Arbitrator finds Alaska Violated Contract....
08-07-2008, 12:35 PM
#1
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Arbitrator finds Alaska Violated Contract....
Saw this on Yahoo Finance. Seems like a pretty good victory for the Unions out there. Go Menzies.
Arbitrator Issues Ruling in Seattle ramp case
Arbitrator Issues Ruling in Seattle ramp case
Last edited by Pelican; 08-07-2008 at 05:56 PM.
Like Elvis - all shook up.
08-07-2008, 01:42 PM
#4
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Federal Arbitrator Rules Alaska Airlines Violated Machinists Union Contract
Last update: 4:52 p.m. EDT Aug. 7, 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug 07, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A federal arbitrator has ruled that Alaska Airlines violated its collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Air Transport District 143 when the carrier laid off 500 Seattle baggage handlers and other ramp workers in May 2005.
"This ruling is a huge victory for the IAM, Air Transport District 143 and all the hard working airline employees we represent. The ruling sends a message to the airlines that they must respect their workers and their union contracts," said Stephen Gordon, president of IAM Air Transport District 143.
The ruling comes more than three years after Alaska Airlines subcontracted its entire Seattle ground handling operation to Menzies Aviation. IAM-represented ramp employees who showed up to work on May 13, 2005, had their security badges deactivated by Alaska and were told they no longer had jobs.
Since outsourcing the work to Menzies, Alaska Airlines has endured negative press reports involving lost and mishandled bags, flight delays, safety problems and increased customer complaints.
The federal arbitrator who decided the case considered the parties' contract language, which permitted Alaska Airlines to subcontract the ground handling work only if it was cheaper than keeping the work in house.
The federal arbitrator directed Alaska and District 143 to work together to determine the appropriate remedy for the contract breach, but will take the matter up again if Alaska and District 143 are unable to agree on a resolution.
Air Transport District 143 represents 3,560 members on Alaska Airlines.
SOURCE International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Last update: 4:52 p.m. EDT Aug. 7, 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug 07, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A federal arbitrator has ruled that Alaska Airlines violated its collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Air Transport District 143 when the carrier laid off 500 Seattle baggage handlers and other ramp workers in May 2005.
"This ruling is a huge victory for the IAM, Air Transport District 143 and all the hard working airline employees we represent. The ruling sends a message to the airlines that they must respect their workers and their union contracts," said Stephen Gordon, president of IAM Air Transport District 143.
The ruling comes more than three years after Alaska Airlines subcontracted its entire Seattle ground handling operation to Menzies Aviation. IAM-represented ramp employees who showed up to work on May 13, 2005, had their security badges deactivated by Alaska and were told they no longer had jobs.
Since outsourcing the work to Menzies, Alaska Airlines has endured negative press reports involving lost and mishandled bags, flight delays, safety problems and increased customer complaints.
The federal arbitrator who decided the case considered the parties' contract language, which permitted Alaska Airlines to subcontract the ground handling work only if it was cheaper than keeping the work in house.
The federal arbitrator directed Alaska and District 143 to work together to determine the appropriate remedy for the contract breach, but will take the matter up again if Alaska and District 143 are unable to agree on a resolution.
Air Transport District 143 represents 3,560 members on Alaska Airlines.
SOURCE International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
08-07-2008, 02:30 PM
#5
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When I used to work for Horizonin Spokane, I wasn't very found of Menzies. Whenever an Alaska plane came in, I didn't want to get into the pit because for some reason it seems like Menzies just threw bags in there and it was a pain in the butt to take them out. One night we had a 739 came in and the flight was full and there were only 50 bags. Menzies forgot to load 2 cart worth of bags. I was told that when Menzies first started a Alaska captain said it was the first time he saw a belt loader drive without a driver in it. Anchorage I believe is the only place that has a Alaska employed ground crew.
08-07-2008, 05:58 PM
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Vagabond,
Thanks, that is the article I was trying to paste and messed it up....really I'm a highly trained and professional pilot, I'm a master of RNPs, LNAV, VNAV etc....I just can't paste a link, go figure.
Thanks, that is the article I was trying to paste and messed it up....really I'm a highly trained and professional pilot, I'm a master of RNPs, LNAV, VNAV etc....I just can't paste a link, go figure.
08-07-2008, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by de727ups
The federal arbitrator who decided the case considered the parties' contract language, which permitted Alaska Airlines to subcontract the ground handling work only if it was cheaper than keeping the work in house.
08-07-2008, 10:05 PM
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Yes, Pelican, but can you post pictures in Photobucket?? I'm having a difficult time with that and pretty much exhausted my technological skills.
It's been about a month now since ALPA requested a federal mediator on behalf of the Alaska pilot group. How is that coming along? Looks like things are heating up, but Capt. Shivers is a good man.
Since you are new to the forums, I wonder if you saw this old thread of mine? You might find it interesting.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ma...n-america.html
It's been about a month now since ALPA requested a federal mediator on behalf of the Alaska pilot group. How is that coming along? Looks like things are heating up, but Capt. Shivers is a good man.
Since you are new to the forums, I wonder if you saw this old thread of mine? You might find it interesting.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ma...n-america.html
08-08-2008, 04:46 AM
#9
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It's always good news to win a battle. Let's hope this arbitrator doesn't flop like the Air Wisconsin ordeal. Find in the pilots favor then award them next to nothing with basically a reversal in everything that happened.
My hopes are with y'all.
My hopes are with y'all.
08-08-2008, 08:34 AM
#10
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Vagabond-
Yeah, I read that post awhile back. I've been reading this forum for quite awhile, just new to posting. As far as the thread, It was one of the most hijacked threads I've seen but on the competition note of how ALK will compete with VA....I'm not exactly sure we really have to. I don't think the SFO - SEA is one of our most profitable routes anyway.....or as far as that goes, SOCAL - SEA. I know we have a ton of flights going to and from but as far as profitability....ANC is our bread and butter. Also, intra-Alaska is subsidized by the State so when we are carrying 6 pax from WRG to PSG, go missed approach 4 times and divert to SIT....we still make money on that. I say let the dirt bag low ballers have a couple SOCAL flights a day, we can pull some planes off and send more to Hawaii, or have a SEA - ANC flight every 17 minutes instead of 23 minutes or whatever the hell it is....doesn't matter, they're all full.
I'm not sure of the contract the rampers had with ALK management but I thought it was pretty odd to to say if you can outsource for less, then by all means go ahead....wouldn't give me a warm and fuzzy.
The Pelican
Yeah, I read that post awhile back. I've been reading this forum for quite awhile, just new to posting. As far as the thread, It was one of the most hijacked threads I've seen but on the competition note of how ALK will compete with VA....I'm not exactly sure we really have to. I don't think the SFO - SEA is one of our most profitable routes anyway.....or as far as that goes, SOCAL - SEA. I know we have a ton of flights going to and from but as far as profitability....ANC is our bread and butter. Also, intra-Alaska is subsidized by the State so when we are carrying 6 pax from WRG to PSG, go missed approach 4 times and divert to SIT....we still make money on that. I say let the dirt bag low ballers have a couple SOCAL flights a day, we can pull some planes off and send more to Hawaii, or have a SEA - ANC flight every 17 minutes instead of 23 minutes or whatever the hell it is....doesn't matter, they're all full.
I'm not sure of the contract the rampers had with ALK management but I thought it was pretty odd to to say if you can outsource for less, then by all means go ahead....wouldn't give me a warm and fuzzy.
The Pelican
