Machinists Union Prepares for Negotiations at Apple

Machinists Union Prepares for Negotiations at Apple

Aug 22, 2022 | Front Page, GOIAM Stories, JetBlue, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Row 2, Uncategorized

Machinists Union Prepares for Negotiations at Apple

Organizing
22 August 2022

IAM CORE Members, First U.S. Apple Store to Unionize, Prepare for Negotiations

Watch on YouTube: This week, eight IAM CORE negotiating committee members from the newly organized Apple store in Towson, MD traveled to the William Winpisinger Education and Technology Center (W3) in Hollywood, MD.

This week, eight IAM CORE negotiating committee members from the newly organized Apple store in Towson, MD traveled to the William Winpisinger Education and Technology Center (W3) in Hollywood, MD.

The members went through an information-packed week as they prepare for formal negotiations with Apple management, hearing from several department representatives from Strategic Resources, Communications, and Legal. IAM CORE members see that they have the full backing and support of the entire Machinists Union.

IAM CORE Negotiating Committee member Eric Brown said he was very impressed with the IAM’s training facility.

“The resources we have been given—it empowers us and gives us ideas with help and support,” said Brown.

Apple workers voted to join the IAM in June and the committee is seeing firsthand the power the union has to offer its workers. Brown said that the “Machinists are the way to go!”

IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan also traveled to the Winpisinger Center to meet up with the IAM CORE Negotiating Committee.

“Our IAM CORE team has the courage to stand up to Apple management,” said Sullivan. “Apple workers across the U.S. are seeing the power of having the IAM by their side, as is Apple management.”

“Towson workers are willing and able to help Apple workers across the nation,” said Brown. “With the Machinists’ backing, we will make history.”

 

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At United, Greed Leads the Way

At United, Greed Leads the Way

Aug 9, 2022 | Front Page, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, United

At United, Greed Leads the Way

9 August 2022

As you are aware, we did not reach an expedited agreement on a new contract with United management by our self-imposed deadline of August 1, 2022. In the July 18, 2022 negotiations update, I stated that “unless United management changes course, reworks its current proposals, and offers IAM members at United a fair contract that recognizes our value to our airline, it is highly unlikely that we can reach an agreement in the expedited process.”

During the week of July 25, 2022, your Negotiations Committee met and discussed the path forward. After that, our Assistant General Chairpersons fanned out across the system to conduct station visits and update the membership on negotiations. That same week, United management gave us a modified proposal. That proposal was as insulting as their initial “comprehensive framework. Which, as I stated previously, would provide less job security than we have today and wage rates that were wholly unacceptable based on IAM members’ surveys and priorities.

Today, the IAM 141 Negotiations Committee forwarded to United management a set of very fair proposals that, if agreed to, would recognize the value of IAM members to United Airlines’ success. Remember, the Company just recorded record revenue in the second quarter and a return to robust profitability. Once we receive their response, we will report back to you.

Given the Company’s dismissive attitude and outright refusal to accept the new realities in the airline industry regarding wages, job security, scope of work, and other critical issues, I am pessimistic that an agreement can be reached anytime soon.

Because of the dedication, sacrifice, and professionalism of the women and men of United Airlines, our airline produced record revenue for the second quarter and a massive profit of over $300 million. Yet, United management simply says no when it comes to providing us reasonable job security that currently exists at other carriers and wage rates befitting the new airline industry realities. I want to thank our front-line members for their solidarity actions around the nation. Your continued support is absolutely necessary for the success of this effort.

It appears at Scott Kirby’s United, Greed Leads the Way.

Your Negotiating Committee

Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Andrea’ Myers
Terry Stansbury
Faysal Silwany
Erik Stenberg
Sue Weisner

Mike Klemm

President and Directing General Chair,

IAMAW District 141

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The JetBlue / Spirit Merger and the Threat to Job Security

The JetBlue / Spirit Merger and the Threat to Job Security

Aug 9, 2022 | Front Page, JetBlue, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Spirit, Uncategorized

The JetBlue-Spirit Merger and the Risk to Job Security

Organizing
9 August 2022

The JetBlue and Spirit merger presents a significant risk to the job security of those workers who do not have contractual employment protections. Why?

“Asset divestitures can smooth the way to antitrust approval.We have a path to close this deal,”
-CEO Robin Hayes

The JetBlue-Spirit merger will have to receive approval from the federal government to be finalized. With airfares soaring and countless operational problems, it is expected that the Biden Administration will be VERY apprehensive to approve any airline merger. This is especially true for the JetBlue-Spirit merger, as the Biden Administration has already sued JetBlue and American, alleging the airlines’ Northeast Alliance is a de facto merger that hurts competition in the New York and Boston markets. So what will JetBlue have to do to gain regulatory approval for its merger with Spirit?

Two words: Divest operations to address the issue of competition. So, for example, where JetBlue and Spirit both have significant operations—think FLL, MCO and other locations—to gain approval for the merger JetBlue will have to give up a portion of its flight schedule to other airline/s. That means JetBlue is bound to divest in many locations, which means a reduction of the current combined flights of Spirit and JetBlue. And that affects jobs. 

And, if the merger is ultimately approved, a big if, it will not happen until the first half of 2024. A lot can happen in 15-18 months. There can be an economic slowdown, happening now as the GDP has decreased in the last two quarters, or a significant change in the leadership philosophy of the combined carrier. 

JetBlue management’s objective, as stated in its latest second-quarter earnings report, is to get the merger with Spirit approved and to implement a severe cost containment strategy with its newly announced “Enterprise Planning Team.” 

What does that mean for outsourcing and general job security? Future wage and benefit improvements? Work rule enhancements? 

The only way that JetBlue GO Crewmembers will be able to have a say in their future is by having a seat at the table. Not by being on the menu.

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2022 Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced!

2022 Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced!

Aug 1, 2022 | Community Service, Education, Front Page, Organizing, Page Five, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized

Congratulations to the 2022 Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winners!

Service to the Community
1 August 2022

To: District Lodge 141 Scholarship Competition Applicants
Subject: Scholarship Awards

On behalf of the District Lodge 141 Scholarship Committee, I am pleased to announce the results of the Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Award competition for 2022.

Top Prize: $2,000

 

The top award of $2,000 goes to Jaxson Mercer of Hutto, Texas. Jaxson is the son of Kristian Mercer, a Ramp Service employee at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 2210. He is an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University.

 

Six runner-up awards of $1,000 will be presented to (listed in alphabetical order):

Ted Enolva of Elk Grove Village, Ill. Ted is the son of Emmanuel Enolva, a Lead Ramp Service employee at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1487. He is a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

 

Ayanna Monderoy of Spring, Texas. Ayanna is the daughter of Sarah Monderoy Garcia, a Ramp Service employee at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 811. She is a student at Stephen F. Austin State University.

 

Hailey Peck of Kansas City, Mo. Her father, Todd Peck, is a Fleet Service Clerk at American and a member of Local Lodge 561. Hailey is a student at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

 

Awitar Shakro of Morton Grove, Ill. Awitar is the son of Nadim Shakro, a Customer Service employee at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1487. Awitar is an incoming freshman at Oakton Community College.

 

Francesca Trajana of Arlington Heights, Ill. Francesca’s father, Joseph G. Trajana, is a Lead Ramp Service employee at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1487. Francesca is a student at Loyola University in Chicago.

 

Lauren Wehr of East Stroudsburg, Penn. Laura is the daughter of Allan Wehr, a Specialist at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 914. She is an incoming freshman at Northampton Community College.

 

To the winners: Congratulations! To receive your award, you must send to me, either by email to dan@bleicomm.com or by regular mail to the address on the bottom of this letter, confirmation of your enrollment at an accredited college or university for the Fall 2022 term and that you are taking a minimum of six credits. A copy of a signed, valid registration or class schedule confirmation will be satisfactory. Once this confirmation has been received, the AGC in your area will notify you when you can receive your check at a Local Lodge meeting.

To those who did not win: The Scholarship Commends your interest  in the 2022 competition. We encourage you to try again next year!

Sincerely, 

Daniel J. Brin
Chair, District Lodge 141 Stutz Memorial Sholarship Committee

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Machinists Union: Defending Workers’ Rights is the Top Priority in JetBlue-Spirit Tie-Up

Machinists Union: Defending Workers’ Rights is the Top Priority in JetBlue-Spirit Tie-Up

Aug 1, 2022 | Front Page, GOIAM Stories, JetBlue, Organizing, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Spirit, Uncategorized

Machinists Union Says Defending Workers’ Rights is the Top Priority in JetBlue-Spirit Tie-Up

Organizing
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JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines this morning announced that the two airlines plan to merge to create the nation’s fifth largest carrier. Spirit Airlines shareholders yesterday rejected Frontier Airlines’ bid to merge and cleared the way for JetBlue’s $3.8 billion all-cash offer to combine the two carriers.

“As we know from the history of airline mergers and acquisitions, top executives will promise the world to gain regulatory approval. But, when the dust is settled and approval is granted, airline workers almost always get the short end of the stick,” said IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “The Machinists Union is the most powerful and experienced union when it comes to defending airline workers’ rights during mergers. We have done it before and we will do it again. IAM members at Spirit Airlines and future IAM members at JetBlue Airways will have their interests defended, just as every IAM member has during previous mergers.”

It’s expected that the proposed merger will face stiff regulatory approval from the Biden Administration. JetBlue already faces opposition from the Justice Department, which has sued to break up its commercial agreement with American Airlines Group Inc. The regulators allege that the partnership — which targets the New York and Boston markets — is anti-competitive.

“I want all IAM members at Spirit Airlines to know the Machinists Union will ensure your contract is enforced during this process and that your rights will be defended,” continued Johnsen. “I also want all the JetBlue Ground Operations Crewmembers to know that your campaign to gain IAM representation takes on even more importance now. It is urgent that you have a seat at the table, so you’re not on the menu.”

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Spirit / JetBlue Merger Statement

Spirit / JetBlue Merger Statement

Jul 28, 2022 | Front Page, JetBlue, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Row 2, Uncategorized, United

Spirit / JetBlue Merger Statement

28 July 2022

To our Sisters and Brothers of Spirit Airlines,

This morning, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines announced plans to merge to create the nation’s fifth largest carrier. Spirit Airlines shareholders yesterday rejected Frontier Airlines’ bid to merge and cleared the way for JetBlue’s $3.8 billion all-cash offer to combine the two carriers. The deal still needs the required regulatory approval. The airlines expect to conclude the regulatory process and hope to close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024.

Regardless of if and when this merger gets finalized, it’s vital that our IAM members at Spirit Airlines know that we will ensure your contract is enforced during this process and your rights will be defended as stated under Article 1, paragraph G of your collective bargaining agreement, which states;

  1. In the event of any merger of the Company with another airline, acquisition of the Company by another airlines, or acquisition by the Company of another airline, which affects the seniority rights of the employees covered by this Agreement, the parties will make their best efforts to integrate the seniority lists in a fair and equitable manner including, where applicable, agreement through collective bargaining between the carriers and the representatives of the employee groups affected. In the event of failure to agree, the dispute shall be resolved in accordance with Sections 2, 3, and 13 of the Allegheny-Mohawk Labor Protective Provisions.
  2. Upon announcement of any transaction which is intended to result in the consolidation of the Company with another air carrier, the parties will meet promptly to negotiate an appropriate fence agreement and to implement a seniority integration process as described above. These discussions shall not be a prerequisite for closing or completing a transaction under this Article.

It’s important that you know nothing will change under your contract until the federal government approves the merger and all potential representation disputes are concluded.

Furthermore, IAM District Lodge 141 is very close to filing a representation election for JetBlue’s ramp/fleet service workers. Any help you can provide us in gaining the needed authorization cards can only help to ensure that this proposed merger would give everyone a seat at the table and offer you the peace of mind you deserve.

In Solidarity,

Mike Klemm

President and Directing General Chair,

IAMAW District 141

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