TA3 Status - Passed
May 29, 2007, 10:12 am
#1
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TA3 Status - Passed
I spoke with an NW FA last night regarding the status of TA3. He indicated that the voting on TA3 will be completed today (29 May).
As an aside, he mentioned to me that he would be very surprised if the TA3 is voted up. Despite the bankruptcy claim carrot, he thought that TA3 would be voted down.
P.S. Excellent service in First Class class. No evidence of any hard feelings taken out on customer service!
As an aside, he mentioned to me that he would be very surprised if the TA3 is voted up. Despite the bankruptcy claim carrot, he thought that TA3 would be voted down.
P.S. Excellent service in First Class class. No evidence of any hard feelings taken out on customer service!
Last edited by hazelrah; May 29, 2007 at 10:15 am Reason: Added comment
May 29, 2007, 10:14 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Francisco, CA
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What's a "TA3"?
May 29, 2007, 10:16 am
#3
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May 29, 2007, 10:19 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
It stands for "Tentative Agreement #3". The flight attendant's Master Executive Council and NWA have tentatively agreed upon three new contracts since the flight attendants began talking strike. The last two agreements were rejected by the union. The third/current agreement is up for voting right now. Apparently the voting period concludes today.
May 29, 2007, 10:28 am
#5
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Voting ends at 1:30 pm EDT today. Should find out the results later today.
May 29, 2007, 10:30 am
#6
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It stands for "Tentative Agreement #3". The flight attendant's Master Executive Council and NWA have tentatively agreed upon three new contracts since the flight attendants began talking strike. The last two agreements were rejected by the union. The third/current agreement is up for voting right now. Apparently the voting period concludes today.
May 29, 2007, 10:40 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
Personally, I doubt it will since they rejected TA1/TA2 so overwhelmingly. I think they really want to strike. But, that's only one layman's opinion.
May 29, 2007, 11:54 am
#8
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No clue on the mood out there except for a few no's. They almost have to vote for it in a way. Third negotiated agreement (second for this union) turned down does not give the negotiating team/union a whole of support. Also, the loss $$$ on their claim against NW is a big incentive. A net result will be the loss of more senior FAs.
May 29, 2007, 12:44 pm
#9
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A potential strike would be years away, so no worries on that front.
May 29, 2007, 12:49 pm
#10
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May 29, 2007, 1:05 pm
#11
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As a general rule, I tend to thoroughly discount the rumors and what-not often spread by rank-and file airline employees on labor contract and potential strike issues. I took a peek at the NW AFA website Q&A on TA3 and saw the following:
"If the New Tentative Agreement is voted down, we will continue to work under the Terms and Conditions of Employment (“TCE”). The improvements contained in the new Green Book would not go into effect. The Equity Claim for $182 million would no longer be available upon exit from bankruptcy (see answer above about our technical ability to appeal), and the Early Out/Severance Program would not take effect. The Section 1113 order and the order confirming the Plan of Reorganization, both of which commit us to $195 million in annual concessions for five years and five months, would remain in place. Provisions in the labor agreements of the pilots, mechanics and other employees that give them the right to demand changes if our agreement does not meet the $195 million target would also remain in place throughout the duration of their Contracts.
The injunction that prevents us from striking will remain binding even after exit from bankruptcy; the injunction ruling is not limited to the bankruptcy. The U.S. District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals have both said we have to resume mediation and exhaust the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”) process before we would have the potential to regain the right to strike.
Without the threat of a strike we would not have the leverage to make significant improvements at the bargaining table.
Returning to mediation, the schedule for negotiating sessions is set by the National Mediation Board (“NMB”). NMB representatives have indicated they may put our talks in recess. If they decide to schedule us to meet for more negotiations, both parties would be required to negotiate in good faith but there is no legal duty to reach an agreement. In response to our formal requests to declare an impasse, proffer arbitration and release us into a 30-day cooling-off period, the NMB has twice ruled unanimously that such a proffer “is not appropriate” in this case. NMB representatives have indicated repeatedly that the Board will not release us and risk a strike, in their words “for at least two or three years, maybe longer.”
---
The plain truth is that NWA's flight attendants have the choice of either ratifying TA3 now or else likely living with the imposed terms through the end of the decade.
"If the New Tentative Agreement is voted down, we will continue to work under the Terms and Conditions of Employment (“TCE”). The improvements contained in the new Green Book would not go into effect. The Equity Claim for $182 million would no longer be available upon exit from bankruptcy (see answer above about our technical ability to appeal), and the Early Out/Severance Program would not take effect. The Section 1113 order and the order confirming the Plan of Reorganization, both of which commit us to $195 million in annual concessions for five years and five months, would remain in place. Provisions in the labor agreements of the pilots, mechanics and other employees that give them the right to demand changes if our agreement does not meet the $195 million target would also remain in place throughout the duration of their Contracts.
The injunction that prevents us from striking will remain binding even after exit from bankruptcy; the injunction ruling is not limited to the bankruptcy. The U.S. District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals have both said we have to resume mediation and exhaust the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”) process before we would have the potential to regain the right to strike.
Without the threat of a strike we would not have the leverage to make significant improvements at the bargaining table.
Returning to mediation, the schedule for negotiating sessions is set by the National Mediation Board (“NMB”). NMB representatives have indicated they may put our talks in recess. If they decide to schedule us to meet for more negotiations, both parties would be required to negotiate in good faith but there is no legal duty to reach an agreement. In response to our formal requests to declare an impasse, proffer arbitration and release us into a 30-day cooling-off period, the NMB has twice ruled unanimously that such a proffer “is not appropriate” in this case. NMB representatives have indicated repeatedly that the Board will not release us and risk a strike, in their words “for at least two or three years, maybe longer.”
---
The plain truth is that NWA's flight attendants have the choice of either ratifying TA3 now or else likely living with the imposed terms through the end of the decade.
May 29, 2007, 1:10 pm
#12
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I wouldn't say TA2 was rejected overwhelmingly. It was something like 55% to 45%. That may seem overwhelming compared to the last couple US presidential elections, but if TA3 was good enough to swing the votes of 6% more of the FAs it'd pass, since it's a simple-majority vote.
May 29, 2007, 1:21 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
Unfortunately, the negativity toward The Company will likely persist regardless of today's outcome, and that won't help improve the attitudes of the front-line service people we all meet on a daily basis. Something else needs to happen and I don't know what that is.
May 29, 2007, 1:38 pm
#14
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Unfortunately, the negativity toward The Company will likely persist regardless of today's outcome, and that won't help improve the attitudes of the front-line service people we all meet on a daily basis. Something else needs to happen and I don't know what that is.