UPS Negotiations update

[H25BCPTN]

Monday, April 26, 2004

IPA NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

The Independent Pilots Association and UPS have completed another round of contract talks with tentative agreements reached on several items. The talks, focusing on Article 14 (Domicile Staffing, Vacancy Bids and Augmented Crews), continued to utilize the Interest Based Bargaining Process and were led by National Mediation Board Facilitator John Livingood.

IPA Negotiating Committee Chairman Captain Jim Magner states it was a “good week” of discussions on Article 14 and “both sides are encouraged by the progress made during the week’s talks.” Again, several TAs were reached.

Magner says negotiators also received a report on the progress being made by the IPA/UPS “working” committee looking at feasibility, cost impact and manpower requirements of the proposed scheduling changes. He says the working group is making progress and another update is expected during the next round of talks.

IPA/UPS negotiators are scheduled to meet again the week of May 3, which will mark the beginning of five consecutive weeks of negotiations, and will focus on Leave of Absence, Information Technology, Scope and other items yet to be determined.

The IPA/UPS talks are the first pilot talks to be facilitated by the NMB using IBB throughout the entire direct negotiation phase. Both parties mutually agreed to extend Interest Based Bargaining through July 1, 2004.

The IPA is the collective bargaining unit for the 2,500 professional pilots who fly the 268 heavy jet UPS fleet. IPA pilots fly more than 1,890 UPS flights every day to multiple points over five continents. In addition to being the world’s largest transportation company, UPS is also the world’s eleventh largest airline.

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The Independent Pilots Association represents the cockpit crewmembers that operate UPS aircraft world wide.


Are the contract talks going as well as they seem?

Fly Safe

 

[767-300ER]

According to an IPA union exec, UPS is very content with their overall operational business (check out those profit$) and doesn't want a labor fight on its hands in 2004. They became very worried when the IPA recently hired an in-house media relations pro, and reiterated their desire to complete negotiations outside of the media spotlight. That tells me that they're willing to "pay up" to keep the peace wrt investors, Wall Street, the media, etc.

Our chief negotiator, Jim Magner, is a genius who despises UPS management. He has indicated that top pay is beyond debate as a core requirement, as well as an industry leading retirement plan with (finally) livable schedules for the line slug.

It's my opinion that we'll have a contract by the end of this year. We have UPS in a corner, and we're only asking what the drivers, over-the-road drivers, mechanics, and dispatchers already have--best pay and retirement amongst their industy peers.

Then, finally, some hiring will commence.

 

[TonyC]

Our chief negotiator, Jim Magner, is a genius who despises UPS management. He has indicated that top pay is beyond debate as a core requirement, as well as an industry leading retirement plan with (finally) livable schedules for the line slug.

It's my opinion that we'll have a contract by the end of this year. We have UPS in a corner, and we're only asking what the drivers, over-the-road drivers, mechanics, and dispatchers already have--best pay and retirement amongst their industy peers.

Good Luck! We're all counting on you!