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:
Attached is the link to the latest update from the NTSB on the incident involving United 328.
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA21FA085.aspx
As a reminder; while this is public information from the NTSB, if you are approached by anyone asking for your opinion or views
We have been waiting for the results of the secondary RIF since the end of November. The secondary RIF includes those that came back from leaves after the original RIF was underway, those that had subsequent FRD corrections and any folks who had an award rescinded for any reason (primarily FRD and A&P License issues). We were informed that some of the individuals who had rescinded awards were subsequently 'recalled' and told to report to a new area. We have taken steps to make sure that those individuals are immediately returned to their original Bid Area and schedule, pending results of this secondary RIF. The reason for this is very simple:
UAL Sends Out WARN Notices
While we had started to be encouraged by a temporary flattening of the pandemic curve and an uptick in travel nationwide, recent developments make it clear that we can no longer hopeful for less severe outcomes with respect to the airline industry. United Airlines has now made it clear that there will be a significant number of folks impacted by the reorganization of the company into a much smaller entity in the near term.
There is simply no getting around the fact that with 500 aircraft parked around the system, the resulting reduction in volume of work across the system, and particularly at SFO, is staggering. Add to that the decision to do two lines each of heavy checks at Orlando and Houston, and to no longer do heavy checks in Airframe, and it is no surprise that SFO will be severely impacted.
With the COVID-19 pandemic now having claimed more than 100,000 lives in the United States, Memorial Day took on a historically somber tone this year. It is truly astonishing that, in a few short months, this disease has claimed more U.S. lives than the Vietnam and Korean Wars combined. Unfortunately, we are not out of the woods yet. It is pretty safe to say that we are all holding our collective breath as our desire to start opening up and getting out battle our inherent fear of a second wave and the potential to catch this terrible disease. Especially so in the absence of a truly validated and proven treatment or the creation and wide distribution of a safe and successful vaccine.
The last few months have been historic in terms of the impact the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on all of our lives. Things have changed dramatically for all of us and we are all now living with a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety. We all have seen the modeling which predicts that things will get much worse before they get better. Therefore, it is extremely important that everyone take seriously the CDC guidelines being circulated in order to help slow the spread of this virus.
As we reported to you previously, after much effort, we were finally able to secure a meeting with UAL Senior leadership on October 21, 2019. At that time the first order of business was to share a sample of twenty letters we received from our members detailing the many challenges they were facing living in the Bay Area, where an already high cost-of-living has soared in recent years.
We have an amazing athlete in our midst! On October 13th, SFOMM Technician Oscar Medina ran the Chicago marathon in 2:18 hours to qualify for the Olympic trials being held in Atlanta this coming February. Oscar, who works at Terminal 1, ran Track and Field at Lakeview High School in Chicago, Class of 2011, then went on to compete at Southern Illinois University afterwards. He has been running marathons competitively for about four years now. We want to send out a big fat congrats to Oscar and wish him good luck at the trials!
On September 6th, the TeamstersSFO Committee traveled to San Diego to attend the National Safety Council Labor Division Awards Luncheon.
We made the trip to show our appreciation and support for TeamstersSFO Safety Committee Chairman Ralph Ortiz and Components Safety Committeeman Mike Valladares who were honored at the luncheon for their exemplary work and dedication to workplace safety.
Shop Steward Training Held at Local 856
On Wednesday, July 31st, we held training for our UAL Shop Stewards at Local 856 in San Bruno. Over 50 UAL Stewards from all over SFO were in attendance to hear presentations on Conflict Resolution, FMLA, and Internal Organizing.
The presenters for the training were attorneys Susan Garea and Andy Baker from the Beeson, Tayer and Bodine Law firm and Local 856 Director of Organizing Chris Rosell. The training allowed the Stewards the opportunity to connect with each other, build solidarity, share experiences and information and partake in lively discussions about critical issues affecting our membership. We are grateful to all of the Stewards who were able to come out and participate. They definitely brought their A-game.
In the United States, Canada, and many other countries, Workers’ Memorial Day is when we remember and honor our fallen brothers and sisters in the labor movement. It is a time to look back and mourn for workers killed and injured on the job, as well as a time to look ahead and rededicate ourselves to the fight for safe workplaces.
We received answers on the two grievances that were submitted to the company regarding Kin Care.
Remember, the first grievance asserted that, since IBT members can call in sick on a trade day, they are also eligible for Kin Care if they choose to designate the day as such. That grievance was sustained by the Company, meaning that they agree with our assertion.
The following is a piece on this relationship from the IBT:
Since 1903, the Teamsters Union has been at the forefront of the struggle for workers’ rights in North America. During Black History Month, Teamsters honor the contributions of African-Americans in our nation’s history and their important place in the union today.
Once a year, the Teamster Member Assistance Program (TMAP) Regional Coordinators put together a training session for the TMAP volunteers from around the system. This year, the training was held at the Los Altos Jesuit Retreat Center on September 26th thru September 28th.
It has generally been our policy not to address the barrage of misleading information, personal attacks, recycled fliers from the 1990’s, half-truths and outright lies that have been circulated around the Base for a while now because we know that most folks remember what happened when Jim Seitz previously had an opportunity to lead. But, in some cases, we must make an exception. That’s because Jim’s lies now have a real possibility of hurting our members. It is there that we must draw the line.
TeamstersSFO is raffling off a Vizio 50-inch flat screen at the August Dayshift Craft Meeting. Proceeds of the raffle will benefit Brother Victor Oyola. Tickets are $10 each or 3 for $20. Please see your Shop Steward or your Chief Steward to purchase. The holder of the winning ticket need not be present at the drawing to win.
As we are now in the second year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, we’ve been receiving some questions about LOA #29, so we decided to put together a basic explanation for folks.
As many of you know, our members had to endure many years of total compensation that did not reflect the quality of work that was being performed on a daily basis or the status that should be associated with working for one of the largest carriers in the country. The combination of Industry and Company misfortunes conspired to make the term ‘Industry Leading Compensation’ a distant and positively unattainable objective. Fortunately, things are different now and our CBA, and LOA #29 in particular, assures that our members will remain at the top of the industry in total compensation for years to come and deservedly so.
TSAP Event Review Committee Member Tracy MacCorkell and SFO Line/Flight Safety Representative Paul Dodge, who also serves as Tracy’s Alternate on the ERC, attended the 2018 FAA InfoShare in Baltimore, Maryland, from March 20th thru the 23rd. Over one thousand people from all the major airlines, as well as the FAA and MRO's, attended the 3-day event. Pilot, Dispatch, and Tech Ops safety-related issues were discussed, and participants also heard presentations from the FAA and various airlines.
As aviation maintenance professionals, we all take safety very seriously. Unfortunately, there are times when, due to circumstances we sometimes cannot control, we might find ourselves in a position where we are accused of or have actually violated FAR’s. The Teamster License Protection Program is open to both licensed and unlicensed technicians at no cost to the employee and offers legal counsel for FAR violations.
