1. Heat stress: While the summer has been bearable for us, this weekend is expected to be warm and very humid. The attached article addresses the number of workers who are affected by the heat and lose their lives because of it. Please heed your body's warnings if you have been working in the heat for any length of time. Please click on the link below for the details of the story. I've also attached the information sent earlier on how to download the OSHA heat index tool and several links to guidelines from OSHA for working In the heat. Please review them and become familiar with the information.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/07/07/american-workers-die-needlessly-in-the-heat-every-year/
OSHA has a heat index app. It's good for iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices. If you have an iPhone go to the app store and type in the search box "OSHA heat safety tool". The app comes up and is FREE to download. For Android and Blackberry users go to google or your preferred search engine, and type in the search box "OSHA heat safety tool". Follow the instructions to install the app. It's FREE.
Once installed the app will calculate the heat index with the temp and the humidity input by you. It will give the risk level and based on that it will give precautions based on that information. It's a good way to track the heat to better deal with it.
I've included some links to OSHA's website for heat related information including symptoms, illnesses and treatment. Please read and share them. It's important to take care of yourself in hot and humid weather and only you know what your body can tolerate.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3154.pdf
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html?utm_source=Twitter
https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/heat_stress.pdf
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/heat_illnesses.html
2. United Layoffs: When United and the IAM reached their most recent agreement, many were up in arms over the money they were going to receive and tried to compare that one point to the BK agreement we had negotiated. Those contracts were world's apart as were the conditions they were negotiated in. Now comes word that United is invoking provisions from that deal that will force the layoff of hundreds of workers. All this, at a time when every other major carrier is doing very well financially. Please click on the link for more details.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-07-07/business/sns-rt-us-unitedairlines-employment-20140707_1_united-continental-united-airlines-united-spokeswoman-christen-david
3. Monthly meeting with management: We had our monthly meeting with management last week.
Issues addressed by the company:
-PCA out of service to return to service times. The company wanted to outsource this work and after discussions with the Local we were able to secure this work. The company pledged their support for this work by promising access for parts and/or manpower to get it done. We need to ensure that all is done to get this work completed in a timely fashion and secure this work for the future.
- V.P. Tedeschi was appreciative of the work done by all during the recent streak of bad weather and OSO operations.
- Co location went well and USAir is showing good performance numbers since the move.
- The station now reports one bag mishandling number (AA,AE and US combined). There is a new focus on bag numbers and the company wants to discuss ways to improve the AE connect numbers.
-Support moving. The company reiterated that support will move to the deicing room at H13. No date has been given as of yet.
Issues addressed by the Union:
-Staff Manager and support help. We again addressed the perpetual shortage of manpower for any heavy trip and the ongoing struggles to staff the 737's. The company believes that they are staffed properly and we challenged their numbers. We're going to have a follow up meeting about this issue later this week and I am again asking you for trips ( with flight numbers, date, gate, NC, weight) that do not see the help needed and forward that information to the office for our ongoing list. Super 80 trips are to get help if they are more than 4,000 lbs. We sat in support one day and were told that those trips won't even generate a puck. Information on those trips is needed also. Email, fax or text them to me or an Officer. V.P. Tedeschi acknowledged the movement of people at regular intervals. While there are efficiencies to gain there, they are aware of, at some point, they lose those efficiencies with multiple movements.
-Dumbwaiter/ Gate bag Crews. We addressed the clear contract violation that exists when the company has a CSM direct a FSC when Crew Chiefs are available to do that work. The company believes they are complying with the contract and they have asked the Legal department for guidance on this issue. It is clearly our work and if any Crew Chief has signed up for OT (day off, EC or HO) and is not utilized they should fill out a grievance as this is a violation of article 11 of the AA/TWU agreement. We have also learned that some CSM's are re-directing those already assigned to the dumbwaiter crew to do other FSC functions. This work should also be done by a Crew Chief. If you witness this happening, please contact an Officer or an E Board member. If you have any questions, please call the office and speak to an Officer.
-AE continues to lock up AA carts. They believed this was resolved and AE is not to lock up carts. Management will address it again with AE but it should be stopped. If not please forward pictures to me.
-Access to the Locals website. The company was asked why the Local 512 website isn't accessible on the ramp when other TWU Locals website are. They were going to look into and try to adjust it.
-Working OA trips when not checked out. This issue arose again a few weeks ago. We are waiting on clarification as to what airlines allow some work to be done on their planes if an employee is not fully checked out. If you are not checked out on a contract carrier's plane, do not work the trip until you discuss it with a shop steward and the training department. As much as the CSM's think they know, they don't know it all.
-SIS awards. When the company started granting SIS awards a couple months, there were some members off payroll that would not return to work. Some couldn't apply for the SIS awards until after applying for other types of disability plans. When the company stopped awarding SIS, these members were not allowed to receive the award. The company is reviewing the pending SIS list and will let us know what can be done for those already on the list. No new SIS awards are being granted at this point.
-Mandatory OT. This issue is still is not resolved. I witnessed a CSM distribute mandatory OT improperly. The company's policy clearly states that each individual employee is to be told they are being given mandatory OT. If you have a problem with this please call the office and speak to an Officer. Please be able to provide date, gate and the CSM involved.
-K19 locker room. Benches are ordered for the locker room and the windows have been blocked. This is only temporary and those relocated to this locker room should be back In the K10 locker room int he next few months after the company completes it's locker inventory.
4. Non Union to Union airline workers: This week the National Mediation Board (NMB) announced the vote outcomes at Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines to join the TWU and the IAM respectively. It's nice to see Unions make inroads to some of the newer airlines. Please click on the links below for more details.
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26125901/frontier-airlines-ramp-workers-vote-twu-union-representation
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/machinists-union-wins-election-for-spirit-airlines-ramp-agents-2014-07-08
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