Teamster Negotiating Objectives and Organizing Processes: Answers to
YOUR Questions
By: Don Treichler, Director, Teamsters Airline Division
The following are
some commonly asked questions about what the Teamsters can do for YOU:
What negotiating successes
have the Teamsters had?
Our top mechanic
all-in rates for all of our mechanic and related groups are above $30.
This includes AirTran, Air
What is the Teamsters' number
one goal when bargaining?
Strong scope and
job protection is everything when addressing your security. The
Northwest Airlines mechanics were reduced from over 9,000 to fewer than
1,000 due to weak scope and a weak supporting organization. United is
attempting to attack your scope with low-cost blended workers not even
on your seniority list. Strong scope always is the Teamsters' number one
objective. Even in our concessionary bargaining we have strengthened
scope language. The Continental Airlines mechanics (Teamsters) have
expanded and have no furloughees.
How do the Teamsters conduct
negotiations?
Are negotiations held in
secret, open session, or what?
Open negotiations
are a circus and actually are disruptive to the negotiating process. No
reputable organization negotiates in that fashion. We do not need to
showboat for you. You can judge the results of your Negotiating
Committee and your Teamster
representatives
when you vote on your tentative agreement (TA). Before the ratification,
members receive full information on the tentative agreement. During
negotiations, we send out newsletters, and keep our members well
informed of progress.
Do Teamster members always
vote on a TA?
Yes.
Where the Teamsters are
certified to replace another organization, can they
enforce the existing
agreement?
Yes.
Where the Teamsters are
certified to replace another organization, can they open the existing
agreement for bargaining?
Yes. Should your
leadership and the union believe it is in your interests to bargain, we
will do so. This is accomplished by serving a Section 6 opener letter on
the company copying the National Mediation Board (NMB). By law, the
company would be compelled to bargain.
Have the Teamsters opened an
Agreement in this manner before?
Yes.
How is a representation
election accomplished?
Where the group is
unrepresented, cards equal to at least 35 percent of the eligible voters
in the craft and class of mechanics and related must be filed with the
NMB. Where a group has a certified representative, as you do, cards
equal to a minimum of 50 percent plus one or more of the craft and class
must be filed for an election to be ordered. Once an election is ordered
and conducted, a minimum of 50% + 1 or more eligible voters must vote
for a union and the union with the plurality is then certified.
Is the organizing process
confidential, i.e., the cards, ballots, voting, etc.?
Yes.
Do the Teamsters decide what
is in your TA?
No. That is
determined by your Negotiating Committee and the Teamsters ensure that
it is legal, workable, and not discriminatory. In the final analysis,
the members vote it up or down.
Who is responsible for
bargaining Railway Labor Act (RLA) aviation agreements in the Teamsters?
The Airline
Division is responsible. It designates the lead negotiator and ensures
that there are both rank and file members and local union business
agents (BA's) at the table along with an Airline Division
representative.