Dec 17, 2018 | Airlines, Home, United
Union Workers are Making More.
Increasing numbers of American workers have stagnant wages, less secure employment, and fewer rights at work, according to data released by the Pew Research Center. But not all workers are missing out – union members are thriving.
Unemployment has been dropping steadily for nearly a decade, to well below 4%. That’s the lowest unemployment rate in 20 years, coming after more than 100 straight months of job gains. On the surface, it would seem like the dawn of a new Golden Age for the American workforce.
However, wages remain stubbornly stagnant for the majority of American workers. As the labor market shrinks for employers, labor costs are not going up as fast as the labor supply is going down. For many workers, inflation, skyrocketing health care costs, and weakened collective bargaining quickly eat away small increases in take-home pay.
Many Americans are seeing how labor unions offer a solution to wage stagnation.
Higher wages result from stronger labor unions, according to studies conducted by the Pew Research Center. 55% of Americans say that unions allow workers a more fair percentage of the profits that they generate.
Where it comes to wages and overall compensation, unions have historically outpaced all other forms of workplace negotiation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018 non-union workers earned only 80% of the wages of their unionized counterparts. Total compensation, including vacation time, health insurance, and other benefits drive the wage gap between union and non-union workers even farther apart.
The airline industry offers an excellent example of how unions help defy wage stagnation.
United Airlines employees working under a collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the company and the Machinists Union are getting a big raise this Holiday season. Many members are getting a bump of more than $0.80 an hour. This increase will mean an additional $128 a month, on top of the base rate of over $30 an hour that most of them are earning already. Their union contract also provides overtime and holiday pay, including a rare benefit outside of the union world: double time and a half pay for working on holidays. Most United employees who work on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will get $1200 or more for their efforts this holiday season, as guaranteed by their IAM Contract.
If all that wasn’t enough, as the airline grows, hundreds of unionized part-time agents at the airline are having their status increased to full-time, doubling their pay on top of the new pay rates. Health care costs, infamous for always growing faster than wages, are tightly controlled, again thanks to their collectively negotiated contract. Machinists Union members at United are watching their paychecks grow, not shrink, by leaps and bounds.
Meanwhile, the holidays are a much darker time for non-union employees. United Airlines announced this week that it plans to outsource most non-union tool room jobs in Houston’s IAH to an outside vendor, shifting existing employees to administrative duties. There are few, if any, legal guarantees to make sure that the workers’ pay will keep up with health care costs, inflation… or if they will even keep the current pay rates.
In contrast, the jobs of Machinists Union members working in the United tool rooms in Houston are not being outsourced. Strong anti-outsourcing language in their IAM contract protects their livelihoods.
Non-union airline employees at other airlines aren’t faring any better. Ground Operations Crewmembers at jetBlue, for example, recently watched as the company slashed their profit sharing payments, and long-anticipated raises failed to materialize. Working “at-will” with no job security protections means that more Crewmembers will get fired from Thanksgiving to Easter than at any other time of the year.
At the same time, back at the unionized airlines, as negotiations between IAM and company representatives at American and United advance, it forces the carriers to compete to attract and retain a quality workforce by paying its ground crews the most in both wages and overall compensation. That’s a position that any worker would like to find themselves in.
Dec 16, 2018 | Airlines, American, Departments, Home, Organizing, The Association
Brothers and Sisters,
THE TWU/IAM Association executive negotiating committee participated on a conference call conducted by National Mediation Board mediators yesterday, December 14, 2018. Negotiators from American Airlines also participated.
The mediators recapped the remaining open items to be negotiated. They also set the agenda and negotiating schedule for the beginning of 2019. The Association presented a proposal covering Field Trips for M&R and MLS members.
The next face-to-face negotiations are scheduled for January 15-17 in San Francisco. Topics to be discussed are open economic pay elements, health & welfare (insurance), duration of the agreement, field trips and other open contract language items.
We were successful in obtaining additional negotiating dates on the calendar. Scheduled negotiating dates are:
• January 15, 16, 17
• January 29, 30, 31
• February 6, 7, 8
• February 12, 13, 14
• And an additional week in March – specific dates to be determined
Our objective is to reach agreement as soon as possible without having to use all of our scheduled dates. However, this Association is committed to achieving the compensation, healthcare, retirement and job security that our members have earned and deserve. Your continued support and solidarity is both appreciated and necessary to reach these goals.
We wish all of our members a safe and happy holiday season.
Fraternally,
Your Association Executive Negotiating Committee
Please Post On All TWU- IAM Bulletin Boards
Dec 14, 2018 | Election Notices, Featured, Home
The District Lodge 141 Referendum Vote will be held on the first or only Local Lodge meeting in the month of January 2019 and from 6am – 8am, 6pm – 8pm on the first or only Local Lodge meeting in the month. The locations for the vote can be viewed here. Details governing this referendum can be found in the District Lodge 141 ByLaws, “Article XII – Amendments and Referendums” and the IAMAW Constitution.
Current Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1.
(a) The President/Directing General Chairman of the District Lodge shall attend all meetings of the District Lodge and shall have the power to call special meetings of the Executive Board. He or his designated representative shall investigate any grievance that shall arise and endeavor to adjust same. He shall advise and counsel the membership and use his best efforts to organize workers within a jurisdiction assigned by the General Vice President. He shall report monthly to the membership all matters of interest relating to his office and perform all other duties and obligations pertaining to his office. He shall represent the District Lodge when attending meetings called by the Grand Lodge or by the AFL-CIO, which are of interest to the Air Transport Industry. He shall assign and direct the activities of the duly-elected General Chairmen, including their respective domiciles. He shall be responsible for the supervision and maintenance of the District Lodge office(s) as may be established. He shall enforce the Constitution of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and decide all questions of order and usage according to the provision of these bylaws.
(b) For the faithful performance of duties, the General Chairman shall receive the following monthly salary rate:
Effective Date
October 1, 2014
First six months of service
$11,329.58
Second six months of service
$11,448.50
Thereafter
$11,532.67
Proposed Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1.
(a) The President/Directing General Chairman of the District Lodge shall attend all meetings of the District Lodge and shall have the power to call special meetings of the Executive Board. He or his designated representative shall investigate any grievance that shall arise and endeavor to adjust same. He shall advise and counsel the membership and use his best efforts to organize workers within a jurisdiction assigned by the General Vice President. He shall report monthly to the membership all matters of interest relating to his office and perform all other duties and obligations pertaining to his office. He shall represent the District Lodge when attending meetings called by the Grand Lodge or by the AFL-CIO, which are of interest to the Air Transport Industry. He shall assign and direct the activities of the duly-elected General Chairmen, including their respective domiciles. He shall be responsible for the supervision and maintenance of the District Lodge office(s) as may be established. He shall enforce the Constitution of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and decide all questions of order and usage according to the provision of these bylaws.
(b) For the faithful performance of his/her duties, the President/Directing General Chairman shall receive the monthly salary of an Assistant General Chairman of this District plus 10%.
Summation: Bylaw will align Officer compensation with the other District Officers of The Transportation Department.
Current Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 2.
(a) The Assistant General Chairman shall attend all meetings of the Executive Board. They shall assist the President/Directing General Chairman in all functions and shall be responsible for organizing employees covered by District Lodge No. 141, and shall be responsible to the President/Directing General Chairman.
(b) For the faithful performance of their duties, each Assistant General Chairman shall receive the following monthly salary rate, effective October 1, 2014:
First six months’ service $9,341.30
Second six months’ service $9432.54
Thereafter $9,525.30
Proposed Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 2.
(a) The Assistant General Chairman shall attend all meetings of the Executive Board. They shall assist the President/Directing General Chairman in all functions and shall be responsible for organizing employees covered by District Lodge No. 141, and shall be responsible to the President/Directing General Chairman.
(b) For the faithful performance of his/her duties, each Assistant General Chairman shall receive a salary equivalent to but not exceeding the highest compensated General Chairman/Assistant General Chairman of the Transportation Department.
Summation: Bylaw will align Officer compensation with the other District Officers of The Transportation Department.
Current Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 3
(a) The Secretary -Treasurer shall attend all meetings and conduct correspondence of the District Lodge, excepting as otherwise provided. He shall keep a correct account of the finances of the District Lodge. He shall receive all monies due to the District Lodge and pay all legitimate bills of the District Lodge. He shall make a report to the District Lodge every month and shall semi-annually submit the financial accounts to the Auditing Committee. The first audit to be held in the month of March and the second audit to be held in the month of September. Each Local Lodge Financial Secretary shall furnish the Secretary-Treasurer with a correct report of the total membership in the Local Lodges affiliated with District Lodge No. 141 each month and he shall prior to the annual Convention, have the latest report ready for the Convention. He shall perform all other duties pertaining to his office and such other duties as the District Executive Board or District Lodge President shall assign.
(c) He shall be required to take an annual vacation equal to that which he would receive working under the terms of the agreement. For the faithful performance of his duties, the Secretary-Treasurer shall receive $9,492.14 per month, effective October 1, 2014 with the same privilege for salary increases as has been established for Assistant General Chairmen and in addition will be compensated for legitimate District Lodge expenses.
Proposed Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 3
(a) The Secretary -Treasurer shall attend all meetings and conduct correspondence of the District Lodge, excepting as otherwise provided. He shall keep a correct account of the finances of the District Lodge. He shall receive all monies due to the District Lodge and pay all legitimate bills of the District Lodge. He shall make a report to the District Lodge every month and shall semi-annually submit the financial accounts to the Auditing Committee. The first audit to be held in the month of March and the second audit to be held in the month of September. Each Local Lodge Financial Secretary shall furnish the Secretary-Treasurer with a correct report of the total membership in the Local Lodges affiliated with District Lodge No. 141 each month and he shall prior to the annual Convention, have the latest report ready for the Convention. He shall perform all other duties pertaining to his office and such other duties as the District Executive Board or District Lodge President shall assign.
(c) For the faithful performance of his/her duties, the Secretary-Treasurer shall receive a salary equivalent to but not exceeding the highest compensated Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Department, with the same privilege for salary increases as has been established for Assistant General Chairmen and in addition will be compensated for legitimate District Lodge expenses.
Summation: Bylaw will align Officer compensation with the other District Officers of The Transportation Department.
Current Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 4.
(a) The Vice President East, Vice President West, Vice President Hawaii, Vice President Guam and four (4) Vice Presidents at Large, will receive $75.00 per month as salary, except when on full-time District Lodge salary. Then shall receive Assistant General Chairman’s’ salary. In addition, they will be compensated for legitimate District Lodge expenses.
Proposed Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 4.
(a) The Vice President East, Vice President West, Vice President Hawaii, Vice President Guam and four (4) Vice Presidents at Large, shall receive a salary equivalent to but not exceeding the highest compensated Vice President of the Transportation Department except when on full-time District Lodge salary. Then shall receive Assistant General Chairman’s’ salary. In addition, they will be compensated for legitimate District Lodge expenses.
Summation: Bylaw will align Officer compensation with the other District Officers of The Transportation Department.
Current Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 6.
(a) The Board of Trustees shall have charge of all property belonging to the District Lodge, shall see that all books are properly kept and at the time of the semi-annual audit, assist the Auditing Committee in the examination of all books and accounts and verify the report of the Auditing Committee by attaching their signature thereto. The auditing of the books of the District Lodge shall not be delayed because of the failure of one or more of the trustees to be in attendance. The auditors shall proceed to carry on the work in the same manner as though all the trustees were present. The trustees shall be liable to the Grand Lodge for all funds and other property of the District Lodge under their control. They shall perform any other duties as the District Executive Board or District Lodge President/Directing General Chairman shall assign.
Proposed Language
ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 6.
(a) The Board of Trustees shall have charge of all property belonging to the District Lodge, shall see that all books are properly kept and at the time of the semi-annual audit, assist the Auditing Committee in the examination of all books and accounts and verify the report of the Auditing Committee by attaching their signature thereto. The auditing of the books of the District Lodge shall not be delayed because of the failure of one or more of the trustees to be in attendance. The auditors shall proceed to carry on the work in the same manner as though all the trustees were present. The trustees shall be liable to the Grand Lodge for all funds and other property of the District Lodge under their control. They shall perform any other duties as the District Executive Board or District Lodge President/Directing General Chairman shall assign. For the faithful performance of their duties, trustees shall receive a salary equivalent to but not exceeding the highest compensated trustee of the Transportation Department.
Summation: Bylaw will align Officer compensation with the other District Officers of The Transportation Department.
Dec 12, 2018 | Election Notices, Featured, Home
IAMAW District Lodge 141 Referendum Vote Locations
The District Lodge 141 Referendum Vote will be held on the first or only Local Lodge meeting in the month of January 2019 and from 6am – 8am, 6pm – 8pm on the first or only Local Lodge meeting in the month. The current and proposed bylaw language can be viewed here. Details governing this referendum can be found in the District Lodge 141 ByLaws, “Article XII – Amendments and Referendums” and the IAMAW Constitution.
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Local Lodge 141
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 8pm
835 Mason St. Suite 150A, Dearborn, MI 48124 |
Local Lodge 368
Meeting Time: January 9th, 7:30pm
191 S.W. 19th Court Dania, FL 33004 |
Local Lodge 511
Meeting Time: January 21st, 4pm
249 N. 6th Ave., Beech Grove, IN, 46107 |
Local Lodge 561
Meeting Time: January 31st, 7pm
5330 NW 64th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64151 |
Local Lodge 601
Meeting Time: January 15th, 5:30pm
500 W International Airport Rd, Anchorage, AK, 99518 |
Local Lodge 731
Meeting Time: January 8th, 7:30pm
277 Tallulah Ave, Jacksonville, FL, 32208 |
Local Lodge 804
Meeting Time: January 21st, 7pm
643 Laurel Street, Covington, KY, 41011 |
Local Lodge 811
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 3:30pm
15355 W. Vantage Parkway, Atrium 2 Ste 175, Houston, TX, 77032 |
Local Lodge 845
Meeting Time: January 3rd, 5pm
6330 S. Eastern Ave. Ste. 3 Las Vegas, NV 89119 |
Local Lodge 846
Meeting Time: January 29th, 2:30pm
1717 W. Nursery Rd. Linthicum, MD 21090 |
Local Lodge 914
Meeting Time: January 16th, 3pm
160 Spring St. Elizabeth, NJ 07201 |
Local Lodge 949
Meeting Time: January 8th, 3pm
12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO, 63044 |
Local Lodge 1018
Meeting Time: January 31st, 12pm
75-02 31st Ave, Jackson Heights, NY, 11370 |
Local Lodge 1044
Meeting Time: January 10th, 11:30am
228 Moon Clinton Rd., Moon Township, PA, 15108 |
Local Lodge 1287
Meeting Time: January 3rd, 2pm
2261 S. Redwood Road, West Vally City, UT, 84119 |
Local Lodge 1322
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 11am
133-40 131st Street, South Ozone Park, NY, 11420 |
Local Lodge 1351
Meeting Time: January 8th, 3pm
Training Rm. #102, 2230 S. 161 St, Sea-Tac, WA 98158 |
Local Lodge 1445
Meeting Time: January 28th, 3:45pm
100 International Blvd, Elizabeth, NJ, 07201 |
Local Lodge 1487
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 3pm
50 West Oakton Street, Des Plaines, IL, 60018 |
Local Lodge 1635
Meeting Time: January 10th, 5pm
315 Pine Street SE, Albquerque, NM, 87106 |
Local Lodge 1725
Meeting Time: January 10th, 8am
3727 Rose Lake Drive Ste. 103, Charlotte, NC, 28217 |
Local Lodge 1726
Meeting Time: January 8th, 2pm
830 Saratoga St., East Boston, MA, 02128 |
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Local Lodge 1731
Meeting Time: January 3rd, 5pm
669 North Rocky River Dr., Berea, OH, 44017 |
Local Lodge 1759
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 4pm
1037 Sterling Rd #103, Herndon, VA, 20170 |
Local Lodge 1776
Meeting Time: January 8th, 7:30pm
251 Jansen Avenue, Essington, PA, 19029 |
Local Lodge 1781
Meeting Time: January 9th, 4pm
1511 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA, 94010 |
Local Lodge 1782
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 4pm
1511 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA, 94010 |
Local Lodge 1833
Meeting Time: January 10th, 1pm
7851 Metro Parkway Suite 280, Bloomington, MN, 55425 |
Local Lodge 1885
Meeting Time: January 15th, 5:30pm
7900 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220 |
Local Lodge 1886
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 5:30pm
5621 Bowen Court, Commerce City, CO, 80022 |
Local Lodge 1932
Meeting Time: January 2nd, 4pm
12109 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA, 90250 |
Local Lodge 1979
Meeting Time: January 9th, 6pm
1934 Hau Street, Honolulu, HI, 96819 |
Local Lodge 2198
Meeting Time: January 3rd, 7pm
15355 Vantage W. Parkway Atrium 11, Suite 175 Houston, TX 77032 |
Local Lodge 2210
Meeting Time: January 9th, 6pm
9502 Computer Dr. Ste 239, San Antonio, TX, 78229 |
Local Lodge 2319
Meeting Time: January 15th, 7:30pm
4750 N Dale Mabry Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33614 |
Local Lodge 2339G
Meeting Time: January 16th, 1pm
355 Chalan Pasaheru B 224-A, Tamuning, GU, 96913 |
Local Lodge 2444
Meeting Time: January 12th, 9am
1340 N Main St, Kernersville, NC, 27284 |
Local Lodge 2508
Meeting Time: January 8th, 3pm
7024 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL, 32822 |
Local Lodge 2559
Meeting Time: January 8th, 4pm
2727 W. Baseline Rd. Ste 16, Tempe, AZ, 85283 |
Local Lodge 2665
Meeting Time: January 10th, 12pm
3401 Norman Berry Dr. Suite 137, East Point, GA, 30344 |
Local Lodge 2725
Meeting Time: January 8th, 7pm
1704 Ponce de Leon Ave., San Juan, PR 00909 |
Local Lodge 2765
Meeting Time: January 22nd, 3pm
5150 Kearny Mesa Rd., San Diego, CA, 92111 |
Local Lodge 2909
Meeting Time: January 3rd, 6pm
4521 SW 15th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73128 |
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Dec 12, 2018 | Airlines, Departments, Featured, Hawaiian, Home, Safety
In airline safety
Practice Makes Perfect
Fewer safety reports may be a sign that an airline is being less honest, not safer.
Airlines all face the same fundamental challenges keeping travellers and workers safe. When one of these airlines refuses to report on these issues, it’s not because their safety record is perfect. It’s because it’s hidden.
Almost all airlines in the US fly the same planes, operate at the same airports, and fall under the same regulatory guidelines and workplace safety laws.
When airlines report more safety issues, fewer real catastrophes seem to happen. A higher number of reported safety incidents and near-misses does not mean that an airline is less safe. It might be a sign that the airline is practicing and learning more than the other guys.
Meanwhile, airlines that try to hide safety reports can miss opportunities to correct problems while they are still small.
“All airlines have incidents every day,” said Geoffrey Thomas, an industry analyst with AirlineRatings.com. “It is the way that flight crews handle incidents that determines a good airline from an unsafe one.”
Airlines that closely monitor and study accidents get better and better at preventing them. The trick, according to Machinists Union District 141 Safety Director Kaulana Pakele, is for companies to learn to trust front-line employees. Pakele’s work at Hawaiian Airlines takes him to work areas across the spectrum, including Customer Service, Cargo, Supplies, and Clerical & Stores. Hawaiian is recognized as one of the top 20 airlines in the world for its safety record, thanks in no small part to the work of Pakele and his safety teams.
Hawaiian has essentially made every front-line employee a safety inspector, with a program called “Ground Safety Improvement Plan,” called GSIP (pronounced Gee-Sip) by agents. The program allows any employee at the airline to put any safety concern they might have on blast – sending word to the FAA, OSHA, company managers and safety experts at the same time.
Other airlines have similar programs, like the GSAP program at United Airlines.
According to Pakele, putting employees into a leadership role when it comes to safety makes sense. It ensures that the people with the most to lose in an unsafe workplace have the most influence in developing and executing safety policies. It also makes sure that the workers that know the most about the real-world operation are keeping upper management and safety regulators informed about how well company policies are working. All this can be done on a constant, hour by hour basis, and can provide valuable data that safety experts can integrate into policy.
However, this level of transparency can come with a price, especially if a company culture sees such reporting as adversarial rather than something that might save lives. Some passengers when learning about the reports may misinterpret them as evidence that an airline is unsafe, rather than see them as a tool to identify and correct policies and procedures.
Despite the potential drawbacks, Pakele is quick to point out the value of employee-directed safety programs. “The best argument for these programs is in how boring they are.” Pakele jokes. “When they work, nothing happens. And that’s the point.”
“There’s a saying in Hawaii that we can use when we talk about safety: ‘E palekana kahana a e k?ko’o kekahi i kekahi,’ or, ‘May the work be safe, and support one another.’”
Dec 12, 2018 | Departments, Featured, Home, Safety
Ask anyone at Local 1351 in Seattle, and they will struggle to remember a time when Al Yamada wasn’t president. Al has served as president of Local 1351 for so long, in fact, that only the most senior IAM Members at Seattle’s Sea-Tac airport can remember anyone else in the role.
With a naturally easy going and friendly demeanor, Al tends to avoid accepting too much praise, preferring instead to direct attention to the Local Lodge that he clearly loves, and to Seattle. There’s a lot to be proud of; Seattle’s Local 1351 has a long history in the IAM. In fact, the local is one of the original District 141 lodges, founded all the way back in 1945.
When asked about when his first term as President began, Al will merely dismiss the topic, “sometime in the ‘90s,” he will say. If you ask those who know him well, they will say that he has been president for at least the past 20 years, after working as a Shop Steward and a Safety Advocate for a short time.
Asked about how much longer he intends to stay in the role, Al called out to a nearby Union Activist, Phil Pascua, and asked him if he would take over the office so he could step down. “Hell no,” Pascua replied. Instantly.
Serving as Local Lodge President can be a tough job.
Born and raised in the area, he knows the city intimately; and he is unabashedly proud of his hometown. He even dedicated part of his speech to making sure that everyone at the conference knew how to use public transportation to get around downtown.
Al Yamada is also more than willing to point out the many things he loves about Local 1351. His innate humility vanishes when it comes to the union members at Local 1351. As the topic switches to the men and women of his local, he knows everyone, and everyone knows him. It’s clear that he’s talking about friends that he cares about… much more than mere coworkers.
Al Yamada welcomed the 2018 Safety Conference to Seattle in December, delivering the opening remarks. The annual IAM141 Safety Conference brings together top safety experts in Aviation.
