United negotiations
Rich Delaney – May 22, 2009 — Contract talks with United Airlines resumed this past week by addressing the issues of seniority and job classifications, the continuing topic of vacation flexibility, and the grievance procedure. Both the Union and the company have proposals that seek to modify portions of these articles. During United negotiations, there was a full exchange of opinions and explanation of each side’s reason for proposing the changes in the manner they did.
Due to the shortened week, and previously scheduled commitments, United negotiations will not be held next week. We will return to the bargaining table in first week of June, when we expect to hear the Company’s response to our proposals. We will also be prepared to present the Company our response to their current proposals. In this phase of United negotiations, the current proposals are considered to have little cost implications to the overall contract. The proposals at this point in United negotiations are intended to either correct recognized problems, or to make the administration of the contract more efficient. The proposals that focus on additional cost of the contract – wages, benefits, pension, etc. – have not been presented as yet and will come late in United negotiations.
St. Louis downgraded to United Express service only
Rich Delaney – May 22, 2009 — United Airlines informed the employees of STL that, effective with the September schedule, the station would operate with UAX trips only. District 141 has begun our process of gathering information from United regarding the cost of operation and potential vendor bids for the ground handling work in STL in an effort to show we are competitive with outside vendors and the work should remain with IAM – represented United employees. This procedure is just beginning and no decisions have been made by the Company, at this time, regarding the contracting out of this work. The transition to UAX is a result of the company determination to ground the 737’s. It is significant to note that STL is the only impacted station in September.
PBGC info trickling in
Rich Delaney – May 22, 2009 — We have continued getting information from the PBGC regarding the increase funding for the terminated United Airlines pension funds. The PBGC will be making determinations of how much money will be available for each pension plan and each eligible individual within those plans. IAM members, depending on job classification, were in either the Ground Employees Plan (along with Mechanics) or the Salaried and Management Plan. In addition, each person was assigned a Priority Classification at the time of the termination of the Plans. Every eligible employee/retiree was notified of that Priority Classification by the PBGC at the time. The classifications were based primarily upon the age of a person – how close they were to a normal retirement age – at the time of termination of the Pension Plan. As more information becomes available we will publish it.
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