Jan 29, 2019 | Airlines, American, Hawaiian, Home, Philippine, Spirit, United
The brutal Arctic blast striking the United States this week is making life a living hell for airport workers around the nation, including thousands working in Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway.
Here are a few fast facts about the approaching Atomic Arctic Blast.
Fact Check: Is Chicago Colder than Antarctica?
The Polar Vortex has dropped temperatures in the Chicago area to Arctic levels. Low temps at ORD Airport are falling below the high temps in Antarctica on Wednesday, causing massive flight disruptions and travel advisories.
The windchill in Chicago, an important factor for airline workers, could reach -50 F.
CBS NEWS: Other places that are warmer than Chicago this week >
There may be snowplace like Chicago this week, but everyone else is getting hit, too.
United Airlines and American both have important hubs in Chicago, and Southwest has an additional hub at Midway. The storm is grounding an estimated 1,300 flights in and out of the city this week, meaning headaches for many travelers passing through the entire region.
In addition to the cascading effect that the storm is causing from Chicago, there are also direct impacts predicted in airports like Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Detroit. So far, about 100 flights have been canceled or are expected to be canceled at airports within the storm radius.
Airlines are Granting Waivers so people can avoid the storm.
Travelers that want to change their flights because of the Polar Vortex should contact their airline to find out if they are eligible for refunds, and when they will need to rebook to have fees waived, as well as other terms.
Check with your airline for specific details:
United Airlines – Waivers and travel advisories in place.
American Airlines – Waivers and travel advisories in place.
Spirit Airlines – Waivers and travel advisories in place.
Philippine Airlines – No travel disruptions as of Jan/29/19 0900 (EST)
Hawaiian Airlines – No travel disruptions as of Jan/29/19 0900 (EST)
Unionized airline workers may be eligible for attendance waivers if they can’t get to work.
Chicago is home to one of the largest collection of unionized airline workers (Machinists District 141 is home to about 42 thousand active and retired airline workers).
Thanks to Union contracts, many of these workers can apply for special attendance considerations whenever a station encounters storms of this magnitude, and can’t safely get to work.
IAM141 Airline workers can review their specific agreements from the “Contracts” banner on IAM141.org, and follow-up by making a call to their Human Resources Deptartment.
Jan 25, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Home, Organizing
Baggage handlers who attend flight academy can keep their flight benefits and health insurance. An agreement between two unions and the airline seals the deal.
There aren’t enough pilots for the nation’s airlines.
As the numbers of highly trained pilots take a nosedive, the demand for air travel is soaring. A pilot’s union is predicting that as many as 7.8 Billion passengers will be moving through the nation’s airports in the next few decades. Meanwhile, the number of highly trained and qualified pilots available to work in commercial aviation has been shrinking since the late 1980s. Boeing is predicting that airlines will need to hire an astonishing 635 thousand new pilots to meet the demand.
The shortage of pilots is creating some stormy skies for commercial aviation. But, it also presents a potential advantage for any airline that figures out a way to recruit and retain highly trained pilots that also happen to be committed to their company.
Two major unions at American Airlines, the Machinists Union and the TWU, struck a deal with the carrier that offers one solution. Both unions have an ongoing alliance that includes over 30,000 employees at American.
The plan is simple and has two parts. First, it identifies employees that are interested in becoming pilots. Next, it maintains their flight benefits, pay and health care while they are attending pilot training. Rinse and repeat.
In addition to protecting the pay rates, pass travel and health insurance of pilots in training, the agreement also protects seniority, vacations and other important benefits while the employees participate in one of the airline’s “Pilot Supply” programs.
Acknowledging the need to “ensure a strong supply of qualified pilots,” as well as protecting the benefits and job security of current employees, American signed a Letter of Agreement with the Machinists Union that formalized the deal in January. The agreement was signed by representatives from the Machinists Union, the TWU and American Airlines.
More details of how American will grant the leaves to future pilots will be announced later. In the meantime, check out the American Airlines Cadet Academy website for more information about the company’s flight training programs. That’s where candidates interested in learning to fly can take the first steps towards becoming a pilot. No flight experience needed.
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Jan 18, 2019 | Airlines, American, Home, The Association
Brothers and Sisters,
The TWU/IAM Association Executive Negotiating Committee this week met in full session with American Airlines under the auspices of National Mediation Board Mediators, Jim Mackenzie and Eva Durham, in San Francisco, CA. In addition to the executive committee, the full negotiating committees were also in San Francisco to support and caucus with the executive committee.
All members of the negotiating committees had the opportunity to meet with the mediators and were fully engaged in the process. We had input on all discussions and received real-time activity reports from the negotiating table. The previously agreed to agenda set forth the goals for the week.
The first day of the session was dedicated to presenting the Association’s entire position for all groups on all open economic pay elements to both the mediators and the company.
The second day was dedicated to presenting the Association’s entire position for all groups on all facets of health & welfare (insurance of all types) to the mediators and the company.
The 3rd day was dedicated to the duration of the agreement, field trip guidelines and other open JCBA language items.
Some progress was made, however, significant work remains.
Scheduled negotiating dates are:
- January 29, 30, 31 FLL
- February 6, 7, 8 DCA
- February 12, 13, 14 ATL
- And an additional week in March – specific dates to be determined
The Association is committed to achieving the compensation, healthcare, retirement and job security that our members have sacrificed for and deserve. Your continued support and solidarity are both appreciated and necessary to reach these goals.
Fraternally,
Your Association Executive Negotiating Committee
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Jan 18, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Education, Home, United, Video
Jan 18, 2019 | Airlines, American, Hawaiian, Home, Philippine, Spirit, United
The Four Most Important Things to Know About the TSA Sick Calls.
Hundreds of TSA screeners are calling out sick during the government shutdown, now entering its fourth week. Here are four fast facts that people need to know about TSA while we all watch them get jerked around with their paychecks.
The Blue Flu got its Name From the Color of TSA Uniforms.
With their bright blue uniform tops and the fact that “flu” rhymes with “blue,” we all really should have figured that this name would catch on. TSA agents themselves coined the term, and it started going viral about 15 days into the government shutdown.
TSA Sick Calls are Forcing Airports Like IAH and MIA to Cut Back Hours.
MIA’s Concourse G was once the gateway to Miami for the rich and famous, lured in by warm Atlantic beaches, proximity to Cuba and the Bahamas. This past weekend, it was closed down. Really, Miami?
With hundreds of TSA screeners calling out sick, airports are scrambling to mitigate the impact on the flying public. At Miami International Airport, authorities decided to move a handful of late afternoon and evening flights at Concourse G (which usually isn’t very busy) to other parts of the airport. At Houston’s IAH, Terminal B was closed early over the weekend, and officials couldn’t say when regular hours of operation would be resumed.
The closings mean that airports will need fewer TSA screeners, but the decision will also shut down food courts and gift shops, hurting the people that work in those businesses.
Yes, The Shutdown is Causing A Problem for Airport Security. It’s Just A Problem that TSA is Handling Right Now.
TSA is working harder to keep you safe at our nation’s airports because of the shutdown.
When you hear people on TV saying that the shutdown isn’t a problem for airport security, what they mean is that it isn’t a problem – for air travelers. That doesn’t mean that it’s no big deal. TSA screeners are missing out on payday this week, but most of them are still coming to work. The guys that are showing up are also taking on extra responsibilities, and doing more jobs with fewer people. Meaning, the situation for the women and men who do airport security for a living is just going to get harder (and be more of a problem) the longer the shutdown drags on.
Calling Out Sick? Yes. Missing Work? No.
Most of the TSA screeners that are calling out sick aren’t getting the day off. They’re still at work; they’re just working at jobs that pay them.
According to a recent Harris Poll, more than 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. TSA screeners are no different, and the last time they got paid was before the Christmas holidays. At some point, they have to be expected to work for a paycheck again.
TSA screeners work to keep the flying public safe and to protect the United States from another catastrophic terror attack like the ones that we experienced on Sept. 11, 2001. Most people might think that’s an important job, one worth paying people to do.
Does your city have the “Blue Flu”? Let us know what’s happening at Contact@iam141.org
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Jan 16, 2019 | Airlines, American, Community Service, Departments, EAP, Education, Hawaiian, Home, MNPL, Organizing, Philippine, Safety, Spirit, United
Updated: 1/17/2019
The Federal Government shutdown began back in December, screwing over about 2 million workers and everyone who depends on them. This includes 51 thousand TSA Agents that keep our airlines moving. Here’s a running list of how the shutdown is impacting airports and airlines.
The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League has a plan to end the shutdown – find out more at GoIAM.org. Speak Out Here >>
1. Food courts and gift shops are losing business.
IAM141 Media
When TSA security checkpoints close, they dramatically rearrange the flow of foot traffic around them. Airport restaurants and shops that depend on passengers with plenty of wait times walking past and patronizing their establishments are struggling to attract customers who now have little time or are not even in that part of the airport.
2. TSA agents are starting to depend on food pantries.
AMY MATTHEWS/ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK via AZCentral.com
A Phoenix-based charity recently attracted some 300 TSA agents to their food distribution operation. Jerry Brown, a spokesman with St. Mary’s Mobile Food Pantry, helped deliver about 10,000 pounds of staples such as canned goods, bread, and eggs to the women and men that work to keep our airports safe.
The sheer number of needy TSA families left him stunned. “I didn’t expect that from missing just one paycheck,” Brown said, adding that he saw “everything from smiles and thank you’s to tears” from thankful TSA agents.
More details from AZ Central:
Read More >>
3. Dulles is closing security checkpoints.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images. Via Fox5 DC
The airport is also blaming recent snowstorms, but TSA related staffing shortages are the leading cause for reduced security checkpoints. Story from Fox5 DC.
Read More >>
4. Houston’s Bush Intercontinental is closing security checkpoints.
IAM141 Media
The massive United Airlines hub is also a key station for Spirit Airlines and an estimated 4,000 IAM members. Closures have caused work area disruptions for airline workers.
Read More >>
5. MIA has had to cut back on hours of operation.
Pedro Portal, via MiamiHerald.com
From the Miami Herald: Concourse G closes at Miami International Airport as federal government shutdown drags on.
Read More >>
6. TSA agents need money to come to work, because gas, toll roads, and work lunches aren’t free.
Win McNamee/Getty via Vox
But, since they haven’t been paid a dime since before Christmas, hundreds of them can simply no longer afford to report for duty. This won’t change simply because the government re-opens. They need a paycheck.
7. Air Traffic Controllers are federal employees mandated to work and not getting paid.
Chalabala via IAM141 Media
Although better able to sustain a missing paycheck in the short term than other federal employees, Air Traffic Controllers have an incredibly stressful and critical job.
Read More >>
8. Many FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Officers are furloughed.
Acc.af.mil
This makes it impossible for airlines to get new routes approved and accomplish other critical housekeeping tasks, such as creating new pilot licenses and approving plans to expand and improve airport facilities.
Without FAA inspectors, an aircraft training facility in Oklahoma City has been forced to suspend operations.
Read More >>
9. Delta’s CEO Says that the airline has lost $25 million because of the shutdown so far.
Flickr
Delta CEO Ed Bastian says that the shutdown is holding up new aircraft certifications and preventing federal employees and contractors from flying. All the slowdowns have cost the nation’s largest airline $25 million in the first month of the shutdown, according to Bastian.
Read More >>
10. Security Lines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport stretched for more than THREE HOURS as a result of staffing shortages.
Photos: Twitter/Omar Jimenez via Business Insider
What does it take for long lines and unendurable waits at airports to become newsworthy? At the busiest airport in America, travelers now also have the longest lines. Business Insider has all the details.
Read More >>
11. At least three unions representing federal workers are suing the Trump administration to end the shutdown.
Photo Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP via Washington Post
On Tuesday, a federal judge denied a request from the unions to force the government to pay workers during the shutdown, but the legal fight is far from over. More hearings are scheduled for next week, if the federal courts have not run out of money and are still operating.
Read More >>
12. Several airport and airline unions are marching, protesting, and lobbying lawmakers to bring an end to the shutdown.
GoIAM.org/IAM141 Media
The largest airline and aerospace union in the world, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, is confronting federal decision makers over the shutdown. And they’re not alone. Thousands of union members from a range of industries are holding marches, rallies, and lobbying efforts… all aimed at ending the shutdown as soon as possible.
Read More >>
13. Several airlines are posting record profits, and really don’t need all this right now.
Chalabala via IAM141 Media
Airlines in the US have had a tough time since 9/11. The long, painful (but ultimately successful) recovery has largely been an inspiring tale for the US Commercial Aviation Industry. But, CEOs and market insiders are warning that the creeping impacts of a prolonged shutdown will be impossible to predict and prepare for, placing the current stairline prosperity in grave peril.
Read More >>
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