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AMTRAK PEB
REPORT SUPPORTS RAIL LABOR
Presidential
Emergency Board (PEB) 242, empanelled to investigate the
contract dispute between Amtrak and nine labor unions,
issued its report to President George W. Bush on
December 30, 2007. The lengthy report, which recommends
adoption of most of labor’s proposals, was made public
on January 3, 2008.
TWU
Railroad Division Director Gary Maslanka issued the
following statement and evaluation of the PEB’s report.
Click here
to download a copy of the 65-page PEB report.
(20 MB PDF)
Click here to read the full story |
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TWU WINS RIGHT TO REPRESENT
CAESARS PALACE DEALERS
In
Landslide Election Victory Dealers Vote for Union by
Nearly 3-1 Margin, 380-128, Despite Bitter Anti-Union
Campaign by Casino
“We’re very
proud of these dealers,” said TWU International
President James C. Little. “We look forward to working
with management in a positive manner to get them a
contract they can be proud of. This vote shows that
these professional casino workers don’t want to gamble
with their future."
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Amtrak PEB Hearings Conclude
Hearings conducted by Presidential
Emergency Board 242 on the Amtrak
dispute drew to an end late in the
afternoon on Thursday, December 13,
2007. The hearings, which began on
Tuesday morning, provided the Board an
opportunity to hear extensive testimony
from the parties and examine volumes of
exhibits in a dispute between the
parties that has dragged on for eight
years.
Click here to read the full story |
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Statement
by Transportation Workers Union of
America International President James C.
Little on Global Organizing Summit and
Rallies Across the United States in
Support of Union Recognition Election
for 8,000 Ground Workers at Continental
Airlines
It’s outrageous that it was announced at
the Global Organizing Summit this week
that the United States ranks dead last
among developed nations in terms of the
percentage of workers represented by
unions. Outrageous -- and not
surprising.
Click here to read the full story |
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Amtrak Hearings to Be Held December
11-13
The White House, on December 3, 2007,
named the five members of the Amtrak
Presidential Emergency Board 242: Ira F.
Jaffe, Joshua M. Javits, Annette M.
Sandberg, Peter W. Tredick who has been
designated Chair, and Helen M. Witt.
The PEB hearings will take place
December 11-13 in Washington, DC. TWU
will be submitting testimony at the
hearings.
The Board must report to President Bush
with non-binding recommendations for
settlement by December 30, unless the
PEB requests a time limit extension
(usually for another 30 days) as has
happened in the past. When the report
is issued, the parties then will observe
an additional 30-day cooling off period
to review the PEB report. During this
time, unless agreement is reached, the
status quo must be maintained—management
cannot impose unilateral changes or lock
out workers and union members cannot
strike.
The unions covered by this PEB are TWU,
IAM, IBEW, the Signalmen, TCU and ARASA,
Firemen and Oilers (SEIU), and the Train
Dispatchers.
Click Here for Bush’s PEB Executive
Order
STAY IN TOUCH
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Holiday Travel Tips
Brought to you in cooperation with
Transport Workers Union Local 556 -
Southwest Flight Attendants presents a
short video on Holiday Travel Tips.
Click here to view the video |
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 VETERANS
DAY 2007
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Today we pause to remember those who
were called upon to put their lives on
the line for their country. We think of
those who died in the service of the
nation. Let us remember not only those
who died, but those who lived; for while
the giving of one's life is, as Abraham
Lincoln said, "the last full measure of
devotion," those who came home from the
wars also deserve not merely the
grateful thanks but also the salute of
their fellow countrymen.
Click here to read the full message |
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Transport Workers Union Organizing Dealers at Caesars Palace
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Transport Workers Union of America says it is holding a drive to unionize about 600 dealers at Caesars Palace hotel-casino. Organizer Steve Roberts says an overwhelming majority of the dealers at the property owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. have signed union authorization cards. The union submitted a petition to the National Labor Relations Board on Monday. Roberts says the union hopes to have an election by early December. The Transport Workers won an election to unionize dealers at Wynn Las Vegas in May. Roberts says the union is working to organize all dealers on the Las Vegas Strip.
Click here to read the media advisory |
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Clock Ticking At Amtrak
After Nearly 8 years, we are now on a fast track to resolve this dispute
The NMB's October 31, 2007 notice releasing us from mediation has started a clock ticking towards a series of events -- including our ability to strike as early as December 1, 2007 -- unless a voluntary agreement is reached, or a Presidential Emergency Board is established during the current 30 day cooling-off period.
STAY IN TOUCH
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TWU Rejects Proffer of Arbitration at Amtrak
News Flash: As expected, the NMB on October 31 acknowledged that mediation failed to produce a settlement and that “nonviolent self-help” would be available to the parties beginning on December 1. However, President Bush is likely to appoint a Presidential Emergency Board before that date. Stay tuned for more details.
International President James C. Little has rejected the National Mediation Board’s formal proffer of arbitration in the ongoing contract dispute between TWU and Amtrak covering Carmen, Helpers and Coach Cleaners. Little’s decision, made in consultation with the TWU Railroad Division leadership, starts the clock ticking toward a possible Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), and, in the absence of a satisfactory voluntary agreement, a strike.
TWU Railroad Division Director Gary Maslanka said that the union’s decision to reject arbitration is an important step toward concluding a contract marathon that has dragged out for nearly 8 years. “Finally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Maslanka. “There’s still much work to be done, but I know that the membership will stand behind us 100 percent in this final phase of the bargaining process.”
TWU jointly represents Carmen, Helpers and Coach Cleaners at Amtrak with the Transportation Communications International Union as part of the Joint Council of Carmen.
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CONTINENTAL AIRLINES GROUND WORKERS FILE FOR UNION ELECTION
Thousands of Ramp Workers Seek a Place at the Bargaining Table in the Event of Merger and for Immediate Help with Falling Wages and Rising Health Care Costs
HOUSTON – The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) announced today that it has filed union authorization cards with the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) on behalf of nearly 8,000 employees at Continental who work in fleet services performing functions such as loading baggage, handling freight and de-icing aircraft. “A binding contract seems to work for other Continental work groups and our CEO,” said Jerome Pelitera a Customer Service Agent in Austin, Texas. “If it works for virtually everyone else in the company, it can work for us.”
Click here to read the full story |
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TWU Surveys London Transportation Security Systems
Tour by Little, Toussaint, Brooks Will Focus on Implications for New York’s MTA, Philadelphia’s SEPTA
NEW YORK – Leaders of the Transport Workers Union next week get an up-close look at the new security measures implemented by the London transit system in the wake of the 2005 subway bombings that killed 52 people. TWU International President James Little, will lead a delegation that includes Roger Toussaint, president of Local 100 in New York and Jeff Brooks, president of Local 234 in Philadelphia also International Ex VP, Harry Lombardo and International Transit Director Hubert Snead.
Click here to read the full story |
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House FAA Bill Makes Significant Strides
to Improve Safety, Working Conditions
for Aviation Employees
I want to personally thank all of my TWU International staff, and the locals who helped make this a reality, and worked closely with the TTD. Especially our legislative and political staff including Roger Tauss, Portia White and all of the interns who assisted. However, this is only step one and we will indeed have to work even harder for Senate passage.
Fraternally,
James C. Little
Click here to read the full story |
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Transportation Labor Applauds Progress on Foreign Aircraft Repair Safety
Drug and Alcohol Testing and Routine Inspections Would Be Required at Foreign Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Transportation unions praise the passage of Rep. Ted Poe's (R-TX) amendment to the FAA bill that requires drug and alcohol testing for mechanics at foreign aircraft repair stations who work on U.S. aircraft.
Click here to read the full story |
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Big TWU Gains In FAA Reauthorization
Congratulations! A major blow to the outsourcing of airline maintenance work overseas and OSHA protection for flight attendants headline an FAA Reauthorization Bill (H.R. 2881) that places workers first for the first time in over a decade.
Click here to read the full story |
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Linda Chavez-Thompson Announces Retirement
Letter from John J. Sweeney regarding Linda Chavez-Thompson retirement announcement.
Click here to read the letter |
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 New York-Based Union Looks South
Transport Workers Union Endorses Senator John Edwards
Union that represents public transportation, airline and railroad workers endorses John Edwards as the Democratic Nominee for President
NEW YORK -- The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), “the union that moves America,” announced today that it is endorsing Sen. John Edwards for President of the United States and the union will now work to move its members in New York and across the nation to support the Edwards candidacy.
Click here to read the full story
Click here to view the video |
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TWU Recommends Ratification of Freight Rail Agreement
International Vice President and Railroad Division Director Gary Maslanka is recommending ratification of the tentative contract covering TWU members employed by the Freight Carriers.TWU, along with its labor coalition of IAM, IBEW and TCU, reached the accord on July 17, 2007. It covers 36,000 members on more than thirty railroads, including Burlington Northern Santa Fe, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific.
The package includes substantial wage increases, as well as a new approach to health care cost sharing that will limit the burden on the workers.
The contract is the result of two and one-half years of extremely difficult negotiations which included a major battle – that the unions won – to maintain current work rules.
Click here to read Vice President Maslanka’s letter to the membership, and a comprehensive outline of the tentative accord.
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TWU
Rail Division Hits Amtrak Testimony That
Employees ‘Are in Excellent Shape’
Incensed by
recent pay increases for Amtrak
management but no contract for workers,
TWU Railroad Division Director Gary
Maslanka took exception to Congressional
testimony June 11 by Board Chairman
David M. Laney to the effect that Amtrak
employees “are in excellent shape.”
“Just days
after Amtrak management announced more
management rewards, Amtrak’s Board
Chairman has the audacity to tell
Congress that Amtrak workers are in
excellent shape,” Maslanka said.
“Clearly, after seven-and-one-half years
with no general wage increase, Amtrak
workers – the people who actually keep
the trains rolling – are not in
excellent shape.”
Click here to read the full story |
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 Time to Apply for 2008 - Washington Internships
Although this year’s TWU Legislative & Political Department internships are still in full swing, now is the time to apply for the “Class of 2008.” So many qualified member-activists applied for 2007 that the program was expanded from three to six slots. The exact number of interns for 2008 will be determined later based on number of applicants and an evaluation of the program’s first year.
The internships are an excellent opportunity for members who have been active in politics to gain valuable training as union lobbyists. Successful candidates will work directly with Political & Legislative Director Roger Tauss and Legislative Representative Portia Reddick White. (A story about the first two interns appears in the May issue of the TWU Express.)
Applications can be downloaded here and mailed to the TWU office at 10 G Street NE, Suite 420, Washington, D.C. 20002 or faxed to 202-638-6102. Applications will be reviewed by the directors of the Air Transport, Transit and Rail Divisions in conjunction with the Political and Legislative Department.
Applications must be submitted no later than October 15, 2007.
A successful candidate must be a member in good standing of his or her Local Union – and include a letter of recommendation from the Local President. Previous activism in the local, as well as strong oral and written communication skills and a keen interest in politics are a must.
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ATD Working Women's Meeting set for August 21-23 in Tulsa, OK.
Meeting and hotel information has been finalized for the August 2007 gathering of the Transport Workers Union ATD Working Womens Committee. The three (3) day meeting is scheduled for August 21 thru August 23, 2007 (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are kindly being hosted at the invitation of TWU Local 514.
Click here for more information |
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TWU Launches “Online Picket Line” Against Corporate Greed at American Airlines
Union circulates online petition, purchases Web-based advertisements and blasts email to hundreds of thousands of air travelers, shareholders, union activists and other citizens to draw attention to inequity of AA executives splitting nearly $200 million stock windfall while employee “partners” get nothing.
Union also to join lobbying effort for Congressional limits on executive compensation.
Click here to read the release |
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The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
Statement by Transportation Workers
Union of America President James C.
Little
Here are a couple ideas to consider: Let’s bar left- handed people from employment. Maybe we can legislate against redheads. Sound absurd? These ideas make about as much sense as laws currently on the books in 33 states that allow gay, lesbian and bisexual workers to be fired because of who they are rather than their performance on the job or laws in 44 states that allow employers to fire transgender workers in a similar fashion.
Click here to read the release |
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Partnership Between TWU and American
Airlines and its Importance to
Shareholders
Statement by Transportation Workers
Union of America President James C.
Little
Relationships between workers and
management at American Airlines have
often been adversarial. However, in the
past four years, in the words of
American’s CEO Gerald Arpey, "we pulled
together." Since 2003, ground workers
represented by TWU have worked as a
partner to save the company money,
create new revenue and keep American off
the list of bankrupt airlines. This new
spirit of cooperation and the associated
gains have indisputably contributed to
the dramatic rise in the airline’s share
value.
Click here to read the full story |
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TWU to Present Petition to AA Board Members at 5/16 Shareholders Meeting Saying that Rewarding Partnership Should be the “American Way”
In the past four weeks nearly 17,000 shareholders, frequent travelers and airline workers have signed a petition and made comments about AA corporate policies and more than 500,000 protest emails have been sent to company executives.
Click here to read the release posted in the Airline Division section
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Labor College to Sponsor Railroad Hazmat Training
The National Labor College in Silver Spring, MD will host three Rail Workers Hazardous Materials training programs in 2007 on the following dates.
August 5-10, 2007
September 16-21, 2007
October 28-November 2, 2007
Railroad workers from 7 rail unions, including TWU, are eligible to take the course. Click here for more.
Click here for more information... |
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 Wynn DEALERS Local 721
Stay Informed - Have a voice in your future. Share TWU information with your fellow workers. Remember workers rights are human rights! VOTE LOUD! Don’t believe the spin from Wynn! He wants more than your tips, he wants to shut down your voice at work!
VOTE YES for TWU!
Click here for more information...
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What's At Stake?
Tell Your Representative to Co-Sponsor H.R. 1257, the Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act
TWU supports HR 1257 (the Executive Compensation Act), which would give shareholders a real say in preventing public companies from lavishing executives and managers with obscene bonuses, as just occurred at American Airlines.
The bill would require that public companies submit executive pay plans to a nonbinding shareholder vote each year.
E—mail your representative. Tell them to become a sponsor of the bill.
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Testimony of James C. Little
Before the subcommittee on aviation of the committee on
transportation and infrastructure hearing on FAA
oversight of outsourced air carrier maintenance:
The Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO (TWU) on
behalf of its 130,000 members in the transportation
industry, including the airline mechanics at American
Airlines, and American Eagle, appreciates the
opportunity to appear before this Committee. I
particularly want to commend the Committee for turning
the spotlight on what has been a long-ignored source of
danger to U.S. airline passengers – the double standard
applied to aircraft maintenance at outsourced stations
as opposed to that performed at the carriers themselves.
Click here to read the full
written testimony |
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Hearing on rail and mass transit
security
Written testimony submitted by
James C. Little International President of the Transport
Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO before the United
States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland
Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and
Infrastructure Protection.
Click here to read the full
written testimony
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Share And Share Alike - Transport Workers Union To
Negotiate New Contract With American Airlines
DALLAS –
American Airlines’ largest union, the Transport Workers
Union of America, representing more than 27,000 ground
workers including Aircraft Maintenance Technicians
(mechanics), today announced that it is reopening
contract negotiations with the nation’s largest
airline. Negotiations are expected to begin in
November.
Click here to read the full story
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