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Flight attendants union blasts American Airlines' idea of hiring replacements |
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Written by James Colbert
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 11:07 |
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The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said Wednesday that American Airlines' suggestion that it may train management employees to replace strikers is "an ill-conceived and doomed strategy."
Said APFA president Laura Glading in a hotline message, nearly two days after word of the AA potential strategy was made public:
"The message is that they are willing to spend vast sums on a scheme doomed to failure, while continuing to avoid negotiating remaining economic issues at the bargaining table.
"When we return to Washington at the end of February, in a continuation of intensified talks under Federal mediation, management will have to answer to its Flight Attendants and to the NMB for this double-standard.
"Though we remain committed to the process of collectively achieving an agreement that recognizes the sacrifices Flight Attendants have made, AA's stalling and bad faith bargaining pushes us ever closer to impasse."
The idea of training replacements came up in conversations between AA management and the Federal Aviation Administration, and was mentioned as a possibility rather than a final decision.
APFA and American have been negotiating a new contract for 21 months, and Glading has said she will ask the National Mediation Board to declare an impasse if the two sides can't reach a deal during Feb. 27-March 3 talks in Washington, D.C. |
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TWU Local president says AA contract talks are at an impasse. |
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Written by James Colbert
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 19:28 |
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In a letter this week to his members, Transport Workers Union local president Bob Zimmerman is talking "impasse" in contract talks with American Airlines.
Zimmerman, who heads Local 565 which represents mechanics and related workers at Dallas/Fort Worth, is unhappy at the airline's latest contract offer and said he thinks contract talks are at an impasse. If the National Mediation Board agrees, the union and airline would be allowed to engage in "self-help" after a 30-day, cooling-off period.
"An impasse is not something I take lightly, as it could very well end in a strike or some other type of self help," Zimmerman wrote. "But at this point in our careers we may have to choose between continuing down the path of career destruction, or to take a stand."
Bob Owens, president of TWU Local 562 in New York, warned his members Jan. 18 that "we must all do that is necessary to prepare for a strike,whether it's our own or one of the other Unions on the property." |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 February 2010 19:28 |
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American Airlines is thinking about training management employees as replacement flight attendants |
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Written by James Colbert
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 19:38 |
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American Airlines has told the Federal Aviation Administration that it may train management employees to replace regular flight attendants during a strike.
"There hasn't been anything official filed other than our normal back and forth with the airline," FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said Tuesday. "They said things were not progressing as they hoped, and one of the options that they were considering was training management as flight attendants."
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants was prepared to ask the National Mediation Board to declare an impasse after "lockdown" negotiations Jan. 11-21 failed to bring a new contract.
However, NMB senior mediator Zachary Jones told American and the union to return to mediated talks Feb. 27-March 3 in Washington, D.C.
Lunsford said American put 1,300 people through accelerated training prior to the APFA's Nov. 18-22, 1993, strike.
"It met all our regulatory requirements, but it lacked customer service items," such as how to serve beverages or meals, he said.
That same curriculum is still usable today, with changes as needed to bring the training up to date, Lunsford said.
We're expect comment soon from American and the union.
Under the Railway Labor Act, neither management nor a union can engage in "self-help" without the NMB's signoff. The NMB would first have to declare an impasse in the talks and proffer binding arbitration to both parties. If either side rejects, the NMB would start a 30-day cooling-off period.
During that 30 days, the NMB typically convenes the warring parties to last-minute mediation. But if the cooling-off period expires, either side can do whatever, like a lockout or imposed contract by the airline or strike or other work actions by the union. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 February 2010 19:40 |
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Written by Todd Woodward
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Tuesday, 26 January 2010 22:07 |
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Good Morning!
I just want to let you know that the Credit union has approved a Disaster Loan to assist AA and AE employees who have family members in Haiti. The maximum credit amount is $1200.00 and there are some credit requirements that most be met. Please refer them to the Credit Union for more details.
For AA/AE employees in Haiti there is also a Disaster Loan available, the criteria for this loan is different because they live in the disaster area. The amounts and the criteria to be met can fall into two different categories. Each loan will be evaluated on an individual basis, feel free to direct your employees to contact us via e-mail or phone.
Feel free to call me directly with any questions or concerns at 305-526-7977.
Sheila Jimenez
Branch Manager
American Airlines Federal Credit Union
Miami Int'l Airport, Concourse A, 3rd Level, Miami, FL 33122
? 305.526.7977 | ? 305.526.7663 |
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