Air Transport Employees
Local Lodge 1781              

1511 Rollins Road, Burlingame CA 94010

Phone (650) 697-8716 (Extension List) Fax (650) 697-2469

     
     

 




 

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August 8, 2008

Machinists Win Alaska Outsourcing Arbitration

Air Transport District 143 won a major victory by securing an arbitrator’s decision stating that Alaska Airlines violated the IAM collective bargaining agreement when it improperly furloughed 500 Seattle ramp workers in May 2005.

“This ruling is a huge victory for the IAM and all the hard working airline employees we represent,” said District 143 president Stephen Gordon. “The decision comes more than three years after Alaska Airlines subcontracted its entire Seattle ground handling operation to Menzies Aviation. IAM-represented ramp employees who showed up to work on May 13, 2005 had their security badges deactivated by Alaska and were callously told they no longer had jobs.”

Since outsourcing the work to Menzies, Alaska Airlines has endured negative press reports involving lost and mishandled bags, flight delays, aircraft damage and increased customer complaints.
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IAM District 143 represents 3,560 Alaska Airlines employees. More information about the arbitration decision and the IAM’s more than three-year fight are available on the District 143 website @ www.IAM143.org
 

Federal Arbitrator Rules Alaska Airlines Violated Union Contract When It Outsourced 500 Union-Represented Baggage Handling Jobs to Menzies Aviation
August 7, 2008

A federal arbitrator ruled that Alaska Airlines violated its collective bargaining agreement with IAM District 143 when it laid off 500 baggage handlers and other ramp workers in May 2005.

“This ruling is a huge victory for the IAM, Air Transport District 143, and all the hard-working airline employees we represent.  The ruling sends a message to the airlines that they must respect their workers and their Union contracts,” said President Stephen Gordon.
 
The ruling comes more than three years after Alaska Airlines subcontracted its entire ground handling operation to Menzies Aviation.  IAM-represented ramp employees who showed up to work on May 13, 2005 had their security badges deactivated by Alaska and were told they no longer had jobs.

Since outsourcing the work to Menzies, Alaska Airlines has endured negative press reports involving lost and mishandled bags, flight delays, safety problems, and increased customer complaints.

The federal arbitrator who decided the case considered the parties’ contract language, which permitted Alaska Airlines to subcontract the ground handling work only if it was cheaper than keeping the work in-house.

The federal arbitrator directed Alaska Airlines and District 143 to work together to determine the appropriate remedy for the contract breach, but will take the matter up again if Alaska Airlines and District 143 are unable to agree on a solution.

“Only because of our strong Union and the opportunity of a grievance resolution process could we prevail in protecting jobs; without such a process, all is for nothing,” stated President Stephen Gordon.