United Airlines negotiations
resume
Rich Delaney, November 15, 2009 —
United Airlines negotiations continued last week. Our first day of United Airlines negotiations involved preparation for a presentation by the company, regarding Health insurance, Dental, and other benefits.
Federal Mediator Terri Brown came to Chicago last week for an escorted tour of the IAM work sites. Ms. Brown wanted to see the extent of the operational work IAM members perform and get a feel for some of the workplace issues we are discussing.
Ms. Brown visited most general work areas in ORD, CHIRR, and OPC and had the opportunity to talk with members about their jobs and get a hands on explanation of the complexity and scope of our work. We believe this visit will have a positive effect on future talks and that Ms. Brown will be able to relate to the concerns of our members.
In United Airlines negotiations, the company then presented a comprehensive package of information. They outlined their goals for modifications in insurance benefits. The information we received was also provided, in other meetings, to the other unions in United Airlines negotiations. The company compared their current costs of benefits with other carriers. They noted the level of coverage provided by IAM Agreements was at the high end of any comparison.
While the company presented a lot of information in United Airlines negotiations supporting its position, the main points were their desire to focus on ways to structure insurance coverage that improves the health of our Members and controls and contains the cost of health insurance.
While we are very reluctant to discuss cost containment proposals with United in United Airlines negotiations, since most of that discussion ends up having employees pay a larger and larger premium for the same or less coverage, we are willing to continue talking to the company about some ideas for improving our health plan to include programs that help make our membership healthier at no cost.
Similar to our current Dental program, insurance plans that treat preventative care differently than treatment for illness or injury have proven to be successful. The concept of developing stronger programs that encourage people to take preventative screenings and tests that reduce the likelihood of more serious illness is one that can be shared by both the Union and the company in United Airlines negotiations.
The company also introduced some new concepts of how healthcare benefits could be offered to employees. Several ideas, such as Exclusive Provider Organizations, have only recently been developed by healthcare providers and are subjects that need much more information and definition in order to be talked about. Our team has already begun gathering outside information, from our Grand Lodge and other resources, in order to respond in United Airlines negotiations.
It is important to remember that this is the beginning of United Airlines negotiations with regard to this important and complex part of our Members’ overall compensation. Decisions and agreements that may be reached on this topic will only come after much discussion and exchanging of ideas on how best to provide IAM Members with the best possible, lowest cost, healthcare coverage.
As we have done with every issue raised in United Airlines negotiations, we are looking at the issue of insurance as a portion of your total job security. Healthy workers that know their families have quality coverage are proven to be more efficient and productive than workers struggling with the high cost of poor insurance.
United Airlines negotiations will resume in early December. We will continue to meet with United face to face and will be joined by Mediator Brown later in the month.
New stories & features
Women — Check out the introduction in Member Services > Women, “A Woman’s Nation,” based on The Shriver Report, by First Lady of California, Maria Shriver.
Navigation — One of the new features of the current District 141 website, compared to the website we inherited more than a year ago, is pull-down menu navigation, allowing Members to go anywhere to anywhere within the website with a single click.
The new navigation itself is being continually updated, site wide. Members at United Airlines now have one click access to MARS, Web List, SkyNet, Employee Discounts, and Uniform Orders. Just use Member Services > UA Employees. Members at United can also use the Contract pull-down menu to go directly to Complete Update, Past Update, Point System, or Quick Update.
Just Ask — “Just Ask” is a new button on iam141.org Home and other pages. Just Ask gives Members an easy and reliable way to verify unofficial information as true, not true, or somewhere in between. Contract negotiations are stressful, and misinformation can unnecessarily add to your stress. You don’t need to live with misinformation. Instead, Just Ask.
NMB proposal needs, deserves airline worker's support
District 141 has joined with the entire membership of the Machinists Union in their support of Fair Elections within the Airline/Railroad industries. The National Mediation Board (NMB) recently proposed a change to the rules governing union representation elections under their authority that, for the first time in history, places these types of votes on the same standard as every other election in free societies.
Whether an election is held for President of the United States or the local library board, the standard has always been that the winner is determined by counting the votes cast and the majority wins. However, in union representation votes there is an additional requirement – a majority of those eligible to vote must vote or else the election is voided.
This has led to years and years of failed organizing attempts within the transportation industry, solely for that reason. In fact, most votes that are invalidated as a result of this rule show that an union would have won based on the majority of votes cast.
The rule change needs and deserves the support of all Americans. Working men and women, whether unionized or not, need to support this change and level the playing field. Everyone that believes in a democratic process of determination by election understand that the current rules are slanted in favor of forces opposed to unions.
The National Mediation Board is seeking public comment about this proposed rule change before their final determination. The IAM and other concerned groups are asking their members and families to let the NMB know how important this change is to working Americans. We are conducting a card signing drive to show the widespread support this change has. Please sign a post card, when asked by your representative, and return it to the IAM for delivery to the NMB. You may also visit the IAM’s website and electronically submit your opinion at www.goiam.org/mediation-form.php.
The NMB has determined that January 4, 2010 will be the final day for public comment. Please act today and let the NMB know you support this historic and necessary change.