Posts tagged National Mediation Board
American and Southwest Airlines facing holiday strikes
November 19, 2023 // If a release is granted, the union would theoretically be in a position to strike during the key holiday season. The NMB also could take its time in making a decision and grant the release, but doing so a few days into December to push any possible strike until after the Christmas and New Year's travel seasons.
Delta workers at MSP Airport rally in favor of unionizing
July 17, 2023 // Workers hit the picket line after the speakers were done. Delta told WCCO that they don't get involved in elections. The airline said in part "the National Mediation Board has consistently confirmed that Delta did not interfere with our employees' right to free choice during union elections."
Southwest Airlines pilots approach potential strike with request to leave negotiation proceedings
July 6, 2023 // In the transportation labor negotiations process, the National Mediation Board mediates contract discussions between the carrier and its employees. When a party requests a release from mediation, the board must determine whether continuing with the negotiations process would be productive. If the answer is no, the NMB allows "a cooling-off period" of 30 days, after which a strike can happen. SWAPA pilots are planning a nationwide picket on Aug. 31 in five cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles. Earlier this month, Southwest reached agreements in principle with its flight attendants union — whose board later rejected the agreement — and its aircraft mechanics union, which moved forward with a tentative agreement.
United Airlines pilots union moves closer to strike
June 5, 2023 // The strike vote comes weeks after United AIrlines pilots picketed major airports across the nation, demanding pay increases. Unions representing Southwest Airlines and American Airlines pilots have each authorized a strike this summer
FedEx pilots vote in favor of strike in push for pay rise
May 19, 2023 //
Will pilot strikes disrupt my summer flights? Here’s what to know.
May 15, 2023 // Garth Thompson, chair of the United Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association, said negotiators have spent years on work-life issues such as more schedule predictability and limiting the company’s ability to reassign pilots to work on days off and reserve provisions. “We kept the airline alive during the pandemic,” he said. “The company is poised to have wild profits going forward and they’re giving us the stiff arm at the table.” A strike authorization vote is not out of the question, Thompson said.
Southwest pilots union vote on potential strike underway
May 2, 2023 // The strike voting period opened Monday at noon. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said they're still disagreeing with management on salary, benefits, retirement and other contract terms after years at the negotiating table. SWAPA President Casey Murray wrote in a statement the company's management has shown "no willingness" to address pilots' concerns related to scheduling and technology issues. “The decision to authorize a strike is not one we have taken lightly, but given the lack of accountability and dearth of leadership exhibited by our current executives, we felt that this was a last resort to try to force them to face the issues plaguing our passengers, our frontline employees, and our pilots,” Murray wrote in a statement.
Orlando Airport Fueling Employees Successfully Oust USWU Union Officials Who Tried to Stop Union Decertification Vote
May 2, 2023 // Foundation attorneys refuted union arguments in a position statement, contending that the union’s position was completely at odds with the Railway Labor Act’s (RLA) basic purposes, which ensure that “employees can [choose] to join or refrain from unionization, and that they are entitled to the fullest freedom in making that choice.” The RLA governs private sector labor relations in the air and rail industries. “The [union] reasoning is both illogical and devastating to employee free choice,” said Foundation attorneys’ statement. “Local 74 would require some 1,000 PrimeFlight fuelers, at all locations, to weigh-in on whether the employees at one specific location in Orlando should be represented by Local 74, even though those other employees cannot possibly have any…interest in the representational choices of the Orlando location’s employees.” Further, Foundation attorneys pointed out that USWU union officials’ position was especially suspect considering “the fuelers at other locations are represented by unions other than Local 74” (emphasis added) and have completely different contracts and working conditions.
American Airlines Pilots Vote to Authorize Strike Amid Contract Negotiations
May 2, 2023 // Thousands of American Airlines pilots are standing their ground, threatening to go on strike right before the busy summer travel season gets underway. More than 96% of American's pilots participated in the vote for a strike and 99% of them voted to allow the union to call one, the Allied Pilots Association said Monday.
National Mediation Board Nominee: Loren Sweatt
March 27, 2023 // Loren Sweatt has served in various government roles throughout her professional career. Most recently, Sweatt has been a Senior Professional Staffer with the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the United States Senate. Prior to that, Sweatt was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary with the Occupational Safety and…