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updated 05/09/2008 12:54 PMApril 25, 2008Home Agent Test Program to End “It is unfortunate that Alaska Airlines management insists on exclusively controlling the terms and conditions of a Home Agent program while excluding the IAM and our concerns; therefore, we have been left no other choice other than to cancel the test program all together,” stated President Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon. “The main issue that we were unable to agree upon was the establishment of full-time grievance committee representatives who would provide representation beyond the walls of the reservation centers. We have a federal obligation to offer duty of fair representation to all members and without the establishment of grievance committees, we cannot properly represent individuals outside the office, or at minimum be told by local management when we can be off the phone in order to conduct Union business.” This decision does not come easily; however, we are not willing to jeopardize the responsibilities of our stewards, our District, or our organization. Mr. Jarvis states, “The Company has taken your request for Shop Committees seriously and we have investigated the cost of adding Shop Committees in each reservation office. Based on current time off the phones this would equate to an incremental increase of several full-time employees for representation purposes. In the current financial environment this isn’t feasible for us.” Contrarily, Mr. Jarvis also states in his letter, “The Company will offset the cost of the phone line utilized for the Home Agents function by providing a $25 monthly subsidy to each Home Agent.” District 143 has requested in writing that all participants of the Home Agent test program be brought back into their applicable reservation office within the next thirty (30) days. “The Company’s unwillingness to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement has caused us to arrive at this decision; therefore, we have been left with no alternative other than to exercise the agreed-upon provision to terminate our participation in this test program,” stated President Gordon.
NWA/DAL Merger District 143 has received jurisdiction of the Delta organizing campaign and have enacted our plan to organize the Delta employees. We need everyone’s help! If you know a Delta employee, talk to them and let them know what’s at stake for them as well. If you are interested in helping in any capacity, please contact District 143 Organizers Mike Rachfal or Gary Mobley and let them know that you are interested. Please do not forget to send us your personal email address (include your name, employee number and personal address) so that you can receive all of our communications via email. Additionally, please remember to contact your legislators and send them an email opposing this merger. It only takes about two minutes. Stay tuned – it’s going to get very interesting. “Me Too” As we have previously reported, District 143 has informed the Company that we are prepared to go to arbitration for proper resolution. This will be our final discussion with NWA regarding this matter. Once the meeting concludes, District 143 will inform the membership of the details, and future plans. Legislative News IAM Leaders Testify with CEOs on Proposed Merger We had members from United Airlines, Continental Airlines and a small army from Northwest Airlines in attendance from several locations. On behalf of District 143 I would like to extend a BIG thank you to everyone who attended the hearing. The executives saw it, the members of the Committee saw it and the press saw it. Unfortunately, this committee had labor on a different panel than Northwest and Delta, so they ran away before they had to respond to our remarks. We are trying to prevent that from happening again, but that is up to each individual committee. Chairman Conyers was clearly frustrated that they left because he had additional questions following our testimony. We will need to do this again, the next scheduled hearing’s are Minnesota Legislature Minnesota Legislature Washington D.C. Washington D.C. I will let you know more when I get the details. Please check the Legislative page on the District 143 website often as information changes and more hearings are scheduled. On April 24, your district lodge sent dozens of members to help reinforce the strong showing from the Grand Lodge in the Rayburn building of the Capitol. They sat in on the first of many congressional hearings on the proposed merger of Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. Like we did in New York bankruptcy court and again at the Capitol for the Pension Reform Act, the leadership of the IAM is using all of its political know-how to combat this merger and the trend it will promote.
Mr. Steenland, when questioned on the merger said, "No hubs will be closed, our routes are complimentary;" while Mr. Anderson said, "The world is changing rapidly; we need a true global airline to combat foreign-flag carriers. The merger provides security for our employees; we have set aside significant stock to be paid to employees at the end of this process. We have committed ourselves in protecting pensions, with no layoffs for 'frontline' employees. This merger will open three thousand new, domestic markets and six thousand new, international market commitments." The questions asked by the taskforce were mostly soft with one exception: Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) asked the CEOs, "Are management jobs the only jobs in danger of layoffs in the event of this merger?" Doug Steenland answered, "Yes." It was then asked how many people stand to lose their jobs. This question set off a nervous twitch on Richard Anderson's face; he blinked his eyes over and over while Doug looked to him as if to say, "What number should we go with?" They both said 1,000 employees after much chiding from the taskforce.
April 14, 2008Northwest, Delta Announce Merger Plans The recent announcement that Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are seeking to merge is just the latest chapter in the crisis-filled history of our beleagured industry... Letter from President Stephen M. Gordon to IAM-NWA Members Great Lakes Aviation National Mediation Board to Investigate Great Lakes Aviation
IAM “Me – Too” Clause NWA / Delta Merger For months now, District 143 has clearly expressed our opposition in supporting a merger in an industry saturated with turmoil. Just recently, General Vice-President Robert Roach, Jr., released a statement requesting that airline executives focus on safety, and managing an effective business plan versus merging carriers. “The merging of any airlines at a time where consumers continue to experience deplorable levels of service due to outsourcing, staffing levels, and antiquated business models would beyond any doubt only cultivate an even more miserable travel experience for the consumer with less choice,” stated President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon. “I cannot reiterate enough that the core intent of consolidation is less.” District 143 along with the Grand Lodge will continue to protect our membership in the event of any proposed merger combination. Once again, we ask that you contact your state and federal legislators and vehemently oppose any merger that would have negative implications towards our job security, our communities, as well as the flying public. “I can assure this membership that this organization will pull out all the stops in defending our livelihoods’ at any cost,” stated PDGC Gordon. General Chair Nan Otto It is with great regret to inform the membership of the recent passing of General Chair Nan Otto’s father. “On behalf of all District 143 members, I would like to offer our condolences to Nan’s entire family for their recent loss,” stated President Gordon. Anyone wishing to express their written condolences may do so by mailing the District office (IAM Air Transport District 143, 2510 Lexington Ave South, St Paul MN 55120). If you have any questions or need help, we would ask that you contact the District office so that we can forward your call to an appropriate General Chair while Sister Otto spends personal time with her family. April 4, 2008Northwest Airlines NWA to Cut Domestic Schedule Local Lodge 1040 Organizing Training Alaska Airlines District 143 Meets with Management March 27, 2008
District 143 regrets to inform the membership of the passing of Andrew Prulello, an IAM/NWA DTW steward, earlier this week. “Andrew will truly be missed by everyone who knew him. Andy was a very charismatic man who held strong Union beliefs and worked hard to protect his Union brothers and sisters and more importantly his family, albeit a steward or a committee member and a father,” stated President/Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon. For anyone interested, arrangement details are as follows: O'Brien Funeral Home
Safety District 143 continues to meet with representatives from the applicable carriers to address safety concerns. Safety infractions continue to be hot issues at all of our represented airlines. District 143 would like to remind EVERYONE not to compromise the integrity of a safe working environment in the name of “on-time.” We must remain vigilant in creating and working in the safest environment as possible. When we don’t, we possibly injure ourselves or a co-worker. Aircraft damage continues to rise andour members continue to be disciplined and/or terminated all because of good intentions that went bad. Do not put yourself in a position to work unsafe.
District 143 representatives and Alaska Airlines representatives will be meeting in Seattle the week of April 1 to discuss several issues that continue to be unresolved. Discussions will center on the Home Agent Test program, Management Assist, as well as other issues currently plaguing our membership throughout the system; such as unwarranted discipline towards our membership, modification towards uniforms, safety. “The issue of the Home Agent Test Program solely lies in the hands of Alaska Airlines management in determining whether or not to bring permanency to this program. District 143 has afforded Alaska Airlines with more than 12 months of testing in order for the Company to realize any tangible benefits to this program,” stated President Gordon. “A decision must be made at this meeting one way or another.” District 143 looks forward to resolving these issues; however, there must be an equal effort from Alaska management as well. Furthermore, District 143 continues to await the arbitrator's decision on the Seattle Ramp Lockout. As we have previously stated, this is a very complex case and therefore will take time. Stay tuned! Northwest Airlines National Pension Fund During the road shows, members have the opportunity to visit with the representatives and ask questions, view their plan, and gain a general understanding of the benefit plan. Additional road shows across the system will continue through the month of June. District 143 would advise anyone who has questions or concerns regarding our newly-ratified pension benefit attend any of these meetings. For more information regarding the National Pension Plan station visit, please contact your assigned general chair or your respective grievance committee. NWA/DAL Merger? District 143 will remain active in protecting our membership from any deal that would have adverse effects towards our membership and the communities in which they live. Just like Frank Buchman once said, “There is enough in the world for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”
The Robert James Act Key Senators who sit on the Finance Committee are: Democrats: Max Baucus, MT Republicans: Chuck Grassley, IA If you reside in one of the mentioned states above, your calls and emails asking for support of this bill are extremely important. These are the Senators directly on the Committee where our bill sits and can move it forward faster. |
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The House Judiciary Committee's Anti Trust & Competition Taskforce is headed by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) who opened the proceedings with "We're here today considering airline competition and the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines." The first panelists questioned were Northwest CEO Doug Steenland and Delta CEO Richard Anderson. Their opening statements were taken right out of their Wall Street Journal Op-Ed piece that ran after the two companies announced their intentions. In a nutshell, they cannot go it alone as stand-alone carriers; that this merger is good for employees, shareholders and the flying public; and that the price of oil has forced them to rethink their business plan again.
A second group of panelists including our own IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger followed. He gave an uplifting yet somber statement reiterating the IAM's stance to oppose various mergers between the six major U.S. airlines. He asked for some form of limited re-regulation of the airlines and said, "The wholesale reshaping of the industry will harm the country and the industry." IP Buffenbarger made the taskforce aware of the $19 million Mr. Steenland will get in the event of a merger, and the untold amount that Mr. Anderson will receive as a part of a new compensation package with the new, larger airline. Mr. Conyers (D-MI) was unaware of any CEO or other management compensation and asked what the unions stood to gain financially. A collective laugh was heard throughout the room. Obviously, the answer is nothing. It is disturbing that many on the taskforce are not familiar with the complexity of past mergers or the deeds of the airlines' management over the past decade where 150,000 jobs and $30 billion have been lost.
IAM Steward Passes Away
