On June 21, our bargaining team reached a tentative agreement (TA) with Envoy which raises wages, establishes work rules, and improves benefits and job security over the previous TA. The agreement also includes a ratification and retention bonus based on each agent’s years of service in recognition of the time spent in negotiations and to encourage retention.

Today our CWA bargaining team reached a tentative agreement (TA) with Envoy Air for our first collective bargaining agreement.

The new TA provides for a six and a half year contract that raises wages, establishes work rules, and improves benefits and job security for nearly 5,000 Envoy Passenger Service Agents in approximately 100 cities across the United States. The agreement also includes a ratification and retention bonus based on each agent’s years of service in recognition of the time spent in negotiations and to encourage retention.

Wednesday's bargaining session was long and busy. We met with the federal mediator and the company to try to make improvements on our previous tentative agreement. The company introduced a new proposal that attempted to address your most significant concerns. Wednesday's proposal from the company was an improvement over their previous proposal, but still fell short, so that we could not consider bringing it to you for a vote.

Our CWA bargaining team resumed bargaining in Pittsburgh today. Toby Lane, an agent at SGF, joined the team. To start off the session, we had a lengthy meeting with the mediator from the National Mediation Board. We explained why our proposals address the issues which are essential to reaching an agreement. The mediator then met with the company's bargaining team.  

I've worked for Envoy at SGF for three years, and I love my job. We're a small station, so I basically do everything above and below the wing. I work with great people, and that's a big part of why I became a union activist. I want a level playing field so that every Envoy worker has a fair chance to excel. I want an end to poverty wages so we can support ourselves and our families.

As we reported earlier this week, our CWA bargaining team met with the company and a mediator from the National Mediation Board on Monday and Tuesday. Our previously scheduled session on Wednesday was canceled because the company had not come to Dallas prepared to respond to the proposal that we made at our April bargaining session. The mediator instructed everyone to arrive at our next meeting in Pittsburgh on June 18 prepared to offer proposals.

On the second day of mediation in Dallas, our bargaining team met with the mediator for most of the morning. We discussed our goals and expectations in detail to make sure that he fully grasps our concerns. We are encouraged by the mediator's questions and attention to the details. In the afternoon, the mediator talked first with company representatives and then we all gathered for a final discussion.

Mediation opened in Dallas today, with Toby Lane (SGF) and Susanne Skowronski (ORD) joining our first meeting with the federal mediator and company representatives. During our opening session, we shared 2,000 signatures from over 40 stations on a petition demanding higher wages and a fair contract. The company had no response, but it was important to show them and the mediator that agents across the system are behind their bargaining team.

Our bargaining team will meet with Envoy negotiators and a mediator from the National Mediation Board (NMB) next week from May 20-22. Members have been asking about the mediation process, so we thought we'd answer your most frequently asked questions.