January 10, 2025

Brothers & Sisters,

The Jurisdictional Hearing for the dispute filed by LU89 President/IBT General Executive Board member Avral Thompson was heard by the Joint Council 94 Panel this week. While ART XIX of the IBT Constitution provides that both Parties “may select only a member in good standing to represent the [Local] in the presentation” of their case, LU89 VP Brian Hamm, LU89 President/IBT GEB member Avral Thompson, and IBT General Secretary Treasurer Fred Zuckerman presented the case for LU89. After objecting to the Constitutional violation, GST Zuckerman informed the Panel that there is no limit to the number of Presenters either Party can have and the Panel agreed.

Regarding the substance of the case, under sworn testimony LU89 VP Brian Hamm stated that LU2727 UTIL’s have never shipped or received parts into or out of the SH for over 30 years. Hamm was either lying or too lazy to look at the documents provided to LU89 (him) and LU2727 that proved that parts have been direct shipped and received by LU2727 UTILs from the SDF UTIL Work Center to/from Vendors and other LU2727 Work Centers from around the country for many years.

In sworn testimony, LU89 Steward Dennis Pitts agreed that AMDC employees have never performed the following duties in the LU2727 SDF UTIL Work Center and that LU2727 UTILs exclusively perform the work in the LU2727 UTIL SDF Work Center (NH & SH):

• LU2727 ACMX UTILs are responsible for receiving, shipping, stocking, and issuing all aircraft parts, equipment, materials, and tooling stored in the SDF Work Center.  
• All LU2727 ACMX UTILs may be assigned line maintenance utility work, and will support the sheet metal shop. This will include transporting parts, materials, ladders, nitrogen carts, and tooling to the Sheetmetal Shop, Hangar, and Ramp.
• All LU2727 ACMX UTILs will repair, and maintain the tooling and equipment allocated to the SDF Work Center and currently maintained by ACMX utilities. (This would include the engine change kits/tooling)
• LU2727 ACMX UTILs pick-up P1 parts from CPW.
• LU2727 ACMX UTILs deliver parts to aircraft PFMs, when moved from the North Hangar.
• The transportation of parts and tooling stocked at one hangar and transported to the other hangar is completed by LU2727 ACMX UTILs.
• Any serviceable structure items stocked at the SDF Work Center (NH & SH) that are delivered directly to the SDF Work Center will be offloaded, received, and stocked by LU2727 ACMX UTILs.
• Any unserviceable structure items from the SDF Work Center (SH & NH) will be prepped and loaded by LU2727 ACMX UTILs when shipped to a vendor.
• B747-400 and GenX engines delivered to the North Hangar, will be offloaded, received, and stocked by LU2727 ACMX UTILs.
• The return of unserviceable engines and APUs from the SDF Work Center (NH & SH) will be loaded by LU2727 ACMX UTILs, and shipped directly from the SDF Work Center to the vendor. 
• ACMX inspectors will perform all receiving inspections.
• All tooling is handled by LU2727 ACMX UTILs.
• All parts shipped to, stored in, and issued from the SDF Work Center (NH & SH) are controlled and processed by LU2727 ACMX UTILs.

Based on Mr. Pitts’ and other LU89 representatives sworn testimony, there’s no dispute that LU2727 UTIL employees have sole jurisdiction over this work in the LU2727 UTIL SDF Work Center (NH & SH). As such, LU89 AMDC employees should contact LU2727 UTILs when they arrive at the SDF Work Center (SH or NH) to sign the paperwork and transfer the part and should not be entering the LU2727 UTIL Work Center (NH or SH). Furthermore, LU2727 UTIL members should not sign any paperwork or transfer any parts from LU89 members who violate our Agreement by entering the SDF LU2727 UTIL Work Center (SH & NH). Please contact a Steward or the Local to file a grievance for any/all violations.    

While Thompson continued to claim that he never intended to endanger any LU2727 UTIL members’ jobs during the hearing, that’s exactly what he’s doing. Anyone that was present would agree that an Arbitrator would rule in our favor based on the evidence presented as Arbitrator Strongin did. However, if the JC Panel sides with LU89 President/GEB member Thompson and IBT GST Zuckerman, LU2727 has 15 days to appeal the decision to General President O’Brien which we will do.

The LU2727 and LU89 Opening Statements and Exhibits from the Joint Council Hearing can be found below. The transcript from the Hearing and Joint Council decision will be posted as soon as they are available. Don’t hesitate to contact me or the Local with any questions or concerns.

Thanks to all the members that attended the Hearing on WED to support and witness the injustice being imposed on our members!

Fraternally,

Tim Boyle

President, Teamsters Local 2727