job Security
Rich Delaney, September 4, 2009 — After several months of discussion and financial review of the United Express (UAX) operation at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) United Airlines has agreed to retain IAM-represented employees to perform the necessary ground handling work associated with the UAX operation.
By reaching this agreement, District 141 was able to secure the employment of 700 members and avoid the displacement and disruption across the system that a reduction of this volume would cause. The jobs that might have been affected included both Customer Service and Ramp Service. We were successful in retaining this work and also maintaining the wage rates and benefits levels that these members currently receive.
Job security is the most crucial issue facing our membership during these unprecedented times. We are very happy for the 700 members and their families today and we are committed to continuing to look for opportunities to increase the security of all District 141 members. | Print This Report
Transportation Conference report
PDGC Rich Delaney
August 20th, 2009
New York city, New York
District Lodge 141 representatives met during the week of August 16, 2009 to discuss issues crucial to our District. Updates were given on the status of the Grievances at US Airways and the impact of the company's recent announcement to contract out Fleet Service Work in eight stations. Chief Negotiator Randy Kauhane reported on the status of Hawaiian Airlines negotiations and the future schedule for talks set up by the federal mediator McGuckin. A review and update of what is happening in negotiations with United Airlines was given. It was noted that Mediator Terri Brown and Senior Mediator Pat Simmons would join the talks at the end of September. In the meantime face to face negotiations would continue. District Organizing Director Tim Nelson, gave a report on the organizing activities with in the District. Tim noted we had petitioned for a representation election for the Air Tran ground handling employees and were currently reviewing and approving the eligibility list provided by the Company. Tim also noted that the IAM had requested and was granted, an extension by the national Mediation Board in order to complete this necessary work. The District Reps then turned to the attention of the important work of helping District Lodge 143 in there historic fight with Delta Airlines. We reviewed the information provided by the Grand Lodge Organizers outlining the focus cities that needed the most help. We reviewed each station to determine what help we could provide . We also reviewed the list of the Delta Storekeepers that sometimes gets lost in the discussion due to their relative size to the rest of the group and looked to see if our own Storekeeper reps could be of particular help with this voting group.
District 141 is committed to providing the maximum assistance we can for this drive . We pledge our existing Organizers, which includes both District Officers and Lodge Reps will be made available to help our Brother and Sisters at Northwest. We have also asked our Local Lodges to use their in station Organizers to help. In Addition to necessary money and manpower that a focused information drive within our own membership is needed in order to raise awareness and participation of a worker to worker drive. We will be using the abilities of our Communication Department led by Director Mike Manacini and Dave Lehive, to craft a mulit phased information blitz aimed at our members on United and US Airways to encourage them all to engage workers at both Northwest and Delta and tell our Story from a members point of view.
We are prepared to start yesterday with this important assignment and are committed to stay in this fight until the last vote is counted and the IAM is successful.
I thank all of the District 141 members that participated in the planning discussion during this week. Your input is appreciated of course. We Thank Intl VP Robert Roach for their continued guidance and support . This concluded the report.
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