AFSS wins union!

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

LockMart AFSS employees have won the right to representation by the IAM. Congrats!! The union lost by a split decision with a few contested votes by LM last year. Of course, LM will contest this time, but from what I've heard, it will be to no avail.

Of course, this comes a day late and a dollar short for me, though as I have stated before: being laid off was the best thing to happen to me.

AFSS Union YES!

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

wow...i guess i didn't hear about the FSS issues. so LockMart is laying off FSS specialist? including yourself? sheesh. sorry to hear man.

so who is going to be the FSS union? does it look reasonable that you would get your job back?

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

Yeah, I got laid off Feb 1st. I doubt I would be offered my job back. Even if I did, I'd turn it down. Being laid off got me to look back into the FAA and this where I want to be.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

What's the latest on negotiations? What's the overall feel on the floor about the union passing?

AFSS5602 Junior Member

Uncertainly can be the best word to describe the feeling on the operations floor. The DCA hub has become a refugee camp with specialists flocking in from the front lines of site closers. We are welcome to have the people though. They are all very nice, hard working people we really need. I'm glad to see some peoples jobs will be spared, for now at least.

Now according to law the company is supposed to remain status quo. I wish I could say they were, but I am disappointed that they are not in all cases. For example, they are refusing to reimburse college tuition now. We are Lockheed employees and by their own policy are entitled to this and they were giving us this. They are supposed to remain status quo which means reimbursing tuition UNTIL a union contract changes this, either by increasing the benefit, decreasing it, or getting rid of it.

I will say that many of us like our co-workers and feel greatful for the job and salary Lockheed pays us. We understand that the company needs to make money, but we need to be able to lead a good life also. Here are some issues of concern.

Constant schedule changes with very little if any notice.

Very high insurance co-pays and mediocre coverage.

Promotions are not fair. The company selects people in advance or places people in temporary positions. They then post a job announcement and interviews, just for show, to be legal. All along they know who they are putting in the spot. I know for a fact from talking to someone who got a promotion that they were handed interview questions and been coached on how to answer. Also job requirements have changed after the job postings have closed in order to disqualify people they simply don't want.

Retirement benefits, while they have improved, are still a bit below industry standard. The standard is a 4%-5% match and we get 3%.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

I know a couple people up there, but I haven't talked to them in a bit, so I was curious on what was going on up there. I have to say it was a blessing in disguise with me getting the axe. I believe it will all get better, but it usually gets worse first. I was doing the LM tuition reimbursement program. I'd be screwed if they stopped doing it because I couldn't afford to go w/o out it.

otterstrom Trusted Member of NATCA

im glad i left. i would have loved that job back in the FAA days. i couldnt stand lockheed.

just an FYI for anyone who made FPL before leaving... the union is working on getting backpay for everyone whose had to wait a year after FPL to get level 2 pay. that year delay is something lockheed decided. it wasnt part of the DOL wage determination. keep tabs on that. we'll be able to get the money but only if we call and ask for it. lockheed wont come find us. ill post more when i hear it.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

That would be awesome. Actually, they changed the timeframe from 1yr after FPL to two years after hire date, so I don't know if that will change the situation any. Definitely let us know if you hear anything else.

nekneh Junior Member

You should still be able to go through the Labor Board in your area and get back-pay from the time you were fired.. It's basically free money. You should try it, if you were fired illegally.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

While I was a product of reverse age discrimination, there's no way to prove it. All I can hope for is that the Union secures a back-pay provision in their union negotiations.