Don Videtich
ATD Deputy Director
International Representative
The past year has been a very challenging one. The bankruptcy process has been very stressful on our members. But, we secured an agreement that is far better than any other union has negotiated with a bankrupt company. In fact, the TWU scope protection protects more good paying jobs than any other labor agreement in the U.S. airline industry. The same cannot be said of the union that is now raiding American Airlines and US Airways TWU and IAM membership. You should know the facts about so-called “Teamster Power” before you vote. What would you be getting if you were to become a Teamster at American Airlines? Let me help provide some answers.
First off, when the Teamsters raided AMFA members at United Airlines they made the same promises that they are now making to TWU members at American Airlines. They promised to reopen the contract before its amendable date, bring work back in-house, and provide better representation. None of that happened after the Teamster’s took over in 2008 at United.
Reopening the Contract – The Teamster’s posted a survey on their United organizing website for hopeful UAL mechanic and related employees to fill out what they wanted when the IBT became their representative and immediately opened the agreement. Was the contract reopened in 2008 after the Teamsters decertified AMFA? No. The Teamsters were only able to get a new agreement close to three years after the amendable date of the Bankruptcy Exit Agreement after one rejected TA. This agreement was a transition agreement which extends most of the work rules and all of the outsourcing concessions imposed in bankruptcy. And despite the fact that UAL and CAL have been a single carrier for several years, the IBT still has not been able to negotiate a joint collective bargaining agreement covering both mechanic groups. Seniority lists remain separate and UAL mechanics have been deprived of recall opportunities as a result.
Bring Work Back In-house – After losing all but three lines of airframe overhaul to outsourcing and the closure of the Indianapolis and Oakland overhaul bases, United M&R had been reduced by close to two-thirds and well over ten thousand jobs were lost. The Teamsters promised to bring work back in-house and stop outsourcing. Did the Teamsters deliver on their promise? In 2008 when the Teamsters took over, United had 6,490 M&R employees according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Last year, according to the BLS, UAL’s mechanic and related membership had dropped to 4,108. In 2011, 51 percent of UAL’s maintenance spend was for outsourced maintenance and in 2012, the combined UAL and CAL spent 47 percent of its maintenance budget on outsourced work – levels far higher than what the IBT inherited. So much for Teamster Power.
Better Representation – The Teamster’s have also stated they will provide better representation when they came in at United. That did not happen. In fact, what happened to the United M&R membership in San Francisco was a fiasco. The current Teamster local in San Francisco was concerned that the United M&R membership totaling 3,500 would dominate the local if all those United members were brought in. The Teamster’s decided that the best way to fix the problem was to split the membership between a local in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The membership was not split by craft or occupation, but by what letter their last name started with. Huh? How is that better representation? United M&R is now in the same local with truck drivers and city workers. Better representation? Not hardly.
So, what do you get for all these awesome Teamster improvements if they become the collective bargaining agent at American Airlines? The contract won’t be reopened, the jobs won’t come back; in fact, if past performance is a guide, total jobs will likely diminish, and you will get lumped into a local with bakers and truck drivers. And, now for the kicker, you get this all for an additional $400 a year in dues. The one power the Teamster’s seem to have over the TWU is the power to take more money out of your wallet.
The future of the Air Transport Division at the TWU is changing for the better, for all of M&R especially. The TWU started with organizing the transportation trades originally and continues to be an industry leader in improving overall standards of safety and professionalism. Starting this year, the ATD plans to move forward with several key projects that will improve that level of professionalism in the Aviation Maintenance craft.
AMT Professional Standards – A few years back the local Presidents formed a committee and had drafted a set of professional standards for AMTs at American Airlines. The goal was to raise the level of quality and skills of the AMT craft at American Airlines that would be used as a model for the entire airline industry. TWU AMTs would provide a higher level of skills and value to American Airlines and in return we would demand higher pay for the AMTs who provided it through strong contract language.
Putting FAA Part 66 Back On The Legislative Agenda – Approximately fifteen years ago, the FAA proposed creating a new set of licensing standards for the aviation maintenance industry. The current FAA Part 65 which regulates licensing of AMTs and the regulation for aircraft maintenance schools, FAA Part 147, are outdated. In today’s aviation industry, the current FARs need to catch up to the modern commercial aviation industry. Composites, fly-by-wire, and even the advent of fuel cells replacing APUs, are driving a need for updated licensing. The TWU believes by updating the current Part 65 with an updated standard, we can demand appropriate compensation for the skills needed to do the job.
Improving The Organization – The TWU ATD will continue to push forward a set of internal improvements, such as professional mandatory training for officers and stewards, efficient communication to the membership, working with our new IAM partners at the New American Airlines, and a professional arbitration team.
The TWU/IAM Employee Association is an excellent vehicle for solidifying the future success of all American Airlines members. Together we will create a strong and unified force that puts the value of organized labor at the forefront and money in the membership’s pockets.
Read the entire ATD Insider, June 2013 HERE