IAMAW District President Calls on JetBlue to Respect Workers, End Outsourcing

IAMAW District President Calls on JetBlue to Respect Workers, End Outsourcing

Mr. Hayes,

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), District 141, has become aware of JetBlue’s plan to outsource the work of JetBlue employees in “smaller BlueCities,” which JetBlue failed to identify in its memo. I think it is unconscionable that after taking approximately $1 billion of taxpayer funded airline bailout money that you now turn your back on the essential frontline JetBlue workers who have served our nation so bravely during the worst health crisis in modern history.

I think it’s vital that everyone knows what’s going on here. You are NOT upending the lives of these JetBlue workers because you are cutting some staff to meet reduced demand for air travel. You are cutting ALL these workers and bringing in LOWER PAID workers, who likely are earning minimum wage with no benefits, to do the jobs of JetBlue workers. Classic greed.

Even worse, you are using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse.

I call on you to do what is right and maintain JetBlue workers in these “smaller BlueCities.” They were there for us when we needed them most. They were there to load medical supplies on flights, to transport medical professionals to where they needed to be to treat sick people and to otherwise keep our nation’s air transportation system operating. They deserve better treatment and to remain employed in the cities where they and their families live.

In the memo announcing this misguided plan from VP of Airports Experience, Mike Parkinson, to JetBlue employees, he claims, “Taking care of impacted Crewmembers is our priority.” If you truly want to take care of JetBlue employees, then don’t outsource their work and don’t upend their lives and the lives of their families. Keep them working where they live.

You can be sure that the IAM will do everything in its power to fight this unbelievably cruel plan.

Sincerely,

Michael G. Klemm

President & Directing General Chair
IAMAW District 141

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IAMAW District 141 Recommends All Workers Wear Masks

IAMAW District 141 Recommends All Workers Wear Masks

We, as members of District 141, are essential workers on the front lines every day. Just doing our job is not enough as we work through this COVID-19 pandemic. Our workplaces now mandate practices like social distancing, frequent hand washing, and sanitizing everything in sight. 

Misinformation and rumors can spread just as easily as the virus itself, so I’d like to speak about what experts recommend to protect ourselves, our loved ones at home and our fellow co-workers on the job.

This is neither a political view nor my personal view. I have been communicating with IAMAW members and our own Safety Departments from all the carriers represented by District 141. They have watched as the message from medical experts has evolved on the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus and have kept me informed. 

There is agreement that there is a very high likelihood of the virus being spread while in an enclosed area such as break rooms or ready rooms or other areas where it’s difficult to practice social distancing. There is also agreement that many people may not feel sick, may not show symptoms, and may not know they have contracted the virus while still working. 

The transmission of droplets, which may contain the virus, happens when people are just talking in a normal conversation. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends that everyone wear a mask whenever out in public when 6-feet separation between people is not possible.

I want every one of you to go home from work and be able to tell your loved ones that you are doing everything humanly possible to help prevent the spread of this virus. I, and the entire District 141 Executive Board, strongly encourage and recommend that facemasks be worn anytime you are in an enclosed area with fellow co-workers. 

My foremost concern is your health and well-being as we adapt to life during this pandemic. Protecting our industry and our jobs will require a collective effort from all of us. I ask the members of IAMAW District 141 to protect yourselves, protect your co-workers, and protect your loved ones who depend on you every day. 

Stay healthy and be safe,

Michael G. Klemm

President & Directing General Chair,
IAMAW District 141

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Machinists Union Joins Call for Police Reform, Racial Justice

Machinists Union Joins Call for Police Reform, Racial Justice

The IAM is supporting recommendations issued by the AFL-CIO’s general board to take concrete action to address America’s long history of racism.

The board approved the recommendations after emergency meetings of the AFL-CIO Committees on Civil and Human Rights and the AFL-CIO Committee on Legislation and Policy. Both committees discussed the murder of George Floyd and unanimously agreed to actions the labor movement could take to address racial injustice and police brutality against people of color.

Read the full AFL-CIO general board recommendations.

Members and leaders of the IAM are also encouraged to participate in future central labor council community listening sessions on racial justice.

“On behalf of myself and the entire IAM Executive Council, we ask everyone in our union family to not only participate in these discussions, but take a look inward and see how you can be part of the solution,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Our union has a proud history of human rights activism. We will always stand firm in our belief that any form of discrimination has no place in our society.”

Read Martinez’s full statement addressing racial justice.

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Airlines Carry Half a Million Passengers in One Day For First Time Since March

Airlines Carry Half a Million Passengers in One Day For First Time Since March

More than half a million air travelers passed through TSA checkpoints on Thursday, the highest number since mid-March. The Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) reported 502,209 screenings at US airports.

Airlines hit the milestone as over 400,000 passengers took to the skies on three separate days in the preceding week, in the clearest sign yet that air travel is beginning to slowly recover. 

While this number is less than a quarter of what is normal for this time of year, it represents a marked improvement over the lowest point on April 14, when only 87,534 travelers were screened at TSA checkpoints.  

The airline and travel industries are facing a perfect storm of suppressed demand because of COVID-related restrictions on in-person gatherings, high unemployment, and a negative feedback loop, where airlines cannot serve cities without higher levels of customer demand. 

To attract more passengers, airlines have aggressively cut fares and fees. These moves have brought in more travelers, but have also reduced revenue.  The addition of thousands of new passengers willing to fly brings airlines closer to financially breaking even. 

Airlines are growing again, slowly.

Despite the hardships, airline stocks are on the rebound, and insiders expect the industry might reach passenger loads as high as one million travelers a day by the end of July.

In a press release earlier this month, American Airlines announced it was planning to increase flight activity to 55% of normal capacity in July. The carrier added it is planning to increase its lucrative international routes back to 20% of 2019 levels.

United’s plans for July include restoring non-stop service in over 140 domestic routes and the airline will add flights to Europe and several cities in Asia, along with destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Hawaiian Airlines suspended most inter-island flights and has operated just one daily flight to Los Angeles since March 26 when Hawaii state officials instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine for arriving passengers. The airline is planning to increase flight capacity by 18% when the quarantine mandate for inter-island travel is lifted on June 16. The quarantine for all passengers arriving from out-of-state will be in effect through July 31.  

Spirit Airlines is expected to triple the number of flights it operates at its home base in Fort Lauderdale (FLL). They expect to operate 70% of their schedule in July and are going ahead with plans to expand international destinations.

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All this is great news for anxious airline employees whose jobs are secure until September 30 thanks to payroll protection funding allocated by the CARES Act. Every airline is planning to have a much smaller workforce after that date due to uncertainty about whether the number of coronavirus cases can be contained until there is an effective vaccine or treatment, which is expected to take a year, possibly longer. Hundreds of airline employees have already taken some type of voluntary unpaid leave of absence, and the companies are unveiling a variety of early retirement programs. 

The Summer 2020 travel season will be very different for passengers and airline employees, but the industry as a whole hopes the recovery will be better and faster than forecasts show. 

 

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A Conversation With Lou Raymond, From National Group Protection

A Conversation With Lou Raymond, From National Group Protection

A Conversation with National Group Protection Co-CEO, Lou Raymond

For the past 40 years, National Group Protection has worked with IAMAW District 141 and 142 to provide voluntary supplemental insurance policies to thousands of women and men working at our nations’ airlines. 

Today, the Co-CEO of National Group Protection, Lou Raymond, sits down for a video report with Dave Lehive to discuss how National Group Protection can help airline workers through the pandemic.

Need More Information?

National Group Protection offers airline workers a wide variety of supplemental insurance options. Find out more at the National Group Protection website.

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Rep. Crenshaw: United Must “Live Up to its Obligations”

Rep. Crenshaw: United Must “Live Up to its Obligations”

Another lawmaker has voiced support for the unionized ramp and customer service agents at United Airlines as they continue to push back against proposed furloughs at the airline. This week, Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Tx), issued a statement calling on United to “live up to its obligations” and abide by the rules of the CARES Act.

Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who serves the people of the 2nd Congressional District of Texas in the House of Representatives, responded to a constituent who contacted him after United Airlines announced cuts in the hours of work for over 16,000 airport and call center employees. In a letter, Rep. Crenshaw wrote: “I voted for the CARES Act because I understand the importance of sustaining our airline workforce during this difficult time.”

As a member of the House Budget Committee, Rep. Crenshaw helps craft the annual budget resolution which determines funding policies for the federal government. A former United States Navy SEAL and a member of the Republican Party, he was elected to Congress in 2018 on a platform that called for getting the country on a path towards “responsible spending.” In his letter, the congressman emphasized the safeguards Congress put in the CARES Act to ensure the proper use of funds and said, “This bill included accountability measures, and it is important for every entity that receives public funding to live up to its obligations.”

The largest of three major bills from Congress to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the CARES Act provided $25 billion in relief funding for airlines to keep employees on the payroll.

Members of Congress like Crenshaw interact with airline employees during their frequent trips between their home districts and Washington, DC. He praised United employees in his letter and wrote, “You have kept our nation running, and it is uplifting to see the dedication on the frontlines.” The congressman pledged to “continue to focus on ensuring funds are spent as intended as the industry recovers and that safety measures are implemented to protect both workers and travelers.”

Do you live in the Houston area?

Lawmakers need to know that we appreciate their help. If you are a constituent of Congressman Dan Crenshaw, please take a second to let him know that our union values his assist.

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What do YOU Think?

Lawmakers are calling on airlines to fulfill the obligations they made to taxpayers and employees like us. How would you rate the job your airline has done so far?