Airline Labor Pains

[traveler]

Long hot summer days coming up ???


MORE AIRLINE LABOR PAINS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE NORTHWEST STRIKE...

Looks like President Bush isn't afraid to flex some of his muscles
early in his term when it comes to labor issues. The president is
ready to block a Northwest Airlines mechanics strike set for this
morning if continuing negotiations fail. President Bush has said that
he will order a Presidential Emergency Board to institute another
cooling-off period for 60 days. Meanwhile, the union is opposed to the
president's involvement and is not pleased with allegations by the
airline that mechanics are intentionally slowing down their work.

...WHILE UNITED WILL SEEK DAMAGES IF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS STRIKE...

United Airlines management made it clear that any strike or slowdown by
their flight attendants would violate federal labor law and their
current union contract, which runs until 2006. United further stated
that if any such activity occurs, the company will seek damages and an
injunction against the Association of Flight Attendants union and its
members. The union is unhappy with the proposed merger between United
and US Airways, especially if done without the union's approval.

...AND DELTA IS FACING TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS WITH PILOTS

Delta Air Lines, the nation's third-largest carrier, is encountering
some problems negotiating with its pilots union. The main issue here
is salary, but other bones of contention include retirement and job
protection. It appears that the two sides are not coming together for
a settlement any time soon. The National Mediation Board recessed
mediated talks between the airline and its union after both sides asked
the board to move the process to the next step by offering arbitration.

[traveler]

BUSH JUST SAYS NO TO AIRLINE STRIKES:

President Bush already has
intervened to prevent a strike at Northwest Airlines, and the White
House said Tuesday that workers at other airlines can expect the same.
Bush is concerned about strikes crippling the economy and "is prepared
to act" if he gets authorization from the National Mediation Board, a
spokesman told reporters. On Monday, Northwest mechanics demonstrated
at the White House to express their outrage over Bush's mandate. The
mechanics, who have been working without a contract for more than four
years, had planned to walk off their jobs this week.

[traveler]

LABOR'S LATEST -- BREATHE HARD AND PUSH:

Summer flying could prove to be problematic this year. At Delta, the airline and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have scheduled additional negotiating sessions, but talks aren't going well. At Northwest, the mechanics' union turned down a deal that offered 26% raises and doubled retirement benefits. United is facing a double whammy of angry flight attendants and mechanics.

[traveler]

TRICKLE-DOWN MEETS THE AIRLINES:

As labor struggles continue, management at several major carriers warns investors that earnings may dip with the floundering economy. Delta Air Lines said earlier this week that it will probably lose money during the first quarter and Northwest confessed that it could lose up to $150 million in the same period.
Management at both carriers naturally place a portion of the blame on labor troubles. US Airways and United also announced expectations that first-quarter earnings will fall below estimates.

[dingducky]

hey traveler
u lonely in here? http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/tongue.gif

------------------
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.

[traveler]

YEAH !!!

Give me some warmth, darlin'.

[Delayed]

it will be a rough summer ahead!

[traveler]

COMAIR, PILOTS REMAIN AT ODDS; STRIKE PROBABLE:

Late Sunday negotiations between Delta Air Lines subsidiary Comair Inc. and its 1,350 pilots had broken off and most of the regional carrier's flights ended in anticipation of a possible strike at midnight. Exactly how the negotiations broke down is not clear, but the pilots blamed the carrier for pulling out of the meetings in Washington, D.C.

[traveler]

NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN AIRLINE LABOR AND MANAGEMENT...

On Thursday, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents
about 10,000 Delta pilots, rejected an offer by the National Mediation
Board to put unresolved issues up for binding arbitration. If no
agreement is reached by April 29 at 12:01 a.m., pilots can *legally*
leave their cockpits. President Bush may still appoint a Presidential
Emergency Board to delay a strike for up to 60 days.


Delta's Comair unit (whose pilots are already on strike) has accepted
the mediators' renewed offer of binding arbitration, but the union has
not. "Our position has not changed," said Jim Evans, of Comair's ALPA
unit. "We're not interested in arbitration." No new talks have been
scheduled.

[traveler]

The Air Line Pilots Association has approved accelerated strike benefits for Comair pilots, topping Comair's starting pay rate by a couple thousand dollars if drawn out annually. ALPA's Board of Directors approved a $1,400 strike benefit along with a reduced waiting period of 14 days...

[traveler]

United Airlines Flight Attendants Overwhelmingly Vote to Strike

Walkout Could Hit by Mid-May, Putting Memorial Day Weekend And Busy Summer Travel Season at Risk

WASHINGTON, DC — United Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, have overwhelmingly voted to authorize CHAOS™ strikes should the company move forward with its purchase of US Airways without first securing a waiver from the flight attendants.

Ninety-seven percent of United flight attendants who cast valid strike ballots voted "FOR" a strike. Seventy-two percent of flight attendants eligible to vote returned their ballots in the expedited voting process. Less than three weeks was allotted from the time the ballots were mailed to the flight attendants (stationed around the globe), until yesterday's count date. The flight attendants were forced to move quickly in their strike vote to ensure the ballots were counted before the airline could possibly close on its merger transaction.

"The flight attendants have voted to uphold our contract and protect our careers," said AFA Master Executive Council President Linda Farrow. "If United illegally moves forward with its merger transaction, we will strike with CHAOS."

Create Havoc Around Our System™ is AFA's trademarked strategy of public information and targeted work actions using random, unannounced strikes. Strikes or any other kind of job action cannot begin unless the U.S. Department of Justice approves the merger and United goes through with the purchase of US Airways without an agreement on a waiver that would allow the airline to own and operate US Airways legally under the flight attendant contract.

United originally planned to complete its merger with US Airways this week, however the company postponed the purchase. In an April 2, 2001 report in Aviation Daily,United CEO Jim Goodwin said he is hopeful to have a DOJ decision in mid-May, meaning CHAOS strike actions could disrupt Memorial Day weekend travel and the busy summer travel season.

The United flight attendant strike threat is the only current dispute in the airline industry that is not subject to regulation by the National Mediation Board, a 30-day "cooling-off" period, or intervention of a Presidential Emergency Board.

[crewstart]

test

[traveler]

DELTA ASKS FOR HELP AS STRIKE SEEMS IMMINENT:
What a difference a week makes. Last week on this bat-channel,
the two sides in the Delta pilot talks were making noises that sounded
like an agreement was in the offing. This week, all bets are off, and
pilots are polishing up their walking boots. The pilots' cooling-off period
ends April 29, but President Bush could delay that for up to 60 days,
which would put it right in the middle of the summer travel period.

[traveler]

Here's the latest in the ongoing labor saga --
Delta Air Lines pilots will soon vote on a new contract that would hike their pay by anywhere from 24 to 34 percent in the next four years. Striking Comair pilots are costing Delta an estimated $3 million to $4 million per day in lost revenues and have been offered a settlement by federal mediators. No word on a response, just yet. The union representing American Airlines flight attendants has asked to be released from mediations. Finally, across the pond, Lufthansa pilots have decided to take Fridays off until management promises to up their wages by more than 30 percent. Business as usual.

[traveler]

NO END TO COMAIR PILOT STRIKE IN SIGHT...
Words from Delta President and Chief Operating Officer Frederick Reid
show that Delta is playing hardball, and if Comair pilots don't accept
the current contract, Comair could become a former airline. According
to Reid, the settlement will make Comair's pilots the highest-paid in
their industry. If they chose to reject it, he says, "their action
will, regrettably, force Comair management to take further steps to
minimize the economic impact of the unfortunate work stoppage."
Just prior to AVweb's deadline, the pilots rejected the offer.

...AND AIRLINE COULD FOLD BEFORE PILOTS DO
Comair has already cut 2,000 employees through layoffs effective
today, and has removed 17 aircraft from its fleet, some of which are
being sent to other Delta Connection airlines or returned to the
manufacturer. In addition, Delta announced the introduction of service
to Cincinnati by ACJet and, earlier last week, added a new partnership
with American Eagle to the Delta Connection services.

[flydCoop]

After 2-1/2 years of contract negotiations, AA flight attendants have finally been released by the NMB. AA readily accepted binding arbitration images/icons/rolleyes.gif
The APFA will vote on whether to accept binding arbitration next week (they won't accept it). Once the 30 day cooling off period begins, expect George W (stands for weasel) to prolong it by 60 days. The APFA membership authorized a strike with a 96% vote.
By dragging out negotiations, AA management now has 3 contracts to deal with in 1 year.

[traveler]

COMAIR, RESTING, IN PIECES: It has been about two and a half months
since Comair pilots stopped working for a living, and the carrier has
since laid off 2,400 nonstriking employees and sold or otherwise re-
deployed more than 30 percent of its aircraft. Now the company may be
giving up its Cincinnati hub to Mesa Airlines. Comair was one of the
first regional carriers to replace turboprops with turbofan aircraft,
creating longer routes that, unlike the pay received by their pilots,
are more comparable to those of major airlines than of other regional
carriers.

[SillyG]

Is it just me, or does it seem as if Comair had plans on the board to "restructure/liquidate the airline" before the strike, and now the strike has become its scapegoat?

It appears to be outsourcing rather cleverly and using the pilot's strike as its "raison d'etat".

Call me crazy, but that's what it seems to me.

[BlueSkies]

Hey there ALL of you "GEORGIE DUBEY" voters! Looks like you got more than you bargined for. Guess he showed you who's corner he's in. I can only "guess ta mate" that 85% of US airline Pilots voted for GEORGE. What I don't understand is why? He clearly showed his true feeling towards Unions during his whole trial run. Gosh, to hate the Dem. Party so much as to sacrifice ones own livelyhood? Lets see how much you love'em while airline wages shrink, jobs disappear(COMAIR), the leverage of being able to strike is cut out of your negotiations. Maybe we should give him another Term so that he can do some REAL damage! Long live the GOP conservative RIGHTWINGERS! They will show you who runs this country! And DON'T you forget it! images/icons/grin.gif

[traveler]

Comair, ALPA reach tentative agreement on new contract

Comair announced yesterday it reached a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Assn., 81 days into a pilot strike that shut down the Delta Connection carrier.

No details were available but reports are that the contract will be submitted quickly for ratification. Assuming the contract is approved by ALPA membership the airline could be up and running in a few weeks. Salomon Smith Barney analyst Brian Harris anticipated a quick yes vote, pointing out that under FAA training regulations, Comair's pilots will soon exceed their currency. "Pilots need to complete three takeoffs and landings every 90 days," he noted in a report. The tentative contract comes approximately a week after US Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta met with officials of the airline and the labor union.

[traveler]

Tensions remain high between management and pilots at Cathay Pacific Airways.
A dispute over pay and working conditions is said to be escalating and more pilots are calling in sick following the airline's firing of one captain and two first officers. More than 100 flights have been delayed since Tuesday, disrupting schedules during the busy summer season...

[traveler]

Atlas Airlines pilots plan a two-week informational picket beginning today at the company's headquarters in Purchase, N.Y. Pilots say a "grossly inadequate economic and job security proposal" offered by the airline is the reason they will be pounding the pavement. Atlas is the world's third-largest cargo carrier and the world's largest operator of Boeing 747 freighters...

[traveler]

Air Canada to cut 4,000 jobs after a sharp drop in business travel caused a much worse than expected fourth-quarter loss. By the end of next year, Air Canada, the country's largest airline, will have cut a total of 16-percent of its workforce...

[traveler]

MIDWAY AND EMERY HIT THE SKIDS, BIG-TIME: Midway Airlines announced on
Tuesday that, in addition to filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it would dump
about half of its workforce -- including more than 180 pilots --
discontinue service to nine destinations, and remove 17 aircraft from
its fleet. Monday was a bad day at Emery Worldwide Airlines, too, when
the cargo carrier -- facing imminent shutdown by the FAA -- voluntarily
grounded its entire fleet of 37 aircraft. The "voluntary" grounding was
put into effect at the same time the FAA had set a deadline threatening
to strip Emery of its license. The company announced that it would work
with the FAA for 30 days to reach a final agreement that will detail
specific solutions to the problems that led to more than 100 violations.

Despite the suspension of flight operations of Emery Worldwide Airlines
because of safety concerns, the company says cargo is getting where
it needs to be, when it needs to be there.
Emery has contracted with a substitute fleet from other carriers,
moving more freight in the first two nights after the suspension than
it did in all of last week. Shifting the flying to subcontractors
may be another problem for the company, though. The Air Line Pilots
Association (ALPA) says Emery is going to be the focus of a major union
grievance, because of pilot layoffs and the shift to subcontractors.