The meeting started on May 23 with a review of the previous ratification process. We talked about what went well and what didn't during that time. We had a good discussion where everyone shared their thoughts and ideas. Here are a few of the important things we talked about:
United Airlines Teamsters Kick Off Eighth Round of Bargaining in Denver, Reach Tentative Agreement on Sick Leave
Yesterday, the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee began the eighth round of bargaining in Denver. The committee is working diligently to reach agreements on the remaining non-economic articles of the contract so economic bargaining with the carrier can begin.
Yesterday, the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee concluded the seventh round of bargaining in Chicago. During Thursday’s session, the committee reached an agreement in principle with the company on Article 6: RIF and Recall. In the agreement, the union successfully revised United’s Reduction in Force and Recall provisions to enhance Teamsters’ job protections and furlough rights when the company reduces the number of employees at a given station.
The United Airlines Teamster National Negotiating Committee resumed negotiations with the carrier on Wednesday. Bargaining continued on United’s procedures during adverse conditions, with the committee fighting to ensure that United Airlines Teamsters are protected from harm as well as potential pay loss and disciplinary actions in the event a facility is impacted by extreme weather or a natural disaster. The committee is also calling for more proactive communication from United during these events so that Teamsters know the status of a facility well in advance of the start of a work shift.
Bargaining with United Airlines continues this week with the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee beginning negotiations in Denver on Monday. During today’s negotiations, the national negotiating committee called on the company to guarantee appropriate union representation for United Airlines Teamsters during investigatory procedures, including the ability for Teamsters-approved union representatives to fully participate in any investigation of a United Teamsters technician.
Recently, a letter from United was mailed to each of your home addresses about a free protection program available through Alight Solutions. If you follow the steps provided within the letter, the Program will reimburse your CARP account in the event of any unauthorized activity through no fault of your own.
This letter was distributed to the membership without notice to the Union. As a result, many of you began contacting your local stewards and Business Agents with your questions and concerns.
On September 19th, Airline Division “Below the Wing” Director Bob Fisher travelled to New York to provide a status update on the United Airline mechanics contract negotiations and the broader state of the industry with stock analysts at six of Wall Street’s largest banks and brokerage firms.
One key industry issue discussed with the analysts is the widespread and worsening shortage of airline technicians within the industry, and how this staffing issue could impact future growth for United Airlines and the industry at large. Analysts expressed surprise at the scale and scope of this issue, and mentioned most have never discussed the mechanics shortage issue before with either the airlines or unions representing airline mechanics.
Today, the Teamsters wrapped up the second round of negotiations with United Airlines in Denver, Colorado. After an initial tentative agreement was reached to increase the Teamsters’ recall rights from six to 10 years, the company has not made movement on all other non-economic proposals presented by the union.
Today, The Teamsters began the second round of negotiations with United Airlines in Denver, Colorado. After presenting United Airlines with all non-economic proposals during the first round of negotiations, the company offered counterproposals to issues identified by the Teamsters during the previous round of bargaining.
Concerns for airworthiness safety is a cornerstone subject with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that we accept with the most importance. Not only are we protecting the livelihoods of our members and their families, the continued devotion to safety is also a real benefit to the flying public which we are proud to defend.
The Teamsters made significant progress for a strong new contract as bargaining began with United Airlines in Chicago on August 8. Every proposal in the union’s opening non-economic offer was presented across the table to the company.
“This is my first bargaining session, and I’m looking forward to getting a record contract as smoothly and quickly as we can,” said Jimmy Sligar, a rank-and-file bargaining committee member from Teamsters Local 19 in Houston. “The union has a great committee, and we presented proposals to the company that are really strong.”
All United Airlines Teamsters technicians should have received a text message with a unique link to fill out a bargaining survey on what you want in your new contract. If you need new credentials to fill out the survey, you must request them by Sunday, July 7, at 1pm EST. Here’s the contact information to receive new credentials:
As described in our last update, we’ve reached out to the company to secure new meeting dates for negotiations. At this point, they have not provided any dates that they are available. This refusal by the company to meet to resume negotiations is unacceptable, and we are reminding the company that Section 2, First of the Railway Labor Act requires the company to meet with us in order to make and maintain agreements. If the company continues to refuse to meet with us in the near future, the Teamsters are prepared to take all legal options, including but not limited to engaging in self-help, to compel the company to comply with its obligation to bargain in good faith. We will keep you updated as new developments occur.
The explosive growth at United resulted in the addition of over two thousand technicians in a brief period of time. This scenario has resulted in many of our new technicians being thrust into situations that put them in the unenviable position of having to perform tasks that they are unfamiliar with and with no experienced technicians to guide them. As dedicated technicians, you provide a safe and on-time product and the expanded fleet and workload have put a strain on all of you. For that reason, I am asking that we all take a step back and look at how we perform our work. It is our responsibility to make sure that we are following the policies and procedures. Read and follow the paperwork! Never sign for work that you have not performed without first verifying that the job has been completed properly. Make sure to follow the LOTO procedures on every job. Ensure that you have adequate manpower when moving aircraft. When using equipment around the aircraft please follow established company procedures and make sure to use the proper PPE.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) is pleased to provide comments to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Drug and Alcohol Testing of Certain Maintenance Provider Employees Located Outside of the United States. The Teamsters are proud to represent tens of thousands of members in the aviation industry who ensure, and rely on, the safety of aircraft and of our National Airspace System. This includes pilots and flight attendants for whom planes are their workplaces, and demand that aircraft be maintained safely, regardless of where the maintenance is performed. Important to this rulemaking, this also includes the world’s most highly skilled maintenance technicians, who maintain aircraft across the nation and whose work is increasingly threatened by carriers’ outsourcing schemes which place profit above safety.
Instructions on how to vote electronically, including Voting Credentials, on the above-referenced Tentative Agreement will be mailed to members today, Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Please post the attached “Notice of Referendum” at the Local Union Hall, on all worksite bulletin boards, and any other appropriate places.
BallotPoint Election Services has been contracted to administer this election.
The company invited Joe Ferreira, Bob Fisher, Angel Cantu, and I to a meeting in Houston on Wednesday the 24th. At that meeting, the company informed us that they were interested in another extension. We told them the rank-and-file committee would evaluate any offer they might propose. We also relayed that Southwest was the industry leader for wages, and we would need to beat them in any extension offer.
The IBT Benefits Committee would like to make sure you are aware of the changes United is making to your HRA/VEBA reimbursement debit card. United announced the transition from Alight’s Your Spending Account (YSA) to their Smart-Choice account toward the end of last year via company email. The final email announcement was made on December 12, 2023, and it contains a link to the Smart-Choice website.
