Tread lightly boys and girls...Open time bans are a form of a self-help work action, which is not permitted under RLA. Putting that stuff on a union web server further reinforces an organized work action. If you think this is BS, take a look at what happened at APA (American Airlines).

Everyone needs to settle down, make sure we fly safely, legally and serve the customer better than purple or yellow. This is a time to grow the business. If you really want to avoid a furlough, then turn in a sales lead.

 

"Open time bans are a form of a self-help work action"

Not at UPS. It's a contractual right in the event UPS calls a furlough.

From Contract 2006:

"It shall be a violation of this Agreement if the Association
engages in any action to encourage or suggest to its members
that they not pick up open time or decline junior available
assignments. This language shall not be applicable during a
time of furlough or furlough announcement"

 

You beat me to it!

TH1

 

It is permitted as long a both parties agree to such action in advance. Last time I checked, UPS and the IPA signed the contract. What went on with the APA has nothing to do with UPS, but had a lot to do with the IPA.

 

"What went on with the APA has nothing to do with UPS."

Or, you could say that the APA brothers had an experience that caused the IPA to seek another route....

 

That's what I meant.

 

6 trips leaving tonight for the A300 and only 1 person available on RSVA. Doean't look like a furlough is coming to me.

 

I would be willing to bet there are plenty of "do-gooders" ready to help them out!

 

There is absolutely nothing illegal about an individual not picking up open time. In your example of the APA, I believe they acted illegally because they advocated job action as a union. However, many United pilots in the summer of 2000 acted individually by exercising their right to not work overtime (in addition to putting safety at the utmost forefront, such as writing up every little item, and taxiing to the distant, but longest runway, etc). I don't believe ALPA was fined in any way over this; and it caused United to play ball in very short order. Of course the resulting industry leading contract didn't last long, but that's another story, one which is not applicable to a company making $4 billion/yr, during a recession no less.

My point is why wait and count on an official open time ban from the union - if that's what it takes to mitigate furloughs - when the open time *****s can stop being such and nip this in the bud right now. I have seen some posts suggesting all open time can be absorbed by existing reserves, but I have also seen many suggesting the open time ban in 2003 saved 100 furloughs. Perhaps reality lies somewhere in the middle.

Nothing against the sales lead program, but that's pretty funny! If we all turn in two sales leads, perhaps we would we need to hire?

If growing the business means farming out our flying to Yangtze River Express and ANA, I would rather not grow the business.

 

IPA put aout a statement on that today, maybe it's not as bad as we feared?


UPS Corrects All Nippon Report

During today’s Implementation Team meeting, UPS responded to a report by Bloomberg News claiming UPS and All Nippon Airlines (ANA) have forged an international air cargo deal. The Association’s information is that: 1) although discussions are ongoing, no deal has been reached; 2) any deal with ANA will comply with the common carriage limits outlined in the IPA/UPS scope agreement; 3) the deal that is being considered is much smaller in scope than suggested by the Bloomberg report; and 4) any potential deal will also include ANA purchasing block space on UPS aircraft. The Company has pledged to keep the Association informed of the progress in these talks.