TEAMSTER AVIATION PROFESSIONAL Newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition

Volume 4, Issue 3

LOCAL 19 WELCOMES SUB-CAL FLIGHT SIMULATOR TECHS

Houston and -based UAL flight simulator technicians voted for sole representation by the Teamsters back in September, according to the Na - tional Mediation Board. The 98 technicians were previously represented by the Teamsters at United in Denver and the Transport Workers Union at Continental in prior to the 2010 merger. The workers overwhelmingly voted for the Teamsters by a 6-1 ratio with 93 percent of the unit participating in the election which began on August 20 and ended on September 4. The tech - nicians will be represented by Teamsters Local Mechanics Hit the Hill 455 in Denver and Local 19 in Houston. “We’re looking forward to working toward an TAMC Lobbies Congress, Continues Fight amalgamated agreement for the entire flight sim - Against Outsourced Aircraft Maintenance ulator technician class and craft,” said James Prout, chief steward of the Denver-based unit. “On behalf of the Teamsters Airline Divi - risk autumn air chilled the nation’s capital early on November 12 as sion, I’d like to thank the flight simulator tech - nine Teamster mechanics and leaders walked over to Capitol Hill, kick - nicians for their overwhelming vote of ing off a two-day lobbying push in the ongoing fight against out - confidence in our ability to represent their in - B terests,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of sourced aircraft maintenance. Rank-and-file TAMC members held 12 meetings the Teamsters Airline Division. with congressional staff to educate lawmakers on the perils of outsourcing. Following the vote, Local 19 held a series of Lawmakers heard mechanics’ accounts from the frontlines of aircraft mainte - class and craft meetings which were attended by nance and the impact that third-party maintenance providers (MROs) are hav - more than 75 percent of the unit. Local Union 19 ing on safety in the industry. President Bob Clever was joined by Vice Presi - Rank-and-file TAMC mechanics Fred Lewelling (LU 19), Larry Bailey (LU dent Angel Cantu, Secretary-Treasurer Dominic 210), Ervin Cornavaca (LU 210), Tom Reid (LU 210), Gary Kagel (LU 769), and Fierro and Trustee Mike Cline. Brother Clever Pramod Thomas (LU 781) were joined by Local 986 Business Agent Dave answered questions regarding local union struc - Saucedo, Airline Division Representative Bob Fisher and TAMC Chair Chris ture, steward elections, contract amalgamation, Moore as they walked the halls of Congress. seniority integration and dues. A dozen meetings were held over the course of two days with various staff Brother Prout updated the new members on members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, how things have been working for the UAL Sim Techs since they became Teamsters. Additionally, members of the Subcommittee on Aviation, and both the Majority and Minority Airline Division Representative and TAMC Chair Staff Directors of the Aviation Subcommittee. Additionally, TAMC meetings were Chris Moore gave an overview of the Division as held with staff members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Com - well as the TAMC. mittee as well as Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) of the Committee. Discussions with lawmakers centered around the May 1, 2013 Department Newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition 2

MECHANICS HIT THE HILL Continued from page 1 60 Years in of Transportation Inspector General Report (AV-2013-073), which once again supports the Aviation TAMC’s claim that the FAA is failing to ade - quately oversee the work being done by MROs. Maintenance: With photos of shoddy MRO repair work in TAMC Member hand, the Teamster mechanics provided expert analysis of the missed inspections, unautho - James Thomas rized repairs and coercion of unlicensed me - chanics that are ongoing at the outsourced Retires maintenance facilities. “This was my first time participating in lob - bying in Washington, DC on behalf of the TAMC,” said mechanic Fred Lewelling. “It was great to be part of the TAMC’s efforts against “The airline industry has always been very good to me,” says James Thomas, outsourcing and to see firsthand the political an ExpressJet mechanic in who is ending his long career in aviation muscle we have as a Coalition and as Teamsters.” maintenance this month. “I’ve enjoyed working as a Teamster.” “All the congressional staff and offices we Thomas joined the Air Force Reserve in 1950, following in the footsteps of his older brother. After four years in the Air Force, Thomas attended the met with were very receptive to our message Embry-Riddle School of Aviation on the Korean GI Bill. The Embry-Riddle about the dangers of aircraft maintenance out - School is now the present-day Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University located sourcing and the need for better oversight,” said in Daytona Beach, Fla. TAMC Chair Chris Moore. In September of 1959 he started his career as a mechanic at - In the interest of public safety, the TAMC lines, working on DC-3 aircraft. Over the years Thomas has seen many has taken the position that the current Morato - changes at ATL and throughout the aviation industry. He worked for North - rium prohibiting Initial Certification of Foreign west Airlines until it was bought out by Delta and for the past 13 and half years Repair Stations (FAA Document N 8900.47) he’s been at ExpressJet. should be modified to include adequate FAA While he’s spent six decades working on commercial aircraft, including oversight and that Initial Certification of any Bombardier regional planes at ExpressJet, Thomas still fondly remembers new Domestic repair stations should be halted when he flew with this brother in a B36 Bomber in the 50s. Today Thomas is until such time as the FAA can show they can proud to say his son also works for ExpressJet as a captain. “I guess you could say aviation runs in the family,” he says. oversee the work being performed. Retirement isn’t going to stop Thomas from getting his hands dirty. After Moore added, “We are pleased that so many more than half a century fixing planes, Thomas can now focus full time on his lawmakers in Washington are aware of the out - second passion: working on cars. He has several classic cars that he enjoys sourcing problem that our industry faces and working on. “Mechanical work is something I’ve always enjoyed doing, are eager to learn more about how to address it. whether it flies or drives.” We look forward to following up with the of - The TAMC is proud to honor Jim Thomas and we’re inspired by his sto - fices we visited and organizing future lobbying ried career as a lifelong aviation mechanic. While he begins his well-deserved events to keep up the pressure in Washington.” retirement, he’ll always be a member of the Teamster airline mechanic family.

Wishing a Happy Holiday Season for Mechanics and Our Families

The TAMC Steering Committee extends its warmest wishes to our 18,000 Teamster airline mechanic members and your families during this special time of year. We hope all Teamster mechanics enjoy a safe and happy holiday season with loved ones. We look forward to another year of working to raise standards for our profession and the entire industry. Newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition 3

and brothers at the Teamsters” to “demonstrate to the company it’s time to move forward together” and UAL Mechanics Escalate joined mechanics on the picket line. The second quarter of 2013 saw UAL earn its Action for Joint Agreement highest revenue in history. After a year of stalling, UAL executives broke off contract negotiations without agreeing to the industry-leading agreement they had promised, and declared that 3,500 me - chanics will be forced to pay an additional $300- $500 each month for their health care. The last proposal made by the company would actually have thousands of mechanics making less than they do today. See Negotiations Roundup on Page 5. “Our job is to keep passengers safe and we are proud of what we do. But we are being asked to accept a contract that does not value the contri - bution we make every day to United and its pas - sengers,” said John Laurin, a 24-year UAL mechanic at San Francisco International Airport TAMC Members at United Hold Info Pickets and member of Teamsters Local Union 856. “We Nationwide, Call for Pension Reinstatement want United to live up to its promise and give us a fair contract that reinstates our pensions.” Teamsters hand-billed at the following air - aviation mechanics turned up the heat on the ports the day before Thanksgiving: GUM, HNL, LAX, SFO, SEA, company during the week of Thanksgiving with escalated ac - DEN, IAH, CLE, IAD, EWR, MCO, and ORD. tions that hit a dozen major airports on the busiest travel days of “United promised us a year ago that they would enter into the year. Mechanics hand-billed UAL customers during informa - fast-track negotiations to reach an industry-leading contract – tional pickets held nationwide, informing the public that they one that we could all be proud of ,” said Mike Moats, a UAL me - may be forced to strike if the company refuses to keep its prom - chanic at Hopkins International Airport and member ise to provide a fair agreement that adequately compensates and of Teamsters Local Union 964. “After stalling and making excuse protects these workers after years of concessions. after excuse, the company came back with a proposal that would Hundreds of Teamsters kicked off the week with actions at 10 air - have resulted in pay cuts for thousands of our members.” ports. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) announced Photos from the informational pickets and hand-billing can that they stand “shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with our sisters be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/21888551@N06/.

TAMC Members Joined by Teamster Pilots at NTSB “Go Team” Training

Members of Teamster Airline Division Lo - pected of team members at the crash site, investigation. The attendees were also fortu - cals 19, 769, 781, 1224 and 2727 recently at - and how to structure an airline "Go Team." nate to have brothers from Local 2727 who tended the TAMC and Airline Goglia also gave an overview of the history, participated in the recent UPS accident in - Division-sponsored Crash Investigation structure and mission of the NTSB as well as vestigation. They offered their experiences Training in Houston. The two-day event was a review of several case studies from acci - with the group. led by industry expert and former NTSB dents that he investigated. Commenting on the training, Local 769 member John Goglia, who is also an A & P Enjoli DeGrasse, Industrial Hygienist member Gary Kagel said, “The presentation mechanic and has decades of NTSB investi - from the Teamsters Safety and Health De - and training was outstanding”. The Team - gatory experience. Teamsters Local 19 partment, was also on hand to teach a sters Airline Division, as a leader in aviation hosted the training and provided the meet - course on blood borne pathogens and Per - representation, will continue to provide ing space. sonal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is training and development programs that The syllabus included an overview of required if members are to gain "Party Sta - support our aviation professionals through - how an investigation works, what is ex - tus" and be on-site to assist the NTSB in an out the industry. Newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition 4

Reporting on the Fall 2013 Aviation Safety Infoshare

The Fall 2013 Aviation Safety Infoshare was held in Atlanta on Sep - Safety Culture tember 17 through September 19. Terrence Kelly, a professor at Saint Louis University, gave a presenta - A large group of Teamster mechanics attended the infoshare tion analyzing the factors underlying the aviation safety climate. He from all over the country: Mike Keating (UAL) from San Francisco, explained how different factors affect the safety culture at an airline, Fred Lewelling (UAL) from Houston, Vic Austin (UAL) from Den - including value congruence (the consistency between espoused and ver, Adolfo Rodriguez (ExpressJet) from Atlanta, Chintan Patel (Ex - enacted values), documentation (the level at which safety is inte - press Jet) from Houston, Johnny Vance (ExpressJet) from grated into policies, procedures and technical data), accountability, Shreveport, LA, and Brian Stevenson (UPS) from Louisville, KY. and trust. Interestingly, accountability can have a negative effect on safety Fatigue culture because most people associate accountability with punish - There were eleven presentations in the maintenance sessions. One ment. Value congruence has the greatest positive effect on overall interesting presentation was done by Ron Sims, Director of Safety safety as airlines resist the temptation to sacrifice safety values for and Compliance at United Airlines. Sims’ presentation, “Under - timeliness or production. Documentation also has a positive effect standing the Effects of Technician Fatigue,” highlighted the problem when it provides guidance for expectations. of fatigue and why it’s so difficult to solve. Sims linked the problem to duty restrictions. The problem with duty restrictions is that the industry creates a commuter-enabling environment in which mechanics are often TAMC Attends MRO hired into cities with extremely high costs of living, like , San Francisco, and Los Angeles. To save money, mechanics share liv - Conference in ing space during their work week and commute to cities that they can’t afford to live in. This motivates mechanics to compress their work week as much as possible so that they can get home to their With the recent MRO Network conference held in October families. Mechanics that do live in these cities feel pressured to com - in Montreal, , TAMC leaders Chris Moore and Bob press their work week so that they will have more overtime opportu - Fisher headed north to hear the latest on developments in nities to help make ends meet. Additionally, the industry itself likes the industry. the flexibility of not having rigid duty limitations when it suits com - Moore and Fisher report that trending remains positive panies’ needs. for domestic maintenance as labor rates in Asia continue to Sims also pointed out that fatigue is hard to manage. It is not al - move upward. It is expected that both established Asian ways noticeable when someone is fatigued, but fatigue significantly countries’ labor rates, as well as those of the emerging Asian degrades a person’s performance. conducted an countries, will converge with domestic rates in approxi - injury study that showed a mechanic is four times as likely to be in - mately 2018. jured after working more than 16 hours and twice as likely to be in - Such a trend will make it impractical to offshore wide - jured after working 12 hours. The presentation did not try to solve body overhauls to Asia in the future. the problem; the point was to bring awareness to the issue. A second key point is that M & A (merger and acquisi - tion) activity is heating up with more than 100 such transac - MOCA tions expected by the end of this year, up slightly from last year's roughly 80 transactions. For the past five years this Another interesting presentation was given by Bill Scott from Ameri - trend has continued as MROs, which have little yield, seek to can Airlines. He discussed how his airline created the MOCA (Main - join forces to produce more volume. Obviously, this will tenance Operations Compliance Assessment) program. MOCA is drive up costs to airlines as this trend continues. basically a maintenance version of a program that pilots use called It is also anticipated that more companies will start to LOSA (Line Operations Safety Audit). discuss outsourcing using the word “contracting.” According In the LOSA program for pilots, a trained observer rides with a to the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), the crew and documents what happens. In the MOCA program for me - word “contracting” doesn't have the same negative connota - chanics, a trained observer who is a peer of the mechanics watches tions as outsourcing with the public and regulators. tasks being accomplished and documents how that task is accom - But as we all know, it makes no difference what it's called plished under real life circumstances. Participation is voluntary, re - – outsourcing is outsourcing. We need to remain vigilant ports are made anonymous, and the program is non-punitive. The about its negative impacts on mechanics and aircraft safety, goal of the program is to identify hazards so that they can proac - regardless of whatever pleasant-sounding language they use tively manage risk, create a safer working environment, encourage to describe it. mechanics to be actively involved, and cut maintenance costs. Newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition 5

Airline Division Participates in GAO Whistleblowers Meeting

irline Division representatives Bob Fisher and Chris act on its own to correct a problem because of very stringent A Moore represented the Teamsters in a discussion with government oversight. Further, the majority of air carriers the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on October have active ASAP and MSAP programs which provide a non- 28. Currently, the GAO is mandated to review whistleblower punitive reporting system to identify and correct safety issues.” protections for employees in the transportation industry “We also discussed how the Teamsters represent whistle - under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act blowers,” Moore added. “We explained that the Teamsters pro - (MAP-21), P.L. 112-141. vide safety and health experts to help determine if a workplace The GAO discussion centered on transportation-related safety violation exists and help our members gather the infor - whistleblower statutes, to what extent the provisions and num - mation they need to make their case” ber of claims made in selected years differ, and what factors “Should the company attempt to discipline a member for may help explain the differences. bringing a safety and health concern forward, the Teamsters “We focused on the small number of whistleblower claims will be there to defend them,” said Moore. filed in the airline industry and why,” Fisher said. The full GAO whistleblowers report is due in the summer “Our assessment is that, first and foremost, the airline in - of 2014 and both representatives Fisher and Moore will be dustry is very safety-centric and in many cases an airline will available for additional discussions as necessary.

NEGOTIATIONS ROUNDUP –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

ASA – Negotiations for a stand-alone penses), 20 (Grievance Procedure), 21 tion 16 (Moving Expenses), Section 19 Technician and Related, Subsidiary ASA (Board of Arbitration) and the Interim (Union Security and Representation), Sec - contract resumed early October in At - Agreement which gives the members a tion 20 (Grievance Procedure), and Sec - lanta with the union and the company process to fight discipline and discharge up tion 21 (Board of Arbitration). agreeing to meet outside of Federal Me - to and including arbitration. Mediated talks diation. The company had not responded resumed in Houston on December 17. NetJets – Prior to a scheduled meeting to the union proposal advising the com - with the company, the NetJets Negotiat - pany of the unions’ interest in accepting ASA/XJT Stock Clerks – Negotiations ing Committee met in late October to their offer of additional wages and work for a combined ASA/XJT Stock Clerk con - discuss and work on proposals for Arti - rules with the understanding that it would tract resumed in early December in At - cles 7 (Union Representation), 8 (Griev - only apply to the S-ASA side. lanta. The union made passes on Section ance Procedure) and 9 (Arbitration). Negotiations continued with the 7 (Hours of Service) and Section 22 Discussions between the Negotiating union making proposals on Section 3 (General and Miscellaneous), and the Committee and company continued on (Classifications), Section 7 (Hours of company made a pass on Section 12 October 24. The talks focused on Article Service), and Section 10 (Leaves of Ab - (Field Trips) and Section 7 (Hours of Serv - 7 (Union Representation), 12 (Jury Duty), sence). The company provided a counter ice). The parties were able to reach a 13 (Funeral Leave), 16 (Holidays), 23 proposal on Section 3. Although no Tentative Agreement on Section 12. (Moving Expenses), 25 (Sick Leave), and agreements were reached, it was felt that To date we have Tentative Agree - 35 (Tuition Assistance). substantial progress was made on both ments for the combined ASA/XJT Stock The union made a proposal on Arti - Sections 3 and 10. Clerk contract on the following Sections: cle 23 (Moving Expenses). In turn, the Tentative Agreements for the Sub ASA Section 3 (Classifications), Section 4 (Se - company made counter proposals on Ar - contract are currently in place for Articles 4 niority), Section 5 (Filling of Vacancies), ticles 12, 13 and 35 and provided an (Seniority), 5 (Filling of Vacancies), 6 (Re - Section 6 (Reduction in Force and Recall), opening on proposals for Articles 7, 16 duction in Force and Recall), 13 (Training), Section 12 (Field Trips), Section 13 (Train - and 25. After the discussion the parties 14 (Health and Safety), 16 (Moving Ex - ing), Section 14 (Health and Safety), Sec - reached a Tentative Agreement on Article Newsletter of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition 6

NEGOTIATIONS ROUNDUP continued ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ------

23 (Moving Expenses). Both parties engaged in an effort to nar - tially requested. The Negotiating Committee met out - row issues in order to reach a Joint Col - “The NMB worked tirelessly with side of negotiations the week of Novem - lective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). both the union and the company to ber 11 to work on counter proposals to Talks began with a presentation from reach an agreement,” said Teamsters Articles 7 (Union Representation), 12 United on the highlights of the TA for IAM- Airline Division Director Capt. David (Jury Duty), 13 (Funeral Leave), 16 (Holi - represented employees, brief preparations Bourne. “NMB Representatives who have days), 18 (401K), 27 (Shifts and Days of the committee by representatives of the worked with the parties throughout direct Off), and 32 (Hours of Service). Airline Division, and an article-by-article negotiations have committed to continue Talks resumed on December 5. This review of open items. An overview of ben - working with the parties while in formal latest negotiating session consisted of the efits information was given and the com - mediation and have expressed their union making counter proposals on Arti - mittee was briefed on UAL’s current hope that a mutually satisfactory agree - cles 7, 12, 13, and 35. The union and financial situation as it relates to the in - ment can be reached.” the company were able to reach a Tenta - dustry at large and competitors. Unfortunately, since its NMB filing, the tive Agreement on Article 12. Members from the ranks of the Flight company has chosen to accuse the union The union and the company are work - Simulator Technicians and Engineering of contemplating illegal job actions when ing to set dates for the next round of talks. Groups on sCO and sUA discussed their things are not going the company’s way. integration into the agreement. The NMB We believe it would be more productive Piedmont – Ahead of resumed negoti - recently ruled that the flight simulator for the company to do the right thing by ations on October 28, the company in - tech group is a stand-alone craft and offering a package that is not concession - formed the union that it was unable to class. An election was held where the two ary to a large group of technicians. respond to the union’s last economic subsidiary groups chose the IBT as their The union is taking an aggressive proposal. The reason stated was that the representative (see page 1). stance to get the company back into ne - Piedmont pilots, through ALPA, had Negotiations continued with gotiations and deliver an agreement that reached out to both US Airways and progress being made to close out several is fair to its workers. Mechanics hit air - Piedmont to discuss bringing jet aircraft articles with open items from the previous ports around the country the week of to the Piedmont fleet. round of talks. But when the committee Thanksgiving with pickets and hand- Meaningful dialogue took place and met with the company again during the billing, alerting the public and warning the union passed proposals on Article 3 week of November 4, attempts to finalize that the company may force its mechan - (Classifications) and Article 5 (Filling of the joint CBA hit a wall. UAL manage - ics to strike. (See page 3). We will con - Vacancies). The session was productive ment presented a comprehensive pro - tinue to put pressure on the company although no resolution was reached on posal that the union rejected after a until it resumes good faith efforts to ne - either article. thorough review which led the committee gotiate an industry-leading agreement Negotiations resumed on November to conclude it would be concessionary for for our members. 11 with the parties continuing their dis - many members. cussions on economic issues. Although Later in the week the union gave its XJT – With the government shutdown there are other open contract articles, comprehensive final proposal to the causing negotiation dates in October to talks were limited to Article 15 (Compen - company. It did so after working shoul - be cancelled, discussions resumed in No - sation) and Article 19 (Benefits). der-to-shoulder with its financial, legal vember with the Federal Mediator in Proposals were passed by both sides and actuarial experts to develop a con - . with considerable dialogue and examina - tract that met the members’ needs while The parties continued where they had tion of the methodology that both sides satisfying the company’s objectives. In left off on Section 22 (General and Mis - are using to cost out and value their pro - less than a half an hour, the company re - cellaneous), with both sides having direct posals. Although no tentative agreements jected the union’s proposal, stating that meetings and discussions on the out - were reached, the committee viewed it as the proposal was significantly more ex - standing issues and passing proposals a productive session. pensive than it could afford. The com - on this section. While the discussions The next scheduled negotiations were pany also advised the union that it were fruitful, the parties were unable to set for the second week of December. intended to apply for formal NMB medi - reach a Tentative Agreement on the sec - ation, thus ending 10 months of direct tion during the session. UAL – Negotiations with the company negotiations facilitated by the NMB under Negotiations are scheduled to re - resumed in October in Phoenix, Arizona. a special process the company had ini - sume in January.