Negotiations
Your IAM joint contract negotiations committee met from Monday, July 20, 2015 and continued through Thursday, July 23, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Proposals were passed on the following Sections:
Section 5 Travel Expenses
Section 6 Training
Section 9 Sick Leave
Section 11 Leaves of Absences
Section 23 General
We expected much more progress to be made on these Sections, unfortunately due to inaction on the Company’s part that was not possible. In addition, vast division remains on several key issues contained within these Sections.
In Section 11 Leaves of Absence, one of the most extensive sections in the CBA, we focused on sick and vacation accruals, along with medical benefits while on different types of leaves. Section 5 Travel Expenses has very few open items but those contain substantial differences. We were able to resolve most issues in Section 6, Training. Section 9 Sick Leave has been whittled down to just a few open items as well but some of those items have the potential to greatly impact the membership, which is not being taken lightly. Section 23 General, encompasses many different topics such as out of base parking, commuter clause policy and jumpseating. We are aware that these issues will affect the day-to-day quality of life of our members, so we are continuing to fight hard to protect your rights.
We remain determined to achieve an industry leading agreement, while the Company has shown that it is their intent to negotiate a subpar agreement. Your negotiations committee is unified in our resolve to bringing our membership a contract that they deserve, as safety professionals.
Negotiations will continue on September 14 through September 17, 2015 in Houston, Texas.
The dedicated website for negotiations can be accessed at: www.iamoneuniononevoice.org
Transportation Conference – This is Our Time
At a time when corporations are taking in billions, the largest ever IAM Transportation Conference inspired delegates to shake up the rail and air industries. More than 600 delegates, including those from the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) and Canada, gathered in Hollywood, FL to kick off the conference. Representing the IAM flight attendants was Nancie Craft (IAH-2339H), Ali Rhodes (CLE-2339O), Cori Horowitz (ORD-2339O), Darci McLaren (ORD-2339O), Monica Pasillas (ORD-2339O), Lorry Maletsky (EWR-2339N), Carli Cappelli (EWR-2339N), Stephanie Starks (ORD-2339O) along with District 142 Vice President Nicole Washington Fears, Special Representatives Melissa Brennan and Marche Johnson Cooper and General Chairperson, Sara Gonzales.
Delegates charted the course for the next two years of the world’s largest air and rail union. IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger gave an impassioned keynote address. Other speakers included AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, new IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie, TCU-IAM National President Bob Scardaletti and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) spoke of the IAM’s importance in expanding the middle class. Delta Flight Attendant Spencer Hayes electrified the delegates as he spoke of great progress being made in the country’s largest organizing campaign. Delegates rose to their feet as International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) General Secretary Stephen Cotton vowed the continuation of Delta campaign support from 4.5-million ITF members. Afternoons were set aside for delegate committee meetings, such as collective bargaining, organizing and railroad health and welfare. A question and answer session was held for all District 19, 141 and 142 delegates. Click here for more information on the Transportation Conference.
CRJ
Payroll
This pay period we had Flight Attendants who weren’t paid correctly, as a reminder please check your pay remittance forms each time you are paid, compare it to your crew pay **NEW**. If you notice a discrepancy, in order to resolve the issue, please email your CFA and make sure your Grievance Representatives are included.
Grievances
We have had several resolutions prior to grievances being filed this week. We have also filed several grievances, they are either scheduled for an Initial Hearing or they have been heard and are waiting on a response from the Company. The grievance that had been held in abeyance from Grievance Mediation has been settled amicably.
ERJ
Grievance Update
Unfortunately the Company had to reschedule the Step 2 hearings August 20th, in Houston, Texas due to travel issues. The four grievances previously scheduled to be heard August 20th have been rescheduled for September 14th in Houston, Texas. Two other grievances have also been appealed to Step 2 this week and will be heard on September 14th. We are also awaiting the receipt of an IAH grievance for Step 2 appeal which will also be heard on September 14th. The base breakdown for Step 2 grievances is as follows:
EWR-2
ORD-2
DFW-1
MCI-1
In addition, we have scheduled a meeting with the National Mediation Board appointed mediator to review outstanding ERJ grievances on September 29th & 30th in Houston, Texas and our first grievance mediation session is scheduled December 1st – 2nd.
General Chairs Sara Gonzales and Jim Samuel have been working with the Company this week to push forward outstanding grievances that have been appealed to Arbitration. Much progress has been made this week and we anticipate we will have arbitrators selected on several of those cases shortly.
ExpressJet RGT Issues
We have had several issues regarding disparate treatment in recurrent training class. We are currently researching these issues not only on a case-by-case basis but as a whole as well. We will be pursuing these claims to the fullest extent possible.
One of the great benefits of union membership is equal treatment protected by your contract and union. We will not stand idly by if members are being singled out or treated more harshly than others in recurrent training. Recurrent training should be a place for our members to hone their skills as safety professionals not be in fear of being targeted. While it is our hope that we can resolve these issues quickly and amicably, we are prepared to fight back to ensure our members’ rights.
If you have witnessed or were a victim of unfair treatment in RGT please email a detailed account of what occurred to with ‘RGT’ in the subject line.
