Airlines’ labor relations threaten disruption

Bill Knight column for 7-15, 16 or 17, 2019  

The skies might be friendly for U.S. airlines, but the industry’s labor relations aren’t.

United Airlines launched its “Fly the friendly skies” campaign 54 years ago, dropped it in 1996, then in 2013 revived the slogan.

If only the company would revive friendliness with its labor force.

But United’s not alone in boosting profits at the expense of workers.

            United, American and Delta airlines all face 21,000 members of the Unite Here, Teamsters, and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store unions preparing to strike. Every day, the workers provide cooked meals to thousands of passengers through contracts with airline catering divisions or subcontractors such as Gate Gourmet.

“The airline industry is making record profits, on the backs of deeply exploited kitchen workers who are forced to choose between paying their bills, relying on government assistance or even forfeiting medical care even while working overtime,” said says Unite Here President D Taylor. “We refuse to allow that to continue.”

Negotiations are taking place in 15 hub cities, from Seattle/Tacoma to Miami.

Weeks ago, Delta and American subcontractor airline Eulen America had hundreds of members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) stage a one-day work stoppage protesting alleged wage theft, bans on sick leave despite state laws, and company threats against pro-union workers. The cabin cleaners, baggage handlers and wheelchair attendants walked out in New York, Washington, D.C., For Lauderdale and Miami.

“Poor working conditions, intimidation, harassment, bullying and other anti-worker tactics have no place in our nation’s airports,” SEIU said.

American itself is sustaining a significant drop in its stock prices that some blame on tensions between corporate management and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represent about 10,000 aircraft mechanics there.

American’s share prices have dropped 24.9 percent since last Sept. 21, when a share sold for $43.88. As of last Wednesday, the price was $32.94.

“As long as labor issues continue to cause problems,” commented investment adviser Ken Trester, “I think the stock will keep falling.”

Bargaining involving a federal mediator stalled in April, when pay, health-care benefits and job security became the holdups, along with American’s demand to offshore mechanics’ work to South America.

“CEO Doug Parker and president Robert Isom have abandoned the bargaining table and instead have chosen a path which may lead to a lawful strike,” said TWU president John Samuelsen and IAM head Bob Martinez in a joint statement.

Airline workers are governed not by the National Labor Relations Act, but the Railway Labor Act, so they cannot strike unless a mediator declares an “impasse” in bargaining.

The TWU has demonstrated strength, as pilot-simulator instructors at Envoy Air last month unanimously voted to join the union, following successful TWU affiliations by JetBlue flight attendants and Spirit Airlines customer-service agents.

As for American, the corporation filed suit weeks ago against the TWU and IAM, accusing them of conducting work slowdowns to gain leverage in contract talks.

Samuelsen denied it, saying, “American Airlines is trying to punish us for doing exactly what we are supposed to do: ensure that there are safe aircraft in the air.”

Southwest Airlines similarly sued its mechanics, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, claiming it had to cancel 62 flights a day in February, when 14 was the typical number. However, after the union counter-sued over defamation – and six years of negotiations – the issue was settled along with a new contract including a 20-percent pay raise.

Meanwhile, Delta demonstrated how some airline executives don’t appreciate workers’ lives, distributing anti-union posters such as one saying, “A new video game system with the latest hits sounds like fun. Put your money towards that instead of paying dues to the union.”

Of course, the employer didn’t mention that union members earn 13.6 percent more than comparable non-union workers; they’re more likely to have employer-sponsored health coverage, plus retirement plans, than non-union workers; and they have written agreements on wages, hours and working conditions.

“Unions are the only reason we have any protections at work or any ability to claim good jobs, and management doesn’t like that,” said Sara Nelson, head of the industry’s influential Association of Flight Attendants.

Anti-worker execs need to take off before they cause a crash.