SEPTA union boss ponders effects of a strike

“I often have no choice in the matter,” said Willie Brown, 51, president of Transport Workers Local 234, the union representing SEPTA’s bus drivers, subway operators, and trolley drivers.”I don’t think it’s a matter of if we strike,” he said. “It’s simply a matter of when, unfortunately.”On Sunday, union members moved a step closer to a strike, voting to allow Brown to call workers off the job – any time, and without warning.

via SEPTA union boss ponders effects of a strike.

Presence of Bedbugs in Subway Scares Riders, Transit Workers – NY1 8/28/14

All aboard. Just not the bedbugs.Sixteen subway cars on eight trains have been treated for bedbugs in recent weeks, and riders and transit workers are getting creeped out.”I try to avoid taking the N train, if possible,” said one rider. “I take the D or I can take the F since I found out about the bedbugs because I don’t want none of that coming into my house.”The bulk of the bedbug sightings have taken place on the N, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority taking those trains out of service once the presence of the nasty critters is confirmed.However, the Transport Workers Union said that’s not enough and wants the entire fleet fumigated before school starts.”The TA is not being proactive. They’re just dealing with it as the situation pops up,” said Joe Costales of TWU Local 100. “We’re asking them to address this proactively so that we can stop the scenario from spreading.”

via Presence of Bedbugs in Subway Scares Riders, Transit Workers – NY1.

Metro workers picket outside transit agency’s headquarters, demand new contract : News 8-28-14

ST. LOUIS • Dozens of Metro workers picketed outside Metro headquarters Thursday afternoon to demand the agency finalize a new contract with their union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788.The union represents about 1,500 bus and commuter train drivers, mechanics and clerical workers, who have worked without a contract for about three years. Its members say they are angered that Metro President and CEO John Nations was recently given a contract extension through 2020 and a $75,000 raise. Nations will earn a salary of $325,000 starting in the fall of 2015.“If you can get a raise, why can’t you give us a fair contract?” asked Pandora Holman, 49, of East St. Louis, who said she had driven a bus for Metro for 26 years. “We need to feed our families.”

via Metro workers picket outside transit agency’s headquarters, demand new contract : News.

Virgin America Flight Attendants Vote to Create Union – Bloomberg 8-13-14

Virgin America Inc. flight attendants voted to establish the first union at the airline partly owned by U.K. billionaire Richard Branson, ending its status as the largest U.S. carrier without organized labor.Collective bargaining with the Transport Workers Union raises the prospect of higher operating costs for the airline, which filed July 28 for an initial public offering. The carrier reported second-quarter net income of $37 million yesterday after posting its first annual profit in 2013.Today’s vote follows a decision in April by pilots at JetBlue Airways Corp. to join the Air Line Pilots Association, ending that carrier’s status as the largest nonunion U.S. airline at that time. JetBlue flight attendants also are seeking an election on TWU representation.“With this vote, flight attendants will have a say on how to further improve Virgin along with their own work lives,” John Samuelsen, TWU International executive vice president, said in a statement. “This is a chance to make the airline better for both customers and workers.”Virgin America’s attendants supported the TWU with 58 percent of the ballots cast, the labor group said. It was the second union vote for attendants at Burlingame, California-based Virgin America, who rejected the union in December 2011.

via Virgin America Flight Attendants Vote to Create Union – Bloomberg.

Muni sickout: Too ill to work, but just fine for payday – SFGate 8-13-14

Sixty of the 762 Muni operators involved in the infamous three-day sickout in June were apparently well enough to pick up their paychecks at the transit agency’s headquarters on the same days they called in sick.If they don’t come up with a good explanation, the operators could have their pay docked – the same penalty facing more than 300 of their colleagues who called in sick and haven’t been able to back it up.The sickout, which led to missed runs and long delays and shut down the cable cars, came after operators overwhelmingly rejected a contract that would have given them an 11.25 percent raise over two years, but also would have had them make a 7.5 percent pension contribution that previously had been paid by the city.The drivers called that unreasonable, and though their union didn’t call the sickout, the operators’ solidarity was apparent. More than two-thirds of Muni’s 600 vehicles were kept off the street the first day of the sickout, June 2, a number that only marginally improved by the time operators went back to work.

via Muni sickout: Too ill to work, but just fine for payday – SFGate.

Virgin America Files for IPO amid High US Airline Earnings – July 31, 2014 – Zacks.com

After months of speculation, low-cost U.S. airline Virgin America Inc. has finally filed a registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission SEC to launch its Initial Public offering IPO. The California-based carrier has timed its IPO well given a recovering U.S. aviation market.Virgin America plans to raise $115 million from the IPO. However, as of now, it remains tight-lipped about the number of shares to be offered and the price range. Further, the stock exchange and ticker symbol have also not been mentioned by the carrier. Although the timing of the IPO is unknown at present, it generally takes two to three months to get the SEC clearance.Notably, the filing follows the carrier recording its first full-year profit in 2013 in March this year. The company, partly owned by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, has had a torrid time since its launch in 2007.Virgin America provides service to 22 different destinations in the U.S. and Mexico using a young fleet of 53 narrow bodied Airbus A320 aircraft. The carrier is currently expanding to serve an increased number of markets from the base cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. With a population base of 27 million people, expansion from these markets will boost its long-term prospects. The twin slot wins at LaGuardia Airport in New York and Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. in addition to two gates at Dallas Love Field airport from American Airlines Group Inc. AAL – Snapshot Report will also strengthen its operations from these markets.We believe the IPO, when launched, will get a good response from investors as the U.S. aviation sector is now showing signs of improvement, having recovered from the impact of a lackluster first quarter dampened by a severe winter. Most of the legacy airline companies managed to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the second quarter of 2014, with only JetBlue Airways Corp. JBLU – Analyst Report reporting in-line results.Further, two of the traditional carriers – United Continental Holdings Inc. UAL – Analyst Report and American Airlines – have initiated their respective share repurchase programs with the latter even declaring a dividend for the first time since 1980.However, Virgin America, which had so far been facing price competition from listed peers like Delta Airlines Inc. DAL – Analyst Report, will now have to cope with stock price volatility once it gets listed. Meanwhile, the IPO will ensure that another floating airline stock adds to the investors’ wide choice range within the sector. If Virgin America can improve further on its previous year’s performance, it can eventually go on to become an attractive bet in the stock market.

via Virgin America Files for IPO amid High US Airline Earnings – July 31, 2014 – Zacks.com.

Long Island Railroad unions accept concessions – World Socialist Web Site 7-26-14

A coalition of eight unions representing 5,400 Long Island Rail Road LIRR workers accepted a takeaway contract settlement in New York July 17, blocking a threatened strike that could have crippled the country’s largest commuter rail line.The agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA was proclaimed by United Transport Union president Anthony Simon, the lead union negotiator, as a “fair deal,” adding he was “comfortable our members will support it.”In reality, the LIRR settlement is only the latest in a series of concessions contracts negotiated between public employee unions in New York and the Democratic-led state and city administrations of Governor Mario Cuomo and the self-proclaimed “progressive” Mayor Bill de Blasio. These Democratic politicians, promoted by the unions as “friends of labor,” have been able to push through givebacks that their Republican predecessors were unable to achieve.

via Long Island Railroad unions accept concessions – World Socialist Web Site.

FAA proposes $12 million fine against Southwest for rogue repairs – CultureMap Dallas 7-29-14

he Federal Aviation Administration is seeking a $12 million fine against Southwest Airlines for what it deems improper repairs on 44 jetliners. It is reportedly the second-largest fine in FAA history.The federal agency announced its intentions on July 28. Southwest Airlines has 30 days to officially respond to the accusations.In 2006, Dallas-based Southwest contracted Aviation Technical Services Inc. to work on 44 jetliners in need of repairs. According to the FAA, the contractor did not follow established federal protocol for replacing the fuselage skins to eliminate potential cracking.

via FAA proposes $12 million fine against Southwest for rogue repairs – CultureMap Dallas.

Virgin America files for IPO as US airlines recover – Yahoo News Malaysia 7-29-14

NEW YORK: Virgin America Inc, the low-cost airline partly owned by Richard Branson, filed for an initial public offering of shares as it looks to expand in the recovering United States US airline market.The company, known for mood lighting and wi-fi and comfortable leather seats even in economy class, offers flights to 22 cities in the US and Mexico, using a fleet of 53 Airbus A320 aircraft.Branson, whose investment in the airline is restricted by US foreign investment rules, owns a 22 per cent stake in Virgin America through the Virgin Group and a hedge fund.The British billionaire also owns a 51 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic, which last posted an annual profit in 2011.Virgin America has been ranked first among US airlines for the last two years in the annual national Airline Quality Rating performance study published by researchers at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.The airline earned US$10.5 million RM33.39 million on revenue of US$1.42 billion in 2013, its first profitable year since it took to the skies in 2007.

via Virgin America files for IPO as US airlines recover – Yahoo News Malaysia.

Southwest Airlines Declares 152nd Consecutive Quarterly Dividend – MarketWatch 7-30-14

DALLAS, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines’ LUV +0.42% Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.06 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2014 on all shares then issued and outstanding. The 152nd consecutive dividend will be paid on September 12, 2014.

via Southwest Airlines Declares 152nd Consecutive Quarterly Dividend – MarketWatch.

MTA approves three-year contract for Muni drivers | www.ktvu.com 7-30-14

KTVU and WiresSAN FRANCISCO —A contract for San Francisco Municipal Railway vehicle operators was unanimously approved by the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency Wednesday afternoon, agency officials said.The contract agreement was reached late last month after lengthy and contested negotiations that included a “sickout” staged by Muni workers during which about half of Muni drivers did not show up for work for three days.A deal was finally brokered with the assistance of former Mayor Willie Brown, who stepped in at the request of Mayor Ed Lee. The agreement gives workers a roughly 15 percent raise over three years but has them paying progressively more for their pensions.The Transport Workers Union Local 250-A ratified the agreement earlier this month by a vote of 634-485, making the SFMTA vote the final step to implement the three-year contract.

via MTA approves three-year contract for Muni drivers | www.ktvu.com.

MTA New York City Transit Fast Facts | Nation/World – Home 7-30-14

MTA employs 65,150 people and has approved a $13.6 billion budget for 2014.MTA serves 15.1 million people across New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut.Subway: The MTA has the largest subway and rail car fleet in the world, around 8,778 at the end of 2012.There are 468 subway stations in the NYC transit system.There are approximately 659 miles of rail and subway track in service in the NYC Transit system.The Times Sq-42nd St Subway station was the busiest in 2013. The full top 10 list is found here.In 2012, in the five boroughs, there was an average weekday ridership of 7,579,555 daily and 2,331,836,169 annually.In the United States and Canada, it is considered the 11th largest bus fleet, with over 1,200 buses.Timeline: October 27, 1904 – The subway opens in Manhattan. The 9.1-mile long subway line consists of 28 stations from City Hall to 145th Street and Broadway.1905 – Subway service expands to the Bronx.1907 – Bus service begins in Manhattan.1908 – Subway service expands to Brooklyn.1915 – Service expands to Queens.July 25, 1953 – Tokens are first used in the subway.1973 – Long Island bus service opens.July 4, 1997 – Metrocard debuts as a form of payment.August 23, 2005 – Lockheed Martin is selected as the prime contractor for the program initiating a comprehensive upgrade of MTA’s electronic security operations infrastructure.October 6, 2005 – Mayor Michael Bloomberg announces the FBI has shared with New York officials a “specific threat” against the city’s subway system.October 7, 2005 – An apparent hoax involving a soda bottle filled with a “Drano-like substance” prompts the temporary closure of parts of Penn Station at the height of morning rush hour.October 11, 2005 – Government sources tell CNN that the information from an informant in Iraq that sparked heightened security in and around New York City’s transit system on October 6 was a hoax.December 16, 2005 – New York’s subway and bus workers, a union of over 33,000 personnel, call for a partial strike against private bus lines. The drivers will complete their morning rush-hour routes and return the buses to the depots before going on strike.December 20, 2005 – A full strike of the union transit workers goes into effect at midnight.December 22, 2005 – The Transit Workers’ Union, Local 100, votes to send transit employees back to work while talks with the MTA continue.June 24, 2009 – London-based bank Barclays purchases the Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street transit hub in Brooklyn for $4 million.

via MTA New York City Transit Fast Facts | Nation/World – Home.

Amalgamated Transit Union buys National Labor College site – Washington Business Journal 7-31-14

The Amalgamated Transit Union has acquired the former National Labor College in Silver Spring and plans to continue to use it to train union workers, nearly a year after previous plans to convert the property into a church with additional residential development fell through.The union, which represents transit workers including those who work for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, closed Tuesday on its $31.4 million acquisition of the property from the labor college, union President Larry Hanley told me Wednesday afternoon. The union has had the property under contract since the spring, he said.The union, with more than 190,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada, is planning to relocate its international headquarters from Friendship Heights and use the 46-acre campus for training and education for its members. Hanley said the union is planning to renovate the main building on the campus, the Meany Center, but has no immediate plans to redevelop other parts of the property.”The principal development we’re interested in is in developing the minds and skills of people to restore democracy from being stripped away from the U.S. and Canada,” Hanley said.

via Amalgamated Transit Union buys National Labor College site – Washington Business Journal.

Best Stocks : American Airlines Group NASDAQ:AAL, WellCare Health NYSE:WCG, HMS Holdings Corp. NASDAQ:HMSY, Citizens First NASDAQ:CZFC, China XD Plastics NASDAQ:CXDC | Tech News 7-31-14

American Airlines Group Inc. NASDAQ:AAL said it posted the highest quarterly profit in the company’s history, as its second-quarter revenue surged.The company also unveiled a capital-deployment plan that will cut its debt, provide additional pension contributions and return capital to shareholders.American Airlines Group Inc. NASDAQ:AAL’s stock on 30 July traded at beginning with a price of $39.90and when day-trade ended the stock finally moved up 0.05% to end at $39.55. American Airlines Group Inc. NASDAQ:AAL’s showed weekly performance of -8.72%.

via Best Stocks : American Airlines Group NASDAQ:AAL, WellCare Health NYSE:WCG, HMS Holdings Corp. NASDAQ:HMSY, Citizens First NASDAQ:CZFC, China XD Plastics NASDAQ:CXDC | Tech News.

Report: LIRR “rolls closer to a possible strike” | TWU Local 100

the New York Daily News today reports on the MTA’s rejection, in Washington, of a proposed wage package for Long Island Railroad employees who have been working without a contract since 2010. The wage package, an average of 2.85% a year for six years, was recommended by an emergency board panel reporting to President Barack Obama. That recommendation is explained by President Samuelsen in his latest video, posted in the top position on the TWU Local 100 website. The MTA’s rejection of the wage package recommendation, the News reports, sets up the MTA for a possible strike come summer — which would be legal. LIRR employees are not subject to the NYS Taylor Law.

via Report: LIRR “rolls closer to a possible strike” | TWU Local 100.

Transport Workers Union | Dallas Morning News 7-16-14

The Transport Workers Union has put out a negotiations video for its members as the TWU continues contract talks with Southwest Airlines.Called “Profits before People,” the video criticizes Southwest Airlines for the slow pace of contract talks and for not offering pay increases and for proposing to use more part-time employees, limiting benefits and other points, even as the airline was earning record profits.TWU Local 555’s contract became amendable in June 2011. According to federal law, airline labor contracts never expire. They just have amendable dates.The video comes out nearly six weeks after the heads of most of Southwest Airlines’ unions signed a letter to Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly saying that “morale has dropped to an all-time low” and that the airline could remedy the problem with new contracts for all labor groups.We’ve also seen a negotiations update Tuesday from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents mechanics at Southwest, in which the union shared the airline’s concept for pay raises.

via Transport Workers Union | Dallas Morning News.

LIRR Deal Leaves Questions Unanswered – The Bond Buyer 7-18-14

Shortly after the sighs of relief that followed the Long Island Railroad labor contract announcement, skeptics questioned how it will be paid for without fare hikes or cutting into Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital funding.

via LIRR Deal Leaves Questions Unanswered – The Bond Buyer.

SEPTA unions dislike presidential panel recommendations – Philly.com 7-20-14

The two unions representing SEPTA railroad engineers and electrical workers on Friday expressed disappointment with the recommendations of a presidential panel on their long-running labor dispute.The panel, appointed by President Obama, on Monday sided with SEPTA management on most of the issues in the dispute, which prompted a one-day strike last month.”We are disappointed with the recommendations of the [presidential emergency board], particularly because the board, instead of directly addressing the economic analysis of the employees, simply sidestepped the core issue of this labor dispute,” the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and IBEW Local 744 said in a joint statement.

via SEPTA unions dislike presidential panel recommendations – Philly.com.

Mechanics, ground workers from US Airways approve new contract with American |7-19-14

US Airways mechanics and ground workers have approved a three-year contract with American Airlines.The contract, which covers 11,000 workers represented by the International Association of Machinists, includes furlough protection and raises in each year. The union said Saturday that all three contracts for mechanics and related fleet service and maintenance training specialist work groups were approved by a majority of the members, but it did not release vote totals.The union was the only labor group at US Airways and American that did not publicly support the airlines’ merger, which was completed in December. The Machinists said US Airways executives had negotiated deals with American’s labor groups while neglecting contract talks with their own employees.

via Mechanics, ground workers from US Airways approve new contract with American | Business ….

More Talks, but No Deal, in LIRR Contract Discussion – NY1 7-11-14

While the threat of a Long Island Rail Road strike on July 20 is still there, both sides seem to be open to more negotiations.Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and union leaders met for more than four hours Thursday.The MTA has made an offer of 17 percent pay hikes over seven years.”They came in and made a formal counteroffer, which was discussed We’ve got more discussions to have with them,” said MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast. “We’re all concerned with trying to reach resolution with this particular issue and we will continue the discussions.””I think everybody in that room has the same intent right now to make sure that we can prevent a strike,” said Anthony Simon, general chairman of the United Transportation Union.

via More Talks, but No Deal, in LIRR Contract Discussion – NY1.

Frontier Airlines ramp workers vote for TWU union representation – The Denver Post 7-10-14

Frontier Airlines’ ramp workers have for the first time voted to unionize, and about 400 Denver-based workers are hoping this will mean greater job security in an uncertain industry.The ballots were tabulated Thursday in Washington, D.C., under the supervision of the U.S. National Mediation Board. More than 60 percent of the 219 votes cast were in favor of representation.Ramp workers for the Denver-based carrier sought representation from the Transport Workers Union of America after the company made several changes to its employees’ benefits and to its own business model.”Everyone is excited to know we have a voice,” said Brian Fisher, a Frontier worker for seven years who was in Washington for the ballot counting.”The first thing for us is job security,” he said. “Everywhere you look, you see things like what happened this week, with United outsourcing jobs.”

via Frontier Airlines ramp workers vote for TWU union representation – The Denver Post.

On the picket line » In the U.S. » Labor » Workers World 6-4-14

Transport Workers Union Local 250-A announced on June 27 that it had reached a tentative contract agreement with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Workers, after voting down the MTA’s first offer at the end of May, were so disgusted at being offered a contract that included a pay cut that they held a sickout in protest. At an MTA board meeting on June 24, a group of workers and union officers lashed out at MTA “for stating publicly it appreciated its drivers while trying to cut their pay. ‘What you’re saying here is totally insulting,’ [TWU Local 250-A President Eric] Williams said. ‘This is a calculated attack on the biggest minority group of employees in the city. If you really cared, you would give us a fair contract.’” The protest worked. While Williams was not at liberty to announce the terms of the deal until it was submitted to the workers, he thanked “the strong support of our membership and hard work at the negotiating table” for the new agreement. San Francisco Chronicle, June 28 Now the membership gets to vote again. Stay tuned.LIRR strike loomsWorkers on the Long Island Rail Road voted to strike in February. The contract proposed by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has also been rejected by two federal mediation panels. The most recent ruling called the union leaders’ offer of a 17 percent raise over six years “the most reasonable.” The strike could take place as early as July 20. If the MTA forces the strike, it will disrupt the daily commute of 300,000 riders. As of June 23, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181-1061, the New York City school bus drivers’ union, issued a press release calling on all members to refuse to scab on LIRR workers.

via On the picket line » In the U.S. » Labor » Workers World.

SEPTA’s Pat Deon wins national transportation award – Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem | Neshaminy Schools | Trevose | Feasterville | Lower Southampton 07-16-14

SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. “Pat” Deon Sr. has been named the winner of a national award for exceptional service by public transportation members.The American Public Transportation Association, an international trade group for the transit industry, has named the Middletown resident the 2014 Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member.

via SEPTA’s Pat Deon wins national transportation award – Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem | Neshaminy Schools | Trevose | Feasterville | Lower Southampton.

Southwest expands to international locations: Caribbean, Mexico, Jamaica 7-1-14

Southwest Airlines LUV 0.87% is going international for the first time ever Tuesday in its signature red, blue and orange Boeing 737 planes.The Dallas, Tex.-based airline will now fly outside of the United States to tropical destinations already served by subsidiary Airtran, which Southwest acquired in 2011, in part to gain access beyond the border.The first international flight will head to Aruba from Baltimore/Washington International Airport BWI. Five more flights will follow Tuesday: BWI-Montego Bay, Jamaica, Atlanta-Aruba, Atlanta-Montego Bay, Baltimore-Nassau, Bahamas and Orlando-Montego Bay

via Southwest expands to international locations: Caribbean, Mexico, Jamaica.

Services Sector Stocks: American Airlines Group NASDAQ:AAL, Comcast NASDAQ:CMCSA, Delta Air Lines NYSE:DAL, eBay Inc NASDAQ:EBAY, Rite Aid NYSE:RAD | Tech News 7-2-14

American Airlines Group Inc. NASDAQ:AAL is close to finalizing an order with CFM International for 200 engines to be used in 100 Airbus A320neo planes, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing three people familiar with the matter. American Airlines Group Inc NASDAQ:AAL stock performance was 2.09% in last session and finished the day at $43.86. Traded volume was 9.17million shares in the last session and the average volume of the stock remained 12.40million shares. American Airlines Group Inc NASDAQ:AAL insider ownership is 0.70%.

via Services Sector Stocks: American Airlines Group NASDAQ:AAL, Comcast NASDAQ:CMCSA, Delta Air Lines NYSE:DAL, eBay Inc NASDAQ:EBAY, Rite Aid NYSE:RAD | Tech News.