Source: ourcontract.org

November 19, 2015

The JNC has completed 2 days of mediation with the Company in Dallas.  We spent most of the session discussing our response to their proposals on Minimum Pay & Credit, Hours of Service, Legalities, Scheduling and Reserve. We also discussed Trainings & General Meetings, Personnel Files, Sick Leave and the Commuter Program.

After three mediation sessions with the Company, we are disappointed to report there has been no noticeable change in how management is approaching negotiations with its Flight Attendants.

We have reported to you for many months that the JNC's job has been to take three Contracts and merge them into one Joint Contract.  This is not about choosing one Contract over another, nor is it about cherry picking the best of the best out of each Agreement.  Based on your feedback, we are working to complete the merger for Flight Attendants and United Airlines. 

Instead of looking to utilize Contract provisions that each subsidiary airline have today and blending them into the new Contract, the Company continues to try and fix everything they perceive as a problem for them today with proposals to create provisions that aren't currently in anyone's Contract.  It is hard enough to fit the pieces of distinctly different Contracts together, but being continually confronted with proposals that "reinvent the wheel" do not make negotiations proceed any quicker; in fact it slows us down. 

Flight Attendants did not choose to merge these airlines, management did.  It is not the Flight Attendants' fault that Contract provisions and practices at one carrier don't match up evenly with the others.  We are making the hard decisions needed to bring the pieces together, and have crafted proposals that reflect this work.  The Company, on the other hand, presents us with proposals and positions that clearly reduce or eliminate benefits and working conditions from one subsidiary or another as a means to "harmonize" all of us around the lowest common denominator. The JNC understands a Joint Contract will require all of us to work differently than we do today.  That is the nature of merging airlines.  However we don't understand, nor do we accept, the notion that management's decision to pursue this merger was a green light for concessionary bargaining.

The lack of meaningful progress at the bargaining table comes back to the fundamental difference between United management's view of negotiations and ours.  They have repeatedly told us their view of the world is one where having an industry leading Contract does not allow us to maintain the provisions and protections we have today, regardless of which Contract we work under.  United management believes we must pay for this new Contract by giving things up.  The JNC rejects that view and we know you do to.

Let's Stop, Drop and Review:

• United's 1st quarter profit was $525 million
• United's 2nd quarter profit was $1.2 billion
• United's 3rd quarter profit was $1.7 billion

(That's nearly $3.5 BILLION and the year's not over)

• United is back in negotiations with ALPA to extend their Contract
• United is about to begin negotiations with the IAM on a second Contract

(a YEAR early)

• United began negotiations with its Flight Attendants on December 4, 2013

When Oscar Munoz became the new CEO in September he promised to focus on improving labor relations at United Airlines.  (We acknowledge the unfortunate circumstances that have caused Oscar to delay his full participation in the Company's efforts, and we wish him continued steady progress on his recovery and look forward to his return.) Our acting CEO Brett Hart has reminded all of us that Oscar's agenda is clear and that the leadership team will continue to implement his desired changes.  To underscore that commitment, two of United's senior executives recently made statements in conjunction with the Company's announcement about the early opening of talks with the IAM.

"This is one of several positive steps we've taken recently to demonstrate our firm commitment to our people."  Mike Bonds, Exec. VP of Human Resources & Labor Relations

"Our employees have told us that timely contracts and job protections are important to them..." Greg Hart, Exec. VP and COO, said

Have these executives been following negotiations with the Flight Attendants? The JNC has not seen any positive steps demonstrating a firm commitment, and we certainly haven't seen any evidence that Labor Relations or Inflight Service understand the importance of timely contracts or job protections. Are we working at the same airline?

United has proudly announced that it has "heard" our passengers and they've chosen a new coffee.  It's long past time that United Airlines heard its Flight Attendants.  Our message has been the same for 3 years now.  We want a Contract that demonstrates its commitment to, and acknowledges the provisions and protections for, the women and men who serve the coffee.  If this airline is going to achieve its 2015 goal of Creating a Flyer Friendly Experience, Labor Relations and Inflight Service need to realize that's not remotely possible without us.