TWU Local 556 Negotiation Update #9

We met this week with Management on March 26 -28. 

As was previously communicated, we presented Article 25 — Health and Safety to Management during our last session. Management did not have a counterproposal for us this week. The parties exchanged counterproposals on Article 13 — Uniforms. 

Unfortunately, Management was resistant to the bulk of our proposal. Our latest counterproposal maintained items important to you, such as:

• Increase to Uniform allotment for all Flight Attendants
• Ability to wear service shoes in the cabin  
• Reimbursements for uniform expenses (e.g., luggage, alterations, hosiery, shoes, and dry cleaning)
• Contractual protection of your right to wear a Union pin

Management was opposed to these items as presented by the Union. For example, the Company continues to insist on only offering uniform allotments based on a minimum TFP. This is not acceptable. A requirement to maintain a certain number of TFPs to qualify for an allotment does not benefit the workgroup. Your Negotiating Committee is standing strong against minimums, and loss of uniform allotments. 

Additionally, the ability to wear service shoes in the cabin is a no cost item that may reduce injury to Flight Attendants and resulting healthcare costs to the Company. Another no cost item proposed by the Union is the contractual protection of your right to wear a Union pin while at work. The Company’s acceptance of our proposed Union pin protection language was conditioned upon Management’s prior approval of our Union pin. As with Unions across the airline industry, the design of our pin lies with our Union, not the Company.

We also proposed a Hotel Standards article to be incorporated. The intent of this proposed article is to ensure that we, as a Union, have a voice in the selection of our hotels. We have heard your concerns regarding hotels and this proposal addresses standards for safety, quality, comfort, and location. We look forward to Management’s response. 

Our next session is scheduled for April 2-4. Both parties agreed to use that time to caucus to work internally with our respective committees.