Friday, May 18, 2012
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Fri, 18 May 2012 20:10:28 +0000 -
Growing Strike Wave Marks Development of Workers’ Movement in China
China Labour Bulletin On 8 May, around 1,000 shoe factory workers in Dongguan walked out in protest at management plans to cut their monthly bonus from the usual 500 yuan to just 100 yuan. Management refused to talk so one worker posted their grievances on his micro-blog. China Labour Bulletin contacted the worker and posted an [...]
Fri, 18 May 2012 15:30:00 +0000 -
Caterpillar Machinists Strike Is Two Weeks Old & Holding Steady
byBob Simpson “Caterpillar has work plans, processes, policies and people ready to be deployed in the event of any business interruption, whether it is a tornado, fire or a strike.”—Caterpillar spokesperson Rusty Dunn: April 30, 2012 Thanks for nothing, Rusty Dunn. You just equated 780 striking Caterpillar workers to a potentially disastrous tornado or fire. [...]
Fri, 18 May 2012 14:23:28 +0000 -
What’s It All About, Romney?
by Leo Gerard “What’s it all about, Romney? Is it just for the moment we live? What’s it all about when you sort it out, Romney? Are we meant to take more than we give. . .”  ~With apologies to Burt Bacharach and Hal David who wrote the original song, “Alfie” As Mitt Romney laughs [...]
Fri, 18 May 2012 13:15:31 +0000 -
Amid ‘Sabotage’ Investigation, Honeywell Lays Off Plant’s Entire Union Workforce
By Mike Elk Last Thursday, May 10, at around 2 p.m., managers walked into Honeywell’s uranium conversion plant in Metropolis, Ill., and told workers—both union and nonunion—they had to leave the plant immediately. Multiple workers present say a manager explained the sudden dismissal by noting that the company had to investigate “sabotage” of plant equipment.Since [...]
Thu, 17 May 2012 23:34:22 +0000 -
In Contract Vote, American Airlines Workers Split Over Bankruptcy Concessions
By Josh Eidelson Unions push merger with US Airways In a split decision on the lesser of perceived evils, five bargaining units of American Airlines’ largest union voted to accept management’s final offer on concessions, while two voted to reject it. Members of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) voted via phone and Internet beginning last [...]
Thu, 17 May 2012 01:59:02 +0000 -
It’s Time to End Student Debt
by Chris Hicks As graduation approaches for many college students this spring, the outlook for post-graduation will be dire. Instead of, “What do you plan to do next?” the questions are: “How much student debt are you graduating with?” or “Do you think you’ll be able to find a job?” The situation has grown grim [...]
Thu, 17 May 2012 00:55:25 +0000 -
The Trouble Makers Union: Labor Notes Conference 2012
by Bob Simpson Over the weekend of May 4-6, 1500 union members, workers’ center activists and working class rebels gathered at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Rosemont IL for the biennial Labor Notes Conference. Labor Notesis the monthly magazine for labor activists who “want to put the movement back into the labor movement.” The publication [...]
Tue, 15 May 2012 18:18:50 +0000 -
America’s “Job Creators” Are on Strike: Let’s Democratize Investment
by Nyegosh Dube The wealthy corporate owners, investors, and executives whom we have anointed the “job creators” seem to have gone on strike. No, they’re not out in front of companies and plants with picket signs. They’re sitting comfortably in their offices, boardrooms, clubs, and multi-million-dollar homes – and not investing, not creating jobs. They’re [...]
Mon, 14 May 2012 20:09:02 +0000 -
Waste Company Locks Out Teamsters in Bid to Eliminate Pensions
By Josh Eidelson Following private sector trend, Republic Services/Allied Waste insists on 401(k) plans At 9 p.m. Tuesday night, the country’s second-largest waste disposal company locked 79 workers out of their jobs. The day before, Republic Services/Allied Waste gave the Evansville, Ind., workers an ultimatum: accept management’s “last, best and final” offer, or be locked [...]
Thu, 10 May 2012 23:47:43 +0000 -
April Jobs report: views from the left
A variety of progressive groups make analyses of the federal jobs reports each month.  We’ve gather a number of their looks at the April unemployment report released on May 4.  Chicago Political Economy Group The April job numbers were uniformly dismal according to both the Household and Establishment Survey. 115,000 jobs were added, even less [...]
Mar 08 2012 -
Letter from James C. Little to the National Mediation Board
Re: American Airlines and Transport Workers Union of America AFL-CIO Seven Contract Groups Dear Chairman Puchala and Members Dougherty and Hoglander: I write on behalf of the Transport Workers Union of America (“TWU”), the certified representative for more than 24,000 bargaining unit employees employed at American Airlines. The TWU appreciates the active participation by the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) in the ongoing seven negotiations between TWU and American pursuant to Section 6, of the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”), 45 U.S.C. § 156. In that context, I write to request that the NMB now proffer final and binding arbitration to the parties under Section 7 of the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”), 45 U.S.C. § 157, First to resolve all the issues currently subject to the Section 6 process. To be perfectly clear, TWU requests that the NMB take this action not as its “final required action” under Section 5, 45 U.S.C. § 155, First, but as an appropriate part of its efforts to reach quick resolution of these seven collective bargaining disputes during American’s re-organization in bankruptcy. If the NMB proffers such arbitration now, TWU will accept it subject to compliance with our internal governance procedures. As you know the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and AMR have been involved in collective bargaining, spanning seven (AA) contract groups since June of 2006 to present – including those sessions convened after the bankruptcy filing on November 29, 2011. All efforts to reach voluntary agreements through direct negotiations were exhausted, including facilitated and self imposed “super session” techniques. TWU filings for Mediation Services straddled the period from April 2008 through January 2009. Once invoked, the parties continued under the direction of your staff, observing “recess sessions” and additional “power or extreme” term sittings, in an effort to produce amicably acceptable terms. Since 2003, the TWU has promoted and engaged in an open cooperative working relationship with AMR, willingly participating in financial briefings and strategic initiatives all with the mutual goal of producing stronger results and outcomes. At the time of the Airline filing for bankruptcy, we had two tentative agreements out for membership ratification (Fleet Service and Flight Dispatch) which were rescinded by the carrier Although TWU has and will continue to exert every reasonable effort to reach consensual agreements with AA, we believe that the Section 7 process would offer the advantages of a final and expeditious resolution of the current dispute to enable the quick and successful re-organization of the carrier in bankruptcy. A panel of experienced labor arbitrators is best positioned to weigh the merits of the parties’ negotiating positions and proposals, and to craft a binding settlement. As stated above, TWU stands willing to agree to such Section 7 final and binding arbitration, subject to compliance with our internal governance procedures, and requests a prompt proffer by the NMB. Respectfully submitted, James C. Little International President You can download a .pdf of this letter here.
Mar 06 2012 -
Miami Members Mobilize To Help One Another Through Bankruptcy Hardships
Watch the latest video interviews of TWU members from the Miami area who express their reactions about the bankruptcy and how it affects their future. When AMR filed for bankruptcy in November, the news hit working families like a corporate torpedo. It has now been three months since the dismal news was announced, but TWU members have regrouped, and many locals are moving forward with grassroots plans to help their brothers and sisters through a difficult time. Many thousands of TWU members could lose their jobs or have to relocate to another location to stay employed. There are some members who have already moved once, and now their continued employment becomes even more unpredictable.
Mar 01 2012 -
American Air Pension Battle May Spread
American Airlines wants to terminate the pensions of 130,000 workers as part of its bankruptcy proceeding. The move would be good for the company's balance sheet, but would it be good for America? American's pension termination would be the largest in U.S. history. The airline wants to end the plans and turn them over to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp (PBGC), a government-sponsored agency that insures most private-sector defined-benefit pensions through premiums paid by plan sponsors. Read the entire article here.
Feb 24 2012 -
I Support American Jobs: DFW Protest
On Valentine’s Day, almost 400 mostly union employees gathered outside DFW International Airport’s Terminal D in a show of support for all AMR employees. They came to protest the devastating effects of the AMR bankruptcy. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants organized the protest and invited the Transport Workers Union to co-host along with community labor leaders from the metroplex. Retirees and active members from many labor unions joined the protest, representing members of the Association of Flight Attendants, Communications Workers of America and TWU members from several locals at Southwest Airlines joined in, as did the Tarrant County Central Labor Council. To join the protest, TWU Local 514 from Tulsa drove a rented van full of members to DFW Airport. John Patrick, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO marched along side some of his old friends and retirees from the United Auto Workers and the Teamsters Union. The Mid-Cities Democrats from Bedford, Texas came out in support of labors fight against AMR, as did the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
Feb 14 2012 -
Labor Union to Suggest Alternatives to AMR Cost Cuts
(Reuters) - The union representing seven categories of ground workers at bankrupt American Airlines will offer alternatives to some of the job cuts and concessions the company says it needs to survive, the head of the Transport Workers Union said on Tuesday. TWU has asked American's parent company AMR Corp for details on how it arrived at the cost-savings targets it unveiled this month when it said it planned to eliminate 13,000 jobs and terminate pensions. Union president James Little told Reuters in an interview the union hopes to draw on the labor deals it struck with the company prior to the Nov. 29 bankruptcy filing to salvage some of those jobs. "It's irresponsible for us to take those numbers for granted and not do our own analysis," Little said. AMR said it was aiming for $2 billion in total annual cost reductions, including $1.25 billion in employee-related expenses. Read the rest of this article here.
Feb 06 2012 -
Update of FAA Reauthorization Passage
Following three-and-a-half years without a full FAA reauthorization, which led to 23 stopgap extensions and one painful showdown of the FAA, the Senate approved the “FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act” 75-20. The bill was introduced at the beginning of the 112th Congress, and contains several issues of great importance to TWU members. Congressional Republicans attached an unrelated labor provision to the bill, which labor unions, Democratic leaders, and President Obama saw this issue, viewed as a nonstarter. This issue— the reversal of the NMB’s yes/no ballot ruling—held the bill up for almost a year and was a key issue during the FAA shutdown in August 2011. Three weeks ago, Senate Democrats and the House Republicans informed that a “compromise” was reached to strike the yes/no ballot provision and instead made modifications to the way NMB elections are triggered and to require frequent GAO reviews of the NMB’s work. TWU remains furious about the process under which this “compromise” was reached—with absolutely no consultation with labor unions, whose Members will ultimately be impacted by the changes they’ve made. Regardless, funding the FAA— rather than dragging the debate into the next Congress, and preventing another shutdown— has been the ultimate goal. As President James C. Little stated to the press, “we can live with it.” Last week, before the House was scheduled to take up the bill (which they passed 248-169), President Little sent a letter to every Member of Congress, specifically outlining TWU’s position on the legislation. You can read his letter by clicking here. In addition to giving the aviation industry a sense of certainty for the next four years, the “FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act” does the following: --Mandates annual inspections of non-certificated foreign repair stations --Calls for stricter drug and alcohol testing for foreign repair workers --Provides significant funding for the implementation of NextGen --Orders the FAA and OSHA to create a work plan to extend safety and health protections to flight attendants—a process that was started over ten years ago While we remain skeptical about the good the GAO reports will do, and are concerned about the ambiguity over merger procedures, we supported the bill until the final hour, and applaud both the Senate and the House of Representatives for passing it.
Feb 06 2012 -
Wrong for American –Wrong for America
by James C. Little Last week, AMR executives revealed their proposal for bankruptcy reorganization. They decided to hit their employees at American Airlines and American Eagle with a hammer, slashing 13,000 jobs and dumping pension plans on the PBGC. They’re aiming for a 20 percent reduction in labor costs. From everything we can tell, this plan is wrong for American and wrong for America. The same management team that took hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses while the airline was losing money now wants workers to pay a high price for their mistakes. If AMR executives get their way, good-paying American jobs will be outsourced and off-shored, and communities all across this nation will suffer. While job and benefit cuts are real, the supposed revenue increases in AMR’s reorganization proposal are “pie in the sky.” TWU members approach this crisis as a union with a demonstrated track record of finding business savvy ways to partner with our employer. Since 2003, we’ve given back over $600 million from our paychecks – about 30% of our pay and benefits – so we could keep American’s planes in the air. And we lead the U.S. aviation industry in joint insourcing projects, generating billions in corporate revenues for AMR while saving thousands of jobs. The Transport Workers Union has assembled a top-flight team of legal and financial experts to review AMR’s proposals. We’re going to ask hard questions, demand real answers – and be as transparent as possible with our members and the public. The American public – and our representatives in Congress – should follow this case very closely. Some key points: • Whom does bankruptcy law protect? After paying themselves huge bonuses for years, AMR executives filed for Chapter 11 with $4 billion in the bank and $13 billion in credit for buying new planes. Former CEO Gerald Arpey thought the decision was so wrong-headed that he immediately resigned. Congress must re-examine our bankruptcy laws, to ensure they protect workers, debtors and creditors – not sketchy financial maneuvers by overpaid executives. • Who pays for abandoned pension plans? AMR wants to dump $10 billion in liabilities on the PBGC, which insures defined-benefit pensions for more than 75 million workers. The agency is funded by employer-paid premiums, but it’s already running a $26 billion deficit. PBGC director Josh Gotbaum says AMR has not proven it needs to kill its pension plans to successfully reorganize. Other airlines, like Northwest, have emerged from bankruptcy with pension plans intact. • Who’s fixing your plane? AMR wants to ax thousands of mechanic and other maintenance jobs, by closing an overhaul facility in Dallas and cutting back sharply in Tulsa. The company plans to join the industry trend of outsourcing aircraft maintenance. Due to a loophole in U.S. air safety laws, much of this work winds up in overseas facilities that are not secure and not staffed by certified mechanics. Instead of the federal government acting as enablers, these safety and security loopholes need to be closed and closed now -- while FAA reauthorization is under consideration by Congress. It’s both absurd and potentially dangerous that passengers are scanned and frisked before entering a commercial airliner, while an unlicensed mechanic who fixes that same plane in China, Singapore or El Salvador never walks through an x-ray machine, never has his toolbox inspected and never receives a background check or a drug test. This is not hypothetical; in 2003 a member of Al Qaeda was discovered working in a maintenance facility in Singapore. The PBS series Frontline and investigative reports by NPR have documented the dangers of overseas aircraft maintenance. In the current FAA reauthorization, Congress must close this safety and security loophole – before, not after, a disaster occurs in the sky. This fix would not cost the U.S. Treasury a dime. The AMR bankruptcy is a microcosm of what is wrong with America. High stakes games are being played for the benefit of financial elites. Meanwhile, good jobs flow to overseas low-wage unregulated destinations, endangering the public and hurting our economy. Like I said, wrong for American, wrong for America.
Feb 05 2012 -
Update on FAA Reauthorization: HR 658
As you’re well aware, the FAA Reauthorization has rapidly been moving toward passage over the past two weeks. Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted, passing 248 to 169 accepting the conference report. The Senate is scheduled to vote on Monday on whether to accept the report. This is the last step before sending the bill to President Obama for signing. The legislation authorizes $15.9 billion per year for federal aviation programs thru 2015 and includes much needed Next Gen financing. Below is a quick explanation about how we got here: · For a year, the Democrats have stood with us to keep an unrelated matter out of the bill: the reversal of the NMB decision not to count workers who don’t vote in representation elections as “no votes.” As you remember, the FAA shut down in August 2011 because there were partisan differences on issues. The underlying issue was that Republicans would not take out the unrelated safety matter of union elections from the bill. · TWU maintained the position that the election issue did not belong in the bill—or any other labor provision for that matter. · Two weeks ago, we were informed that the Democrats had negotiated a “compromise” to pass the bill. This occurred without our input or consent. In fact, we’ve been told that no union, was involved in arriving at the “compromise”. The “compromise” did not reverse the yes/no ballot rule, but it changes the number of cards needed to trigger an election, alters the run-off election process, and mandates frequent and unnecessary government scrutiny of the National Mediation Board’s work. · President Little stated that we “can live with” the changes, and he blasted the Congress for arriving at this “compromise” without allowing labor any input during the negotiation process. He requested that they go back and clarify some things, namely how these changes will impact elections in the case of an airline or rail merger. But, the conference report on the FAA Bill was agreed to by the conference committee without any clarification. And, the House voted Friday passing the conference report. Now, it awaits Senate approval. Read the letter President Little sent to every Member of Congress by clicking here. We’ve thought long and hard about the labor compromise and are lobbying to still maneuver changes that will fix and clarify the areas of concern. We’re working with House and Senate Leaders, Members and Staff to find some way to make these changes. As for now, we will push for passage of HR 658- The FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. We cannot afford another shutdown of the FAA and we will not gamble with the provisions that are beneficial to our members that are included in the bill. Two provisions that are included in HR 658 that we have advocated on behalf of that are included; a higher scrutiny at repair stations including inspections, drug and alcohol testing and a mandate to complete the work that was begun under the 2000 Memorandum of understanding regarding OSHA coverage for flight attendants. Though the provisions don’t go as far as we would like, they serve as a building block for future endeavors. Once the Senate votes, we’ll update you further.
Feb 03 2012 -
AMR Bankruptcy Update – American Eagle
On Wednesday Feb. 1, AMR announced their restructuring plan, a plan that deals a heavy blow to nearly 9,000 TWU members working at American Airlines. As for American Eagle’s restructuring, the company was short on specifics saying, “due to fleet uncertainty we have not finalized our plan as of now.” The fleet uncertainty is attributed to contractual articles being addressed in AAs bankruptcy. They are: • Allied Pilots Association Scope clause - aircrafts number of seats • TWUs cap on available seat miles (ASMs) Eagle’s Chief Executive Officer Dan Garton said their reorganization plan would have to lag AAs bankruptcy because of this. Eagle expects to have proposals ready to pass in 2-3 weeks. Cathy McCann VP of Eagle’s People Department stated that Eagle must become best in class and more competitive to survive regardless of the fleet they wind up with. Many questions remain on Eagles future as a standalone carrier or staying the primary feeder for AA operations. Regardless, TWUs action plan is in full operation. We need you to join us. We all realize that this is the most critical time in our member’s lives and their careers. Be assured that we are taking all actions possible to protect your job, your wages and benefits. Our action plan includes: • Members mobilization, communication and outreach to business communities • Political and civic leader involvement, locally and nationally • External national media communications plan • Nationally recognized legal counsel specialized in 1113 airline bankruptcy • A team of leading labor attorneys • Expert economists and financial advisors to review AMRs balance sheet The TWU recognizes the anxiety and fear caused by the bankruptcy filing. We are counting on your support to rally your coworkers, friends and family members. You can help us get the message out - AMRs plan is devastating to working families and our communities. We will continue to update you via the web site, texts and email blasts. Disponsible in Espanol. For More Information Visit: http://aa.twu.org/
Feb 02 2012 -
AA Bankruptcy Update
Dear Brothers and Sisters: As we all know, the AMR bankruptcy has exacerbated an already difficult time for our members. TWU recognizes the anxiety and fear inflicted by their actions on you and your families. Be assured, we are taking all actions possible to protect your job, your wages and benefits. On Wednesday Feb. 1, AMR announced their restructuring plan, a plan that deals a heavy blow to nearly 9,000 of our members. Their reorganization plan will be evaluated and challenged by our negotiating teams. AMRs proposed business plan would terminate all existing pension plans, eliminate nearly a third of its maintenance employees at the Tulsa base, and close the Alliance maintenance base in Fort Worth, Texas. Only the Texas Aero Engine Services (TAESL) joint venture with Rolls Royce LTD could remain. AMR also proposed outsourcing 27 stations that would affect over 4,000 fleet service workers and a variety of other job classifications across the AA system. In total, the AMR plan will slash at least 13,000 jobs - over 15 percent of its workforce. This is a devastating hit to families already suffering through economic hard times. It is even more troubling for those who gave up so much in 2003 to keep this company from filing bankruptcy. To counter this unbelievable proposal, the TWUs plan is in full operation. We need you to join us. We all realize that this is the most critical time in our member’s lives and their careers. Our action plan includes: Nationally recognized legal counsel specialized in 1113 airline bankruptcy A team of leading labor attorneys Expert economists and financial advisors to review AMRs balance sheet Members mobilization, communication and outreach to business communities Political and civic leader involvement, locally and nationally External national media communications plan We are counting on your support to rally your coworkers, friends and family members. You can help us get the message out - AMRs plan is devastating to working families and our communities. We will continue to update you via the web site, texts and email blasts. **(AAs Term sheets forDispatch, Fleet Service, Instructors, MCT, Mechanics, Sim Techs, and Storesare posted on the TWU website: http://aa.twu.org/
  
  

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