MADISON, Wis. – A divided state supreme court here June 14 ruled in a 4-3 decision that the state’s controversial law revoking collective-bargaining rights for public employees may go into effect – overturning an injunction issued by a lower court. This is important to UTU members for two reasons: Political extremists in other states and [...]
Have you experienced unruly passengers?
June 15, 2011
The UTU, Amtrak and other labor organizations have designed a survey to aid in the development of training and awareness programs to assist Amtrak employees deal with unruly, disorderly or aggressive passengers. While development of this program is intended for Amtrak, all UTU members employed in passenger transportation – air, bus, rail and transit – [...]
Transport-employee fatigue continues to kill
June 2, 2011
While sleep scientists have established that going to work fatigued is like going to work drunk, there remains a disconnect among those who manage transportation firms. And people are needlessly dying and being seriously injured as a result. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood June 1 criticized his own Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for not sooner [...]
Tentative pact for Great Lakes flight attendants
May 26, 2011
A tentative four-year agreement covering flight attendants employed by Great Lakes Airlines and represented by UTU Local 40 has been negotiated with the carrier. The agreement has been circulated for ratification, with votes to be counted May 17. The UTU represents some 300 flight attendants and pilots on this regional airline based in Cheyenne, Wyo., [...]
Great Lakes flight attendants ratify pact
May 19, 2011
Great Lakes Airlines flight attendants represented by UTU Local 40 have unanimously ratified a four-year agreement. The UTU represents some 300 flight attendants and pilots on this regional airline based in Cheyenne, Wyo., and with hubs in Albuquerque, N.M.; Billings, Mont.; Denver; Kansas City; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; and Phoenix. The ratified flight attendants’ contract provides [...]
Our fight for right has just begun
May 13, 2011
By International President Mike Futhey I was asked if our Collective Bargaining Defense Fund, the UTU PAC and our recently inaugurated direct-contact-with-members outreach can stop the assault on labor by conservative extremists. In union there is strength, and when members of all labor unions engage in political solidarity, the result is millions of union members [...]
FAA to overhaul pilot, flight attendant training
May 12, 2011
WASHINGTON — An extensive overhaul of air-carrier crew training has been proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. “This is a major effort to strengthen the performance of pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers through better training,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. The proposed new training standards and procedures will be formalized in a final rule following [...]
