I would like to inform the District 141 membership at United Airlines that management has advised the IAM that they are considering converting all full-time Airport Operations employees to part-time, which could amount up to a 50 percent pay cut, to save money.
IAM District 141, consequently, advised United management that we are prepared to sue them in federal court if they take this action because we believe that any type of furlough or reduction in pay and/or benefits before September 30, 2020, is a violation of the CARES Act. We will also fight United in the political and public arenas and let our elected officials and the public know that United Airlines management is accepting billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailout money with one hand and screwing its workforce with the other.
United applied for and received $5 billion under the CARES Act: $3.5 billion as a direct grant for payroll support, which does not need to be paid back and $1.5 billion in very low-interest loans. United also has access to an additional $4.5 billion in federal loans. As a condition of taking the payroll support, the CARES Act mandates that workers’ pay and benefits not be reduced, nor can workers be involuntarily laid-off before September 30, 2020.
The amount of direct grant aid and loans that United was eligible for was calculated based on payroll from April 1, 2019, to September 30, 2019. Over the last couple of months, more than 20,000 United workers have taken voluntary leaves, which has drastically reduced payroll costs. You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in math to understand that something is very wrong here. Unbelievably, that is not enough for United management. They are considering cutting 13,000+ IAM-represented full-time workers’ pay by up to 50 percent. This is absolutely unconscionable and cannot stand.
I very much understand that the airline industry is in a crisis. But, that’s exactly why every AFL-CIO airline union, led by thousands of calls and activism by IAM members and other airline union members, non-represented airline workers, and the airlines themselves fought for the CARES Act. We worked together to save airline workers’ jobs, pay, benefits, and the industry. Now, instead of following the rules of the CARES Act, United is engaging in shaky lawyering, looking for legal loopholes instead of exhibiting leadership and integrity.
We have, however, offered United management different ideas to increase, expand, and enhance voluntary programs that would reduce United’s costs during this very tough time. We will continue to work with them to find mutually agreeable solutions to help United Airlines.
But, if we are forced to have a fight, we WILL fight.
Mike Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Recording Secretaries: print and post on all IAMAW bulletin boards.
This is unacceptable. We are the least valued department of this company and I, for one, am sick of it.
They are looking for an easy way to cut costs so they they can raise the stock prices for themselves and for the shareholders.
Meanwhile they were negligent. We made billions last year and have consistently made profits. They have squandered that money on stock buybacks and that core 4 stupidity and that backstage hoohah.
And now we have to lose our jobs? Now forget about the 60 something year old person retiring in the next 5 years. They can’t make their hours.
1. Do not give in. Fight for us.
2. They get stock incentives? Well so should we. We have contributed and will contribute more than them to this airline going back up. It will go back up because of customer service.
We deserve 100 shares per year of service. Put that in the table and don’t walk away until we get it. Get more for people who have been furloughed for the stock prices of this company.
Get us stocks and get us a lot of them. Don’t come back with some bs 20 stocks. We deserve to reap the rewards of our lives work.
It is unacceptable what they are doing. They wasted money on stock buybacks and the core 4 stupidity and the backstage hoorah and now customer service has to pay the bills?
I, for one, am sick and tired of being the least valued department in this company.
1. We do not give in. We fight. They have money and they are looking for an easy way to cut costs so they can salvage the stock price.
2. I think that as valued employees of this company we deserve stocks. And I am not talking about some bs 20 stocks. Management gets stocks as incentive?! Well as we are the ones that are getting screwed with pay and forget about if anyone wanted to retire within 5 years now they will have to work longer.
We are giving. So should they.
We each deserve 100 shares of stock for every year we have given to this company. No expiration date. We can ride them out as long as we want.
Put this on the table immediately
I hope IAM will fight for us. We need to maintain our ft status and we need two separate bids. One for 20 hr agents and one for newly reduced 30 hr agents. Theres nothing right about a 20 hr agent bidding before a 30 hr agt and getting a 30 hr shift, leaving the other agent with a 20 hr shift, losing more money. United says they are willing to do this but need IAM to agree. Please fight for us!
Please fight for our ft status to be maintained and for two separate bids. One for 20 hr agents and one for newly reduced 30 hr agents. Theres nothing right about a 20 hr agent bidding before a 30 hr agt and getting a 30 hr shift, leaving the other agent with a 20 hr shift, losing more money. United says they are willing to do this but need IAM to agree. Please fight for us!
I think we all have to accept the part time hours, but none of feel like we should have to accept part time status! We have worked too hard for those full time benefits. United says they are willing to work with IAM on having two separate bids but need approval from the IAM to do so. Please…stand up for us! It’s going to be very challenging for all 20 hr pt agents to bid with all newly 30 reduced 30 hr agents. That means a 20 hr agent with more seniority can choose my 30 hr shift, which forces me to possibly get their 20 hr shift and lose even more money. The other issue is who gets Christmas vacation week? The 20 hr agent or the newly reduced 30 hr agent? We need to maintain our ft status for many reasons and we must have two separate bids!! We are asking you to work with United to insure all previous 40 hr agents maintain their ft status and all agents are able to bid within their proper group.
By May 13 we have to acknowledge our willingness to accept PT status. I can deal with the FT hours cut to 30 per week. But I don’t accept “I give up my FT status”‘. Unless you’re going to accept Retirement, Voluntary Furlough or Leave the company. Make NO election. However, being unsure of future ramifications, I’ll go with what I’m advised by IAM.
Yes!!! Do nothing if you plan to stay. Just keep on keeping on!!
The company will reduce FT hours to 30. But nothing says we have to accept the PT status which must be complete by May 13.
This is unacceptable. Stop the payroll until things get better. Dont take our jobs. U are supposed to have our backs. We are being demoted to poverty.
Stay strong!!!! We believe in you and the Union. Take care of yourself I know it’s stressful.!