Screen Actors Voting on Strike Action, and More Bargaining News

by May Silverstein, Dec 15, 2008

Members of the Screen Actors (SAG) are voting on whether to authorize a strike—and more news here from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

WORK STOPPAGES AND ACTIONS SAG, Studios: The Screen Actors (SAG) set a date for their strike authorization ballot over the union’s TV and movie contract with studios and producers, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). SAG will send out ballots Jan. 2 and make the results public on Jan. 23. SAG’s contract with AMPTP ran out on June 30. AMPTP has denounced the plan, and posted their last offer on their website.

LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
ALPA, Delta/Northwest: An arbitrator issued a decision on integrating pilot seniority lists for pilots at Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, separately represented by the Air Line Pilots (ALPA). Lee Moak, chairman of the ALPA unit at Delta, said in a written statement that the single seniority list is a “historic labor first and stands in stark contrast to traditional airline merger time lines where labor issues can take years to resolve, often at the expense of both labor and the merged corporation.” 

SETTLEMENTS
TWU, Northwest/Delta: Northwest and Delta have reached a tentative combined labor contract and seniority list with dispatchers at both carriers. The tentative agreement will be up for a ratification vote by union members through the end of December. Dispatchers at Northwest are represented by TWU, while dispatchers at Delta are represented by the independent Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA-Ind.). After the two airlines form a single carrier under the National Mediation Board (NMB) rules, an election will be necessary to determine which single union will represent dispatchers. 

ALPA, Mesa Air Group: Mesa Air Group pilots, represented by ALPA, ratified a new agreement. “This new agreement represents a step forward for all Mesa pilots,” said Capt. Kevin Wilson, chairman of the ALPA unit at Mesa. “No concessions were made for this contract, which is no small feat, given the state of our company and the industry.” 

Multiple, Olin: Some 1,400 workers at the Olin Corp. in East Alton, Ill., represented by multiple unions that include the Machinists (IAM) District 9, the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 649, the Pipe Fitters (UA) Local 557 and the Western Employees Trades Council (WETC-MTC), ratified a three-year contract that provides 3 percent raises annually. 

USW, Cooper Tire: Workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in Texarkana, Ark., represented by the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 752L, reached a new tentative agreement.

HNA-UAN, Kapiolani Medical Centers: About 500 nurses at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and the Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Hawaii, represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association (HNA-UAN), ratified a new four-year contract that took effect Dec. 3. The agreement includes annual wage increases of 4 percent from now until 2011.

IAFF, Greenville, Pa.: Greenville, Pa., firefighters, represented by the Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1976, approved a tentative contract agreement with the borough. Details have not been released. 

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

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