Mechanics' Dispatch

United Airlines Bargaining Update 11/13/24

United Airlines Bargaining Update 11/13/24

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. 

United Airlines Bargaining Update 11/8/24

United Airlines Bargaining Update 11/8/24

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.

United Bargaining Update 10/23/24

United Bargaining Update 10/23/24

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.

United Airlines Bargaining Update 10/7/24

United Airlines Bargaining Update 10/7/24

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.

Response From United Regarding The Alight Protection Letter

Response From United Regarding The Alight Protection Letter

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.

United Airlines Bargaining Update Sept. 26, 2024

United Airlines Bargaining Update Sept. 26, 2024

United Airlines Teamsters concluded the fourth round of bargaining this evening after three intense days of negotiations with the carrier in Chicago. While United Airlines attempts to move past the Teamsters’ non-economic proposals, the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee is holding firm, demanding the carrier come to the table in good faith and take the union’s non-economic proposals seriously. 

Teamsters Continue Second Round of Bargaining in Denver

Teamsters Continue Second Round of Bargaining in Denver

As negotiations continue with United Airlines in Denver, the Teamsters United Airlines National Negotiating Committee is proud to announce movement on a critical issue related to job security during this round of bargaining.

During the opening of this week’s negotiations, Teamsters demanded changes to Article 6, increasing furlough protections for United Airlines Teamsters. After pressuring the company, the union is proud to announce that the carrier has tentatively agreed to increase the timeline for Teamsters’ recall rights from six years to 10 years.

United Airlines Teamsters Negotiations Update 8/20/24

United Airlines Teamsters Negotiations Update 8/20/24

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.

Teamsters to Host RLA Trainings for United Airlines Technicians

Teamsters to Host RLA Trainings for United Airlines Technicians

As we work to bargain the best possible contract at United Airlines, the Teamsters Union will host virtual informational training sessions at United Airlines Stations across the country with our Training and Grants Department. Rank-and-file aviation technicians will learn about the Railway Labor Act (RLA), including:

United Airlines Bargaining Survey Credentials

United Airlines Bargaining Survey Credentials

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:

Continued RLA Section 6 Contract Negotiations

Continued RLA Section 6 Contract Negotiations

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.

Safety Reminder

Safety Reminder

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.

Foreign Repair Testing Comments

Foreign Repair Testing Comments

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.

Ratification Update

Ratification Update

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.

Negotiation Update

Negotiation Update

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.