January 7, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It has been a busy start of the year. I spent this past week in DCA with a very small group of TWU & IAM representatives, as well as the TWU/IAM Association attorneys. The focus of our work was writing language for the articles of Scope and Classifications & Qualifications for several title groups. This work will continue with the full Negotiating Committees in DCA starting on Monday 1/8/2018. These articles cover what our work will encompass in the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreements (JCBA’s) and, as such, prove to be an extremely important part of the overall economic issues in our contract. Additional negotiations sessions are scheduled for the weeks of 1/22/2018, 2/12/2018, and 2/19/2018.
On Monday, 1/15/2018, I will be traveling to DFW for benefits meetings. The first meetings are held on 1/16/2018 at HDQ between the TWU AA System Benefits Representatives, the AA Benefits Managers, and the Workers Compensation Department. These meetings are regularly scheduled on a monthly or quarterly basis. On 1/17/2018, a quarterly meeting with the Benefits Coordinators from all the Locals in the AA System will take place at the Air Division offices in Hurst, TX. Representatives from Union Benefit Planners and The Hartford Insurance Company will attend the later meeting to discuss the new Short Term Disability claims process as well as other Long Term Disability issues.
Air Division Director Mike Mayes gave a written update on our Equity distribution on 1/6/2018. While the news was nothing that any of us wanted to see, the communication did address the outstanding issues that must be resolved prior to the distribution of these funds. Prior to the communication being released, a conference call was held with the AA System Presidents to discuss the matter more in detail. On the call, the International made it clear that they understand that the Equity Distribution is among the highest concerns of our membership. Again, the handling of this matter is fully under the jurisdiction of the International. None of the Locals, 512 included, have any control over the distribution of the funds, yet, we absolutely understand how frustrated everyone is. Our commitment to continue to convey your concerns to the International remains, and we will distribute all pertinent, factual, and verifiable information to you in a timely manner. Please contact any Officer or call the Union Hall if you have specific questions or concerns.
For those Fleet Service Clerks that went off payroll during calendar year 2017 due to an Injury on Duty (IOD), and those Title II Mechanics that went off payroll during calendar year 2017 due to an IOD or Sick Leave of Absence SKLOA), attention to your vacation payout must be a priority. The 29(d) grievance that I filed on your behalf concerning these payouts remains active. The grievance remedy requires an audit of payroll records and this has resulted a substantial amount of money paid to our membership. To insure that the proper pay rate is utilized, please contact me when you see this payment in e-pays. You should see this payment by the end of the month. If the payout is not made at your current pay rate, or if the payment is not posted by the end of this month, or if you have any questions about the payment, please contact me to insure that these payments are accurate.
Fraternally,
Tim Murphy
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