Elected delegates

21-61 · Joined: Jan 03, 2003 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Airline Labor Dispute Resolution Act, S.1327 (ALDRA). One of the current topics of debate in the airline labor-management community is whether the Railway Labor Act should be amended to require final-offer binding interest arbitration of unresolved collective bargaining disputes in certain circumstances. In 2001, proposed legislation (ALDRA, S.1327) was introduced in the U.S. Senate to empower the Secretary of Transportation to obligate labor and management to participate in such final-offer arbitration. Although S.1327 was not passed by the 107th Congress, it is anticipated that similar legislation will be introduced before the 108th Congress when it convenes in 2003. Generally, airline management is in favor of such an amendment to the RLA, while the labor unions which represent employees in the airline industry are opposed.

Buck · Joined: Nov 05, 2002 Posts: 20

I will admit that Iknow little or nothing concerning SB 1327. But is it the industrial unions that represent the airline workers as a whole that are against this bill? What about craft unions?

21-61 · Joined: Jan 03, 2003 Posts: 5 Location: USA

All the unions that represent airline workers are highly against this act. ALPA and IAM are the most vocal on this issue. What this bill will do is to create a “last offer” baseball style binding arbitration on negotiations. This in turn will destroy the ability of airline employees to negotiate a fair contract. It would also end the right to strike at the end of the 30-day cooling off period while offering management absolutely no incentive to resolve disputes through collective bargaining. If this bill is passed it will only be a matter of time you will see same action in others craft unions.

planedoctor · Joined: Oct 08, 2002 Posts: 306

I see why management would like "baseball style binding arbitration on negotiations", but they would also have to realize the ramifications that the unions would cause if this bill were to pass!

I would think that taking away the working mans right to strike or right to effectively negotiate a contract would bring industry back to a time when the companies ruled with a iron fist.

I see it more benifitual to rework the system as it is today and possibly combining the good qualities of both types into a third type if bill. Both sides would have to give up something's, but that's a fair compromise.

_________________

737 · Joined: Nov 20, 2002 Posts: 43 Location: USA

At least one major airline (SWA) is taking a neutral position on SB 1327. And, it was made known in Nov. '02 publicly. http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/2002/11/09/business/4473136.htm

As was mentioned previously most unions who have legislative depts. have been watching this very closely since last year. Unless, the union is a weak association SB 1327 should be opposed.

planedoctor · Joined: Oct 08, 2002 Posts: 306

Excellent find there 737. I wish you would have submitted it when it came out. I missed that one.

SWA never ceases to amaze me. No wonder they're the only major making a profit

_________________

JetMech1013 · Joined: Jan 04, 2003 Posts: 2 Location: USA

What the hell is everyone thinking

? "baseball" style arbitration has not done wonders for baseball either

The power of the union lies in its members NOT in the union. Southwest has been successful for over thirty years, mostly by doing their own thing at their own time.

Why the hell would they, or any other airline for that matter, want to get involved with any other airlines labor problems or discussions. Sounds like a disaster for EVERYONE

.

737 · Joined: Nov 20, 2002 Posts: 43 Location: USA

You have to understand the provisions under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which govern all transportation workers (airline & railroad) in it's present form. And, the proposed changes being lobbied by some major airlines to eliminate some of those provisions with outright arbitration.

Currently there are 12 steps from the start of the collective bargaining process. I'm going to jump to step 4 to explain.

IV. Mediation Options: Either the union or the company may choose to request the services of the National Mediation Board (NMB). If neither request that option, the NMB can and may intercede, and force both parties into mediation. This often happens when the talks are deadlocked or broken off.

V. Mediation Mandatory: If the NMB intercedes, both parties must enter into the mediation process and a mediator is assigned by the NMB. The mediator decides if negotiations are deadlocked, and either or both parties can proceed with other legal steps.

VI. Binding Arbitration: Binding arbitration may be proposed by the NMB if mediation fails. Binding arbitration requires both the union and the company to agree to it. They must also agree upon a neutral arbitrator. The arbitrator makes a decision which is final and binding to both parties.

VII. Cooling Off Period: If either the union or the company refuse the NMB's offer of binding arbitration, both parties must observe a 30 day "cooling-off" period. If the President of the United States does not intervene in steps 8-11, then the whole process moves directly to step 12.

VIII. Presidential Intervention: The NMB may at this time request the President of the United States to intervene due to "possible substantial interference with interstate commerce". The President, however, is not legally mandated to.

I'm going to jump to step 12 since most of us have observed in recent years a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) at AA and UAL.

XII. Self Help: At the end of the 30-day cooling off period, the union and the company are free of any legal restraint. The company has the option of imposing it's own work/wage rules. And, the union has the option of accepting those rules, or elect to strike.

The bottom line is that if the RLA is re-written to include binding arbitration immediately at step 6, without the choice to have a neutral arbitrator, union members will be at a disadvantage. And, on another note the membership is the union.

		Search
	The Online Community for Aircraft Mechanics!