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British Airways still in its own labor dispute
On Tuesday of last week, the UK Trades Union Congress claimed John Monks, the general secretary, had invited representatives of British Airways PLc unions to discuss problems they had with the current situation. Attempting to find a solution, they hoped he would consider supporting them. The strike is a product of two main conflicts; BA's plans to sell off its catering unit, which has the ground staff irate and threats coming from the cabin crew over a pay restructuring package, which is part of BA's wider commitment to eliminate $1.7 billion in costs by the year 2000. Although there appears to be no difficulties as far as the ground staff's situation is concerned, the company claims the situation with the cabin crew remains hostile. And in some reports, "very tough". The trade union bosses gave the go ahead to a series of 72-hour strikes by the BA PLc but last Tuesday, efforts to revive negotiations between the two sides failed. The series of 72-hour strikes may start as soon as next Wednesday. According to reports, BA was in the process of drawing up a statement but after unions failed to reopen talks with the BA, the company decided to go ahead with strike action for the cabin crew. Last week, when three quarters of the cabin crew were balloted whether to take strike action or not, 73 percent said yes. BA chief executive Robert Ayling reportedly claimed he would enter talks with ground staff who are threatening to strike over a decision to sell off BA's catering unit. Of the ground staff who voted, 62 percent reportedly voted in support of a strike. Ground crew met early last week to discuss confrontation. If they make the decision to follow along, many claim BA could gain problems on ground as well as in the air. In addition, services from both Heathrow and Gatwick could be effected.
Northwest pilots seek mediation In hopes of moving things along, the pilots at Northwest Airlines Corp. are seeking federal mediation in contract talks with the United States' fourth-largest airline. It seems the Air Line Pilots Association is not satisfied with the progress of labor negotiations. According to sources from the airline, this type of behavior is normal. After all, labor negotiations began in October 1996 and in 1993, Northwest's unionized employees agreed to wage concessions in exchange for stock and labor representation on the company's board of directors.
More pilots to be laid off at US Airways Just recently, US Airways said it would cut unprofitable routes, reduce its fleet and consolidate its routes. Just last week, US Airways Group Inc. said it plans to lay off 42 pilots by this fall. This is being done as the group continues to implement down-sizing plans previously announced this year. The 42 pilots scheduled to lose their jobs are in addition to the 103 job cuts that were announced in early 1997. US Airways is currently in labor talks with its unionized employees. The pilots union are picketing this week in protest to the current situation. Although some reportedly understand US Airways' competitive challenges, others feel the management's down-sizing plan does not do anything to build up the future of the airline. Until a cost-reduction agreement is reached, officials are claiming they will focus on becoming a smaller, regional carrier.
UAL pilots are talking regional jets Last month, United Airlines announced that it wants United's mainline pilots, not commuter airline pilots, to fly its regional jets. And the subject of recent talks between United Airlines' pilot union and the company? You guessed it: Who will fly the regional jets. The fact is, the airline wants to buy the jets to feed its hub operations and add service to smaller markets. Among other things, the group discussed feeder airline partners controlling the amount of flying, job protection, protection against furloughs and the possibility of tying growth at United to any growth of the feeder airlines' regional jet operations. Sources say a solution could be reached soon, in support of commuter pilots.
Emery pilots vote for a union The cockpit crew members of Emery Worldwide Airlines have voted in favor of a union. Last week, it was reported that of the 348 pilots eligible to participate, 223 voted in favor of union representation. This is the first time, since the company was founded, that its pilots have been unionized. The terms the pilots are asking for have not yet been determined. ALPA spokesman John Mazor said terms of what the pilots will ask for has yet to be determined. Emery, a division of CNF Transportation Inc., provides overnight package express, freight forwarding and charter services.
Vote held on Bombardier's De Havilland A new three-year collective agreement has been set for workers at Bombardier Inc.'s de Havilland aircraft manufacturing plant, according to the Canadian Auto Workers union. The union said the new three-year agreement will provide an average wage increase of 2.3 percent per year plus cost of living increases. The agreement will also include pension improvements, benefit gains and strengthened language to provide greater job security. The CAW, which represents 3,800 plant and office workers, said members of Local 112 voted 82 percent in favor of the agreement, while technical and clerical workers at de Havillan voted 93 percent in favor. The union said the new three-year agreement provides average wage increases of 2.3 percent each year, including cost of living increases. It said the agreement also provides pension improvements, benefit gains and strengthened language to provide greater job security.
Flight Attendants give a new taste of CHAOS United Airlines flight attendants, armed with their own airplane, gave Chicagoans a taste of CHAOS during the "Taste of Chicago" last Thursday. The flight attendants' CHAOS campaign was part of an ongoing effort to get a new contract with the airline. Talks are currently in recess and are scheduled to resume no later than July 10. The Association of Flight Attendants and United Airlines have been in contract negotiations for more than a year. The flight attendants' message was seen in the sky and on the ground on July 3. "Taste of Chicago'' patron were given CHAOS balloons and treated to an airplane message banner announcing, "The Friendly Skies Turn Stormy.'' CHAOS, which stands for "Create Havoc Around Our System)," is the flight attendants' campaign for a new contract. In the beginning, CHAOS employed creative tactics to inform the public about the contract dispute. If an agreement between the flight attendants and United is not reached, however, CHAOS could culminate in intermittent strikes and other random work actions that would create havoc around the entire United Airlines system, threatening to strike anywhere, anytime and without notice. The flight attendants cannot engage in these work stoppages unless the Railway Labor Act process is exhausted, including mediation and a ``cooling-off'' period. Later on in the week, United Flight Attendants brought CHAOS to the Dulles International Airport in Washington. Wearing their characteristic green CHAOS shirts, the flight attendants picketed to inform the traveling public about their need for a new contract. Their current contract became amendable on March 1, 1996. "United has seen fit to reward all of its other employees with raises,'' said Terri Owen, AFA local president for United flight attendants based in Washington, DC. "The flight attendants are the front line employees who make the company's billion dollar profits possible.'' The Association of Flight Attendants is the largest flight attendant union in the world, representing 41,000 flight attendants at 27 airlines, including 21,000 at United. |
In a dispute over
British Airways plans to sell off its catering arm, the ground staff of
British Airways voted in favor of a strike. Over a five-month period, cabin
crew have voted on a series of 72-hour strikes over pay and other conditions.
