November 13, 2007
Machinists Oppose United’s MPI & Maintenance Proposals
Printable Version
Letter to UAL CEO Glenn F. Tilton
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
There has been much speculation recently about United potentially selling
of its United Services and Mileage Plus divisions. The Machinists Union
has informed United CEO Glenn Tilton that we will strongly oppose the sale
of any UAL asset that would negatively impact the jobs of any of our
21,000 UAL members.
Some have proposed that assets of such a sale should be used to reinstate
the terminated pension plans now in the hands of the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). After an exhaustive legal review of the
possibility that the PBGC could reinstate the pension plans, IAM
attorneys, in conjunction with the law firm Lowenstein Sandler, have
concluded that such a prospect is not possible. Although the PBGC has the
legal authority to reinstate a pension plan and return it to an employer,
they explicitly forfeited that right as part of their 2005 agreement with
United to terminate the plans.
Should United decide to sell assets that do not affect the jobs of
Machinist members, the IAM would insist the profits from any such sale be
used to improve the future pension benefits of United employees, including
those whose pensions were terminated in bankruptcy. The sale of any
valuable UAL assets should not disproportionately benefit financiers and
executives with outrageous stock grants and options. The IAM cannot allow
our members to suffer further hardships while executives, banks and major
shareholders stuff their already full pockets with cash.
United Airlines would not exist today if not for the sacrifice, hard work
and dedication of IAM members and other front-line workers. Employees have
suffered greatly because of the decisions of the same United executives
who rewarded themselves for bankrupting the company. In the event of a
sale of assets that would not impact the jobs of our members we expect IAM
members to share in the value of such a sale. United has been advised,
however, that the Machinists Union will vigorously oppose the sale of any
UAL asset that could impact our members’ jobs.
Fraternally,
S.R. (Randy) Canale
President & Directing
General Chairman
January 9, 2007
Home Agent Update
To All Reservation Agents and MPI Members Employed by United Airlines
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
The Home Agent Committee met on January 3-5, 2007 and has reviewed all
aspects and issues concerning the Home Agent Program being considered by
some airlines. The Committee did not take a position for or against the
Home Agent concept. Our goal was to develop and recommend guidelines for
negotiators to utilize in future negotiations.
The Committee established the proposed guidelines to protect the interests
of any and all members who could be affected by this program. These
recommendations have been forwarded to the Grand Lodge Legal Department
for review. After the Legal Department’s review, the recommendations will
be forwarded to each District Lodge’s President/Directing General Chairman
for their utilization.
We thank you for you contributions, support and patience in this matter.
Fraternally,
Renee Cicero
Dora Cervantes
Grand Lodge Representative
Grand Lodge Representative
Nan Otto Jackie Fay
Ann Pantuso Liu Nelson Davis
General Chairmen General Chairmen General
Chairmen General Chairmen
DL 143 DL 143 DL
142 DL 141
Laura Stone
Kathleen Cruz Ian Anderman
Vice President Chief
Steward Shop Steward
DL141 LL
2656 LL 1635
Home
August 25, 2006
MPI Update
Today ends another sad chapter in the history of Mileage Plus Inc. The
Huntington, WV (HTS) call center will close at the end of business today.
We again say good-bye to another great group of dedicated IAM members.
In all of this, the ones that lose are the customers who pay our salaries.
They must now talk with a person somewhere off-shore, in a distant land,
who has difficulty conversing with them. Customers tell our employees over
and over again they only want to speak with an employee here in the United
States, not in India or Manila.
We have seen this scenario play out so many times over the past several
years. This week, UAL again announced the closing of Colorado Springs
(COS) and Dulles Reservations (IADRR). Employees are beginning to wonder
when all this is going to end.
We no longer are a customer service Company moving passengers from one
city to another. Instead, UAL gives our work to the lowest bidder
regardless of whether or not they are qualified to handle the complex jobs
we do.
The great people in Tucson (TUS) and Huntington now join the ranks of the
unemployed and will experience the real economy in this great country.
They will apply for available entry level jobs, without the benefits they
enjoyed while working at MPI.
I came to know a great many of them not only as represented IAM members
but also as friends who shared with me their experiences with family
members away from the job. Yes, we all have a life away from work, yet we
never stop and think about it. We spend more time with our work family
than with family at home. Again, the work family is breaking up.
Special thanks go to Rich Pascarella, Mike Butka and the Executive Board
of Local Lodge 1759 for providing pizza to the HTS members on Tuesday.
This act of kindness did not go unappreciated.
Also, a very special thanks to HTS Committeeperson Heather Oliver for her
dedication to her members to ensure that they received everything they had
coming to them.
Shop Stewards Gaberielle, Jennifer, Paul, Sharon, Rosetta and Heather were
a great asset to all of us. Without them, there would have been many more
problems. They learned how to solve them "At the lowest possible level,”
just as the contract says.
In the event of a problem with COBRA, unemployment, medical or WIA issues,
Gaberielle and Jennifer will act as peer coordinators for all members.
Thank you to everyone for being great IAM members and friends.
Fraternally
Ray K
AGC, District 141
Home
July 24, 2006
MPI Update
On Tuesday July 18, 2006, The Local Committee in HTS met with Sheryl
Johnson and Keith Smith from the West Virginia State Building and
Construction Trades Council and West Virginia AFL-CIO. They represent
the Workforce Investment Labor Liaison Project. Gabrielle Cerullo and
Jennifer Grant were named as "Peer Coordinators" and attended training
sessions to help assist employees with the WIA testing. The first WIA
test was conducted on Saturday July 22, 2006. Sheryl and Keith are there
to ensure that all employees receive what they are entitled to under the
law. Heather and Dee with work with Keith in filing the State "Trade
Adjustment Act" paperwork. TUS MPI Committee Person Marian Amoroso-Benedetto
has filed on the Federal level and included the HTS office.
This week meetings will be held with the Company in ORD regarding the
closing of the HTS office and the third step hearing regarding the TUS
office closing will be held on Wednesday.
The RAP folks are getting ready for the annual invasion of the
Harley-Davidson's when the Sturgis bike rally begins in 2 weeks. If
you've never to RAP during this time of the year try to imagine a city
of 60,000 and 500,000 plus motorcycles. Good luck with the biker
traffic.
Ray K
AGC District 141
Home
June 30, 2006
Mileage Plus Inc. Update
Meetings were held with employees this week in HTS. The State of West
Virginia has been very proactive in assisting the members. They will be
in the station on July 11 and 12 to give information to employees on
Unemployment Benefits, Job interviews, educational benefits and other
opportunities that may be available to the members. We have a unique
situation in the HTS area as we have employees that live in 3 different
states, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. We have
contacted representatives from the other states to ask for assistance
in Job retraining and educational opportunities as well. The West
Virginia AFL - CIO has been extremely helpful in directing our local
representatives to the correct agencies to cut through the red tape.
Unemployment folks will come in on one day after the site closes and
sign up just the MPI members at site to be named later. This way members
won't need to stand in line with other people who are applying as well.
Marian Amoroso-Bendetto former Committee Person from TUS-MPI, has
included HTS in her filing for the Trade Adjustment Act on the Federal
Level. Heather Oliver and Dee Boerke will be working to make the
application on the State level. We have been getting a lot of assistance
from the Congressman in the TUS area and he will give us names of
Congressman from the HTS area to assist on the State Level.
The 3rd step hearing for the TUS outsourcing is scheduled to be heard on
July 26th in ORD. On July 27, PDGC Randy Canale, HTS Committee Person
Heather Oliver and AGC Ray Klapatauskas will meet with the Company
regarding the closing of the HTS station.
Ray K
AGC District 141
Home
June 12, 2006
Mileage Plus Inc. Update
The grievance regarding the contracting
out of work from the Tucson station to Manila will now be heard on July
26, 2006 in Chicago. It had to be rescheduled from June 8 as all the
participants could not be there.
In other MPI news, the Rapid City location had a problem with mail being
sent back and forth between Tucson and Phoenix by the Post Office. That
resulted in approximately sixty trays of mail arriving in two days at the
Rapid City station for processing. There are growing pains with the Manila
station but we could have told them that as we had a very experienced and
dedicated group of employees in Tucson..
We are in the process of setting up joint training for Huntington and
Rapid City. Huntington training is now scheduled for July 19. We are
working to set up the Rapid City training in September.
Ray Klapatauskas
Assistant General Chairman
District 141
Home
May 5, 2006
Mileage Plus, Inc. Update
This is week one without our members from the TUS station. I know that
they will survive but it won't be easy. These members will always be in
our thoughts and prayers.
Discussions were held with the new Human Resources Director in Chicago
this week. Many 3rd steps were discussed. One of the third steps discussed
centered on the contracting out of the work in the TUS station. A 3rd step
hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 7th in Chicago.
We have tentatively scheduled a joint training for the HTS station in
June.
Ray Klapatauskas
Assistant General Chairman
District 141
Home
April 27, 2006
Mileage Plus, Inc. Update
Print
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is not the type of bulletin that one ever wishes to write regarding our
member’s loss of jobs and employment. In this case, such a bulletin is made
even more difficult because of what it will not contain in behalf of our
affected TUS-MPI members.
After MPI management notified us of their intent to close the TUS office and
farm-out our work to the Philippines, we initiated a number of actions
immediately, grieving the Company’s action to farm-out our work, and
requesting a meeting to determine a consideration for “enhanced separation
benefits” for IAM members not wishing to relocate or transfer to other
locations.
This request was based upon the unique circumstances involved, but more
importantly, in acknowledging the loyal, high standard and excellent service
performed by our TUS members for MPI customers. At the conclusion of our
meeting with MPI management in Chicago, the Company indicated they would get
back to us with their response in your behalf.
As you know by now from meetings conducted with you by Assistant General
Chairperson Ray Klapatauskas, the Company offered additional severance
compensation beyond that provided in the Agreement, but only if grievances
filed to protest our work were to be withdrawn; otherwise benefits as
provided in the Agreement would be the maximum provided.
At no time in our meeting with MPI-Management in Chicago did the Company
ever raise the issue of grievances being withdrawn as part of any
consideration for enhanced benefits. The only comment from the Company was
an opportunity to review our requests to determine what they could afford,
be fair and reasonable, and they would get back to us with a response.
We know now what that response was and it stinks. Take our jobs, don’t
complain, and help us in that effort, and don’t let the door hit you in the
butt on the way out.
Our response to MPI Management is kiss-off. We will continue on with our
grievances and seek appropriate remedies for our members as shared with you
by AGC Ray Klapatauskas and your Chairperson Benedetto. We also will seek
other avenues of assistance for our members both politically and through
Federal law.
We will continue to do all we can in behalf of our IAM-TUS members until all
avenues of fairness have been exhausted.
Please accept our most heartfelt and sincere best wishes for you and your
families as you deal with this unforeseen and cold hearted action by a
Company you gave your best for.
In Solidarity,
S.R. (Randy) Canale
President & Directing
General Chairman
Home
March 31, 2006
Mileage Plus, Inc. Update
Meetings were held this week with the Company in Chicago and a letter
will be forthcoming next week with details regarding the severance package
for TUS (Tucson, Arizona) employees.
Employees in TUS met with EAP Director Rudy Asuncion and AGC Ray K to
discuss their concerns regarding the closing of the TUS - MPI office. The
employees despite the inevitable loss of their jobs remain upbeat.
The employees of TUS will hold a "office closing" picnic on April 30th at
Reid Park in TUS.
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