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UAL ACAC Report February 2007 To the AMFA UAL Membership: SFO Surplus / Furlough During the month of February the Company intended to surplus or furlough 100 mechanics from the Jet shop, Machine shop, Plating shop and Welding and Rework areas. The Union disagreed with the methodology and reasoning behind this surplus and furlough action and we fought to stop it from the beginning. ALR Malik Miah and SFOLR worked through January and February to prevent any mechanics from being furloughed to the street. Many mechanics were moved to Airframe and Components. No one was laid off. In fact, several unlicensed mechanics furloughed for several years were recalled to SFOLX and SFOEC. The managers stated the reduction was due to the loss or refusal of contract work and the need to focus on fixing the problems we face in Jet shop production. Many important areas were significantly impacted during this reduction: the combustor shop, welding and rework, the machine shop, the plate shop and SFOPD. There are key areas where we need the skills and experience and manpower for the entire operation to work. Reductions that remove those skilled people will impact Landing Gear, SFOLN, Airframe and our components shops. It is not about headcount; it is about having the right people with the right skills to do the job. Every time we surplus and move people to unfamiliar work areas, we impact the work. Take for example the reduction in 2004 that removed experienced and skilled Landing Gear mechanics to SFOMM, that move adversely impacted both Line and Landing Gear operations. When the company has a budget problem or a planning problem, manpower headcount should not be the first place to go. We need leadership that can fix the problems in their work areas not outsource or reject the work because they don’t understand how to fix the problem. Professional Standards AMFA Safety and Standards Chairmen from UAL, SWA, and Alaska met in Denver at the AMFA National Headquarters to review the newly developed AMFA Professional Standards Program. The program modeled after the ALPA professional standards program will assist in resolving conflicts between union members as well as providing standards for professional conduct of our membership. Jay Santiago, ALPA Professional Standards Chairman, and Mary McMillan, ALPA Flight Safety Awareness Program ERC member, were also in attendance to review the AMFA and ALPA programs and discuss their ALPA program and its benefits. This program will help to build a stronger working relationship with other unions. Professional Standards will also help to resolve problems between union members before they are elevated to management. AFA NWA Picket On February 12 NWA Flight Attendants held informational picket lines across the United States concerning their lack of a contract and excessive company demands for concessions. The flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) are the only employee group at this time without an agreement with bankrupt Northwest Airlines. Members and Officers from SFO Local 9 joined in supporting the NWA Flight attendants with their picket lines. The picketing presented a good opportunity to talk with Local AFA members and AFA Officers. ORD Meetings on February 15 AMFA National Officers met with members in Chicago to discuss theAircraft Maintenance Support Technician (AMST) proposal voted on by the ALRs in January. We provided history and facts concerning the blended work issue that we have been fighting for over a year now. It is our responsibility to present all the information and facts concerning the work we have done to end the blended work problem both through negotiations and grievances. Nick Granath from AMFA Legal was present to discuss the grievances, and problems concerning blended work. The AMFA UAL Local leadership agreed to work to resolve the problem of vendors working on our property both through negotiations and grievances to come to a resolution and stop all blended work. The encroachment of vendors on our property is unacceptable. The language must be reviewed and accepted by SFOLR, before moving forward. Our responsibility is to present the facts to the membership. With the resignation of Line Maintenance vice president Alan Butterfield from UAL, the blended work problem may take a different direction; it may get better or it may get worse. The Company is currently using a blended workforce with the Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) that are represented by the IAM. The IAM has taken the Company to arbitration arguing that all CSR work is sunder their Scope. The Company is replacing CSRs with Air Serve vendors at the ticket check-in counters and vendors have been brought on the property to replace other union represented employees in other areas. Our goal is to stop this blending in maintenance. The LAX Area Representatives conducted a second step hearing concerning the blended work in LAX in February. The Company currently performs three cabin checks with vendors in LAX. The Company denied the grievance. They will move this grievance to the third step. Warrants Distribution The final distribution of Warrants will be complete by the end of March. The unions set aside a small percentage of money from the initial distribution of Warrants in August of 2006 for any discrepancies in the distribution. AMFA identified 30 individuals who had not received and were due a warrant distribution. Those members will receive their full allocation during this final distribution. AMFA JAC Meeting Local Presidents and Representatives met in Denver for the quarterly Joint Advisory Committee JAC meeting. Zach Petersen our legislative liaison in Washington DC outlined his roles and responsibilities and discussed some of the legislative issues that AMFA will be supporting and advocating for in Washington, DC. National Safety and Standards Director Mike Ayala will be working with Local Legislative POCs (Point of Contacts) to educate and engage our membership to become involved in legislative issues that impact our profession. Local 14 new UAL ALR Russ Smith resigned as the Local 14 ALR in February. Phil Stewart, the PV/GQ Area Representative, has volunteered to become the UAL ALR for Seattle and Portland. The responsibilities of the ALR are to work to resolve and present grievances at the third step and arbitration. The ALR works on the property to support the Area Representatives, protecting the contractual rights of the membership working on the property. The Airline Representative provides monthly updates to the membership covering issues at the local and informing the membership on system-wide contractual issues. The ALR reports to the Local Executive Council on contractual issues that affect the membership. Respectfully, |