Bargaining Report for July 14, 2011 Bargaining Session in Tempe, AZ
SOLIDARITY!
Introductions were made. The main goal of this first session was to lay out our process we plan to use when passing bargaining proposals, an agenda and to set up future dates and locations for bargaining sessions.
The company agreed when the Association advised them that we would not agree to a “gag order”
The Association requested that the Company ask managers to refrain from implying in any way to our membership that the company is not honoring the negotiated snap backs.
The company stated that their goal in bargaining is effective use of their resources, cost effective revenue without being disadvantaged by the other big 3 airlines, AA, DL and UA. They stated that they need to recognize US Airways costs can't be the same as they were pre-bankruptcy. As far as the snap backs, they are contractual and Ron stated that the Company will honor them. They did state they are a big cost to the Company.
The first issue that needs to be negotiated is to decide which Letters of Agreement are still relevant and where they should be inserted into the contract language. The Company and the Association agreed that our next bargaining session will be to focus on that task.
Dates and locations were discussed for the next bargaining sessions. The next bargaining will take place in Tempe, AZ on September 13th and 14th. We also scheduled November 8th, 9th and 10th in DC at CWA Headquarters.
The CWA will continue to work with their bargaining reps to prepare for the next bargaining by meeting in Charlotte NC on August 17th and 18th utilizing the bargaining surveys we collected. The IBT will be having similar preparation meetings.
We are urging our membership of the IBT/CWA Association to step up- ask your local leadership what you can do to help in our mobilization efforts so we all put the pressure on US Airways during bargaining to negotiate a fair contract.
Remember:
An injury to one is an injury to all. We must stand together if we expect to change anything. United we stand, Divided we beg!
