IAM and United Airlines Tentative Agreements Provide Immediate Benefits

IAM and United Airlines Tentative Agreements Provide Immediate Benefits

IAM and United Airlines Tentative Agreements Provide Immediate Benefits

IAM141.org

United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union have reached tentative agreements covering seven separate workgroups, including fleet service workers, passenger service workers, storekeepers, central load planners, maintenance instructors, fleet technical instructors, and security officers. 

These agreements are intended to provide workplace improvements for covered union members while more comprehensive agreements are negotiated. Union negotiators will begin preparing for new rounds of contract talks in the next few months.

The agreements will provide the highest overall compensation for every covered workgroup and extend outsourcing protections for 17 stations. The deals will extend “no furlough” rules for employees, based on seniority, by twenty years, to June 2019.

The tentative agreements will also include a Ratification bonus for the union, giving members $110 for each year with the company. If ratified, the union will see job protections and pay to improve immediately on the ratification date. The union will also get a $45 million Ratification bonus, which will begin going out in the first pay period after ratification.

“The new agreements will provide immediate job protections and pay increases for our members,” said Mike Klemm, the IAM Union’s District President who helped lead the negotiations. “The Ratification bonus will give our union a significant boost and recognize our members’ years of service to the company.”

The IAM union has been negotiating with United Airlines since 2019, but talks were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Negotiations resumed in December 2022 and concluded earlier this month. 

Union Members in good standing will begin ratification votes on all the agreements on April 24 by electronic ballot. The voting period will last until May 1 at 6:00 pm, when all votes will be tallied. 

Local committees are holding informational town hall and break room meetings at airports nationwide, explaining how the agreements will impact each workgroup. A list of dates for the sessions has been published online.

If ratified, the agreements will position United Airlines to outcompete other airlines in a tight labor market by increasing lead pay by $3/hour and boosting wages in some cases to over $40/hour. They will also insource work at 17 airports nationwide and prevent outsourcing for more employees.

The IAM union’s announcement of the tentative agreements is a welcome development for United Airlines, which has faced uncertainty in recent years due to labor disputes and financial challenges. With these agreements, United Airlines is positioning itself to remain competitive in the airline industry and retain its workforce in a tight labor market.

The announcement also has implications for other airlines in the industry, particularly those that may be facing negotiations with the Machinists Union in the near future. If ratified, these agreements could set industry standards for compensation and job security, making it more difficult for other airlines to compete for workers in a tight labor market.

 

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IAM and United Airlines Tentative Agreements Provide Immediate Benefits

April 17, 2023

United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union have reached tentative agreements covering seven separate workgroups, including fleet service workers, passenger service workers, storekeepers, central load planners, maintenance instructors, fleet technical instructors, and security officers. 

These agreements are intended to provide workplace improvements for covered union members while more comprehensive agreements are negotiated. Union negotiators will begin preparing for new rounds of contract talks in the next few months.

The agreements will provide the highest overall compensation for every covered workgroup and extend outsourcing protections for 17 stations. The deals will extend “no furlough” rules for employees, based on seniority, by twenty years, to June 2019.

The tentative agreements will also include a Ratification bonus for the union, giving members $110 for each year with the company. If ratified, the union will see job protections and pay to improve immediately on the ratification date. The union will also get a $45 million Ratification bonus, which will begin going out in the first pay period after ratification.

“The new agreements will provide immediate job protections and pay increases for our members,” said Mike Klemm, the IAM Union’s District President who helped lead the negotiations. “The Ratification bonus will give our union a significant boost and recognize our members’ years of service to the company.”

The IAM union has been negotiating with United Airlines since 2019, but talks were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Negotiations resumed in December 2022 and concluded earlier this month. 

Union Members in good standing will begin ratification votes on all the agreements on April 24 by electronic ballot. The voting period will last until May 1 at 6:00 pm, when all votes will be tallied. 

Local committees are holding informational town hall and break room meetings at airports nationwide, explaining how the agreements will impact each workgroup. A list of dates for the sessions has been published online.

If ratified, the agreements will position United Airlines to outcompete other airlines in a tight labor market by increasing lead pay by $3/hour and boosting wages in some cases to over $40/hour. They will also insource work at 17 airports nationwide and prevent outsourcing for more employees.

The IAM union’s announcement of the tentative agreements is a welcome development for United Airlines, which has faced uncertainty in recent years due to labor disputes and financial challenges. With these agreements, United Airlines is positioning itself to remain competitive in the airline industry and retain its workforce in a tight labor market.

The announcement also has implications for other airlines in the industry, particularly those that may be facing negotiations with the Machinists Union in the near future. If ratified, these agreements could set industry standards for compensation and job security, making it more difficult for other airlines to compete for workers in a tight labor market.

 

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Transportation Workers Gather for the 2023 North American Transportation Conference

Transportation Workers Gather for the 2023 North American Transportation Conference

 Transportation Workers Gather in Las Vegas for the 2023 North American Transportation Conference

IAM141.org

Las Vegas, NV – On April 2, transportation workers and industry leaders convened in Las Vegas for the 2023 North American Transportation Conference to address the ongoing challenges workers face in the sector. The Conference brought together notable speakers, including Edison Fraser, Chief of Staff for the Machinists Union; Richie Johnsen, General Vice President of the Machinists Union; Sarah Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA); and Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

One of the key issues discussed during the Conference was the alarming trend of approximately one railroad derailment per day in the United States. Experts called for an end to the practice of precision and just-in-time rail scheduling, which they argued has contributed to increased risks and the potential for accidents.

Labor advances were also a major topic, with conference attendees focusing on improving transportation-sector working conditions and addressing worker grievances. The recent Agreement in Principle for seven contracts at United Airlines, covering more than 32,000 front-line workers, was presented as a positive development in this area. Conference attendees enthusiastically decided to ratify the Agreements in Principle at United Airlines while addressing ongoing contract talks at the company.

The Conference’s atmosphere was described as hardworking and sometimes raucous, with participants actively engaged in discussions and debates on the various issues facing transportation workers. The Conference served as a platform for industry leaders, union representatives, and workers to come together and collaborate on solutions to the sector’s pressing concerns.

While specific resolutions and action plans are yet to be announced, the 2023 North American Transportation Conference succeeded in shedding light on the critical issues facing transportation workers today. The event has paved the way for further collaboration and action to address these challenges and improve the lives of those working in the industry.

Johnsen led the 2023 North American Transportation Conference. These influential figures played a significant role in facilitating discussions and fostering collaboration among transportation industry stakeholders. Their leadership contributed to the conference’s success, ensuring that critical issues like air rage incidents and the safety of airline workers were brought to the forefront and addressed by critical decision-makers like Secretary Buttigieg.

Machinists Union Political Activists were supportive of Secretary Buttigieg’s comments. 

“The work the DOT and Justice department have done to help reduce violence against airline workers is a huge benefit to all of us, said Rich Jakubowski, a legislative chairman from Chicago. “If the administration is able to get the FAA reauthorization signed this year our members and the flying public will continue to see positive safety improvements.”

 

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 Transportation Workers Gather in Las Vegas for the 2023 North American Transportation Conference

April 4, 2023

 

Las Vegas, NV – On April 2, transportation workers and industry leaders convened in Las Vegas for the 2023 North American Transportation Conference to address the ongoing challenges workers face in the sector. The Conference brought together notable speakers, including Edison Fraser, Chief of Staff for the Machinists Union; Richie Johnsen, General Vice President of the Machinists Union; Sarah Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA); and Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

One of the key issues discussed during the Conference was the alarming trend of approximately one railroad derailment per day in the United States. Experts called for an end to the practice of precision and just-in-time rail scheduling, which they argued has contributed to increased risks and the potential for accidents.

Labor advances were also a major topic, with conference attendees focusing on improving transportation-sector working conditions and addressing worker grievances. The recent Agreement in Principle for seven contracts at United Airlines, covering more than 32,000 front-line workers, was presented as a positive development in this area. Conference attendees enthusiastically decided to ratify the Agreements in Principle at United Airlines while addressing ongoing contract talks at the company.

The Conference’s atmosphere was described as hardworking and sometimes raucous, with participants actively engaged in discussions and debates on the various issues facing transportation workers. The Conference served as a platform for industry leaders, union representatives, and workers to come together and collaborate on solutions to the sector’s pressing concerns.

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UA TA Informational Breakroom Meeting Schedule

Agreement in Principle

Between The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, District 141
and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

Informational Town Hall Meetings

ATL April 13
AUS April 13-14
BIL April 24, leaving 25
BOS April 17-18
BWI April 12
CHIRR April 12
CLE April 12 (PM) April 13 (AM)
CLP April 17
DCA April 14
DEN April 18-19
DFW April 17-19, April 26-27
DTWRR April 14
EWR April 24-28
EWRMTE April 18
FLL April19-21
GUM April 17-18
HNLCG April 13 & 27
HNLCS April 19 & 27
IAD April 17-18
IAHCG April 12, 17, 18, 24, 28
IAHCS C45 Group Room – April 17, 18, 21, after 10am
April 19 after 4pm, 20 after 3pm
IND April 20-22
KOA April 14, 25
LA Stores April 18 (PM), 19 (All Day)
LAX April 19, 21
LGA April 13, 24, 27
LIH April 21, 26
MCI April 25 (PM), 26 (AM)
MCO April 12
MSP April 12, 13
MSY March 30, 31
NHC April 20
OGG April 20
ORDCG April 27 (At Local From 1:00-5:00, and 8:00 pm to Midnight)
ORDCS April 27 (At Local From 1:00-5:00, and 8:00 pm to Midnight)

PDX April 17-18
PHL April 12-13
PHX April 26
PIT April 19-20
RDU April 12-13
RNO April 13-14
RSW April 13-14
SAN April 12-13
SAT April 12-13
SEA April 26-28
SFO April 7, 17, 19, 28
SJC April 19, 20
SJU April 19-21
SLC April 19
SMF April 12-14
SNA April 18
STL April 24 (PM), 25 (AM)
TPA-ATO April 18-19
TPARR April 18
TUL April 12-14

 

IAMAW UA TA Registration Page

IAMAW UA TA Registration Page

Agreement in Principle

Between The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, District 141 and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

Active Committee Members can use this form to register for the IAMAW / UA Tentative Agreement Informational Meeting at the Hilton O’Hare on April 11, starting at 10:00 AM. District 141 will cover the cost of lodging, and United is offering positive-space travel. Once you sign up for the meeting, you can check with your supervisor for final approval and to book your flight.

The final day to register for this event is April 3 at 11:59 PM.

Registration Form

Which days off are you requesting?

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional Coordinator

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional Coordinator

Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional Coordinator

IAM141.org

IAMAW District President Mike Klemm and EAP Director Bryan Hutchinson have appointed Kris N Treder to serve as the new District 141 Midwest Regional Coordinator. Kris will provide confidential guidance and professional help to the IAM/EAP Midwest Regional team and its members in her new role. Kris is a long-time United Airlines employee and has been with the company since 1995 when she worked as a Reservations Sales and Service Representative.

Kris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position, having worked in various hospitality and airline industry roles. She is friendly and positive and committed to standing up for truth, justice, and empowerment. Kris was born into an airline and hospitality family, and her father was an active member of the same Local 1487 while working for Flying Tigers.

Kris is passionate about assisting and empowering her fellow union members, and her goal is to reach as many of them as possible in need of help. She is committed to building a trusted network, providing educational information, and having the knowledge at her fingertips to provide guidance to the United/Union family. She plans to create support groups and involvement opportunities to create the best work/life atmosphere possible.

Kris’s appointment comes at a time when the IAM/EAP program is needed more than ever. The program provides free and confidential guidance to union members and their families on a wide range of personal and work-related issues. Kris will work closely with the IAM/EAP Regional team to ensure that members can access the support they need.

Kris’s IAM/EAP program mentors have been instrumental in her success, and she is grateful for their guidance and support. She looks forward to working with the fantastic team of men who have welcomed her into this new role.

If you need assistance or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact Kris at +17085526454 or ktreder@iam141.org. You can also look her up on the District website, where you will find her contact card and profile picture. We welcome Kris to the IAM Local 1487 family and wish her every success in her new role.

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Kris N Treder Named New District 141 EAP Midwest Regional Coordinator

March 17, 2023

IAMAW District President Mike Klemm and EAP Director Bryan Hutchinson have appointed Kris N Treder to serve as the new District 141 Midwest Regional Coordinator. Kris will provide confidential guidance and professional help to the IAM/EAP Midwest Regional team and its members in her new role. Kris is a long-time United Airlines employee and has been with the company since 1995 when she worked as a Premium Service Representative in the Customer Service and Sales department.

Kris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position, having worked in various hospitality and airline industry roles. She is friendly and positive and committed to standing up for truth, justice, and empowerment. Kris was born into an airline and hospitality family, and her father was an active member of the same Local 1487 while working for Flying Tigers.

Kris is passionate about assisting and empowering her fellow union members, and her goal is to reach as many of them as possible in need of help. She is committed to building a trusted network, providing educational information, and having the knowledge at her fingertips to provide guidance to the United/Union family. She plans to create support groups and involvement opportunities to create the best work/life atmosphere possible.

Kris’s appointment comes at a time when the IAM/EAP program is needed more than ever. The program provides free and confidential guidance to union members and their families on a wide range of personal and work-related issues. Kris will work closely with the IAM/EAP Regional team to ensure that members can access the support they need.

Kris’s IAM/EAP program mentors have been instrumental in her success, and she is grateful for their guidance and support. She looks forward to working with the fantastic team of men who have welcomed her into this new role.

If you need assistance or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact Kris at +17085526454 or ktreder@iam141.org. You can also look her up on the District website, where you will find her contact card and profile picture. We welcome Kris to the IAM Local 1487 family and wish her every success in her new role.

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Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?

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Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?

IAM141.org

On March 3rd, American Airlines’ flight attendants union and company managers requested mediation from the National Mediation Board, hoping to resolve an ongoing contract negotiation standoff. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants has been negotiating a new contract since December 2019.

Julie Hedrick, president of the National Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said the union was eager to come to a resolution.

“We are entering a critical period in our bargaining of a new contract,” Hedrick said. “We have had productive discussions at the bargaining table…and are prepared to work with the National Mediation Board to bring these negotiations to a close and secure a contract with much needed improvements for 25,000 American Airlines Flight Attendants.”
The APFA’s national communications chair, Paul Hartshorn, Jr., said they want to secure better pay and work-life balance for the union’s members.

He said that flight attendants are back to flying the same hours as before COVID but with a reduced workforce.

“Staffing was reduced, flight attendants are working more flights per day, working longer hours per day,” Hartshorn said.

In the last quarter, American Airlines reported a net income of $127 million. For the full year, its 2022 net income was $803 million.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants includes more than 23,000 members at American.

Paul Hartshorn, Jr., the APFA’s national communications chair, explained that flight attendants are working more flights and longer hours per day due to reduced staffing and are seeking better pay and work-life balance.

On average, union contracts in the airline industry can take several years to negotiate. Factors such as industry conditions, economic stability, and collective bargaining agreements can impact the length of negotiations.

The negotiation process can involve multiple rounds of proposals and counterproposals. It may also involve the assistance of a federal mediator, as is the case with American and Southwest’s flight attendant unions.

The behavior of executives at American Airlines is the latest of many such examples of management taking a high-handed stance against their workers.

Over the past year, airline industry workers, including cabin crew, pilots, ground handlers, and air traffic controllers, have faced increasingly contentious and deliberately provocative company executives.

Recently, pilots at FedEx have begun openly discussing the possibility of a strike action at the shipping company.

On February 17th, the leaders of the pilot’s union at FedEx unanimously passed a resolution that authorizes Captain Chris Norman, the FedEx ALPA Chair, to call for a vote on whether to authorize a strike. This decision has received support from ALPA President Captain Jason Ambrosi.

Before a strike can happen, the National Mediation Board (NMB) would need to release both parties from mediation. Following this, a 30-day cooling-off period would need to take place, after which both parties would be free to exercise self-help, which may include a strike by the union or a lockout by the company.

FedEx pilots have been trying to reason with company executives since May 2021, to no avail.

The Southwest Airlines flight attendants union, TWU Local 556, also requested a federal mediator this past summer. Southwest’s pilots have threatened to vote to strike in May while American Airlines is still negotiating with its pilots’ union.

Seven separate workgroups at United Airlines, including pilots, gate and ground agents, trainers, load planners, and security guards, have also seen contract talks stall over management refusals to match new industry standards for pay, job security, and other benefits that have become normal for airline work.

The Machinists Union is part of a coalition of unions at United Airlines, including the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Air Line Pilots Association, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

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Can Mediation Break the Contract Negotiation Deadlock for AA Flight Attendants?

March 15, 2023

On March 3rd, American Airlines’ flight attendants union and company managers requested mediation from the National Mediation Board, hoping to resolve an ongoing contract negotiation standoff. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants has been negotiating a new contract since December 2019.

Julie Hedrick, president of the National Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said the union was eager to come to a resolution.

“We are entering a critical period in our bargaining of a new contract,” Hedrick said. “We have had productive discussions at the bargaining table…and are prepared to work with the National Mediation Board to bring these negotiations to a close and secure a contract with much needed improvements for 25,000 American Airlines Flight Attendants.”
The APFA’s national communications chair, Paul Hartshorn, Jr., said they want to secure better pay and work-life balance for the union’s members.

He said that flight attendants are back to flying the same hours as before COVID but with a reduced workforce.

“Staffing was reduced, flight attendants are working more flights per day, working longer hours per day,” Hartshorn said.

In the last quarter, American Airlines reported a net income of $127 million. For the full year, its 2022 net income was $803 million.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants includes more than 23,000 members at American.

Paul Hartshorn, Jr., the APFA’s national communications chair, explained that flight attendants are working more flights and longer hours per day due to reduced staffing and are seeking better pay and work-life balance.

On average, union contracts in the airline industry can take several years to negotiate. Factors such as industry conditions, economic stability, and collective bargaining agreements can impact the length of negotiations.

The negotiation process can involve multiple rounds of proposals and counterproposals. It may also involve the assistance of a federal mediator, as is the case with American and Southwest’s flight attendant unions.

The behavior of executives at American Airlines is the latest of many such examples of management taking a high-handed stance against their workers.

Over the past year, airline industry workers, including cabin crew, pilots, ground handlers, and air traffic controllers, have faced increasingly contentious and deliberately provocative company executives.

Recently, pilots at FedEx have begun openly discussing the possibility of a strike action at the shipping company.

On February 17th, the leaders of the pilot’s union at FedEx unanimously passed a resolution that authorizes Captain Chris Norman, the FedEx ALPA Chair, to call for a vote on whether to authorize a strike. This decision has received support from ALPA President Captain Jason Ambrosi.

Before a strike can happen, the National Mediation Board (NMB) would need to release both parties from mediation. Following this, a 30-day cooling-off period would need to take place, after which both parties would be free to exercise self-help, which may include a strike by the union or a lockout by the company.

FedEx pilots have been trying to reason with company executives since May 2021, to no avail.

The Southwest Airlines flight attendants union, TWU Local 556, also requested a federal mediator this past summer. Southwest’s pilots have threatened to vote to strike in May while American Airlines is still negotiating with its pilots’ union.

Seven separate workgroups at United Airlines, including pilots, gate and ground agents, trainers, load planners, and security guards, have also seen contract talks stall over management refusals to match new industry standards for pay, job security, and other benefits that have become normal for airline work.

The Machinists Union is part of a coalition of unions at United Airlines, including the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Air Line Pilots Association, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

 

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