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Bargaining Digest Weekly |
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The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 800 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
Members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) are not allowed to strike Northwest Airlines under a federal appeals court ruling Thursday affirming a lower court decision.
The ruling by the Federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit prohibits a strike threatened by AFA-CWA after Northwest voided its contract last year with bankruptcy court permission. The union could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The workers threatened to strike in July 2006 after a bankruptcy judge allowed the airline to void the contract and impose wage and benefit cuts. Union members twice had rejected tentative contract agreements.
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The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the Machinists (IAM) and the Teamsters (IBT) will recover for their represented workers about $68 million from Comair when the company emerges from bankruptcy with its parent, Atlanta-based Delta Airlines, probably in May.
The ALPA pilots will receive about $61.8 million, IBT-represented flight attendants will get $5.5 million, and IAM mechanics will receive $750,000 under the bankruptcy settlement. The unions had filed claims in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to recover some of what its members would lose through contract concessions made to Comair.
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ALPA-represented pilots at US Airways and America West picketed at Pittsburgh Airport this week to demonstrate their frustration with US Airways management’s behavior at the bargaining table. The pilots are waiting for US Airways to put forward proposals that reflect the airline’s successful position in the industry, rather than insisting on cramming down bankruptcy-driven proposals that were put in place so the company could survive after the post-9/11 downturn.
Manufacturing
The strike against defense contractor Northrop Grumman by some 8,000 members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW), Machinists (IAM), 11 metal trades unions and an independent union representing guards entered its fourth week at the Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., while talks resumed with the help of a federal mediator.
Some progress was reported on non-economic issues, and the mediator announced that both sides agreed to more discussions, although no date was set. Medical insurance runs out today for the shipyard workers, who went on strike March 8.
Northrop Grumman President Richard Teel visited strikers on the picket lines earlier this week and listened to their concerns. The company builds ships for the Navy at the huge Pascagoula site.
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The Goodyear Tire Co. announced that it has accepted a bid from EPD Inc for its engineered products division for $1.48 billion. The purchase was financed by the private equity firm Carlyle, which formed EPD Inc.
Auto Industry
About 1,500 United Auto Workers (UAW) local leaders held a two-day bargaining strategy meetings in Detroit in preparation for Big Three auto talks that begin this summer.
UAW president Ron Gettelfinger opened the conference with a vow to hold steady against concessions, and a promise of worker unity and determination in negotiations, particularly on the issues of job security, wages, health care and pensions.
He closed it by reminding the press of the 2005 concessions on health care the union made that saved GM and Ford billions.
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Meanwhile, reports leaking out indicate that Canadian auto parts maker Magna and a private equity partner may be teaming up to make a bid for Chrysler.
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The UAW said it will continue to bargain with Chapter 11 auto parts maker Delphi Corp. after rejecting the latest offer.
Mining
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has imposed a record $1.5 million fine on Massey Energy for 25 violations that contributed to the deaths of two West Virginia coal miners in January 2006.
Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts said, “The report shows that Massey management at the mine violated multiple safety laws at Aracoma that led directly to the tragic deaths of the two miners.”
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The UMWA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Foundation Coal for its refusal to provide information necessary for bargaining. The union has authorized workers to strike beginning April 4 at the company’s Wabash Mine in Keensburg, Ill., and the Cumberland Mine and Emerald Coal Resources operation, both in Waynesburg, Pa.
Public Sector
The Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice that it will accept public ideas and commentary on how to tackle the increasing costs of benefits at DOE facilities operated by contractors. In the past year, the DOE has proposed replacing traditional pensions for new employees with 401(k)-style plans, and also proposed a “market-based” health care plan for new employees.
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In New York, AFSCME, AFT and the Public Employees Federation (PEF) have joined together to sue the New York hospital commission over its plans to close state hospitals as a part of restructuring.
Communications and Entertainment
The National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians (NABET-CWA) suspended talks with ABC for a new contract for 2,500 technicians following damaging proposals from the company on job security, pensions and other working conditions. The union will communicate with members to determine next steps. The contract expires March 31.
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The Newspaper Guild (TNG-CWA) filed the third unfair labor practice charge against The Washington Post in the past 12 months. The charge is part of an escalating battle over the paper’s refusal to negotiate fair work rules and compensation for the growing number of employees whose jobs have changed as a result of the expansion of work to new media platforms such as radio and the Internet. The latest charge involves The Post filing an addendum with the NLRB on a prior case that reveals the contents of off-the-record discussions with Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild Local 32035.
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The CWA reports that the Federal Communications Commission will closely monitor Movil’s promise to invest $ 1 billion in the land-line operations of Verizon being purchased by the company.
Organizing
Two bills that are working through the Texas legislature to provide Austin city workers with bargaining rights. One bill covers emergency medical services workers, and the other gives “meet and confer” rights to non-public safety city employees. Firefighters call their contract negotiations collective bargaining, while the police union calls it “meeting and conferring.”
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The Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA) won a five-year old NLRB case against Austal USA for the firing of 10 workers during their organizing campaign in Mobile, Ala. The board has ordered that a new election be held.
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Backing off from its original plan, Harrah’s, the parent company of Caesars Atlantic City, won’t challenge a vote by 700 casino dealers to join the UAW. The union said the NLRB has certified the results of the election, clearing the way for collective bargaining. Dealers at Trump Plaza are scheduled to vote today on whether to join the UAW, and efforts to form unions are under way at several other Atlantic City casinos.
Global Labor Movement
The IAM announced a new Global Union Alliance to better represent and organize Boeing workers throughout the world. Union representatives from the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Sweden established the alliance during the first ever Boeing Workers World Conference this week in Portland, Ore.
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