Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Negotiations continued this week, virtually, under the control of the National Mediation Board (NMB) and Mediators Mike Tosi and Gerry McGuckin. The efforts in this session were still centered on completion of the Houston (IAH) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). While I am pleased that we have finished the greater majority of the CBA, including economics, we have hit a roadblock based on the Company’s insistence on including language that puts our members and your interests at risk. This insistence has caused an unnecessary delay which will prevent us from closing out the IAH negotiations and moving to ratification with the IAH CBA.
This delay centers on inclusion of a proposal from the Company to modify Article 13 to say that everyone must give a two (2) weeks’ notice or lose their accrued vacation payout when they leave the company. The Unions counterproposal gave the company what they wanted but also included protections against abuse of this provision, mainly in the form of ensuring payouts in the event of retirement, disability, or death. The Company in turn proposed language that insanely asked that someone give a two (2) weeks’ notice in the event of death or lose their accrued vacation.
This behavior from the Company is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We put forward a fair proposal that simply protects your interests and does
nothing to harm the company in any way.
As soon as the Company corrects this repugnant behavior, we will complete the IAH CBA and put it before the membership for ratification. In the meantime, you should voice your displeasure about these actions with your management team. If you have any questions about the contents of this bulletin, please reach out to your negotiating committee member or your General Chairperson, James M. Samuel, at or (859) 653-4037, for additional help or information. Thank you for your patience and commitment. With best wishes we remain
Sincerely and fraternally,
John M. Coveny, Jr.
President/Directing General Chair
James M. Samuel
General Chair
