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Mileage Plus, Inc.


November 13, 2007

Machinists Oppose United’s MPI & Maintenance Proposals

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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April 27, 2006

Mileage Plus, Inc. Update

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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

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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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