UPS Mediation News?????

[boost]

Any UPS guys have any info on the negotiations? The FedEx guys are crossing our fingers that you get a good contract! Not much info on the IPA public website, so whats going on over there?

 

[V-STALL]

Any UPS guys have any info on the negotiations? The FedEx guys are crossing our fingers that you get a good contract! Not much info on the IPA public website, so whats going on over there?

Still waiting to hear. :erm:

 

[Brown Cow]

This is where we stand...........


"Hello folks, this is Tom Nicholson with a Special EB Hotline Update from
Appleton, Wisconsin. Today, Thursday, December 22, contract talks
between United Parcel Service and the Independent Pilots Association
ended in failure. In spite of our best efforts after four days of
intensive discussions, no agreement has been reached.

As promised, the Association has requested a release from mediation from
the mediator in charge of the case, Linda Puchala. The formal request
will be filed in Washington on Tuesday.

Now into our fourth year of contract talks--it is time. We are of the
belief that the National Mediation Board will ultimately grant this
request. As a result, IPA members should be prepared for a strike of
any duration commencing 30 days after the release is granted. It is
not known exactly when the NMB will rule on our request for release. A
decision from the NMB could come within days or within the next few
weeks."

The negotiations this week ultimately failed because United Parcel
Service remains unwilling to recognize the contribution of this pilot
group to the success of the operation. It is our belief that a 30 day
cooling off period will clarify the thinking of all parties. Now, more
than ever, is the time for absolute and total unity among the pilot
group. Divided we cannot win--united we cannot fail. We will remain
united and we will win--let there be no doubt.

 

[Los1]

Good luck guys...
our thoughts are w/ you
Los1

 

[V-STALL]

UPS pilots to ask for release from mediation so they can strike
HARRY R. WEBER
Associated Press

ATLANTA - The union representing UPS Inc. said Thursday it will ask
for release from federal mediation so it can strike, citing three years
of contract negotiations with the world's largest shipping carrier that
have failed to reach an agreement.
The comments by the Independent Pilots Association were not unexpected
after talks between the two sides wrapped up Thursday without reaching
a deal.
Under the Railway Labor Act, the pilots can't strike while under the
direction of the federal mediator. The president of the union, however,
has said the pilots will strike if released from mediation and no deal
is reached after a 30-day cooling off period.
"Our hand has been forced," IPA president Tom Nicholson said in a statement.
"UPS labor is engaging in stall and delay tactics. We no longer believe
UPS is serious about reaching an agreement."
UPS spokeswoman Peggy Gardner said Thursday the mediator has given no
indication she would release the two sides from talks. Gardner also
said talks between the two sides over the last few days in Appleton,
Wis., yielded some progress, but not an agreement. She said the mediator
told both sides she would notify them next week of her plans for further
discussions.
The company and its pilot union are grappling over pay, pensions, work
rules and health benefits, among other things. According to UPS, its
pilots make an average annual salary of more than $175,000.
The union argues that unlike the passenger airlines awash in red ink,
UPS - the world's largest shipping carrier - is highly profitable and
therefore has the means to further reward its pilots. UPS says it plans
to give more to its 2,483 pilots, but needs to make sure the contract
it agrees to keeps it competitive.
UPS and its pilots have been in federal mediated talks since June 2004.
Its pilots contract became amendable on Dec. 31, 2003, and has remained
unchanged since then.

 

[TheBaron]

Local news article.

Here's a link to an article in the local Louisville paper. Seems a little negative about the possibility of getting released from mediation. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for the IPA and all my friends at UPS

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051222/BUSINESS/512220342

 

[capt. megadeth]

Interesting how the "average" salary is always reported as $175,000. I thougth that was top capt. pay.

 

[EMBPILOT1]

I'm sure my $26k doesn't get figured into that.

 

[TheBaron]

Hot off the presses...

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051223/BUSINESS/51223011/1003

This woman is a croney of GWB's and doesn't want to allow the pilots to take any actions that might hurt the bottom line of the company. Heaven forbid that a worker in the US should have any rights to self-help.

PS. Merry Christmas

 

[lifeguard]

I can't believe it. I am so disappointed. Now what?

 

[GoABX]

Translation: IPA was put into the penalty box by D.C.

They will be made to wait awhile in the hopes of softening their position. Delay in no way hurts the company. If they wanted to squeeze UPS they would have scheduled alot more sessions.

My own feeling is IPA's timing on this was about 30-35 days too late. Had the strike talk in the press been ramped up earlier and been a little more aggressive, then it might have been a more effective 'bookaway campaign'. But with the deadline being almost at Christmas it had no teeth and everyone knew it....the only opinions that matter are shippers and management. I understand why IPA was conservative. A bookaway is a scorched earth policy that is dangerous if it taken too far and there was also the risk of pi$$ing off the mediator. But this opportunity was sissyfied to the point that there was no chance of getting a deal before Christmas.

Either the pilots will have to turn up the heat to entice the company to settle or just wait until the company feels there is an economic benefit to signing a deal (i.e. converting a variable to fixed cost or UPS/FDX finishing before the other to gain service stability in the minds of their customer base.)

 

[UPS DC8]

GoABX,

You hit the nail on the head!! Let the games begin!!

 

[Clyde]

.....

 

[Mach92]

GoABX,

You hit the nail on the head!! Let the games begin!!

The power of the pen!

 

[Below Mins]

Translation: IPA was put into the penalty box by D.C.

I realize the NMB is a subsidiary of UPS, but this gives me some hope.

From the IPA's daily update today:

"The National Mediation Board today has placed talks between the IPA and UPS in indefinite recess. An indefinite recess simply means there are no new rounds of talks scheduled. We've spoken directly to our mediator, Linda Puchala, and she has assured us that this will have no impact on our ability to request a release from mediation or the NMB's ability to act on our request. The IPA will formally request a release from mediation on Tuesday, December 27. We are of the belief that the National Mediation Board will ultimately grant this request."