United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express (UGE) Contract Negotiations Update

23 June 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Over the week of June 16—20, our IAM District 141 negotiating team met in Chicago with United Ground Express management. We worked to advance the remaining sections of our first collective-bargaining agreement.

We are pleased to report continued forward movement and several new tentative agreements.

We now have tentative agreements on:

• Section 1 — Recognition
• Section 2 — Classification & Vacancies
• Section 7 — Union Representation
• Section 8 — Grievance Procedure
• Section 9 — General: this Section was a major focus, and includes Jury Duty; Uniform Point allowance; a more acceptable time allotment to obtain any required security badges; Bereavement Leave; Adverse-Conditions language; and Lead step-down protection.

Work continues on Section 3—Compensation & Benefits—along with Section 4 (Hours of Service), Section 5 (Paid Time Off), and Section 6 (Seniority).

Negotiations will resume the week of 25 August. We will update you as soon as that session concludes. Please stay engaged and be ready to make your voice heard when it is time to vote on a complete tentative agreement. Details on balloting will follow once we reach that point. In solidarity,

IAM District 141 Negotiating Committee
Warren Glenn
Robert Jesel
Chris Lusk
John Staton Jr.
Gary Welch

Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all UGE bulletin Boards.

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Contract Negotiations Update

17 June 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Last week in Chicago, our IAM District 141 team met with United management to resume work on all seven collective-bargaining agreements. The Fleet Technical Instructor (FTI) and Security Officer sub-committees were also present and submitted updated proposals.

Security Officers
A tentative agreement is in place for Article 8—Union Representation, securing stronger representation rights. We are still fighting for paid lunch and trauma pay; United is resisting both items.

Fleet Technical Instructors (FTI)

Article 4—Hours-of-Service: solid progress on limits for working past midnight before vacation, reserve-release timing, rest-period notice, overtime, and daily/monthly scheduling caps.

Importantly, the National Mediation Board has ruled that the newly organized Flight Operations Technical Writers (FOTW) are part of the FTI bargaining unit. An advisor representing the FOTW group sat with us in Chicago; we discussed which parts of the FTI contract will cover this workgroup and what adjustments are still needed.

Article I – Classification Language was the primary focus this week.

Passenger Service & Fleet Service
Discussions centered on Article 4—Outage Relief, the membership’s second-highest priority after economics. After months of exhausting and frustrating debate, United’s latest offer is concessionary and a step backward. We will keep pressing for language that protects seniority and ends the misuse of outage-relief assignments.

Negotiations resume the week of 11 August 2025. We will report back as soon as that session ends. Your support and engagement remain critical as we push for the contractual improvements we deserve.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee
Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Jill Hazamy
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Terry Stansbury
Faysal Silwany
Erik Stenberg
Sue Weisner

Michael G. Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
IAM District 141

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin Boards.

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

IAM141.org

You don’t need to be the best writer in the world to win a scholarship. You just need to follow a few smart rules, speak from the heart, and—this part is important—show up.

Here are four ways to give yourself the best chance at winning.

 

Know the Rule Book Better Than the Competition

 

Did the contest ask for proof of enrollment? Did you include all your contact info? These might sound like small details—but in scholarship contests, small things matter.

Think of it like college football: the team that knows the rulebook inside and out walks onto the field with an advantage.

Every year, there are great essays that miss out because of a missing signature, an extra word, or a tiny rule slip. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying sharp. Double-check everything, and you’ll already be ahead of the game before the judges even read your first sentence.

Double Check the Official Rules for the Adolph Stutz Memorial Essay Contest Here > 

 

Write Like a Real Person

 

 

Most scholarship essays sound the same: stiff, overly formal, and just plain boring..

Want to stand out? Be real.

Tell a true story about yourself. Talk about something you care about. Explain how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, or what you hope to change. Write the way you talk—just cleaner. If it sounds like you, that’s a good thing. You want the judges to remember your essay… and you want them to remember you.

Great writing isn’t about big words—it’s about honest ones.

 

Ediit… Ed it… Edit!

 

Even the best essay in the world can lose points if it’s full of spelling mistakes or clunky sentences. That’s why editing is so important.

After you finish writing your first draft, step away from it for a bit—then come back with fresh eyes. Read it out loud. Check for grammar, flow, and tone. Ask yourself: “Does this sound like me?” A clean, confident, and clearly written essay will always stand out.

Tools like spellcheck and even AI writing assistants can help you find grammar mistakes or suggest better wording. AI can even help you brainstorm ideas. Just don’t let it take over. Scholarship judges want to hear your story, in your voice. Use AI to sharpen what you’ve already written—not to speak for you.

Better yet, ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read your essay before you submit it. A second opinion can catch little mistakes you might miss.

Bottom line: Good writing is rewriting. So take your time. Edit, polish, and then edit again.

 

 

Just Show Up… In Case Nobody Else Does.

 

Here’s a little-known secret about essay contests: sometimes… not that many people enter.

That’s right. There are years when amazing scholarships go unclaimed simply because too few people turned something in. So while others might talk themselves out of it, you just have to show up.

Don’t psych yourself out thinking the competition will be too intense. You might be the only one who actually follows the rules, finishes the essay, and hits “submit.” And if that happens?

Money.

Related News

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

Over the week of June 16—20, our IAM District 141 negotiating team met in Chicago with United Ground Express management. We worked to advance the remaining sections of our first collective-bargaining agreement. We are pleased to report continued forward movement and...

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

Last week in Chicago, our IAM District 141 team met with United management to resume work on all seven collective-bargaining agreements. The Fleet Technical Instructor (FTI) and Security Officer sub-committees were also present and submitted updated proposals.United...

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay ContestsYou don’t need to be the best writer in the world to win a scholarship. You just need to follow a few smart rules, speak from the heart, and—this part is important—show up. Here are four ways to give...

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the District 141 of the Machinists Union

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

IAM141.org

You don’t need to be the best writer in the world to win a scholarship. You just need to follow a few smart rules, speak from the heart, and—this part is important—show up.

Here are four ways to give yourself the best chance at winning.

 

Know the Rules Better than the Competition

Did the contest ask for proof of enrollment? Did you include all your contact info? These might sound like small details—but in scholarship contests, small things matter.

Think of it like college football: the team that knows the rulebook inside and out walks onto the field with an advantage.

Every year, there are great essays that miss out because of a missing signature, an extra word, or a tiny rule slip. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying sharp. Double-check everything, and you’ll already be ahead of the game before the judges even read your first sentence.

Double Check the Official Rules for the Adolph Stutz Memorial Essay Contest Here > 

 

Write Like a Real Person

Most scholarship essays sound the same: stiff, overly formal, and just plain boring..

Want to stand out? Be real.

Tell a true story about yourself. Talk about something you care about. Explain how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, or what you hope to change. Write the way you talk—just cleaner. If it sounds like you, that’s a good thing. You want the judges to remember your essay… and you want them to remember you.

Great writing isn’t about big words—it’s about honest ones.

 

Ediit… Ed it… Edit!

Even the best essay in the world can lose points if it’s full of spelling mistakes or clunky sentences. That’s why editing is so important.

After you finish writing your first draft, step away from it for a bit—then come back with fresh eyes. Read it out loud. Check for grammar, flow, and tone. Ask yourself: “Does this sound like me?” A clean, confident, and clearly written essay will always stand out.

Tools like spellcheck and even AI writing assistants can help you find grammar mistakes or suggest better wording. AI can even help you brainstorm ideas. Just don’t let it take over. Scholarship judges want to hear your story, in your voice. Use AI to sharpen what you’ve already written—not to speak for you.

Better yet, ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read your essay before you submit it. A second opinion can catch little mistakes you might miss.

Bottom line: Good writing is rewriting. So take your time. Edit, polish, and then edit again.

 

 

Just Show Up… Just In Case Nobody Else Does.

Here’s a little-known secret about essay contests: sometimes… not that many people enter.

That’s right. There are years when amazing scholarships go unclaimed simply because too few people turned something in. So while others might talk themselves out of it, you just have to show up.

Don’t psych yourself out thinking the competition will be too intense. You might be the only one who actually follows the rules, finishes the essay, and hits “submit.” And if that happens?

Money.

Related

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

Over the week of June 16—20, our IAM District 141 negotiating team met in Chicago with United Ground Express management. We worked to advance the remaining sections of our first collective-bargaining agreement. We are pleased to report continued forward movement and...

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

Last week in Chicago, our IAM District 141 team met with United management to resume work on all seven collective-bargaining agreements. The Fleet Technical Instructor (FTI) and Security Officer sub-committees were also present and submitted updated proposals.United...

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay Contests

Four Tips for Writing (and Winning) Scholarship Essay ContestsYou don’t need to be the best writer in the world to win a scholarship. You just need to follow a few smart rules, speak from the heart, and—this part is important—show up. Here are four ways to give...

United Airlines Negotiations Update 17 June

United Airlines Negotiations Update

United Contract Negotiations Update

15 April 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Your IAM District 141 negotiating team and United Airlines management met last week in Chicago to continue contract negotiations for seven different contracts.

Our primary focus was discussing Article Four issues in the Passenger Service and Fleet contracts. Unfortunately, there continues to be a significant gap in the discussion over improving quality of life issues that are very important to our members, such as shift bidding and relief scheduling. In fact, in some cases, we can’t even agree on the interpretation of the current language, which makes it very clear to your negotiating team why this was such an important aspect of your contract proposals and surveys.

Please know that we will continue to pursue this matter on your behalf.
On a more positive note, we reached a tentative agreement which will significantly improve the meal period language for all our members, especially our part-time members.

We will continue to fight for what our members want. Your continued support and engagement are critical to securing the contract improvements you deserve.

We will return to the negotiating table the week of May 5, 2025, where our Storekeeper subcommittee will join us to focus on proposals related to that particular contract.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee
Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Jill Hazamy
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
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.

United Ground Express (UGE) Negotiations Update

United Ground Express (UGE) Negotiations Update

United Ground Express (UGE) Contract Negotiations Update

7 March 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers at United Ground Express,

Many of you have asked what happens when our contract reaches its amendable date on March 5, 2025. We want to be clear: your contract does not expire on that date. It remains in effect until a new agreement is negotiated, finalized, and approved by a membership vote, as specified in Section 10 of the agreement. This means you will continue to work under the same pay, benefits, and protections while we push for improvements at the bargaining table.

Last week, the Negotiating Team convened in Houston, where we continued to exchange and discuss proposals concerning Section 4 (Hours of Service), Section 6 (Seniority and Leaves of Absence), and Section 8 (Grievance Procedure).

We are also close to finalizing language in Section 7 regarding union representation, a standard protection in most airline contracts. Additionally, we continue to push for improvements to Section 5, which would allow workers to convert their Paid Time Off (PTO) into vacation days and paid sick leave.

The Negotiating Team will return to the bargaining table next week in Chicago to continue our discussions with UGE. We remain focused on securing stronger protections and improvements to your quality of life.

Wages, job security, and financial stability are critical concerns. We are actively negotiating these issues and will provide updates as soon as concrete progress is made.

Your voice is critical in this process. Stay informed, talk to your Negotiating Team, and be ready to make your voice heard when the time comes to vote.

In Solidarity,

IAM District 141 Negotiating Committee
Warren Glenn
Robert Jesel
Chris Lusk
John Staton, Jr.
Gary Welch

Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all UGE bulletin Boards.

United Ground Express Negotiations Update (23 June 2025)

United Ground Express Negotiations Update

United Ground Express (UGE) Contract Negotiations Update

21 January 2025

 Dear Sisters and Brothers at United Ground Express,

Over the last several months, your IAM District 141 negotiating team has been diligently reviewing your surveys and proposals in preparation for our first contract negotiations with United Ground Express, Inc (UGE) since our initial collective bargaining agreement eight years ago.

Last week, we met with UGE management in Chicago, Illinois, and began these important contract negotiations. During our first session, we addressed several topics of high importance to our members based on your feedback. These included Classifications and Vacancies, Hours of Service, and Paid Time Off.

We were able to successfully advocate for a fairer system for filling vacancies, ensuring that seniority plays a more significant role in the decision-making process. This was a major concern expressed by many of you in the survey.

Additionally, we gave the company proposals to convert Paid Time Off to vacation and paid sick time. We also submitted proposals about shift bidding, both of which are areas of significant interest to our members. We’re awaiting the Company’s response to those proposals.

We will continue to work hard to represent your interests and achieve a fair contract. Most importantly, every member of UGE should understand that no tentative agreement we come to with the Company will go into effect until you, the members, have your voices heard and vote on whether to accept or refuse any such tentative agreement.

Negotiations will resume in Houston over the week of February 24.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

IAM District 141 Negotiating Committee
Warren Glenn
Robert Jesel
Chris Lusk
John Staton, Jr.
Gary Welch

Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all UGE bulletin Boards.