United Negotiations–Week 13
Rich Delaney, June 30, 2009
We approached this past week of United negotiations as a significant
timeframe. Knowing we are taking the next 2 weeks away from direct talks
in United negotiations, both sides saw the week as an opportunity to
revisit and finalize some of the outstanding topics that have been
talked about over the last 3 months.
What does each proposal cost in united negotiations?
United negotiations began the week began with a meeting between the
company’s finance group and economists from the IAM’s Strategic
Resources Dept. As we have noted before, this meeting was an important
step in preparing for the future United negotiations that deal
exclusively with money. The purpose of the meeting was to get a common
understanding of what elements would be used to cost our proposals. This
in no way is going to stop or limit the expected disagreements over the
need or desire to make changes in our contract during United
negotiations, but it should reduce the arguments over what the cost
really is.
When we returned to the table at United negotiations, we were then able
to re-focus on the issues that had already been introduced. This was a
necessary review that allowed us to make sure that no proposal,
significant or small, has been forgotten. It also gave both sides in
United negotiations the chance to review their positions and make
movement towards settlement. This is really the essence of negotiations
and was most evident this week. Proposals concerning the establishing
and use of seniority, job descriptions, vacation flexibility, and sick
time usage all were discussed. While not every issue was completely
resolved, both sides in United negotiations can clearly see what it will
take to settle them. Some proposals, when fully discussed, are seen as
being connected with other issues that have not been brought to the
table yet and therefore could not be resolved this week.
United negotiations switching to preparation; return to direct talks in
two weeks.
During the next 2 weeks our Negotiating Team will be researching and
preparing presentations and responses to the newer proposals that were
also introduced this week. When we return to United negotiations in
mid-July we expect to speed up the introduction of new proposals
concerning Articles of the contract that have not been talked about to
this point and we want to be completely prepared to have serious
discussions that will lead to agreement on the serious issues still out
there. |
