Trustee Update : 02/11/2020

TRUSTEE UPDATE                                                  February 11, 2020

 

Dear Fellow Crewmembers:

 

In this update we will touch on the following topics:

 

            *          China Flying – Security Committee

            *          Safety Committee NTSB Submittal GTI3591

            *          Negotiating update

            *          Court proceedings regarding a forced arbitrated CBA

            *          Office opening update

            *          Scheduling and Fatigue monthly meetings at Atlas HQ

           

Let me start with what is on many of your minds.  Regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, there has been an ongoing positive dialogue between myself and Jeff Carlson.  To date the company has complied with all of our requests and has agreed on the course of action to best protect our crewmembers.  This has been a new and refreshing approach by the company.  The Local 2750 Security Committee under committee Chair Captain Kurt Hayes has worked diligently to get the ExCo and myself up to date information and to press for the protection our crewmembers need as we have been forwarding our requests to the company.  The following has been agreed to so far:

 

·      Any crewmember who does not want to go to or through China will not be made to do so.

·      Operations have been greatly cutback.

·      Masks and other safety equipment are being stocked at 9 stocking positions.  Crewmembers who go to China will not be required to go unless the proper masks, wipes, etc. are onboard.

·      Minimal personnel allowed to interact with our crews.  They are specially screened and checked daily.

·      Catering is being carefully screened and in some cases US catering may be onboarded.

·      Upper decks will be sanitized up to the pilot seats as there is a worry that ground personnel might damage flight instruments. 

·      Crews should make sure their flying space is sanitized.  Traditional Handy wipes are not adequate, they must be alcohol wipes.

·      Along with many other items.

 

The company intends to start increasing service as precautionary measures are put in place.   Hong Kong is not deemed at his time to be part of the threat area, however our union is monitoring this closely.  The company informs us they are looking at opening operations into CGO, HGH, CKG and SZX.   DLC was also proposed, but the safety and security issues cannot be established yet, so that is off the list for now.

 

Measures being looked at include:  Security, Hotels and Transportation, Performance and Maintenance Readiness.

 

In response to this up-tick in operations into China, our union will be submitting an agreement to the company to formalize the process and procedures for continued operations during this very serious outbreak and epidemic.  We will keep you updated. 

 

Last Friday after nearly a years-worth of tireless work and having sequestered themselves for most of the month of January in a hotel near CVG, the Local 2750 Accident Investigation Group and our consultants at Condon & Forsyth made a formal submittal to the NTSB as to the probable causes and contributing factors which led to the tragic crash of GTI3591 nearly 1 year ago.  The NTSB will consider this submittal in their final report.  FO John Jester, our Chief Accident Investigator and his team, have shown unbelievable dedication toward getting to the true results of this most tragic event in the history of Atlas Air.  We are all grateful for their expertise and comprehensive review of this investigation as it has been impressive.  I also want to remind everyone that a memorial service will be help at Anahuac, Texas, commemorating the tragic day one year ago when we lost 2 of our crewmembers and a colleague from Mesa who was in the jumpseat.  If you are able to attend, please do so in uniform, details on the event will be forthcoming in addition to a get together the night before.

 

As far as CBA negotiations go, progress continues to be slow.  The financial consultants from our union met with the company financial managers.  I would say at this point that there are many questions to be resolved before a true and accurate financial picture can be developed. The next negotiations session is the last week in March in Washington, DC. An additional session has been put on the calendar for the week of April 13th, location is TBD.

 

The next phase of the court battles with this company bent on jamming a bankruptcy style arbitrated settlement down our collective throats took place this Friday.  Local 2750’s new legal team under Chief Counsel Mr. Bill Wilder, Esq. from the law firm of Baptiste & Wilder, took center stage and filed a submission in OPPOSITION IN PART TO PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT.  The company has until Friday of this week to respond to the court.  From that point it will again be up to the District Court to decide.

After that an appeal is the next option.  Let me reassure all of you who get in touch with me that I have heard you and we will take all legal steps to protect our crew members from what we believe to be an unfair result.  We will keep you advised.

 

I am happy to report that Local 2750’s office opened on February 3rd and will be open Monday through Friday from 9am until 5 pm.  Until we hire permanent office staff, there may be short periods when the office is closed during regular business hours.  Check the website for details or call an ExCo member.

 

The Scheduling and Fatigue committees continue to work on improving lines of flying and mitigating fatigue.  Every month both committees were traveling to HQ in Purchase, NY to do this work.  Recently ExCo Vice Chairman Captain Yngve Paulsen who is in charge of the Fatigue Committee and ExCo Member consolidated the team that goes to New York as we constantly strive to operate more efficiently.

 

In addition, the entire Scheduling Committee met at our new offices in Cincinnati and were able to map out their plan for the rest of the year an educate and coordinate new members.

 

There are also many other committees operating better and better every day, and I will be providing updates you going forward.

 

I realize this was a very long message, but a lot is going on.  We will be having a crew call on Wednesday February 19 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

Tune in to get your questions answered.

 

“ALL-IN”

 

Bob Kirchner

Trustee Local 2750