World Airways Pilots On Strike

[GlueBall]

Reuters.com - No Spin. No Agenda. Just the Facts. As they happen.

World Air pilots strike after rejecting contract
Mon Jan 30, 2006 08:42 AM ET
NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - World Air Holdings Inc. (WLDAE.O: Quote, Profile, Research) pilots have walked off the job after rejecting a final contract offer from the airline, the company said on Monday.
World Air, owner of World Airways, provides transportation for the U.S. military and also flies cargo and charter flights. The airline said a prolonged strike could result in the loss of some customers. :{

[GlueBall]

World Airways Locks Out Pilots
Tuesday January 31, 11:31 am ET
Company Strands Pilots in Angola, Refuses to Bargain in Good Faith
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- World Airways Inc. locked out pilots operating its commercial flights on Monday. The action in violation of the current collective bargaining agreement idles a large percentage of its pilots and stranded several crews around the globe.

In addition to idling or reducing the workload of a large percentage of its pilots -- members of Teamsters Local 986 in El Monte, California -- the company's lockout stranded four pilots in Luanda, Angola. The pilots were told by a World Airways flight operations manager that they were suspended and were "on their own" in reference to where they were to stay and how they were to get home, said Captain Luis Carmona, Executive Council Chairman of the World Airways pilots' union.

"Locking out pilots is bad enough," said Captain Mark Ohlau, World Airways Pilots Executive Council Member and Negotiating Committee Chairman. "But stranding four of us in a potentially hostile environment is indefensible." When in Luanda, World Airways crews are protected around the clock by armed security personnel. This protection was terminated when the pilots were forced to vacate their hotel rooms and seek their own way back to the United States. The pilots' strike committee made arrangements for their fellow workers' safe return home.

"We've bargained in good faith for more than two years," said Carmona. "But by coming to the table unwilling and unprepared to achieve a successful outcome to these negotiations, the company has again ignored issues that matter to its pilots -- job security, insurance benefits, retirement and adequate compensation, not negated by increased benefit costs.

The parties had been negotiating a new contract since June 2003, when the pilots' current collective bargaining agreement became amendable. The company caused a system wide lockout after an extremely limited number of their flights were affected by a minor strike initiated by the pilots early Sunday morning exercising their rights under the Railway Labor Act.

A subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., World Airways is the largest commercial carrier of US military personnel and provide cargo transport services for a variety of freight companies.

The pilots, who became Teamsters in 1967, are among approximately 40,000 members of the Teamsters Airline Division.
:{

[Ignition Override]

Glueball: that is a sad situation. Does anything in US (anti-) labor law forbid stranding crewmembers overseas, when pilots go by the mediation and "cooling off" ;) procedures of the Railway Labor Act?

At the site "airlinepilotpay.com", there is a link, on the right side of the page, to a Fedex MEC spokesman. He claimed that World is seeking retired FEDEX MD-11 pilots to use as SCABS, and unless I'm mistaken, quite a number could volunteer.
This appears to be for Part 91 operations, for repositioning aircraft, which has no age (or duty period) limitation. At my company, some retired guys reposition our aircraft for contract maintenance.

[turrbntrip]

(Anti-) is right. With Bush's wrecking crew and management lap-dog Chao as secretary of labor, the floor's the limit!
Lousy time for labor in the US...good luck, World people!
TT

[Dea Certe]

Any news on the stranded pilots? I certainly hope they get home soon and safely.

[411A]

One might ask the question the other way around, as in...

What are the Teamsters doing about the welfare of the stranded pilots?

The Teamsters called the strike, did they not?
So, what are they actually DOING about it?:rolleyes:

[ironbutt57]

Reportedly the Teamsters organized safe passage out of Luanda, the teamsters struck the company, but the company is obligated to continue provisions of the current contract in place, until such time as it is amended...so 411A, u signed up to ferry their planes out of Africa, do a little "struck work"? right up your alley eh?

[411A]

Glad to hear that the union actually DID something positive (what a surprise), Ironbutt57, and no, only ferry Lockheed equipment recently, but thanks for your concern, old boy.:rolleyes:

[GlueBall]

EL MONTE, Calif., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Executive Council of the World Airways pilot union announced today that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Teamsters Local 986 have filed a four-count federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the Central District of California on their behalf against World Airways, Inc for unlawful retaliatory measures taken against the pilots of World Airways since the two parties entered into self-help on January 28, 2006.
The four-count lawsuit highlights the company's abandonment of crewmembers overseas, locking out of crewmembers without regard to seniority, suspending both their pay and benefits and numerous violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and job protection assurances under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
"We are stunned at the behavior of World Airways management including flight operations as it pertains to the illegal retaliatory actions which they conducted against their employees," said Captain Luis Carmona, Executive Council Chairman of the World Airways Pilots' union. "We find their actions showed a total lack of consideration for the personal safety of our crewmembers and we find them to be immoral and unethical acts. We will not allow it to continue."
The pilots of World Airways began the job action with an initial spot strike on January 28, 2006, after talks broke down between the pilot's Negotiating Committee and World Airways' management under the auspices of the National Mediation Board (NMB).
"Because the management of World Airways has chosen to lock the pilots out, in direct violation of our CBA and the RLA, the Executive Council has been forced to engage in a general strike of World Airways," said Captain Carmona. "Publicly, management insists that our pilot group is divided and would accept managements' last offer, we find that to be complete contrary to our belief. An overwhelming percentage of crewmembers have told us how important job security is to them and that they would reject the latest offer based on the fact it did not meet that minimum requirement."
The unresolved issues for the more than 400 pilots, members of Teamsters Local 986 in El Monte, California are job security, adequate medical and life insurance and equitable compensation increases (COLA) that would not be wiped out by increased benefit costs.
A subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., World Airways is the largest commercial carrier of US military personnel. The airline also provides cargo services for several international carriers.
The pilots, who became Teamsters in 1967, are among approximately 40,000 members of the Teamsters Airline Division. For further updates, please see http://www.worldpilotlabortalks.com :(

[411A]

Hmmm, shades of Ed Daly, all over once again.:\

[swedish]

Appears to me that World don't want to errode current T&Cs, but want to grow the airline using another airline they own with lower pilot costs. Whats the issue? Everyone keeps the T&Cs they are used to and they appear protected for the future, meanwhile the airline grows and pilots in the 'other' airline benifit from promotions etc (and I presume they are happy with this). OK a FO with World is mising an oppotunity, but if they cost more than someone else then thats life - supply and demand. When the 'pilot shortage' comes they will be able to advantage - just like the rest of the other airline employees.
If World have the balls then all the jobs could be moved to the 'other' airline and a drop in all pilot costs, but they haven't done that yet - I guess the strike may force them into this, then only the World pilots loose and everyone else is happy.

Wake up and smell the roses..........:O

[wonderbusdriver]

"Appears to me that World don't want to errode current T&Cs, but want to grow the airline using another airline they own with lower pilot costs."

Yeah right, and that way, the current T&Cs at World would remain intact for the future... "It only remains a viable business, if the pilots significantly reduce their contract terms. Blablabla"
Yawn!
"Divide and and rule" once again, because the guys in mgmt aren´t doing a proper job (or their trying to in a way by increasing "shareholder value" more and more). No more no less.

Guys like you love this system as long as you can advance your career in it. As soon as you have "cheaper" guys giving you a hard time you´ll argue the other way.
Whoever believes, we as pilots have anything to gain (I´m NOT talking about survival) lowering our terms of employment have not understood how this system works.

Good luck to the colleagues at World.

[411A]

They will need all the luck they can muster.
I hear on the grapevine that the boys at North American are rather busy at the moment...:}

[400drvr]

Good luck to all of you at World. :sad:

[GlueBall]

The usual Scabs continue to fly the military charters, just as they had during the six months strike in 1979 when the late Ed Daly had hired armed guards with shotguns to get the scabs through the picket line at Oakland Airport. Good luck to all the real World Airways pilots who stand their ground.

[ironbutt57]

:ouch: dont think the term "scab" necessarily applies in this instance, quite sure the crews rostered to fly CRAF or such are required by law to do so....correct me if I'm wrong, it these aren't flown World would probably fold, and that "would show 'em huh"? the term "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" comes to mind...:}

[swedish]

Wonderbusdriver:
Quote
Guys like you love this system as long as you can advance your career in it. As soon as you have "cheaper" guys giving you a hard time you´ll argue the other way.
Unquote
Given I've been involved in starting 2 European Airlines where they are both successful and the pilots are paid well and are happy, I'll ignore what you said. I believe in paying a market rate (high or low) for everyone, not just pilots, but most I see in this forum is pilots want more for the same job and/or protecting themselves against the market changes when they don't suit.

[wonderbusdriver]

It all comes down to:
"What is market-rate?" (I´m NOT talking about what the Delta and United guys were getting)

Guess market-rates are dictated by market-forces.
A str@ke or other working measures are the only "force" available to the pilots, who are being "forced" by their management into something they do not want.
They can´t reroute funds or invest/grow somewhere else.

Problem is, when the parties involved get into a situation were the whole issue cannot be resolved without major casualties...

These conflicts are NOT about the market.
This is politics turning into a war.

[GlueBall]

ironbutt57: "...quite sure the crews rostered to fly CRAF or such are required by law to do so...." :confused:

NOBODY at World "by law" is required to go to work! World is no longer a CIA proprietorship as it was during the Vietnam war days. If the company stops flying Air Mobility Command flights, then it would only be in contractual default; its pilots are not part of the military, nor employed by the U.S. government :ooh:

[slam_dunk]

I need some explanation,
i looked on the worldairways site there is a pressrelease : ( http://www.worldairways.com/news/20060130-1.html ) which sounds pretty good to me.
The company offered our pilots two compensation options,” said Charlie McDonald, World Airways chief operating officer. “The first provided a 10 percent signing bonus and a pay increase of 3 percent in the first year and 4 percent annually for each of the next two years. The other option offered a 7 percent signing bonus and a 5 percent pay increase in the first year, followed by 3 percent annual increases for each of the next two years. Given the circumstances in the airline industry today, we believe we provided an attractive, comprehensive offer that addressed the major concerns expressed by the pilots during negotiations.”
Other provisions in the contract offer included:
• A commitment to add Boeing 747s to the World Airways fleet
• Qualified furlough protection for 90 percent of current pilots for the duration of the contract
• Preferential hiring at other World Air Holdings subsidiaries
• The addition of training pay
• Doubling guaranteed days off to 12 per month, coupled with a new volunteer system for additional flying
• Doubling basic life insurance
• Continued profit sharing
• Increasing the company contribution to retirement plans
The company did ask for increased contributions to its medical plan based on dramatic cost increases in recent years.

Have these guys been under payed (for some years) ? Is this offer a slab in the face???

[411A]

No, they have not been underpaid in previous years, yes the offers were good ones, and yes again the pilots and union were not too bright for not accepting same.

[Airbubba]

PILOTS REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH WORLD AIRWAYS AFTER 9-DAY STRIKE
TEAMSTER PILOTS WOULD GET IMPROVEMENTS IN JOB SECURITY, INSURANCE, WAGES

February 5th, 2006

(El Monte, CA) – The Executive Council and the Negotiating Committee of the pilots of World Airways announced today that they have reached a tentative agreement with World Airways, Inc., ending their nine-day strike.

The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by more than 400 pilots represented by Teamsters Local 986 in El Monte, California. It would provide improvements in job security, retirement benefits, life insurance, wages and other benefits.

“We are very happy that the company finally came back to the table to actually negotiate so that we could reach this agreement,” said Captain Luis Carmona, Executive Council Chairman of the World Airways pilots’ union. “We look forward to putting the details of this tentative agreement out to our pilot group for approval so that we can go back to flying for the premier ACMI (provides aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) carrier in the industry.”

The pilots of World Airways began a nine-day strike with an initial, limited spot strike on January 28 after talks broke down between the pilot’s Negotiating Committee and World Airways’ management under the auspices of the National Mediation Board (NMB).

http://www.worldpilotlabortalks.com/

[XL5]

So, there you have it 411A. The boys and girls at World have the strength of character to make a stand and in so doing once again demonstrate that in this industry the only way to have a job worth having is to be prepared to kill the company and take unemployment. Backbone and integrity; some have it, some don't. I wonder what you would have settled for?

[d246]

But we don't know any details of this agreement. Unions will always declare 'victory', in practice it is rarely the case.

[Global Pilot]

FROM: World Air Holdings - Sales & Marketing
RE: World Airways PILOT STRIKE ENDS; FLIGHTS RESUME
DATE: February 6, 2006

The 9-day World Airways pilot strike is over and World Airways MD-11
and DC-10-30 passenger and cargo aircraft are once again available for
commercial charters. We are resuming normal operations immediately and a
ratification of the new 3-year contract is expected soon.

"We were able to reach a fair and equitable agreement that met the
needs of our pilots and supported the financial goals for our
company," said Charlie McDonald, World Airways chief operating
officer. "We look forward to obtaining ratification of the agreement
and working with the entire World Airways team to continue the growth
and success of the airline."

"With this agreement, we believe we are poised to continue to provide
growth for the airline and long-term job security with good quality of
life for the entire World Airways workforce," said Randy Martinez,
World Air Holdings chief executive officer.

[JW411]

Which all goes to prove that when it comes to b*lls, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are hard to beat. I seem to remember that even the cabin staff in World are in the Teamsters.

It's a shame they don't have a European Branch!

[Airbubba]

>>Which all goes to prove that when it comes to b*lls, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are hard to beat.<<

The Teamsters are a bunch of professional thugs.

Every Teamster president since 1952, except the current one, has been indicted on federal charges. All of those have done hard time in prison except Ron Carey who beat the rap with an acquittal in 2001 and Jackie Presser who died after sentencing but before reporting to the big house in 1988.

The Teamsters' Central States Pension Fund has been a cash cow for the mafia for years, supposedly this ended with a 1989 racketeering settlement that put the feds in control of the union for a while.

These guys make ALPA look like a bunch of choirboys.

Hey, you gotta problem wit dat?

[JW411]

"These guys make ALPA look like a bunch of choirboys".

Exactly my point dear boy; some of us out here might feel that some airline managements are "nothing but a professional bunch of thugs"!

Can you remember the days when Ed Daly could only get into the hangar at Oakland with an armed guard on the occasions that he was brave enough to leave his mountain retreat?

[Ignition Override]

Some airline upper mgmts can do much more permanent damage to thousands of careers, using "legal hired-guns" or financial consultants (given a very 'shiny' retainer...), armed with pens and briefcases, than any bunch of street thugs. The most dangerous ones often wear expensive three-piece suits, with shoes from Milan.

Some judges also exhibit strong biases. Check certain rulings by some Department of Transportation federal judges in the 80's or 90s-quickly followed by lucrative employment with Texas Air Corporation. The same company which received favorable rulings; coincidence, with employment offered only AFTER the rulings? There could not have been any pressure or inducements ;) from the White House.
Texas is widely known as an anti-labor state, among many others. Some judges are "cherry-picked", not only by AMR years ago, and we are NOT talking about 'Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte' from the hill country.:oh:

[Dea Certe]

Good news for the pilots at World!