World Airways pilots on strike today

[vc10]

Surprised that there's so little being posted about this on flightinfo.

 

[AV80R]

from http://www.worldpilotlabortalks.com/

World Pilot Labor Talks.com

The Pilots of World Airways Represented by the IBT


ON STRIKE!!!!!!!!

January 29th, 2006 http://wplt.tenncomgroup.com/wp-content/Lad02.jpg
WORLD AIRWAYS STRANDS PILOTS IN AFRICAN COUNTRY

UNION DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY
LUANDA, ANGOLA-January 29th– The Executive Council for the pilots of World Airways report that four pilots were stranded in Luanda, Angola by World Airways in direct violation of the current collective bargaining agreement as well as a Letter of Agreement outlining crew member safety between World Airways and the pilots represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters(IBT). When in Luanda, World Airways crews are protected around the clock by armed security personnel. This protection was terminated when the pilots were forced to vacate their hotel rooms.
The pilots concerned were awaiting a company decision after their outbound flight, World Flight 0101 had been struck, and delayed by 12 hours. The pilots, who were exercising their legal rights under the Railway Labor Act, were told by a World Airways Flight Operations manager that they were suspended and were “on their own” in reference to where they were to stay and how they were to get home. However under the current collective bargaining agreement the pilots should have been provided lodging, security and transportation regardless of the ongoing strike.
“Our Strike Committee, concerned for their security and safety, made arrangements for their transportation home,” said Captain Mark Ohlau, World Airways Pilots Executive Council Member and Negotiating Committee Chairman. “As of this moment, they are enroute and once they are safely home we will continue our investigation and undertake whatever legal actions necessary to prevent World Airways from endangering the lives of our employees.”
The pilots of World Airways began a strike on the January 28, 2006 after talks broke down between the pilot’s Negotiating Committee and World Airway’s management under the auspices of the National Mediation Board.
On December 28, 2005, the NMB notified the pilot’s union and their more than 400 pilots, members of Teamsters Local 986 in El Monte, California, and World Airways, Inc. that after a 30 day “cooling off period” both sides were free to exercise self-help—which can include a strike for the pilots.
The unresolved issues in addition to job security are adequate medical and life insurance and genuine compensation increases—not those that are negated by increased benefit costs. The parties have been negotiating a new contract since June 2003, when the pilots’ current collective bargaining agreement became amendable.
A subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., World Airways is the largest commercial carrier of US military personnel. The airline also provides cargo services for various cargo companies.
TALKS BETWEEN WORLD AIRWAYS PILOTS AND COMPANY FAIL

COMPANY REFUSED TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH ON JOB SECURITY
WASHINGTON, DC –Jan.28th– The Negotiating Committee for the pilots of World Airways report that early this morning the talks between themselves and World Airways under the auspices of the National Mediation Board (NMB) have failed and that the parties are release to self-help.
“We have spent the entire week bargaining in good faith with the company while protecting the future of our pilots,” said Captain Luis Carmona, Executive Council Chairman of the World Airways Pilots’ union. “But World Airway’s management refuses to understand or comprehend how important job security is to this pilot group.”
The Negotiating Committee had met with World Airways management past the 12:01 AM deadline in order to give the company additional time; however their final offer was in principal no different from their last offer coming into the meetings.
““Regretfully, the committee was forced to reject the company’s proposal and take our members into self-help,” said Captain Mark Ohlau, World Airways Pilots Negotiation Committee. “The Strike Committee has implemented the plan drafted for this contingency and work stoppage is underway. As of 0230 EST, our crewmembers are officially on strike against World Airways.”
On December 28, 2005, the NMB notified the pilot’s union and their more than 400 pilots, members of Teamsters Local 986 in El Monte, California, and World Airways, Inc. that after a 30 day “cooling off period” both sides were free to exercise self-help—which can include a strike for the pilots.
The unresolved issues in addition to job security are adequate medical and life insurance and genuine compensation increases—not those that are negated by increased benefit costs. The parties have been negotiating a new contract since June 2003, when the pilots’ current collective bargaining agreement became amendable.
A subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., World Airways is the largest commercial carrier of US military personnel. The airline also provides cargo services for EVA Airways, Air Canada and UPS Menlo Worldwide Forwarding.
The pilots, who became Teamsters in 1967, are among approximately 40,000 members of the Teamsters Airline Division.

 

[Whale Rider]

Good Luck guys..........Stand firm!:uzi:

 

[GuppyWN]

Should have fueled the jet and flew it home.

Gup

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

World Airways Offered Pilots Annual Pay Increases, Job Security, Improved Quality of Life

Monday January 30, 8:30 am ET

Union Committee Rejected Company Request to Let Pilots Vote on Final Proposal

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- World Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: WLDAE - News), today disclosed the terms of a proposed three-year pilot contract that was rejected Saturday morning by an International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) negotiating committee. Week-long talks between the company and the pilots' negotiating team ended after a 30-day cooling-off period set by the National Mediation Board (NMB) expired at midnight Friday, Jan. 27, 2006.
"The company offered our pilots two compensation options," said Charlie McDonald, World Airways chief operating officer. "The first provided a 10 percent signing bonus and a pay increase of 3 percent in the first year and 4 percent annually for each of the next two years. The other option offered a 7 percent signing bonus and a 5 percent pay increase in the first year, followed by 3 percent annual increases for each of the next two years. Given the circumstances in the airline industry today, we believe we provided an attractive, comprehensive offer that addressed the major concerns expressed by the pilots during negotiations."
Other provisions in the contract offer included: - A commitment to add Boeing 747s to the World Airways fleet - Qualified furlough protection for 90 percent of current pilots for the duration of the contract - Preferential hiring at other World Air Holdings subsidiaries - The addition of training pay - Doubling guaranteed days off to 12 per month, coupled with a new volunteer system for additional flying - Doubling basic life insurance - Continued profit sharing - Increasing the company contribution to retirement plans
The company did ask for increased contributions to its medical plan based on dramatic cost increases in recent years.
"We felt so strongly about the quality of this package that we asked the negotiating committee to put the contract out to all 430 World pilots for a vote, even without a committee recommendation, but they would not agree," McDonald said. "We appreciate the efforts of the NMB mediators, who worked with us and were there to the very end to try to reach a tentative agreement."
"I know the World Airways team did everything possible to reach a fair and equitable agreement," said Randy Martinez, World Air Holdings chief executive officer. "Responsible labor agreements are of paramount importance in this very uncertain industry, especially for small charter carriers. We regret the disruption this is causing to our valued commercial customers."
Pilots initiated a strike against commercial World Airways passenger and cargo flights over the weekend, which could result in a loss of customers if the strike is prolonged. Some of the commercial flights have been protected through sub-service with other carriers. The contract does not allow World pilots to interrupt U.S. military flying, which is the largest part of World's business.
World Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., is a U.S.-certificated air carrier providing customized transportation services for major international passenger and cargo carriers, the United States military, major freight forwarders and international leisure tour operators. Founded in 1948, World operates a fleet of 17 wide-body aircraft to meet the specialized needs of its customers. For information, visit www.worldairways.com.
World Air Holdings has three wholly owned subsidiaries, World Airways, Inc., North American Airlines, Inc. and World Risk Solutions, Ltd. World Airways is a charter passenger and cargo airline founded in 1948, North American is a charter passenger airline founded in 1989, and World Risk Solutions is an insurance subsidiary established in 2004. For additional information, visit www.worldairholdings.com.
["Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competition in the market for air transportation services, the cyclical nature of the air carrier business, reliance on key marketing relationships, fluctuations in operating results and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the SEC (reports are available from the company upon request). These various risks and uncertainties may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of the company in this release.]


Source: World Air Holdings, Inc.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

"We felt so strongly about the quality of this package that we asked the negotiating committee to put the contract out to all 430 World pilots for a vote, even without a committee recommendation, but they would not agree," McDonald said.


O.K. guys. I am new to this union thing. Tell me something, please.

If your negotiating team does not get the contract offer 'they' want, do they still send it to the membership for a vote?

If not, why do they feel they can make a decision for the entire membership? Really! What if the union guys negotiating lose it and start doing things the membership doesn't really want. Just because they got voted in doesn't mean they know exactly what the majority of the membership wants.

Flame away if you want. I don't have an opinion on the World strike. I'm just wondering if the above in red is true and its applicability to union members at other airlines. I would rather a negotiating committee do all it can then send the 'best' offer for a vote. But that is just me.

I in no way imply I would go against what the union decided. Being a member means supporting the union even if it is not perfect.

Thanks for any constructive replies.

 

[Ty Webb]

Someone with more extensive experience will hopefully give a more enlightened answer, but basically, what the Company is trying to do is make an "end run" around the very negotiating team the the pilot group has elected or has been appointed by the elected Union officials. It's a "divide and conquer" approach, and they are obviously "trying the case in the media" as well.


Remember- you send your Negotiating Committee in with the backing of the pilot group. Usually, the Negotiating Committee has received guidance from the Membership as to what it will take to get the majority of the pilots to approve the agreement (through the use of telephone polling, meetings, committees, road shows, etc). The Negotiating Committee is there to represent the Membership, and for the Company to try to bypass the Negotiating Committee representing the pilots, and to go right to the Pilots directly weakens the position of the Pilot Group.

If the Negotiating Committee agreed to put every proposal from Management out for a vote, it would be a waste of time and money, but would also provide management with a means to fracture the pilot group by putting forth an agreement that benefits some of the members (ie great pay rates for the most senior guys, and non-commuters while shafting the junior guys and commuters).

Occaisionally, a union NC will allow the COmpany proposal to be put to a vote without their endorsement (TA) in order to give the pilots a chance to vote it down and demonstrate solidarity, but if the NC won't put this one out there, they must think it wouldn't pass and would only delay the strike and/or weaken the solidarity they need at this time.

Best of luck to the guys at Wold, I hope you are successful in your efforts, we all need a win right now.

 

[Falconjet]

I think you have to give Ty a cigar because he pretty much nailed it.

FJ

 

[WhiteCloud]

So did these guys get home OK?

 

[Ty Webb]

I think you have to give Ty a cigar because he pretty much nailed it.

FJ

Thanks . . . . a nice Arturo Fuente or Avo would be put to good use on a long layover!

So did these guys get home OK?

I read another article on Yahoo that said the union paid to get them home, and they were enroute at press time.

 

[WhiteCloud]

I read another article on Yahoo that said the union paid to get them home, and they were enroute at press time.

Good news. It's one thing to lock people out at home but quite another to strand them half a world away in a hostile situation. Where are the pickets?

 

[furloughfodder]

What if the union guys negotiating lose it and start doing things the membership doesn't really want. Just because they got voted in doesn't mean they know exactly what the majority of the membership wants.

Ty said it right. The union guys are the elected and official negotiators for the pilot group.

Think of it in terms of the President of the United States. The people elected him, he has now completly 'lost it', be we the people have to pay the price. Just because he got voted in doesn't mean he knows exactly what the majority of the citizens want.

In the case of World, I think their Union leadership is right on the mark, and they are doing the right thing here calling the strike. The company will always try to put out one last offer directly to the pilots, trying to skirt the union.

Good luck World guys and gals. Stay strong!

 

[PCL_128]

Ty got it dead on. Basically, the company is calculating how low they can go to get a 50% + 1 vote victory. The MEC and NC would never send out such a lowball offer for a vote, because they know they can do much better. If the company can send it straight to the membership, they can bypass that problem.

The NC is undoubtedly going on polling data and loads of emails and in-person communications to figure out what the pilot group really wants as a whole. They know what the consensus is, and if they get something close to it, they'll send it out for a vote. If the company makes a low-ball offer that only would appeal to 50% of the pilot group, then that's not good enough. Trust the NC; they know what they're doing and they'll do what the pilot group wants them to do.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Good news. It's one thing to lock people out at home but quite another to strand them half a world away in a hostile situation. Where are the pickets?

I saw a picture of a couple of crewmembers in front of the building in P-Tree city yesterday.

 

[NTS ALL 4]

Retired Delta?

I saw a picture of a couple of crewmembers in front of the building in P-Tree city yesterday.

Those were probably some retired Delta pilots looking to become PFE's. Now that World is looking for pilots.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Now World is stranding guys (read: kicking tem out of hotels with no visas or tickets home) overseas who are working military flights. They are also suspending without pay/benefits anyone who is awarded a commercial (struck) line of flying simply by virtue of them having been awarded the line rather than furloughing by seniority order.

I knew I took a wrong turn at that job fair.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

On the surface the company's offer doesn't look too bad. What are the real issues here? I don't expect to find the entire story in a press release. World already has one of the better pay packages among supplemental carriers. Something tells me the negotiations are about more than just pay. Is scope relative to NAA in play?

 

[furloughfodder]

You didn't take a wrong turn at the job fair. World is a great place to be. This is just management 101. All these hardball tactics are out of the same playbook. They use the same principles terrorists use. They try to breed fear among the labor group. I know it is hard right now, but stand strong.

You must realize World is a hugely successful company, and in today’s environment that is rare. I would expect they start firing members of the MEC before too long, and probably will terminate the probationary crewmembers. They will also start trying to directly contact crewmembers and their families, usually by mail, sometimes by telephone. They will try to divide the workgroup and get people wives worried to the point that they start questioning their husbands (or visa-versa). Then the husbands will start questioning their MEC leadership. I am sure they will start telling you that North American is starting to fly your trips, and they will make it look like your struck commercial flights are having no impact on the finances of the company.

Their whole goal right now is to divide the group. Don't let them do that and you win.

 

[bigboeings]

Scope is relative to NAA, and to my knowledge NAA has not been flying their trips, we are not equipped to fly the freight that they are.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Scope is relative to NAA, and to my knowledge NAA has not been flying their trips, we are not equipped to fly the freight that they are.

I apologize if you thought I was suggesting that NAA might fly struck work. I know NAA has smaller aircraft. What I was getting at is how future flying might be allocated. Is World in a position to move current or future flying to NAA? Would they try to move aircraft or shift future acquistion aircraft to NAA?

I guess I'm wondering what each side is hopng to accomplish more than anything else.

 

[bigboeings]

I think World pilot want to ensure that they grow along with NAA, The only issue we have is that the 767 flying remains with us. I believe that the IBT was talking about merging the seniority list, something we here at NAA are against unless there are some very tall fences in place.

 

[jehtplane]

I think World pilot want to ensure that they grow along with NAA, The only issue we have is that the 767 flying remains with us. I believe that the IBT was talking about merging the seniority list, something we here at NAA are against unless there are some very tall fences in place.

Exactly!

 

[WhiteCloud]

Now World is stranding guys (read: kicking tem out of hotels with no visas or tickets home) overseas who are working military flights.

Well that's an even cheaper shot. Do your civilian duty to our country by working a military flight and then get screwed. That's just flat out un-American on World's part.

 

[Lear70]

Well that's an even cheaper shot. Do your civilian duty to our country by working a military flight and then get screwed. That's just flat out un-American on World's part.

Agreed. That's a quick way to have the entire crew jumpseat their way home and not answer the phone for a month or two.

And contrary to what furloughfodder said, this is NOT mgmt 101 approach to a strike. If part of your workforce is willing to still fly our service men and women because of their feelings of patriotic duty and the company responds by yanking the rug out from under them, it only fuels the fire of everyone else to stop flying ANYTHING.

Seriously, if you found out your coworkers were operating a flight and when they got there they had no room, no way home, especially overseas, would you take the same flight that left the next day? I sure as hell wouldn't.

I wonder what happens when the military doesn't get their uplift as scheduled?

Mgmt Tactics 101 would include firing all probationary pilots, but firing MEC members and/or other pilots and deliberately violating the CBA are NOT typical tactics since, by law, the current CBA stays in effect, even during a strike or lockout.

Kinda glad I didn't go to World after my last 121 Supplemental Cargo gig either...

 

[Bankangle]

I think World pilot want to ensure that they grow along with NAA, The only issue we have is that the 767 flying remains with us. I believe that the IBT was talking about merging the seniority list, something we here at NAA are against unless there are some very tall fences in place.

World was suppose to get two 767s. Guys bid on it and went to training. Mgmt scrapped the program and bought NAA. Mgmt: "They do it cheaper". Unconfirmed quote but reliable: "additional aircraft will go to whoever has the lowest cost". World pilots and the IBT are trying to get a fair contract that ensures our JOB SECURITY. NAA pilots need to recognize and give a D---. World is a career job with a 58yr history. Its been a career type of job because of members who strive to keep it that way and are now not getting paid and having there benefits stopped. I am not getting into any kind of NAA bashing, not my intent. However our members see clearly that the NAA pilot groups suport has been absent. NAA has recently voted in the IBT, watch carefully as your fellow World Holdings crewmembers are on the frontline and when its your turn, what would you expect? Some serious support and cooperation needs to start happening..There are many ways you guys could help. Consider contributing to our stike fund to help those financially that now have no pay and benefits. Attend a picket, something. I can speak for most that we are hoping for a promising future with the NAA group, however at the present course and this mgmt's intentions, its not looking good for any of us.

 

[bigboeings]

Hey Im not knocking you guys. I understand your predicament. I'm worried about our JOB SECURITY too. I would love to see a joint seniority list so we can have more clout with WAH. HOWEVER the latest proposal by the IBT was an 18 month fence, Thats unacceptable since you are a 58 yr. old company,with some pretty senior guys. We have sent some pilots to your picket line in Peachtree, and I will bring up the strike fund issue with our leaders, but please understand the position we are in too. We have no contract yet, so our hands are pretty tied,

 

[Megadeth]

You NAA guys better step up to the plate pronto, we diden't want you but now are stuck with you, you keep saying things like "unacceptable" and "our hand are tied". We are fighting for our very jobs and all you can think about is your lousy low paying seat.

 

[jehtplane]

You NAA guys better step up to the plate pronto, we diden't want you but now are stuck with you, you keep saying things like "unacceptable" and "our hand are tied". We are fighting for our very jobs and all you can think about is your lousy low paying seat. You keep up it up and you will find your lousy low paid ass stapled.

Pissed off World Pilot

Dude chill, where is the lack of support that you are talking about?

 

[Megadeth]

Please don't refer to me as Dude, I'm not a commuter pilot with an Ipod and a backpack, I fly a large widebody aircraft all over the world. If you want to engage in a discussion I'll be glad to respond, but don't call me me dude.

 

[Lear70]

dUDE, didn't you like used to fly the Jetstream and ATR?

LOL - I couldn't resist. Didn't know you were at World... Any positive news so far this week?

As far as fences are concerned, I'd be a little perturbed also if I knew I was getting booted out of my CA's seat in 18 months and it'd be several years before I made it back in again, especially if I was at the end of my career and needed the extra bones to pollish off the retirement plans.

If you'd give 5 year seat lock fences to their CA's, you'd probably be a little closer to a doable integration. You can't ask people to completely ignore their own financial well-being, some of them may not be able to plan "long-term", especially when they're 57 years old...

Just a thought.