WhiskyPilot

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 early this morning that talks between themselves and World Airways under the auspices of the National Mediation Board (NMB) have failed and that the parties are released to seek 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 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.

On December 28, 2005, the NMB notified the pilot’s union they were in a 30-day cooling-off period because in the judgment of the Board “all practical methods” for resolving the dispute between the two parties has been exhausted.

The release from the board states that after 12:01 AM on January 28, 2006, the more than 400 pilots, members of Teamsters Local 986 in El Monte, California, and World Airways, Inc. are free to exercise self-help—which can include a strike.

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 companys.”

The pilots, who became Teamsters in 1967, are among approximately 40,000 members of the Teamsters Airline Division.

WatchThis!

Are the World Pilots also striking the military flying? And if so, isn't the military able to step in and fly the CRAF aircraft (under the terms of CRAF) if World can't supply enough CRAF volunteers?

All the best to the World Pilots, thanks for holding the line (and set a good example for UPS to follow should it come to that).

Godspeed.

MD11driver

Nope, contractually they can't strike the military flying...I don't know what percentage of World's business is military (I would think it is substantial), so unfortunately it seems like fighting with one hand tied behind their back...

Good Luck to the World pilots!

WhiskyPilot

MD11 is correct, we cannot strike AMC flights which makes up about 3/4 of our business. However, our check airmen and instructors (who are non-management) are refusing to conduct any training so eventually there will be no one left current and qualified to fly those flights.

The company's last proposal was not even close to what we're looking for, so who knows how long this will last.

Fly4Beer

Hold the line boys! If it comes to a strike, spread the word how we all can help!

jonnyjetprop

www.worldpilotlabortalks.com

The company has resorted to stranding crews in Angola. Its going to get ugly. Check here for the lastest news.

Browntail

What are you world pilots going to do if UPS would allow us to fly OUR own flight 174 from DAY to BRU carrying OUR freight volume? How can you, a contractor, consider flights that you fly as a contractor struck work? You shouldn't be flying that trip in the first place, but that's an entirely different issue altogether.

RedeyeAV8r

Hey guys.( BrownTail)...........don't blame the World Pilots for flying UPS contract freight under a contract! It is not their fault I suspect that is a due to a weakness in your own scope clause or complete lack there of.

Don't take that a criticism because we in the Purple/orange world have similiar weaknesses. We are trying to fix that in this contract........but who knows.

If you cross the World Picket line to fly Their contract..........even if it is your (UPS's contract) freight, How would that help either cause??
When the World guys settle and hopefully it will be soon.................do you want them crossing your picket line in the next few months if you guys are forced to Strike?....................I think not.

We got to stop the in-fighting and support each other when that particular group is in contract negotiations............especially when that group is forced to Strike...........

We at Fedex supported the Polar/Atlas pilots when they struck a few months ago............Many Fedex pilots joined them on their picket lines around the system.....................even though Polar/Atlas flys a substantial amount of FedEx freight!

Am I happy about all the outsourcing of flying FedEx does? Not at all.
But it isn't the fault of Gemini, Atlas, Polar.........and even UPS (yes you fly some of our stuff in South America).

It is the lack of Scope provisions.................That is between us and Management..................

Stop inflighting and be supportive of each others efforts...........

Redeye

Browntail

It's too bad that your MEC/NC lacked the balls to ask for more that just a measly 8% in your opener. Mutual support my ass.

RedeyeAV8r

Ok Browntail....................

Didn't I just say as Pilots, we need to quit slamming each other?

I guess your a one issue Guy...........hourly rate.

One one hand you chastise the FedEx MEC for a low hourly rate proposal........

On another thread you insinuate that you and your Brown bretheren should cross World Airways Picket lines.................

I already proffered my opinion on the second.........so lets digress to the first.

IPA and FedEx ALPA met several months back to compare notes on negotiations. They compared Work rules and hourly rates and other areas........, Reserve system, Vacation, SCOPE, Retirement and Insurance.
The FedEx Negotiating committee came away with....................

..............we want Aircraft specific Pay, not UPS's longevity pay style.
..............we don't want UPS's work rules, Prefer to improve on ours
..............We don't want their Vacation Policy, Prefer to keep ours
..............We don't want UPS's Commercial DH policy, prefer ours
..............We prefer our Reserve system, but it needs improvement
..............We both Need better Scope language
..............We both need better healthcare especially for Retirees
..............We need better definitive Contract language than current
..............We both want a valid payraise..................................

This isn't a slam on UPS..........we just have different priorites.

Our current proposal adds to our current work rules
Our Current Proposal adds a 2% bump to our B plan
Our Current Proposal gives us better Scope language and protections
Our Current Proposal gives us Definitive language
and Yes our current Proposal for Pay was an Intial 8% overall payraise with Full retro pay from ammendable date.............
All these sections come at a cost.

Personally I too think we should have asked for more pay........................
but to quantify.................anyone who knows anything about work rules is
Work rules equates to take home pay for # days worked.......................

Ask the Gemini or ATLAS other cargo pilots..........What good is $250/hr when your sitting in a hotel for 5 days and not getting credit for it?

I would like to compare a FedEx Schedule to a UPS monthly Schedule
Lets compare block hours flown
Lets compare Days worked
Lets compare Pay stubs

Hourly Rate, while important, is only part of the overall Big picture
I am not trying to Say FedEx is better than UPS or vice versa...............
Im am just saying after several Polls of the FedEx pilots..........
The results were we need overall improvements to our current contract.......
Not just hourly rates............

Sorry if you disagree..................
I am sure your savvy negotiating committe can cost out our proposal.
If you guys want hourly rate increases over other imporovements it should be easy enough to justify.......................

It all comes down to the 24th hour of the 30th day cooling off period anyway...............I am sure you'll get most of the improvements you seek if
your Pilot group is unified.

I wish your Pilot group all the best..............even you!