not vetted most of the CBD products that are showing up in mainstream stores around the country. The effectiveness of CBD oil is not clear.
The issue is that most CBD products also have THC. While CBD is not a substance that is tested on DOT drug tests, THC is. Anyone who is subject to random testing runs the risk of testing positive for THC if they are using any product that contains even a tiny amount of THC. THC accumulates in fat. Use of a CBD product that contains even a small amount of THC over a long period of time may result in enough THC accumulating in the body to result in a positive drug screen for THC.
This is a confusing issue. We are currently recommending that anyone who COULD be randomly tested needs to be extremely cautious about using any product that could contain THC. Read the label carefully and be aware that even though the label does not show THC, there may still be low levels of THC that could compromise them should they get tested.
Thank you for being agents of information. This will be an on-going issue as the FDA, individual states and academic institutes study the results of using CBD.
Bryan,
Bryan Hutchinson, M.S.
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Jul 29, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Featured, Home, Organizing, The Association
The City of New York is taking American Airlines to court, saying that the carrier is illegally punishing workers when they get sick.
According to the lawsuit, American Airlines is illegally retaliating against workers who call in sick under the city’s safe and sick leave laws. The carrier is also guilty of violating the law by not allowing employees to use the sick time they have accrued and demanding private medical information.
The city is seeking approximately $375,000 in restitution for more than 750 ground crew workers, including fleet service and mechanical employees, as well as civil penalties.
“American Airlines has violated their ground crew’s rights by engaging in practices that make workers afraid to exercise their rights because they will be disciplined for using a sick day,” Commissioner Lorelei Salas said in a statement released on Thursday.
“Not only are these practices illegal, but it is disappointing when an employer puts business above their own employees’ health,” Commissioner Lorelei continued. “We will not tolerate any employer that violates employees’ rights to their paid safe and sick leave.”
New York City employers cannot punish workers for using sick time accrued under the city’s sick leave laws. Covered workers can accumulate up to 40 hours per year. New York’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) found that American Airlines violates this law when it charges workers with “Attendance Points” for calling in sick. Workers that use too many Attendance Points in a calendar year will lose their jobs, meaning that Attendance Points are a severe disciplinary measure.
American issued a statement defending the practice of retaliating against employees who use their accrued sick time, saying, “employees enjoy generous sick leave and benefits, including those set by union contracts with terms that are often more generous than required by the New York law.”
The company did not respond to questions from union members who asked which union contracts allow the company to deny accrued sick time in violation of the law. The company also did not explain how this would be “more generous” to union members.
Under New York City’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, businesses with five or more employees who work more than 80 hours a year in New York City must provide paid sick leave to employees.
According to Commissioner Salas, this includes American Airlines, regardless of what their company policies may say. “American Airlines is not above the law,” said Commissioner Salas. “Workers in major transportation hubs where thousands of people pass through every day should not have to choose between going into work sick or getting in trouble for exercising their right to take a sick day.”
Employers may not engage in or threaten retaliation against employees, which includes firing and any act that punishes an employee for using the law. It is also illegal for a company to take any action that is likely to deter an employee from exercising his or her rights under the law.
Employers and employees can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) for more information about New York’s Safe and Sick Leave Law.
Fraternally,
Michael G. Klemm
President & Directing General Chairman
IAMAW District Lodge 141
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