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Message from the Director Who We Represent Airline Organizing View the Feb. 11 Airline Maintenance Outsourcing Summit Web Cast Airline Locals Division Job Board Airline Journal, the Airline Division's Magazine Airline Industry News ABX Air Teamsters at United Airlines TeamsterAir Mechanics.org FlyTeamsters.org (Information for US Airways CSAs) Aviation Maintenance Outsourcing Contact the Division
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By Don Treichler, Teamsters Airline Division Director This letter sets forth the Teamsters Union’s position regarding the pending America West Airlines/US Airways merger and how it affects you as a US Airways Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT). After the merger is signed and completed this fall, the National Mediation Board (NMB) is expected to determine that America West Airlines and US Airways are a single carrier. What happens when the NMB declares a single carrier? When a single carrier is declared and two or more unions each provide the NMB a sufficient showing of interest (35 percent or more of the eligible voters), the NMB orders an election between those unions to decide which union will be certified as your bargaining representative. Should 50 percent plus 1, or more, of the eligible voters vote for a union, the union receiving the plurality of votes will be certified by the NMB as the bargaining representative for your group. We know there are many issues of significant importance to you. Several of these are covered below and we will address any others as they are communicated to us. Please send questions to airline@teamster.org.
Question 1: What contract will you work under? A contract negotiated by the Machinists, Teamsters or an amalgamated agreement (one bargained from both the Machinists and Teamsters agreements)? Answer 1: There are a few possibilities. If there is no election and the Machinists Union is certified as your representative, you will work under the bankruptcy-bargained Machinists agreement. If there is an election and the Machinists is certified as your representative, you will still work under the bankruptcy-bargained Machinists agreement. If there is an election and the Teamsters Union is certified as your representative, you will work under the bankruptcy-bargained Machinists agreement only until such time as the Teamsters Union concludes bargaining a new agreement that seeks to improve on both the Machinists and Teamsters agreements. Question 2: Why can’t the Machinists Union bargain a new agreement? Answer 2: The Machinists signed the current bankruptcy-bargained US Airways agreement and is bound by that agreement. Question 3: Why can the Teamsters Union bargain a new agreement? Answer 3: The Teamsters Union is not a signatory to the current bankruptcy-bargained US Airways agreement and is free to enter into negotiations, make proposals and conclude a new agreement other than the bankruptcy-bargained Machinists agreement. Question 4: What is the status of the current America West Airlines agreement? Answer 4: Ever since the current AWA agreement became amendable in October 2003, America West and the Teamsters have been in direct negotiations. The negotiations have resulted in significant improvements throughout the agreement, which can be viewed by reading the signed tentative agreements posted on Teamsters Local 104’s web site. The remaining open articles are subject to continued negotiations between the parties. The Teamsters Union has made it clear to America West that there is no free ride and we expect improvements in the remaining open articles as well. Question 5: What are the Teamsters’ objectives in bargaining a new agreement? Answer 5: The Teamsters’ objectives are to preserve any remaining positive elements of the bankruptcy-bargained US Airways agreement and incorporate the superior areas of the new America West Airlines agreement currently being negotiated into a new agreement in order to improve your working conditions and benefits and improve your and your family’s quality of life. Question 6: How do other Teamsters-negotiated agreements compare with agreements negotiated by the Machinists? Answer 6: Teamsters agreements are superior across the board. Teamster agreements, such as those at United Parcel Service, Continental Airlines, AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines are all better than Machinists agreements. They not only contain better wages and benefits, they contain superior scope (job security) language. Question 7: Can the Teamsters force an election without signed representation cards from US Airways AMTs? Answer 7: No, the Teamsters Union needs to collect signed representation cards that, in conjunction with its America West AMTs, constitute at least 35 percent of the total combined number of eligible voters. As of this date, many of these have been voluntarily mailed to us by current Machinists members who prefer to join the Teamsters. Question 8: Does the Teamsters Union have the resources to properly represent you? Answer 8: Yes, and the Teamsters Union is committed to applying those large resources to not only the negotiation of a superior agreement but also to the daily representation and communication that is required to successfully represent your best interests. Question 9: What is the Teamsters Union’s position on outsourcing, subcontracting and heavy maintenance? Answer 9: The Teamsters Union intends to retain all heavy maintenance performed in-house as of the signing and completion of the merger, and to bring as much outsourced heavy maintenance in-house as possible. The outsourcing of America West Airlines heavy maintenance took place in 1995, prior to the Teamsters organizing of the America West AMTs, and was in fact a major reason why the AMTs chose to organize with the Teamsters Union. Question 10: Has the Teamsters Union dealt with bankruptcy situations? Answer 10: Yes, and while these situations are always difficult, the Teamsters’ track record in this area is better than other organizations’. Question 11: How would the Teamsters handle seniority integration? Answer 11: A number of you asked what the IBT meant by
seniority integration in accordance with Allegheny-Mohawk sections 3 and 13
and that this be accomplished in a fair and equitable manner. It is the
IBT's view that integration should be accomplished in accordance with the
original Allegheny-Mohawk concept. That concept provides for mechanic (AMT)
date of hire integration with the proviso that no member will be furloughed
because of the merger. That is what we plan to work for. Comments to the
contrary are simply meant to be misleading. Question 12: What advantages do the US Airways/America West Airlines AMTs have by forming a union with the Machinists? Answer 12: None that we can see. Question 13: What advantages do the US Airways/America West Airlines AMTs have by forming a union with the Teamsters? Answer 13: There are several. First, the Teamsters will negotiate a new agreement to relieve you of the burden of being stranded under the bankruptcy-bargained Machinists agreement year after year until it eventually expires, which the Machinists cannot do. Second, the Teamsters’ superior financial strength enables us to represent you better than the Machinists can. Third, the Teamsters Union has a superior strike fund, should it ever become necessary to take that action. Fourth, the Teamsters Airline Division agreements are the best in the industry. And last but certainly not least, the Teamsters is unquestionably the most democratic union in the labor movement. As a Teamster member, you have a right to demand democracy, honesty, communication and freedom to express your views from your union, and if these items are missing from your current representative change is long overdue. These are but a few of the advantages of voting for Teamster representation. Question 14: Which union can better represent the interests of you and your family? Answer 14: The Teamsters Union is committed to establishing AMT standards superior to what you see today and superior to what the Machinists can offer you. The Teamsters ask you to sign a Teamsters Representation Card to ensure there is an election with a choice between the Machinists Union and the Teamsters Union. In that election we ask you to vote in favor of the Teamsters. Voting in support of the Teamsters is in the best interest of you and your family. Sign a Teamsters Representation Card and help the Teamsters restore and improve your quality of life. You are highly skilled technicians and you deserve an agreement that recognizes and rewards your skills in a way that benefits you and your family.
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