October 2003 - International Brotherhood of Teamsters
October 2003 - International Brotherhood of Teamsters October 2003 - International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Supplemental and Cargo Carriers Find Niche Teamster Representation of Supplemental and Cargo Carriers Gaining Ground By Don Treichler Teamster-represented carriers are divided between major passenger carriers, fractional jets, regional carriers, and supplemental and cargo carriers. The latter category invariably operates under supplemental rules. Several of our represented groups fall into this category. Among these supplementals are ABX Air, Air Transport International, Arrow Air, Centurion Air Cargo, Kalitta Air, UPS, USA 3000, World Airways, and Zantop. Members represented at these carriers vary from pilots and flight engineers, to mechanics, flight attendants and dispatchers. The ABX Air crewmembers engage in the business of small package carriage. Because of the DHL/Airborne merger and the intended spin off of the air carrier, the combined operation will become the third largest domestic package carrier and a sizeable force worldwide in competition with FedEx and UPS. It operates a sizeable sort center in Wilmington, Ohio out of its privately owned airfield. UPS, another Teamster-represented cargo carrier, is one of the two largest small parcel carriers. Air Transport International (ATI) transports both passengers and cargo. Its DC-8 fleet is operated worldwide. Arrow Air also operates DC-8’s in addition to L-1011’s. Its principal focus, however, is on South American cargo operations and it also operates a sort center in Miami that targets the fresh cut flower market. Centurion Air Cargo also competes in the South American cargo market. Kalitta Air carries cargo worldwide. Zantop carries cargo in the mid-American domestic market. USA 3000 organized in 2002 and currently is negotiating its first collective bargaining agreement. It operates charter and scheduled flights domestically and internationally. These supplemental carriers constitute a fundamental component of the U.S. air transportation system. Several of these carriers participate in the U.S. Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program—some on a year-round basis and others when called during times of national emergency. Several of these carriers participated in the recent Middle East conflict in support of our armed forces. World Airways, among others, continue such support today. Others continue such support today. These carriers seek their particular industry niches that provide them growth opportunity in the marketplace. Such niches vary from passenger charters to small market scheduled passenger operations to small parcel cargo to large lift cargo. Not unlike the major air carriers, supplementals and cargo carriers have been under stress from the effects of September 11, a cargo recession, the loss of market return following recent conflicts, and events such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Despite such challenges, these carriers have continued to function, often with less adverse effect than that experienced by the major air carriers. Future success for these carriers and our members will depend on their ability to identify and expand dependable market niches that allow them to prosper and grow. Over the years, the Teamsters have negotiated industry-leading contracts for these transportation sectors. Now, the function of elected employees and the Union, on behalf of members, is to avoid erosion of the improvements already negotiated while seeking language to improve future workplace and family security.
Safety and Health Airlines Reject Security Training for Crewmembers Much-Needed Training Devalued by Airlines By Nancy Garcia, International Representative Flight attendants and flight deck crew don’t have an option when it comes to dealing with an emergency situation onboard an aircraft, whether it be fighting a fire in the cabin, aborting a takeoff, opening an emergency exit or operating a defibrillator to save a passenger having a heart attack. Nor do they have the choice of opting out of emergency training, including hands-on or simulator training. The airlines, however, want flight attendants and pilots to be able to opt out of another type of training that will protect passengers and their own safety—crew security training. They have apparently forgotten all about September 11 and why they just received $2.9 billion from the federal government for security costs. Airlines have been lobbying Congress to make crew security training voluntary. They also want it to be unpaid and taken on the crewmembers own time. They have apparently forgotten all about September 11 and why they just received $2.9 billion from the federal government for security costs. With pilots locked behind the reinforced door and flight attendants left alone in the cabin to respond to a threat, crews need training to coordinate an appropriate response and flight attendants need additional training to defend themselves and their passengers. In mid-June, air carriers and the Air Transport Association (a trade organization made up of about 30 airlines) were successful in having an amendment attached to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act in the House that would weaken previously legislated security training requirements. This amendment was not included in the companion Senate Bill, therefore a Congressional Conference Committee met in July to work out compromise language. Unfortunately, the Conference Committee was unable to work out a compromise. Democrats on the Committee thought they would be negotiating a bipartisan report to reauthorize aviation programs, but when they got to the conference meeting, they found that Republicans purposely scheduled it at a time to prevent little or no debate on a report that bore little resemblance to either the House or Senate bills on several important provisions. The Democrats refused to sign the Conference Report, but it will, nonetheless, go to the floors of both the Senate and the House for a vote. The Conference Report guts the mandatory cabin crew security training requirements, making the training voluntary—all at a time when U.S. intelligence agencies are warning of plans by the al Qaeda terrorist network to hijack more U.S. planes. The conference report further jeopardizes aviation safety by allowing the privatization of our air traffic control system. It also grants foreign cargo carriers a special interest exemption to evade cabotage laws by allowing point-to-point domestic service between Anchorage, Alaska and the lower 48 states. The Airline Division and the IBT Government Affairs Department are working diligently to defeat the Conference Report and to ensure that security training remains mandatory and that it includes the program elements necessary to prepare all crewmembers to respond to any level of threat on an aircraft. Their lives, and the lives of their passengers may depend on it. We will not let the air carriers and our legislators forget 9/11 and the lives of our fellow airline employees lost that day. 8 Teamsters Airline Journal November 2003
- Page 1 and 2: Victory at ABX World Airways and AB
- Page 3 and 4: Joining Forces A Message from Teams
- Page 5 and 6: And they’re still at it. Recently
- Page 7 and 8: pilot. “I believe the support of
- Page 9: help in securing government funding
Supplemental and Cargo Carriers Find Niche<br />
Teamster Representation <strong>of</strong> Supplemental and Cargo Carriers<br />
Gaining Ground<br />
By Don Treichler<br />
Teamster-represented carriers are divided between major<br />
passenger carriers, fractional jets, regional carriers, and<br />
supplemental and cargo carriers. The latter category<br />
invariably operates under supplemental rules. Several <strong>of</strong><br />
our represented groups fall into this category. Among<br />
these supplementals are ABX Air, Air Transport<br />
<strong>International</strong>, Arrow Air, Centurion Air Cargo, Kalitta Air,<br />
UPS, USA 3000, World Airways, and Zantop. Members<br />
represented at these carriers vary from pilots and flight<br />
engineers, to mechanics, flight attendants and dispatchers.<br />
The ABX Air crewmembers engage in the business <strong>of</strong><br />
small package carriage. Because <strong>of</strong> the DHL/Airborne<br />
merger and the intended spin <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> the air carrier, the<br />
combined operation will become the third largest domestic<br />
package carrier and a sizeable force worldwide in competition<br />
with FedEx and UPS. It operates a sizeable sort center<br />
in Wilmington, Ohio out <strong>of</strong> its privately owned airfield.<br />
UPS, another Teamster-represented cargo carrier, is one <strong>of</strong><br />
the two largest small parcel carriers.<br />
Air Transport <strong>International</strong> (ATI) transports both passengers<br />
and cargo. Its DC-8 fleet is operated worldwide.<br />
Arrow Air also operates DC-8’s in addition to L-1011’s. Its<br />
principal focus, however, is on South American cargo<br />
operations and it also operates a sort center in Miami that<br />
targets the fresh cut flower market. Centurion Air Cargo<br />
also competes in the South American cargo market. Kalitta<br />
Air carries cargo worldwide. Zantop carries cargo in the<br />
mid-American domestic market.<br />
USA 3000 organized in 2002 and currently is negotiating<br />
its first collective bargaining agreement. It operates<br />
charter and scheduled flights domestically and internationally.<br />
These supplemental carriers constitute a fundamental<br />
component <strong>of</strong> the U.S. air transportation system. Several<br />
<strong>of</strong> these carriers participate in the U.S. Civil Reserve Air<br />
Fleet (CRAF) program—some on a year-round basis and<br />
others when called during times <strong>of</strong> national emergency.<br />
Several <strong>of</strong> these carriers participated in the recent Middle<br />
East conflict in support <strong>of</strong> our armed forces. World<br />
Airways, among others, continue such support today.<br />
Others continue such support today. These carriers seek<br />
their particular industry<br />
niches that provide<br />
them growth opportunity<br />
in the marketplace.<br />
Such niches vary from<br />
passenger charters to<br />
small market scheduled<br />
passenger operations<br />
to small parcel cargo to<br />
large lift cargo.<br />
Not unlike the major<br />
air carriers, supplementals<br />
and cargo carriers<br />
have been under stress<br />
from the effects <strong>of</strong><br />
September 11, a cargo<br />
recession, the loss <strong>of</strong><br />
market return following recent conflicts, and events such<br />
as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Despite<br />
such challenges, these carriers have continued to function,<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten with less adverse effect than that experienced<br />
by the major air carriers. Future success for these carriers<br />
and our members will depend on their ability to identify<br />
and expand dependable market niches that allow them to<br />
prosper and grow.<br />
Over the years, the <strong>Teamsters</strong> have negotiated industry-leading<br />
contracts for these transportation sectors. Now,<br />
the function <strong>of</strong> elected employees and the Union, on<br />
behalf <strong>of</strong> members, is to avoid erosion <strong>of</strong> the improvements<br />
already negotiated while seeking language to<br />
improve future workplace and family security.
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