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TRANSIT WORKERS PRESIDENT ON THE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES DEBACLE: GREED AND PROFITS RULE–HE PAINTS THE PICTURE FOR THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Washington, DC — Ahead of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s hearing on “Strengthening Airlines Operations and Consumer Protections,” John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) issued this statement:
“As the Senate Commerce Committee today examines the series of events that led to the worst operational meltdown in the history of Southwest Airlines, the Transport Workers Union of America encourages lawmakers to focus their attention on what we know to be the cause of this catastrophe – corporate neglect and an undying lust for profits by Southwest Airlines executives.
“While the Southwest meltdown was initially triggered by a severe weather event and further sustained by outdated, overwhelmed technology, Southwest’s leadership must accept blame and take full responsibility for a national crisis that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded for days on end, jeopardized the health and safety of thousands of employees, and caused an untold number of passengers tremendous mental anguish and financial distress.
“Southwest is the largest commercial air carrier in the United States, but it continues to rely on antiquated phone systems, eccentric computer programs, and IT processing capabilities that date back to the 1990s.
Instead of taking steps to upgrade these systems, executives chose to spend $5.6 billion on corporate buybacks in the three years leading up to this crisis.
All of this, in spite of the fact that TWU-represented Southwest Airlines workers, including flight attendants at TWU Local 556, fleet service workers at TWU Local 555, and flight dispatchers and meteorologists at TWU Local 550, have been sounding the alarm for years about the impacts of running a world-class airline on outdated, insufficient technology.
“What’s more, the vast majority of work groups at Southwest, who for years have made this carrier profitable and sustained it during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, are still without secured, fair contracts.
“Southwest Airlines wants its passengers and employees to feel the LUV, but LUV flew out the window at Southwest the day Gary Kelly arrived, and the moment corporate executives chose profits over people.”
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! TONIGHT AT 8 ITS RICHARD CIRULLI ON “MAKING MOVIES NIGHT” ON WESTCHESTER’S MOST INTERESTING INTERVIEW PROGRAM “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” FIOS CH.45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY & WP OPTIMUM CH 76 & INSTANTLY ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG YOU’VE GOT WHITE PLAINS MOVIE PRODUCER,PLAYWRIGHT, AUTHOR, IMPRESARIO ON MAKING MOVIES
RICHARD CIRULLI, MOVIE PRODUCER, PLAYWRIGHT, AUTHOR FOUNDER OF THE WHITE PLAINS DEMITASSE PLAYERS
ON
WHAT IT’S LIKE WRITING, SHOOTING A MOVIE,PUTTING THE FINISH TOGETHER
HIS NEWEST MOVIE IN THE CAN “THE CLOTHES LINE” IN PRODUCTION
HIS NEWEST DEMITASSE PLAYERS PRODUCTION COMING THIS YEAR
CAN EXISTENTIAL MOVIES, PLAYS ENTERTAIN, ENLIGHTEN WITH TOOLS FOR LIVING?
YES!
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS MR. CIRULLI (ON LOCATION) ON HIS CREATIVE LIFE
SEIU32BJ ENTERS TALKS WITH PEPSICO SECURITY COMPANY FOR NEW CONTRACT.
WPCNR LABOR RAMPARTS Special to WPCNR. February 8, 2023:
The Service Employees International Union 32BJ 50 workers who lost their jobs a week ago when Pepsico hired a non-union security firm that told the SEIUBJ workers they would not be rehired, are back on the job.
SEIU has begun negotiations with the new security firm and the employees are guaranteed at least 90 days further employment.
The change of heart came after SEIU filed a lawsuit accusing the new security form of violation of National Labor Relations Board practices.
Pepico issued this statement to SEIU yesterday announcing that the new security firm had agreed to enter negotiations:
“AGB has informed us that they have communicated to SEIU that they recognize them as the representative of security workers at PepsiCo’s Purchase and Valhalla facilities and have asked the union to engage in good faith bargaining with them. We are hopeful that the two parties will soon reach a resolution.”
SEIU acknowledged the announcement:
“We are happy to hear AGB has decided to recognize 32BJ SEIU as the bargaining representative of the security guards at the Purchase and Valhalla facilities and look forward to bargaining with them in good faith. These workers deserve a contract that maintains workers’ employer-paid comprehensive healthcare, quality wages, other benefits, and which upholds area industry standards.” – 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President and Director of the Hudson Valley District Shirley Aldebol
A spokesperson for SEIU today told WPCNR that the union was hopeful of securing a satisfactory contract with AGB before the 90 days employment guaranteed the workers by NLRB law expires. Paid healthcare benefits which the union workers now enjoy is a vital issue. The benefits remain in effect while negotiations are underway.
The SEIU spokesman the National Labor Relations Board that had initiated an inquiry into the violation of standard labor laws, (advance notice of terminating employees, and the opportunity to negotiate a new contract) had not moved ahead to his knowledge at the present time.
The union had planned a rally for Thursday to protest the AGB policy but has called the rally off with the announcement of AGB willingness to negotiate a new contract acceptable to the SEIU workers.