July 15, 2008
Centralized Operations
In June 2007, GC Nan Otto visited the SEA Operations location for an entire shift and sat with a Operations Agent while she performed her duties. The noise, confusion, and lack of response from the field employees (Ramp) made it impossible for this agent to complete her tasks error-free. GC Otto then visited the ANC, JNU, FAI and many remote stations to observe the weight and balance procedures.
Upon completion of these visits, correspondence was sent to ASA vice presidents explaining what GC Otto observed. A meeting was then held with Bill Ayer to discuss our concerns. To make sure the Union's presentation was flawless, District 143 took the SEA Operations trainer to the meeting. A subsequent meeting with the Operations trainer was held one-on-one with VP Jeff Butler. General Chairs Otto and Fay were also in attendance.
Jeff Butler evaluated District 143's concerns and complaints and then took GCs Otto and Fay to meetings with the FAA. This was one year ago.
It now appears that the Company is finally getting ready to centralize its Operations function in the fall of this year. From July 2007 to July 2008, the Company held many meetings with the Operations employees in either the "lean" or "zoom" format. The general chairs were not included. Only recently, with the announcement of a centralized Operations concept, have Operations agents begun to speak up about their concerns.
During the week of June 26, 2008, the Company implied that the IAM has been part of this project team. Not true! As a result of District 143's protest to this inference, a meeting was held on July 11 in SEA between Company representatives and GCs Fay and Otto.
There is nothing prohibiting the Company from closing or moving a bid location per Article 10.F. of the current IAM/ASA COPS agreement. District 143 is committed to the welfare and well-being of our members during this transition. The Company has committed to following the contractual provisions involved in this move.
The brain-storming meetings between Operations employees and the Company may be inappropriate if the local IAM representative is unaware the meetings are taking place. If you are an Operations agent, please advise local IAM representatives or your general chair if such meetings are taking place. We are too far along to a centralized Operations location to undermine the integrity of the labor agreement or the parties from District 143 or the Company who are meeting together to accomplish this move.
The next meeting will take place August 4-6, 2008 in SEA. We will continue to keep you updated.