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M1
Holloman-Whiteman-Beale
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Brothers and Sisters, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Stewards to their positions. I know they will do a fine job. I would also like to thank the outgoing Stewards for everything they have done to help our membership this past year. I have spoken with the company on numerous items have found communication to be difficult. The company has received the award fee, but is running into difficulties figuring out how to distribute the checks. It is the same old story; they can’t seem to agree on the smallest thing. We probably can’t look at getting them too soon. I believe if they continue in the same direction, the workers eagerness to work will eventually match their eagerness to share the award fee. We have experienced layoffs and we have asked the company what the future holds for our membership. They believe if they tell anyone it will change their work attitude. DynCorp gave us a listing at least a month ahead when the F-4 contract was dissolving. It did not affect the work. Please keep looking at our IAM website for new job postings. Mike Sale continues to post them. I know it is a difficult time for you and I have been out on disability, but I am just a phone call or email away. You can always contact me only if you just want to talk. I will not let you down. In Solidarity,
9/5/2007 Brothers and Sisters, I wanted to give you an update or status on the current grievances we have. As I have told you before, the two company concept is very difficult to deal with. I have concluded that the decisions which are creating many of our problems are not made here at Holloman. We have filed 20 grievances, to date, four are going to arbitration, one is pending arbitration. I will file another grievance possibly by the 10th of September for an unfair labor distribution. Reimbursements for education are at present non-existent because the criteria to get reimbursed for classes are very strict and unreasonable. Bud is working the grievance for our award fee distribution by DynCorp with a Bill Glasser. I will let you know how that is going when I hear from Bud. On a positive note, our pension is fixed, we can retire in peace. We did have a problem, but now the kinks from being with a new company are worked out. The health care issue is getting better. More doctors are coming into the network. The company will distribute uniforms, as I understand it, on time. I have not heard policy on the award fee distribution or any policy letter describing the criteria to get it. We have not sat down with the company yet to discuss job descriptions that we didn’t do in negotiations. Ira Polson and Mike Zaragoza are leaving for happier hunting grounds. We wish them all the luck for their future and their families. I will try to make a run around the
maintenance area by the end of the week of the 7th of
September. Jay Jaramillo
Brothers and Sisters, You have recently received a letter in the envelope with your paycheck from Derek Mann outlining the work reduction starting 1 October 2006. This is a reality check. We will be decreasing in number and possibly more rapid than we anticipated. I cannot stress the importance of finding other employment while still working. Talk to anyone who has been laid off and they will tell you how difficult it is when you wait till the last minute. We can always HOPE something will materialize to enhance our contract, but the chances are minimal. With three Test Group T-38s at Holloman in April 2008 and the T-38s going away at Beale, you must consider your probabilities of remaining or getting laid off of this contract. You must also consider the possibility of getting recalled, that too with an expected skeleton crew on the contract is minimal. Gaining other employment while still employed by DynCorp has a two fold advantage: (1) transition period between paychecks is minimized (2) you don’t have to settle for just anything. If a job is found with the Union pension fund incorporated in it, your retirement will continue to grow. If anyone has questions about how much money is invested in your Union pension plan, contact me and I will do the best I can to answer all of your questions. I am going to the Department of Labor and find out what job openings they have so I can post those on our Union web page. I will continue to seek employment opportunities for as many of our members as possible. Please check the "Jobs Page" here on our website often. The F-22 is not scheduled to arrive till April 2009; the government wants to have continuity between the F-117 and the F-22; the Air Force is in the process of figuring out how or where to store the stealth. I don’t have any words on how this will affect our flying schedule. We will know what the final word is on the time frame for layoffs, who will get the contract, and if our flying hours will change by the latter part of January 2007. As soon as I find out any information I will let you know. We must stick together during these hard times and help each other whenever we can. We might decrease in numbers but we can never decrease in solidarity. We have been down this road before and we will survive. In
Solidarity,
Brother and Sisters, Unfortunately,
Holloman, as well as Beale is scheduled to lose quite a number of our T-38
aircraft, because the new F-22 raptor squadron does not require our
aircraft for training. According to the schedule we will lose 4 aircraft
beginning April 2007 and 10 more in April 2008. We will eventually be left
with the 3 test group T-38’s.As the aircraft depart, the need for manpower
will decrease, so we might experience a large number of layoffs within the
next two years. The current contract has been extended by the government
until April 2007. Our CBA negotiators will have a meeting toward the end of July and will soon be asking for individuals to serve on the various committees needed. The CBA surveys will be drafted with questions and comments made by all of you. I will be coming to each work area and asking for your survey inputs. As negotiators, we need to present a survey that contains your wants and concerns. I do not believe in generic surveys. Please take some time and think of areas we may improve our contract and give them to me or Dave Hatcher. This is your contract, so please do as much as you can to insure your wishes are known. As during any drawdown, numerous rumors circulate. If you hear a rumor, please contact me so I can get you the correct information. I look forward to seeing each of you in my walk around. If you have any concerns, please contact me. In Solidarity,
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