united machinists - 99% vote for strike
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: uk
united machinists - 99% vote for strike
From the fine BBC website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/bus...00/1712021.stm
United Airlines, the beleaguered carrier already facing crippling losses in the wake of the 11 September attacks, is facing the additional threat of strike action by its crew of mechanics.
The company's 15,000 mechanics, who say they have not had a pay rise for seven years, voted 99% in favour of strike action earlier on Friday.
"You have just given us a very powerful tool which we intend to use," the mechanics' chief negotiator Scotty Ford said on a trade union website.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/bus...00/1712021.stm
United Airlines, the beleaguered carrier already facing crippling losses in the wake of the 11 September attacks, is facing the additional threat of strike action by its crew of mechanics.
The company's 15,000 mechanics, who say they have not had a pay rise for seven years, voted 99% in favour of strike action earlier on Friday.
"You have just given us a very powerful tool which we intend to use," the mechanics' chief negotiator Scotty Ford said on a trade union website.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 510
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From: Costa del Thames
Well, if they go on strike, it will go down in the books as the most ill-timed strike of all times..
Furthermore, I canīt see them getting any sympathy from any other group of employees..
The last paycheck may very well be the final one at times like these..
Furthermore, I canīt see them getting any sympathy from any other group of employees..
The last paycheck may very well be the final one at times like these..
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Not exactly the best timing by the union, but at the same point what about UAL's Avolar which has recently announced significant orders for Dassault, Bombardier and Gulfstream Jets? Obviously they must have some money to play and they are still receiving new Airbus aircraft(Four delivered to IND yesterday).
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 78
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From: USA
Ain’t gonna be no strike. The story makes for good press, but as usual, the journalists like to cover the sensational and avoid the gritty details, such as PEB’s, how the NMB operates, and the RLA. The IAM painted themselves into a corner.
If you really believe there will be a strike, I have some L1011s I can sell you. Options include Chemtrail systems with Kapton wiring.
If you really believe there will be a strike, I have some L1011s I can sell you. Options include Chemtrail systems with Kapton wiring.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 78
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From: USA
Apples and oranges. One Bush didn’t want to appoint a PEB, the other Bush threatened one before the cooling down period even started. This will blow over with a whimper not a bang.
Expect the government to hand both sides a face-saving contract. You might want to do your homework on US labor laws covering this game before waving the “Unions Are Evil” flag.
Expect the government to hand both sides a face-saving contract. You might want to do your homework on US labor laws covering this game before waving the “Unions Are Evil” flag.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Dunstable, Beds UK
JetStar,
The money is probably coming from the lease payments on the 7 747-400 that are now sitting at Victorville (2 without engines) plus the 12 more that are due to arrive !
If they park enough they wont need mechanics!!
How big do you need the writing on the wall to be ??
The money is probably coming from the lease payments on the 7 747-400 that are now sitting at Victorville (2 without engines) plus the 12 more that are due to arrive !
If they park enough they wont need mechanics!!
How big do you need the writing on the wall to be ??
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 11
From: Down south, USA.
Redtail hit the nail on the head. The media only delivers headlines with often little else. To sell the newspaper or tv news program is the only important objective here.
Brenoch described the big picture ("das grosse Bild")regarding Airbus civilian subsidies. Boeing airliners are not subsidised by US taxpayers, as is the case with civilian Airbus aircraft. Our US tax dollars are not available (yet) to support any Boeing goal to market planes at or below cost (in order to compete), as has been the case with Airbus for years.
It is difficult to understand why the IAM leaders can't delay for a while. It could have been to their advantage.
"Steam-gauge" planes need almost no computers to fly, but they need pilots.
[ 16 December 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]
Brenoch described the big picture ("das grosse Bild")regarding Airbus civilian subsidies. Boeing airliners are not subsidised by US taxpayers, as is the case with civilian Airbus aircraft. Our US tax dollars are not available (yet) to support any Boeing goal to market planes at or below cost (in order to compete), as has been the case with Airbus for years.
It is difficult to understand why the IAM leaders can't delay for a while. It could have been to their advantage.
"Steam-gauge" planes need almost no computers to fly, but they need pilots.
[ 16 December 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 78
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From: USA
Thursday December 20, 5:32 pm Eastern Time
Bush Moves to Avert United Strike
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Thursday headed off a threatened strike by mechanics at UAL Corp.'s (NYSE:UAL - news) United Airlines during the busy holiday travel season, appointing an emergency board to try to resolve the dispute during a two month "cooling-off period.''
"The president is concerned about the economy, particularly after September 11, and the effect that airline strikes would have on the economy, on the ability of the public to travel at this time,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Bush's appointment of the presidential emergency board by executive order automatically prevents a strike or a lockout by the company for 60 days.
"He (Bush) urges all parties to work together to resolve their differences,'' Fleischer said.
United and the International Association of Machinists said in separate statements they would continue negotiating to try to reach agreement on a contract.
The presidential emergency board has 30 days to come up with a suggested settlement to the dispute. Then the airline and union have 30 days to consider the proposal before they can take their own action.
"You can look at this as a cooling-off period,'' Fleischer said.
Bush has repeatedly intervened to avoid airline-related strikes this year. He prevented a strike by the Northwest Airline (NasdaqNM:NWAC - news) mechanics and facilitated settlements for Delta Air Lines (NYSE
AL - news) pilots and flight attendants at AMR Corp.'s (NYSE:AMR - news) American Airlines.
The United dispute is the first airline industry standoff between labor and management since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Industry losses have mounted as major carriers, buffeted by turbulent economic times and shaky public confidence in air travel, struggle to regain their financial footing since the hijack attacks on New York and Washington.
Stung by a sharp decline in business and leisure travel and overall economic weakness, United is losing $15 million per day. It accounted for roughly half of the $2.46 billion in net losses reported by the top eight U.S. carriers for the latest quarter.
United mechanics voted 99 percent last week to authorize a strike. They say they have gone without a pay raise since 1994.
Union spokesman Joe Tiberi said United machinists would strike in 60 days if no agreement were reached.
"We are disappointed that United Airlines sought to stop negotiations and appeal to the White House instead of spending the last 30 days negotiating which is where we all should have been,'' Tiberi said.
United said it was fully disclosing the company's financial situation to its unions in a bid to craft turn-around plans.
"Our hope is that a common understanding of the facts will lead to some common measures to preserve good jobs and return the company to profitability soon,'' the airline said in a statement.
UAL Corp. stock fell 8.37 pct on Thursday, down $1.10 to $12.05 on the New York Stock Exchange.
United and its machinists were thought to be near agreement before the Sept. 11 attacks, but progress stalled as United fights to survive after losing a record $1.16 billion in the third quarter.
After mechanics rejected an arbitration offer in November, the National Mediation Board recommended that Bush create a special Presidential Emergency Board to address the dispute.
<a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/011220/business_bush_strike_dc_3.html" target="_blank">http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/011220/business_bush_strike_dc_3.html</a>
Bush Moves to Avert United Strike
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Thursday headed off a threatened strike by mechanics at UAL Corp.'s (NYSE:UAL - news) United Airlines during the busy holiday travel season, appointing an emergency board to try to resolve the dispute during a two month "cooling-off period.''
"The president is concerned about the economy, particularly after September 11, and the effect that airline strikes would have on the economy, on the ability of the public to travel at this time,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Bush's appointment of the presidential emergency board by executive order automatically prevents a strike or a lockout by the company for 60 days.
"He (Bush) urges all parties to work together to resolve their differences,'' Fleischer said.
United and the International Association of Machinists said in separate statements they would continue negotiating to try to reach agreement on a contract.
The presidential emergency board has 30 days to come up with a suggested settlement to the dispute. Then the airline and union have 30 days to consider the proposal before they can take their own action.
"You can look at this as a cooling-off period,'' Fleischer said.
Bush has repeatedly intervened to avoid airline-related strikes this year. He prevented a strike by the Northwest Airline (NasdaqNM:NWAC - news) mechanics and facilitated settlements for Delta Air Lines (NYSE
AL - news) pilots and flight attendants at AMR Corp.'s (NYSE:AMR - news) American Airlines.The United dispute is the first airline industry standoff between labor and management since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Industry losses have mounted as major carriers, buffeted by turbulent economic times and shaky public confidence in air travel, struggle to regain their financial footing since the hijack attacks on New York and Washington.
Stung by a sharp decline in business and leisure travel and overall economic weakness, United is losing $15 million per day. It accounted for roughly half of the $2.46 billion in net losses reported by the top eight U.S. carriers for the latest quarter.
United mechanics voted 99 percent last week to authorize a strike. They say they have gone without a pay raise since 1994.
Union spokesman Joe Tiberi said United machinists would strike in 60 days if no agreement were reached.
"We are disappointed that United Airlines sought to stop negotiations and appeal to the White House instead of spending the last 30 days negotiating which is where we all should have been,'' Tiberi said.
United said it was fully disclosing the company's financial situation to its unions in a bid to craft turn-around plans.
"Our hope is that a common understanding of the facts will lead to some common measures to preserve good jobs and return the company to profitability soon,'' the airline said in a statement.
UAL Corp. stock fell 8.37 pct on Thursday, down $1.10 to $12.05 on the New York Stock Exchange.
United and its machinists were thought to be near agreement before the Sept. 11 attacks, but progress stalled as United fights to survive after losing a record $1.16 billion in the third quarter.
After mechanics rejected an arbitration offer in November, the National Mediation Board recommended that Bush create a special Presidential Emergency Board to address the dispute.
<a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/011220/business_bush_strike_dc_3.html" target="_blank">http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/011220/business_bush_strike_dc_3.html</a>
Person Of Interest
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Keystone Heights, Florida
So what ever happened to Charlie Bryant anyway?
The Chairman of the EAL MEC, who's union SUPPORTED Charlie ended up teaching Junior College Classes...
Makes one think, eh?
You go Guv...
The Chairman of the EAL MEC, who's union SUPPORTED Charlie ended up teaching Junior College Classes...
Makes one think, eh?
You go Guv...
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Ignition Overide
You said: [quote]Boeing airliners are not subsidised by US taxpayers, as is the case with civilian Airbus aircraft. Our US tax dollars are not available (yet) to support any Boeing goal to market planes at or below cost (in order to compete), as has been the case with Airbus for years <hr></blockquote>
What a load of S%&/. In europe they at least have the decency to call a subsidy a subsidy, in the US itīs called a "Military contract", usually followed by a quick war to justify it.
Brgds
Doc
[ 21 December 2001: Message edited by: DoctorA300 ]</p>
You said: [quote]Boeing airliners are not subsidised by US taxpayers, as is the case with civilian Airbus aircraft. Our US tax dollars are not available (yet) to support any Boeing goal to market planes at or below cost (in order to compete), as has been the case with Airbus for years <hr></blockquote>
What a load of S%&/. In europe they at least have the decency to call a subsidy a subsidy, in the US itīs called a "Military contract", usually followed by a quick war to justify it.
Brgds
Doc
[ 21 December 2001: Message edited by: DoctorA300 ]</p>
