United and Continental have scheduled shareholder votes regarding the proposed merger for September 17th. Both airlines will vote separately but on the same day so that neither vote influences the other. All signs point to the acceptance of the merger by shareholders.

Nonetheless, the IAM continues to try to make our case on behalf of the employees. On August 18th GVP Roach, District 142 President Tom Higginbotham, myself, and members of GVP Roach’s staff met with Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney and staff members of the Department of Justice Anti-trust Division to impress on them the concerns we have of potential impact to employees of both airlines after a merger.  Read More

This week’s time was spent reviewing and challenging financial information provided by United in response to some of our proposals. This information is crucial to reaching an agreement because both sides must be able to agree on the cost or value of a proposal in order to realistically negotiate.

Our discussions were intended to outline specific line items within the documents presented by the Company that we believed were either incorrect or unclear.  Read More

This 14-day period, which concludes on September 8, 2010, is the last opportunity for pre-merger Delta Fleet Service workers to submit signed election request cards. The NMB requires evidence of “sufficient interest” among employees before it will authorize a union representation election.

There is much riding in the election’s outcome. Delta has said that pre-merger Northwest employees will lose IAM-negotiated contractual benefits, such as pre-age 65 retiree medical benefits and healthcare premiums for active employees that are lower than what pre-merger Delta employees are required to pay. Also at risk is the only active guaranteed pension plan at the airline, paid sick time, occupational injury payments, and more vacation accrual than pre-merger Delta employees.   Read More

With evidence collected by Sim Techs in Minneapolis and Atlanta, the IAM filed an appeal with the NMB, claiming that Delta violated election rules by promising pay raises for non-union employees and holding coercive one-on-one meetings with employees. NMB rules specifically state: “No carrier, its officers, or agents shall deny or in any way question the right of its employees to join, organize, or assist in organizing the labor organization of their choice, and it shall be unlawful for any carrier to interfere in any way with the organization of its employees . . .”   Read More

Prior to scheduling the new election, the Board determined that laboratory conditions for a fair election were tainted when Delta promised pay raises for non-union workers.  The Board described as “troubling” the timing of Delta’s pay raise announcement – made on the first full day of voting in the Sim Tech election.

Federal labor law requires carriers to act in a manner that does not influence, interfere with, or coerce the employees’ selection of a collective bargaining representative.

The NMB also agreed with the IAM’s charges that Delta management.  Read More

The Midwest Territory sponsored the 2nd Annual ‘Spirit of the Midwest’ Rides for Guides, which includes a motorcycle run, dance and car show. The motorcycle run and dance were held at the District 837 hall in Hazelwood, MO.

Bad weather postponed the car show for two months, but it ended up drawing 120 cars and was well attended by auto enthusiasts from all over the St. Louis metro area. The car show was held at the District 9 hall in Bridgeton, MO.

The “Spirit of the Midwest” Rides for Guides raised over $40,000 at this year’s events.   Read More

“Delta has gone to court in an effort to prevent its employees from voting in fair elections and restricting what they say and what they can read,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “That doesn’t sound like a company that values its workers and their opinions.”  Read More

It is with great sadness that we announce that at 10:30 am this morning, John Anderson lost his battle to COPD and cancer.

John was employed by Piedmont Airlines in 1983 and continued his career with US Airways as a lead in Orlando’s bag room. He was a dedicated employee who loved to help other employees on the job. John will be missed by all who worked with him. The first thing you always heard when you said John’s name was, Oh what a nice guy.

As of now there is no information on arrangements, we will post any information that we receive from the family.

For those of you, who would like to send a card, please mail it to the following address:

Mrs. John Anderson
3303 Dupree Avenue
Orlando, FL 32806