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updated 04/14/2008 6:47 PM

April 14, 2008

National Mediation Board to Investigate Great Lakes Aviation
In the continuing saga of Great Lakes Aviation, the National Mediation Board has declared an on-site investigation of carrier interference in connection with Mike McNeil’s decertification application.  The investigation is set to take place the week of April 21st in Cheyenne, Wyoming. “It is my opinion that the National Mediation Board recognizes the inconsistencies in one time union member and negotiator Mike McNeil’s stories, or should I say lies,” stated President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon.  “I welcome an investigation from the National Mediation Board into this matter so the record can be set straight for our members of Great Lakes Aviation."  When the National Mediation Board concludes their investigation, District 143 will announce their results of their findings. 

February 19, 2008

District 143 awaits the outcome of the NMB investigation and ruling on the Great Lakes management interference in the promoting of a card drive for decertification of the IAM as the represented bargaining agent for mechanics on Great Lakes.

Update
December 14, 2007

District 143 is prepared to submit contract proposals to Mediator Jack Kane for advancement to Great Lakes Aviation.  Moreover, we are waiting to receive proposals submitted on behalf of Great Lakes Aviation.

In typical deceptive fashion, District 143 has been advised that Jason Entner is requesting signatures from individuals in an attempt to decertify the IAM as the collective bargaining unit.  Additionally, non-dues paying spokesperson and Great Lakes Aviation mechanic, Mike A. McNeill, has filed a decertification with the National Mediation Board.

“Mike McNeill had come to the IAM seeking assistance from us to allow economic justice to serve on the GLA property.  He was the very same individual who helped us organize informational meetings in Cheyenne and who vehemently spoke out against the despair treatment of his fellow coworkers, all of which was nothing more than verbal rhetoric in my opinion.” stated President Gordon. “Everyone should be careful speaking to Mr. McNeill; we have been crossed by an individual whose interest is clearly in the management ranks and not with labor.”

Negotiations Update
December 3, 2007

District 143 previously reported to the membership that Great Lakes Aviation and District 143 met in St. Charles, Missouri on November 19, 2007 for mediated negotiation sessions.  At the time of this meeting, the game playing continued.  Since that time, District 143 and Great Lakes Aviation Director of Maintenance Scott Lewis agreed that both parties would submit contract proposals to Jack Kane (National Mediator) and he would forward the proposals to the parties.  All written proposals must be submitted to Mr. Kane by December 17, 2007.

Additionally, it is worth noting that once again Great Lakes Aviation continues with their elitist attitudes by defying a chief justice’s bench ruling that prohibits GLA from altering the current status-quo agreement, specifically allowing for raises outside the collective bargaining agreement and Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act. 

“Great Lakes Aviation management and their attorney questioned the jurisdiction of District 143 related to contract discussions, challenged the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board, and now feel as though they can circumvent a bench decision from the Chief Justice of Colorado by doing exactly what they were told they were not allowed to do – change the status quo of the current collective bargaining agreement outside of negotiations,” stated President Gordon.  “We will continue to follow the direction of the mediator and the courts and expect Great Lakes Aviation to do the same.”

Negotiations Update
November 29, 2007

How are your pay raises that Great Lakes Aviation was “poised to affect?”  Oh- that’s right…Great Lakes Aviation continues to stall in giving them to you.  The membership can read the letter of agreement that was sent to Mr. Voss by President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon.  “District 143 remains committed to pay raises for our mechanics and utility personnel at Great Lakes Aviation, far more committed than anyone from management at Great Lakes, otherwise Mr. Voss would have signed the letter that we have sent by now.  Apparently, their attitude towards their employees' life style remains as one of who cares,” stated President Stephen Gordon.

Negotiations between the Company and District 143 were held in St. Charles, Missouri on November 19, 2007.  Great Lakes Aviation was represented by Scott Lewis, Director of Maintenance, and that was it; no one else from Great Lakes Aviation had the courage to show up, only reinforcing the very fact that management does not care about the needs of their employees.  Scott Lewis (the individual that the Denver judge questioned credibility) did not even come prepared to negotiations with a copy of the collective bargaining agreement that he has openly testified that he does not acknowledge.  Moreover, he states one minute that he has the authority to sign off on tentative agreements to various articles of the contract; then retracts and claims that he can’t do anything. No wonder the Denver judge, the employees of Great Lakes Aviation, and District 143 question his credibility.

“This Carrier, Mr. Voss, Mr. Lewis, and their attorney would rather focus their attention on how to give the Union a black eye versus sitting down and negotiating an agreement that will provide for livable wages, benefits, and secure retirement for the membership and their families.  Mr. Lewis has stated that this is a family-oriented airline; if this is how family treats you, I have a new found respect for adoption agencies,” stated President Gordon. “Mr. Lewis continues to downplay the needs of his employees, our members, throughout our discussions and has zero regard for the existing collective bargaining agreement or their contractual rights and refuses to apologize for his dictatorship realm as Director of Maintenance.”

Stay tuned for further updates, and remember: the individual working next to you could be a junior employee making more than you as a senior employee only because Mr. Lewis does not follow the collective bargaining agreement. 

District 143 Requests Letter of Agreement
November 13, 2007

District 143 has sent communication to Great Lakes Aviation requesting their signature for a letter of agreement that would increase wages. We will continue to update you on this matter.

District 143 Wins Again!
November 9, 2007

On November 7, 2007 District 143 and Great Lakes Aviation met in federal court in Denver, Colorado for the lawsuit that was filed by District 143 seeking a permanent injunction against Great Lakes Aviation management.  The outcome of the court proceedings – WE WON AGAIN! The nature of our lawsuit was to prevent Great Lakes Aviation management from unilaterally changing the wages, work rules, and the overall terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement without entering into a written agreement. 

“This victory is a clear message to Great Lakes Aviation management that their arrogance and blatant disrespect for our organization will not be tolerated, not even by the judicial system,” stated President Gordon.

While under oath, Great Lakes Aviation Director of Maintenance Scott Lewis sat on the stand and acknowledged numerous times that he violates the collective bargaining agreement more times than not.  Great Lakes Aviation displayed an exhibit showing payroll data for their employees which proved that mechanics are paid different wages based on merit and not by length of service.  Moreover, the document stated – NOT TO BE MADE PUBLIC - so the mechanics won’t know who makes more than one another.  “Individuals like Mr. Lewis have no moral fiber or integrity, self- evidenced by his very own testimony on the stand today.  I would like to personally thank Mr. Lewis for being District 143’s best witness in this case,” stated President Gordon.

District 143 remains committed to achieving a collective bargaining agreement that will protect the membership’s wages, work rules, and conditions.  “If Great Lakes Aviation is poised to offer a pay raise for the mechanics like they say; then why won’t they memorialize the offer into a written agreement?  I have a hard time understanding how Doug Voss could accept tax-payer money (Essential Air Service funding) from the government, but refuse to participate in mediated bargaining with a government agency,” stated Gordon.

District 143 is currently scheduled to meet with Great Lakes Aviation in St. Charles, Missouri on November 19 and 20, 2007 for mediated negotiations.  District 143 would like to thank Sr. General Chair Gerry Bernson, General Chair Paul Longden and Kevin Graf for helping the membership of Great Lakes Aviation in achieving this most recent victory.

• 11/09/07 Flashpoint: GLA Ordered to Bargain and Comply with Federal Law

Second IAM Legal Victory Versus Great Lakes
November 5, 2007

We previously reported that on October 31, 2007 the United States District Court for the District of Colorado ruled in the IAM’s favor and issued a Temporary Restraining Order against Great Lakes for violating the Railway Labor Act in refusing to bargain for improved contracts for its IAM-represented employees. The Court scheduled a hearing on the IAM’s motion for a preliminary injunction for Wednesday November 7.

Temporary Restraining Order Issued
November 1, 2007

We are pleased to report that on October 31, 2007, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, Chief Judge Nottingham of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado issued a temporary restraining order against Great Lakes Airlines for its refusal to bargain with the IAM as the certified representative of the Mechanic and Clerical crafts and classes employed by Great Lakes Airlines.  

As we previously reported, Tim Thornton, the chief negotiator for Great Lakes, attempted to circumvent the jurisdiction of the Denver Court where Great Lakes has a major hub.  After being notified by our lawyers that the IAM would seek an injunction in Denver, he hurriedly filed his own lawsuit in his hometown of Minneapolis where Great Lakes has no employees and does not do business.  Apparently, his underhanded tactic did not work. 

The Federal Court in Denver rejected the Company’s claim that negotiations had been permanently terminated as well as Great Lakes’ argument that they could ignore the Federal Mediator and the National Mediation Board and change the wages and working conditions of Great Lakes mechanics without abiding by the Railway Labor Act.  The Court also ordered a full hearing on the IAM’s motion for a preliminary injunction which will take place on Wednesday, November 7 in Denver.

Steve Gordon, President and Directing General Chair of District 143, stated:  “We are pleased that justice was done today.  However, we remain ready, willing and able to negotiate a fair contract which must include long overdue pay raises for the employees we represent at Great Lakes.  As I have made clear to the Company time and again, any agreement must be in writing and must be ratified by a vote of the membership.  We have even gone so far as to agree to interim pay raises for Great Lakes employees pending the outcome of negotiations provided that it is in the form of a written contract under the auspices of the NMB.  I urge Great Lakes to return to the bargaining table to negotiate an agreement in good faith.”

Federal Court Injunction Sought
10/26/07

As previously reported on October 19, 2007, we filed a lawsuit against Great Lakes Airlines for their refusal to bargain in good faith under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board (NMB).  After our lawsuit was filed, the NMB issued an Order against Great Lakes ordering them to appear for further negotiations with the Federal Mediator.  Great Lakes has refused and continues to disregard the law maintaining that it has the right to raise or lower wages and change working conditions without the written agreement of the IAM, which holds the certification on the property.  After receiving our lawsuit, Great Lakes attorney Tim Thornton hurriedly filed a lawsuit in Minneapolis the following Monday, and then after being notified that we were going into Federal Court in Denver to get an injunction to enforce the status quo provisions of the Railway Labor Act and the NMB’s jurisdiction, he filed another pleading in Minneapolis in an effort to delay a decision in this matter. Our attorneys expect that the Federal Court in Denver will convene a hearing shortly. We will keep you posted on developments.

• 10/26/07 Flashpoint: Federal Court Injunction Sought on Behalf of GLA Employees

Lawsuit Filed Against Great Lakes
10/19/07

On Friday afternoon, October 19, 2007, your President and Directing General Chair authorized the law firm of Guerrieri, Edmond, Clayman & Bartos to file a lawsuit against Great Lakes Airlines for its blatant violations of the Railway Labor Act in refusing to bargain in good faith under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board.  In the lawsuit filed on behalf of the IAM and District 143, we seek a declaratory judgment against Great Lakes for its refusal to bargain for a new agreement with improvements for the mechanics and clerical employees we represent and for walking out of a meeting with a Federal mediator falsely claiming that NMB does not have jurisdiction.  Thus, we have named the NMB in the suit to enforce its jurisdiction.  The action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado where Great Lakes maintains a hub.  We trust that the court will enjoin the Company's repudiation of its legal obligation to bargain in good faith under the Railway Labor Act.  We will keep you posted on developments.

• 10/19/07 Flashpoint: Lawsuit Filed Against Great Lakes

Update 10/18/07

District 143 Sr. General Chair Gerry Bernson, General Chair Paul Longden, and negotiator Mike McNeil attended a mediated contract negotiation meeting with Great Lakes Aviation management and their attorney Timothy Thornton in St. Charles, Missouri on October 18, 2007.

In typical fashion, Great Lakes Aviation and their “hired gun” attorney are now disputing the mediation process.  “I find it amazing that their attorney is willing to exchange letters questioning the integrity of the leadership of District 143 regarding rates of pay, and now suddenly does not want these discussions to take place under the watch of a federal mediator," stated President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon. “Why would Great Lakes Aviation management object to mediated discussions; furthermore, what do they want to hide from?  They have the audacity to question our integrity, ridiculed our request for mediation, and have written about appreciation for class and craft employment only in an attempt to distort the truth and further stall these discussions.”

District 143 would like to thank the membership of Great Lakes Aviation for their continued support.  “I find it amazing that Mr. Thornton would reference on more than one occasion that our request for mediation is, 'motivated by union bosses' concern over the mechanics’ intent to designate a different representative” even while we continue to add members to the largest transportation union in North America – the IAM,” stated President Gordon. 

Stay united!  We will continue to update the membership in our quest for social and economic justice for our membership of Great Lakes Aviation.

Again, District 143 is willing to accept a proposal from Great Lakes Aviation; however it is imperative that any agreements are reduced to writing and signed by all applicable parties for the protection of our membership.  To date, Great Lakes Aviation has not produced any agreements in writing.

Update 10/9/07

In their latest attempt of deceitfulness, Great Lakes Aviations’ hired attorney Timothy Thornton recently sent yet another letter to District 143 President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon in an effort to continue the game playing versus negotiating an amicable agreement with the IAM.

“As I stated in my latest response letter to Mr. Thornton, if he and his client Great Lakes Aviation spent as much time at the negotiating table as he does writing letters, the Great Lakes Aviation membership would have a contract by now,” stated President Gordon. “If he and his client are sincere about taking care of our members; their employees, then why have they taken in excess of two years to finally communicate with this office after repeated attempts from the IAM to negotiate a new agreement?”

Below are copies of the most recent correspondence between Mr. Thornton and myself.  Mr. Thornton states in his letter to our office, “I hope you have the guts to circulate this letter to the mechanics for whom the union purports to speak.”  Seeing that we have ABSOLUTELY nothing to hide, both letters have been posted. 

• Thornton letter dated 10/3/07
• Gordon response letter dated 10/8/07

NMB Assigns Mediator

On October 1, 2007, District 143 was notified by the National Mediation Board that a mediator has been assigned and meetings for mediation will commence on Great Lakes Aviation. Mediator Jack Kane has scheduled meetings for October 18-19 and November 7-9 ...

Company Continues to Stall

As many of you are aware, District 143 requested assistance from the National Mediation Board in order to help facilitate contract negotiations between the IAM and Great Lakes Aviation.  To date, the assigned mediator for these negotiations has not been able to establish tentative dates with Great Lakes Aviation representatives.

We have been made aware by members and non-members that allegedly Great Lakes Aviation management is stating that they are ready to negotiate and the union is stalling…then I would ask why they have not contacted us to establish dates to negotiate.  Furthermore, why have they not committed to dates with the National Mediation Board?  The only group stalling is them!

Great Lakes Aviation management continues to play games.  Listed below are letters that have recently been exchanged by District 143 and by the attorney representing Great Lakes Aviation.  “It is my opinion that Great Lakes Aviation would rather continue to use deceptive, anti-union practices towards their employees versus sitting down at the negotiating table with us to advance the living conditions of our membership and their families,” stated President Stephen Gordon, “just as Doug Voss has advanced his living conditions on the backs of his employees.”

Letter from GLA's Attorney
District 143's Response

Station Visit Successful

On Wednesday, August 17, 2007 PDGC Stephen Gordon, Sr. General Chair Gerry Bernson, and General Chair Paul Longden met with the mechanics of Great Lakes Aviation to discuss the unwillingness of Great Lakes management to negotiate in good faith for a new contract for our membership.

“Management at Great Lakes Aviation is more concerned with lying to their employees than sitting across the table with us to negotiate an agreement.  We heard from the employees that management claims that they could give them a raise if there was not a union on the property; why don’t they then?  This management group is nothing more than a bunch of long-string puppets in baron-robber clothing,” stated PDGC Gordon.

PDGC Gordon continued, “This incompetent management team will be forced to the negotiating table by the National Mediation Board to negotiate once and for all.  Our members will no longer subsidize management’s inability to make sound decisions that will have positive implications to our membership, their families and their communities.”

The number of employees who attended the informational meeting was outstanding.  On behalf of PDGC Gordon, Sr. Chair Bernson and General Chair Longden, we thank you for your time.

Station Visit Scheduled

President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon, Sr. General Chair Gerry Bernson and General Chair Paul Longden will be in Cheyenne, Wyoming August 14-16 meeting with the membership of Great Lakes Aviation to discuss the status of contract negotiations. “Our membership at Great Lakes Aviation has had to endure management’s unwillingness to negotiate in good faith for far too long,” stated PDGC Gordon, “their stall tactics will not be tolerated any longer.”  District 143 has requested that the Grand Lodge assist us and the membership of Great Lakes in filing with the National Mediation Board to help bring Great Lakes management to the negotiating table once and for all.  Great Lakes Aviation management has not responded to any of our requests, albeit our contract openers or any of our letters sent to them directly requesting negotiations.

Informational meetings will be held on Wednesday August 15, 2007.  We encourage all employees of Great Lakes Aviation to attend.  “We can prove our attempts to negotiate in good faith. I don’t think Great Lakes Aviation management can make the same statement. Our members — their employees— deserve better,” stated President Gordon.

Negotiations

Since July 24, 1992 Great Lakes Aviation has recognized the IAM as the duly-authorized Union representative of its mechanics and related employees. On May 14, 2998 its maintenance clerks joined the IAM as well.

As the duly-authorized Union representative of these employees we represent and, on their behalf, negotiate and conclude agreements with the Company. Working hours, wages and other conditions of employment are debated in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended.

The above information is factual; but, what is the real story?

On February 28, 2002 District 143 submitted to Great Lakes Aviation proposed amendments to the Maintenance Clerks agreement. On December 12, 2005 District 143 submitted proposed amendments to the MRP agreement. After many failed attempts to get negotiations started, certified letters for the Maintenance Clerks and MRP agreements were sent out on March 5, 2007 in order to get the Company to the bargaining table. So far they have not responded.

Our negotiations problem is the open shop predicament. Only 2% of our maintenance clerks and 10% of our MRP employees are Union members. Great Lakes Aviation management knows how many Union-represented employees they have and don't have. They know the numbers are in their favor so they will continue to be non-responsive to negotiations.

How do you and the Union get the Company to the bargaining table? You can fill out this form and send your demands to Great Lakes Aviation. It's time for the Company to sit down at the bargaining table and negotiate our contracts.

Contact District 143 with any questions.