Tag Archives: international association of machinists

Boeing responds to IAM’s petition to unionize Boeing South Carolina

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) has released this statement in regards to possible unionization of its South Carolina Boeing 787 workforce by the IAM:

Boeing was notified on March 16 that the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a union election at the company’s North Charleston, S.C., facilities.

If the NLRB permits it, a vote will be scheduled for eligible teammates to decide whether they will turn over their rights to the IAM or keep a direct relationship with the company.

“Boeing South Carolina teammates have done what so many people said couldn’t be done. And they did it by working together, engaging every day, and truly committing themselves to the success of our site,” said Beverly Wyse, Boeing South Carolina’s newly appointed vice president and general manager. “And let’s be really clear, the IAM was not part of this success – it was our BSC teammates. In fact, the IAM aggressively opposed it, as publicly demonstrated by their filing of a claim with the National Labor Relations Board, to try to keep our site from even opening. Now, simply by filing this petition, the same union that tried to take our jobs and our work, has already begun to divide our team at a time when we’re just beginning to gel and catch a solid rhythm in production.”

Boeing firmly believes that a union is not in the best interest of Boeing South Carolina teammates and their families, their communities, and the state of South Carolina, especially after years of the IAM insulting the abilities of Boeing South Carolina teammates and fighting against BSC’s success.

“We think our Boeing South Carolina teammates deserve to pave their own future and keep their hard-earned money in their own pockets,” said Wyse. “In fact, they’ve been very successful doing just that for the past five years. They’ve built not only new airplanes, but also a new site, and new opportunities for an incredible future here in South Carolina by working together as a team, without the distractions of a union. We’re extremely proud of what our teammates have accomplished.”

Boeing South Carolina has established several outlets to keep teammates, their families and the community updated throughout this process, including a website and Facebook page that provides information, facts, data, and additional resources related to the IAM’s unionizing efforts in South Carolina.

IAM members ratify three contracts with US Airways

US Airways (part of the American Airlines Group) (Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth) has issued this statement:

Mechanics and Related, Fleet Service, and Maintenance Training Specialists workgroups at US Airways, represented by the International Association of Machinists (IAM), ratified three collective bargaining agreements overing more than 11,000 employees. The agreements will remain in effect for the US Airways employees until a joint collective bargaining agreement covering the 30,000 employees of the new American Airlines has been reached.

“We are pleased we have reached these agreements,” said Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of American Airlines. “We want to thank the International Association of Machinists leadership and negotiators for their professionalism and hard work on behalf of their members. We would also like to express our appreciation to the National Mediation Board, Board Member Linda Puchala and Mediator Walter Darr for their assistance in reaching these agreements. These agreements will allow us to focus on the next steps for integrating our airlines, and we can now start the process of bringing these employee groups together with their co-workers from American through joint collective bargaining agreements.”

The ratification continues progress on labor agreements at American Airlines since the merger with US Airways closed on December 9, 2013. Negotiations for joint flight attendant and pilot agreements are underway, and processes are in place to ensure that joint collective bargaining agreements for those groups will be reached soon.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-132 N837AW (msn 2595) in the special NFL “Arizona Cardinals” livery arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

US Airways:

United Airlines and the IAM reach a tentative agreement on a new contract

United Airlines (Chicago) has announced that the company has reached tentative agreements on new joint collective bargaining agreements with the International Association of Machinists (IAM) for the fleet service, passenger service and storekeeper workgroups at its United, Continental, Continental Micronesia and MileagePlus subsidiaries. United and the IAM reached these agreements with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, and the agreements are subject to ratification by IAM members.

The agreements cover more than 28,000 United employees.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-824 N14228 (msn 28792) completes its final approach to the runway at Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

United Airlines:

United and the IAM agree to expedite contract talks

United Airlines (Chicago) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Have announced an agreement to enter into expedited contract negotiations with the assistance of the National Mediation Board (NMB) for six classifications covering 35,400 employees at the airline.

The agreement announced today establishes an intense bargaining process with the goal of achieving joint labor agreements by November 15, 2012. If new accords cannot be reached, the IAM and United Airlines agree to jointly apply for mediation to combine all contracts into a single agreement for each classification.

Pre-merger United employees have been in mediated contract negotiations since 2009 that have remained stalled due to the merger of United, Continental and Continental Micronesia and subsequent representation elections. Employees from Continental and Continental Micronesia are either working under contracts that are not normally amendable or were unrepresented prior to the merger and currently have no contract.

The IAM is the largest union at United Airlines representing 34,500 Fleet Service, Customer Service and Reservations, Stock Clerk, Dining Service, Maintenance Instructor, Ground Instructor and Security Officer Employees.

United:

Alaska Airlines’ ramp service and stores agents ratify the new contract

Alaska Airlines‘ (Seattle/Tacoma) ramp service and stores agents, represented the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 142, have ratified a new six-year contract. The new agreement covers approximately 600 Ramp Service and Stores Agent employees at the carrier and was approved by 91 percent of those voting.

The accord includes a 10 percent base wage hike over the term of the agreement, enhanced merger and job protection, $2,000 in signing bonuses, increased premium pay and improved benefits and work-rules.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-490 N706AS (msn 28894) in the unique Disneyland-Make-A-Wish special color scheme completes its final approach into Los Angeles International Airport.

Alaska Airlines:

Air Canada and the IAMAW receive a new arbitrated contract

Air Canada (Montreal) stated yesterday (June 17) that it along with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) have received the decision of the arbitrator, Mr. Michel Picher, in the final offer selection arbitration conducted in accordance with the process legislated by the federal government in the Protecting Air Service Act.

The arbitrator’s selection of Air Canada’s final offer concludes a new collective agreement with the IAMAW following negotiations and mediated talks that took place over a period of 14 months. The five-year collective agreement is in effect until March 31, 2016.

The new collective agreement maintains the current defined benefit pension plan for current employees, introduces a new IAM multi-employer pension plan for new employees hired after today’s date, contributes to the reduction of the pension deficit and, as required by the legislation, establishes a protocol for the sustainability of the pension plan taking into account any short term funding pressures on the company.

The airline will not have further comment as details of the new collective agreement are being communicated to its employees.

The IAMAW represents 8,600 mechanics, baggage handlers and cargo agents employed by Air Canada.

Air Canada:

Alaska starts season flights between Anchorage and Kona, Hawaii, reaches a tentative agreement with the IAMAW

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) will start nonstop seasonal service to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii on November 10 and ends on April 7, 2013. The new service complements the airline’s year-round daily service to Honolulu and seasonal service to Maui which begins on November 4 and ends on April 14, 2013.

Summary of seasonal Anchorage-Kona flights:

Start date	City pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
Nov. 10-April 6	Anchorage-Kona	1:15 p.m.	7 p.m.	Saturday
Nov. 11-April 7	Kona-Anchorage	10 a.m.	5:35 p.m.	Sunday

Flights are operated with Boeing 737-800s.

In other news, Alaska Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers(IAMAW) jointly announced they have reached tentative agreement on a new six-year contract covering the carrier’s 587 ramp service and stores agents. The agreement includes wage increases of 10 percent over the life of the contract, long-term incentive bonuses, and job security and improved productivity provisions.

Negotiations between the airline and union began in February and culminated in agreement on a proposed contract two months before the current pact becomes amendable. Ratification vote results are expected by August 1, 2012. If approved, the new contract would become amendable in July 2018.

Alaska Airlines: