Aug 24, 2018 | Airlines, American, Departments, Featured, Home, Organizing, The Association
Brothers and Sisters,
The Association Executive leadership met with American Airlines management this week to push through the tough Fleet Service Scope issues and proposals we have exchanged. Your committee was initially pleased when the Company’s Chief Negotiator offered to include protection for all of the fleet work currently performed at the 40 fleet service stations.
When the Association committee began to engage the offer, the Company negotiators abruptly reversed course, denied the offer they made and insisted that health care and wages be agreed to before they would agree to any further scope discussions.
This highly erratic behavior by senior level company negotiators is so unusual that it creates an aura of distrust over any of our ongoing negotiations. We are left to wonder what other issues the company may reverse course on.
While the company has publically dangled the carrot of more in wages and other vague benefits, in reality, none of what they say has been agreed to by them. It is the unequivocal position of the Association that the work we perform must be protected because the pay and benefit smoke and mirrors have no meaning without the job protection we need to guarantee our futures at American Airlines.
The truth of our current state of negotiations is that the Association is ready to discuss all of our outstanding Scope issues and proposals, but the Company negotiators refuse to proceed. They insist that work done TODAY, in every Association represented classification, should not be guaranteed in our contracts. Their position is that we should agree to concede work we do TODAY.
Our membership suffered the bankruptcies to pay for the survival of our airlines. We bring to the table the work we do today from those bankruptcy contracts. American Airlines, the largest airline in the world, is healthy and boasts that it will be profitable as far as anyone can see into the future. To demand that we concede work we do TODAY is nothing but an insult to every Association represented worker.
The time to fight for our jobs is now. Our futures depend on it.
Fraternally,
Your Association Executive Negotiating Committee
Aug 23, 2018 | Departments, Featured, Home, Safety, Video
IAM141 Safety Director for American and Spirit Airlines, Tony D’Aloiso and Safety IAM141 Coordinator Dennis Spenser met with IAM Members at DCA this week.
“I had the opportunity to walk the ramp, the bag room, to give safety briefings and to discuss the issues that are needed for IAM Members to work in a safe environment,” D’Aloiso of the visit.
See video for the full story.
Aug 20, 2018 | Departments, Featured, Home
IAM141 Communications Coordinator and MNPL Activist Ines Garcia-Keim has been elected to lead the New Jersey State Council of Machinists, AFL-CIO. As Council President, Garcia-Keim will join Machinists around the nation to promote public policies that support working families. Garcia-Keim was nominated to a full three-year term after serving the remainder of the term of outgoing Council President Vincent Addeo, who was recently appointed as Director of Organizing for the IAMAW.
In addition to being the first IAM141 member to lead the Council, Ines is also the first woman ever to hold the position.
“I’m humbled for the opportunity to help advance the priorities of the 20,000 IAM Members who live and work in New Jersey,” Ines said of her appointment. “Getting involved has never been more important, and we see that reflected at the State Council.”
Previous Council President Vinny Addeo praised the choice of Garcia-Keim, saying “I know better than anybody how much hard work, and all the time and energy that it takes to put this Council together. It didn’t take me long to zero in on who I thought would do the best job of honoring the role that our Council plays in this state on behalf of working people.” Addeo went on to tell the delegates that “There’s no doubt in my mind that Ines Garcia-Keim will take our Council up to the next level, and as we can see from all our guest speakers, she has already done that.”
The New Jersey State Council of Machinists is a gathering of representatives from IAM Local Lodges and Districts throughout the Garden State, who determine legislative priorities and which candidates will earn the support of the Machinists Union. These representatives meet with office holders, candidates, and activists at the annual Council Conference as they vie for the official backing of Machinists Union members. District 141 AGC Gil Simmons and local 914 President Bill Gula also serve on the NJ Council’s Executive Board.
“Control of the House could very well come down to what happens right here in New Jersey,” said Congressional Candidate Andy Kim to the Council. “These races matter, what people like you do matters.” Ultimately our work is about human dignity. That’s something every working person is entitled to.”
Speaking about the vital role that airline workers within the IAM play in helping to shape legislation, Chris Wagoner, Director of the acclaimed Winpisinger Center said, “We have great union density in the airlines. We have a heavy presence in all the major airlines. Moreover, because we have that support, we can get better contracts.”
Ines Garcia-Keim has previously served as the Legislative Chairperson for Local 914, and as Shop Steward, where she participated in contract enforcement for airline workers.
The New Jersey State Council of Machinists was held in Atlantic City from August 13-14.
Aug 15, 2018 | Departments, Featured, Home
IAM141 Coordinator, Ines Garcia-Keim presented the Frank Darcy Leadership Award to outgoing State Council President Vinny Addeo at the New Jersey State Council of Machinists. Addeo is leaving the State Council after being named Director of Organizing for the IAM.
Vinnie Addeo was initiated into the IAM in 1980 when he began his career in aviation as an aircraft technician at Eastern Airlines. Over the years, Addeo has served as a Shop Steward, Grievance Committeeman, Local Committee Chairman, Flight Safety Rep, EAP Rep, and Recording Secretary for Local 1445 at Newark Airport, among many other roles.
IAM International President, Robert Martinez praised the appointment of Addeo to Director of Organizing, saying, “Addeo not only brings experience, education and drive to the department, but also innovative ideas that will grow the IAM and bring union representation to those who need it most.”
In presenting the Frank Darcy Leadership Award to Addeo, incoming State Council President and IAM141 Coordinator, Ines Garcia-Keim hailed Vinnie Addeo’s activism on behalf of the IAM. “I consider him a mentor and a friend,” Ines told the State Council delegates of Addeo.
The Frank Darcy Award recognizes outstanding leadership among IAM Members in furthering the mission of the union and of working people. It is presented each year in honor of lifelong trade unionist, Frank Darcy, an IAM Activist from the New Jersey area.
The New Jersey State Council of Machinists meets yearly with candidates for public office to discuss topics critical to IAM Members. IAM141 Members can learn more about their State Council at their Monthly Local Lodge Business Meeting.
Aug 10, 2018 | Airlines, American, Departments, Featured, Home, Organizing, The Association
Brothers and Sisters,
The Association Executive Negotiating Committee met with American Airlines this week in Washington, D.C. to continue the discussion about Scope proposals. Your Executive Committee presented the company with comprehensive proposals. The Association proposals are reasonable and recognize the sacrifices our members have collectively made through our company’s bankruptcies by securing our work into the future.
Our members deserve nothing less!
All of our responses to the company continue to fall on deaf ears!
Management continues to disrespect our members hard earned stake in this company by blatantly disregarding our attempts to come to fair and equitable Scope agreements for all classifications. With each passing negotiating session, the company’s negotiating committee’s disregard for our membership has become more apparent. They continue to ignore the contributions our members have made to help them become the most profitable airline in the world.
The company’s negotiating committee continues to make proposals that contradict what their Chairman and CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom have publicly promised our members from the beginning of negotiations. In stark contrast, American’s proposal will eliminate 2,500 AMT jobs, not include facilities maintenance work protections and allows the outsourcing of almost any fleet service work.
The company must know that our members will remain strong and united; that you will not waver in the protection of your scope and the jobs of all of our members!
Fraternally,
Your Association Executive Negotiating Committee
