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:
The Benefits Committee has been successful in obtaining voluntary ancillary benefits from AFLAC. These benefits are in addition to the benefits offered by United and have been made available by the contract language found in Article 16 J. The products that AFLAC will be offering are Whole Life, Critical Illness, Accident and Short-Term Disability. As a voluntary product you may choose any combination of the offered plans or none, the choice is yours.
Hurricane Harvey devastates Texas
The devastation that has been caused by Hurricane Harvey is hard to imagine. We want to take a minute to send out our thoughts and prayers to our Brothers and Sisters in Texas. We sincerely hope that they and their families are safe. We urge you all to take a moment to donate some money to the relief efforts if you can.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Benefits Committee at United Airlines has put together an informational and resource package to assist members in understanding retirement benefits. The goal of this guide is to provide a quick-reference guide to help UAL Teamster members with retirement concerns and questions.
On Thursday July 6th, the company invited the Business Agents to Chicago for the purpose of meeting the new HR team for United Airlines. The meeting was primarily introductory and no specific station or member grievances were discussed. The main topic surrounded the new HR structure along with contact information and station assignments for the new team. This was followed by a conversation on the filing of vacancies.
Joint Communication on IBT Lump Sum Hold Back Allocation
As per LOA #28, the Company held back 3.0% of the $185M lump sum pool to correct any errors or omissions in the allocation, calculation and distribution of the lump sum, as determined in the challenge process. All disputed claims have now been finalized and the remaining contingency will be paid pro rata to eligible employees according to the allocation methodology. Hold back payments will be paid to employees in a separate check on June 7, 2017. Regular 401k election rules will apply for domestic US employees.
As per LOA #28, the Company held back 3.0% of the $185M lump sum pool to correct any errors or omissions in the allocation, calculation and distribution of the lump sum, as determined in the challenge process. All disputed claims have now been finalized and the remaining contingency will be paid pro rata to eligible employees according to the allocation methodology. Hold back payments will be paid to employees in a separate check on June 7, 2017. Regular 401k election rules will apply for domestic US employees.
During the process of searching for something to write about Memorial Day, we came across an article from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, written on May 22nd, 2017, that truly expresses the importance of Memorial Day. We have inserted the article in its entirety below: CONSIDER THE TRUE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY As Memorial Day approaches, it is a great time to pause and consider the true meaning of this holiday. Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contributions they made to secure our nation’s freedom, we should especially commemorate them and their families on Memorial Day.
United Airlines Attendance Policy
The Company officially introduced its new attendance policy this week. We would like to give you the Union’s perspective on this new policy.
First, some history. The Company approached the Union during negotiations and asked if we would consider including an attendance policy that was based on a ‘point system’ in our Collective Bargaining Agreement. As you can imagine, it was a very short conversation that began with ‘No’ and ended with ‘No’. The Negotiating Committee did not believe that including a Point System in our contract was in the best interest of the membership so we refused. Now that the Company’s policy has been introduced, you can all see why that was the correct decision.
Lump Sum Update
On April 6th, in accordance with LOA #28, an arbitration case was held to hear the lump sum disputes filed by members who believed they were paid incorrectly. Arbitrator Josh Javits was chosen by the parties to hear these cases. The total number of disputes was 39. Four members chose to participate by phone in the hearing. The arbitrator is now in the process of reviewing each dispute to determine the outcome. As soon as the Arbitrator rules we will notify the company so they can finish the process of distribution of the holdback.
BAQ ‘Grandfathering’ under the 2010 Agreement
There has been some confusion about the BAQ grandfathering rights for former sub-UAL technicians. Here, we will outline the Union’s position with regard to that issue and give you the rationale behind that position.
First, we need to make clear that all the BAQ grandfathering that we have referenced in recent months ‘officially’ took place when the stand-alone CBA was ratified back in 2011. We urged the Company back then, for obvious reasons, to make sure to get all the BAQ’s established and all the grandfathering taken care of prior to completion of an amalgamated CBA. The reason for this was simply because we did not want the grandfathering issue to get muddy once we did get an amalgamated agreement. Unfortunately, the Company did not get it done. But, nevertheless, our position on the matter has not changed: All of the technicians on the Seniority list as of the Date of Ratification of the stand alone agreement ratified in 2011 are entitled to BAQ grandfathering for any BAQ to which they were able to bid prior to the agreement without taking a test. The reason for our position is simple.
Article 5 – Filling of Vacancies
As we discussed in last months report, there is a 180-day period from the Date of Ratification for folks to submit requests for the various Bid Area Qualifications (BAQ’s) for which they are entitled. This month we will first outline the eBid process during those 180 days and then describe how the process will proceed after the 180-day period ends. But first a few words on the 180-day process itself. We are well aware that the verification process is not functioning as it should be.
Attendance Policy
As most of you know, the Company is instituting a new attendance policy. It is being briefed that this policy will be implemented on March 15th. It was relayed to me that some supervisors across the system are briefing that the IBT has signed off or agreed to this policy. Let me be as clear as possible, that is outright lie. Just as in the working together guidelines, the Company makes policy. It is our policy to fight them all the way through the grievance process to arbitration, if necessary, on rules and policies that we believe are unfair and harmful to the membership. We will attack this new policy in the same fashion. To be clear, this is a United Airlines policy and was not agreed to in any fashion by the IBT.
Bid Area Qualifications
Per Article 3 Paragraph E.3.a of the Collective Bargaining Agreement there is a 180-day window established for the purposes of allowing technicians to submit requests for all Bid Area Qualifications (BAQ’s) for which they are entitled. In addition to any BAQ’s that you have already worked, formerly sub-UAL technicians with A&P licenses are entitled to submit requests the following BAQ’s: 101, 102, 103, 105,106, 107, 110, 111, 112, 113, 116, 117, and 122. Basically, any BAQ that you could have bid to prior to the merger without taking a test is one for which you can submit.
Transition Items
Monday the 9th there was a call with all the Business Agents around the system and the Division to discuss transition items. The BAs were notified that the company has hired a printer to manufacture the new JCBA for distribution, but that the timeframe for completion is unknown at this time.
New members of the Joint Board of Adjustment were added and announced on the call. These new members are Vincent Graziano from Local 210, Thomas Esposito from Local 769, Javier Lectora from Local 856, and Dave Saucedo from Local 986. A system wide Joint Board is tentatively scheduled for the week of March 9th in Los Angeles. This Board is scheduled to last all week with the purpose of adjudicating the grievances that still remain from the prior CBAs.
