Transport Workers Union Local 514 http://twu514.org We are the people that maintain American Airlines in: Tulsa Ok., Oklahoma City Ok., El PasoTx., San Antonio Tx., Memphis Tn. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:13:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Shop Stewards Meeting http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/03/shop-stewards-meeting/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/03/shop-stewards-meeting/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:12:10 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1393 Shop Stewards Meeting, 9-13-2010

Monday, September 13, 2010

7:15 AM, 11:45 AM and 3:45 PM

11929 East Pine Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Agenda

1.Regular order of business.

2.2011 Benefits Update

TWU, Local 514

Sam Cirri, President

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/03/shop-stewards-meeting/feed/ 0 Labor Fest 2010 http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/02/labor-fest-2010/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/02/labor-fest-2010/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:35:04 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1330

Carnival Rides, Games and Family Fun!!!

Saturday, September 4, 2010
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Quik Trip Center
(Expo Square)
Enter at West End
Bring TWU Union Card To get in FREE!
Family Members only

Menu:
Hot Dog & Chips
Pulled Pork Sandwich & Chips
Hamburger & Chips
Pizza
1 Meal ticket per person
Unlimited:
Pop, Water, Tea Lemonade
Cotton Candy
Popcorn
Snow-cones
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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/02/labor-fest-2010/feed/ 0 DECERTIFIED! http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/01/decertified/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/01/decertified/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:43:42 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1388 After the 2008 election the AFL-CIO Transportation and Trades Department filed a petition with the National Mediation Board (NMB) to change the election rules under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

Under the old rule the union asking for an election had to have 50%+1 of all the workers in the craft or class who are eligible to vote actually vote for union representation for the union to win. The workers in the class and craft who did not vote were counted as no votes or votes against representation

Example: 400 workers in the class and craft

*100 voted TWU

*99 voted AMP

*201 did not vote

Winner = No Representation

Because a majority did not vote for representation they were counted as “I do not want a union.”

Unions have long complained that the rule was unfair for organizations seeking to represent unrepresented workers. They felt the rule should be the same as in the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) where the choice receiving a majority of the workers that cast a ballot is counted as the winner. On that ballot there is a choice for union “A” or union “B” (if there are two unions running), but also a choice for no representation or no union.

The NMB did make a rule change to now reflect that only the workers that actually vote will be counted and the choice receiving the majority of votes cast will win, but they will also now include a “No Representation” choice on the ballot, a choice not previously offered on NMB ballots. While this is helpful to unions seeking to represent unrepresented workers it creates some serious risks in a situation where one union is seeking to raid another.

Example: 400 workers in class and craft; only 251 vote

*TWU 100 votes

*AMP 25 votes

*126 No Representation votes

Winner = Decertification. You no longer have any contract or union.

Therefore, in a raid situation far less than a majority of the class and craft could vote for no representation and cause decertification and void the contract. This rule is similar to the rules under the NLRA and, unfortunately, these rules are often manipulated by management and total loss of union representation is much more common under that law. One of the reasons for this is that once the “no representation” choice is on the ballot managements have the right to advocate for this position and they commonly do.

However, the new rule is being challenged by the Air Transport Association (ATA) in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and one of the many issues under challenge relates to decertification procedures and the ATA’s demand that they be made even easier. The rule could be shot down by the courts or changed at anytime by the NMB but one thing is for sure, there has always been a way to lose union representation in an election under the Railway Labor Act and that remains the case. With the new rule you could actually be decertified with less than a majority in the class and craft voting for this result.

If there is a tie there will be a run off election.

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/09/01/decertified/feed/ 0 Current NMB Clarifications http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/31/current-nmb-clarifications/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/31/current-nmb-clarifications/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:08:30 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1383 Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Our office has received numerous E-mails and phone calls as a result of confusion created by newspaper and media coverage of our AA negotiations and the contract rejection by two of the work groups. In view of this, I decided that it was important to clarify some of the key facts about where we stand today.
First, the fact that the contract was rejected does not place us on a 30 day countdown to a strike. We are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the NMB and in order to be on a 30 day clock the Board has to release us. That determination is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the NMB and is made only when the NMB comes to the determination that further bargaining without a release would be futile.
That being said, we have planned to meet with the negotiating committee in order to discuss priorities and our further steps and options. Once accomplished (September 14-15) our next step will be contacting the NMB in order to advise them that we are willing to sit down at the bargaining table with American. However, now that we are in mediation, future meetings must be scheduled by the NMB.
As you know, several months ago, the TWU and the APFA both requested that the NMB release us. Nether request was granted. We will not renew or request without the full consideration with the negotiating committee and the Presidents. Obviously, we can only make this decision after reviewing the progress of the renewed bargaining. Clearly the NMB will make no judgment about the need for a release until it reviews the progress of any further bargaining.
Hope that this helps clear up some of the misinformation that has been spread by some media accounts.
Fraternally,
James C. Little International President
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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/31/current-nmb-clarifications/feed/ 0 AA Vote- Marching Forward http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/31/aa-vote-marching-forward/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/31/aa-vote-marching-forward/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:37:07 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1380 Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Our contract votes are in, and now we must re-start the contract campaign. We will continue to push forward to secure an equitable agreement, to be recognized for our sacrifices, and most importantly to stop the continuing erosion of the future of all airline professionals.
Our next steps must be initiated immediately. I have asked the ATD to call for an urgent meeting of the entire team to develop a renewed strategic plan.
While the team will help design our campaign, there are four changes I am instituting now until we can fully review the current negotiating structure at AA.
  1. There will be two equal co-chairs of the team, one from ATD staff and another elected by the team. This hopefully avoids much of the miscommunications we are currently experiencing.
  2. The co-chairs will BOTH attend their meetings with the company and the NMB with no exceptions.
  3. We will also make sure that every member of the negotiating team is fully engaged in the process and demonstrates their ability to get real time information to our members at the drop of a hat. As an example: having dedicated team captains in the field to disseminate the information directly from the negotiating committee.
  4. I have asked the ATD to provide additional electronic communications sent out as the “Contract Connection” after every negotiating session. Regardless of how you voted, the time is now to be more united than ever. The company may be counting on us to fight one another and destroy ourselves from within; I can assure you that will not happen unless you and I allow it to happen.
Again, now that the membership has spoken, we must put the past behind us and come together and speak with ONE VOICE with the ultimate goal to get the best contract we can for our members.

The ride is not going to be easy, but we are in this together for as long as it takes. It is a proven fact that ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall”.

In solidarity and fraternally,

James C. Little International President

AA Vote- Marching Forward, Aug 30, 2010 – PDF

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/31/aa-vote-marching-forward/feed/ 0 Membership Meeting http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/membership-meeting-2/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/membership-meeting-2/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:50:19 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1369 August 30, 2010

Monday August 30th

7:15 am, 11:45 am, 3:45 pm, 11:30 pm

You have a voice let it be heard!

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/membership-meeting-2/feed/ 0 VOTE REJECTION RESULTS http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/vote-rejection-results/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/vote-rejection-results/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:47:33 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1366 Two thirds of the ATD/TWU negotiating committee voted to bring the present tentative agreement back for membership consideration. Tulsa TWU membership spoke their feelings loud and clear, first by voting in new leaders on the local level (most of whom, including the new Local President Sam Cirri, opposed the agreement) and then by voting down the agreement. Sam Cirri strongly believes and stated during his participation in negotiations that the proposed contract needed substantially more work before bringing it to the members. “In working with the other Title Chairmen, I will have more say in whether a tentative agreement merits consideration by our members”, said Cirri.

Local 514 members will have a voice in what they believe needs to be changed about the agreement through a survey that is now on the floor. Please return this important survey to the union hall by Sept. 3. President Cirri will take your answers back to the negotiating committee. The TWU will use every avenue available from our TWU membership and the political front.

Your TWU represents 200,000 workers and retirees. Local 514 represents 5,085 mechanics and related members, 306 fleet service clerks, 472 stock clerks and 71 technical specialists.

Be involved in the change you want to see in your TWU! We look forward to seeing all of you at our next TWU union meeting in Tulsa. Thank you for your support and your voice. WE are the union.

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/vote-rejection-results/feed/ 0 AAA Certification of Contract Vote http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/aaa-certification-of-contract-vote/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/aaa-certification-of-contract-vote/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:27:13 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1361 August 26, 2010

Following the TWU’s release of the “unofficial” results from the Mechanic and Related, Stores and Technical Specialist vote on the recent tentative agreement, the American Arbitration Association conducted a thorough review of the data.  This was part of their customary procedure; the AAA performed an extensive review of
the spreadsheets and tally sheets prior to issuing an official certification of results.  

During that review, they discovered a discrepancy and made an adjustment to the results for official certification. The adjustments did change vote totals; it did not affect the outcome of the referendum
and are accurate. Below is a summary of the changes from what was initially reported:

There were approximately an additional 300 No votes in both Stock Trade and Mechanic & Related Trade

There were approximately an additional 60 Yes votes in the Stock Trade and 100 in M&R.

There were approximately an additional 5 No votes in the Technical Specialist Trade.

The new adjusted vote totals are certified and are as follows:

Mechanic and Related Tentative Agreement Certified Vote Results

The vote results for Mechanic and Related were as follows:

3472 voted in favor of the Tentative Agreement

6344 voted to reject the Tentative Agreement

The Mechanic and Related membership has spoken through the democratic process of casting their vote and have officially rejected the May 5, 2010 tentative agreement.

Stores Tentative Agreement Vote Results
The vote results were as follows:

398 voted in favor of the Tentative Agreement

616 voted to reject the Tentative Agreement

The Stores membership has spoken through the democratic process of casting their vote and has officially rejected the May 5, 2010 tentative agreement.


Technical Specialists Tentative Agreement Vote Results
The vote results were as follows:

60 voted in favor of the Tentative Agreement

23 voted to reject the Tentative Agreement

The Technical Specialists membership has spoken through the democratic process of casting their vote and has officially accepted the May 5, 2010 tentative agreement.

We will begin the process of implementing the new agreement and will update our Technical Specialists members as information becomes available.

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/27/aaa-certification-of-contract-vote/feed/ 0 Tentative Agreement Ballot Count, Mechanic and Related and Stores – Aug 24, 2010 http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/24/tentative-agreement-ballot-count-mechanic-and-related-and-stores-aug-24-2010/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/24/tentative-agreement-ballot-count-mechanic-and-related-and-stores-aug-24-2010/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:11:35 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1349 10,251 ballots received

Mechanic and Related, Failed   yes-3371 no—6074

Stores, Failed         yes–332  no–384

Tech Specialist, Passed       yes–60  no 18

Will have more details tomorrow and will post them when available.

Al Ball

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]]> http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/24/tentative-agreement-ballot-count-mechanic-and-related-and-stores-aug-24-2010/feed/ 0 Call to All Members to Join “One Nation: Marching for One Dream” – James C. Little TWU International President http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/23/call-to-all-members-to-join-%e2%80%9cone-nation-marching-for-one-dream%e2%80%9d-james-c-little-twu-international-president/ http://twu514.org/blog/2010/08/23/call-to-all-members-to-join-%e2%80%9cone-nation-marching-for-one-dream%e2%80%9d-james-c-little-twu-international-president/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:25:28 +0000 admin http://twu514.org/?p=1344 WE BELIEVE everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream — a secure job, a safe home, and a quality education.

ONE NATION seeks to move beyond our small differences and bring us together in a common quest for equal opportunity and justice for all.
Brothers and sisters of the TWU: we are at a critical crossroads, one where we can choose the politics of hope and change, or reward the politics of division and gridlock, such as we’ve seen by anti-worker forces in Congress and their ‘party of no’ backers.

I call on all officers, members and activists who are able to join the TWU International in “One Nation, Marching for One Dream,” a mobilization to take America forward on October 2, 2010 in Washington D.C.

As we struggle to climb out of a deep recession we must awaken public attention to the huge political clash now looming over these elections. This November’s congressional and state races will decide our country’s direction for years to come and have vital importance for TWU members and other working Americans. October 2 is just one month before Election Day. This mobilization will demonstrate the power of our united One Nation coalition, created by forces of goodwill that stand for hope and change.
Read More

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