January 14, 1999
ALPA, Intl
Committees
AWA Cancels Vacations
The MEC learned today that America West has cancelled 1999 vacations for upgrading and
transitioning pilots, citing operational needs. Pilots whose vacations are affected have
three options:
- reschedule another 1999 vacation period with the company
- bid the cancelled vacation period in the 2000 vacation bid,
or - receive compensation in lieu of vacation time
Paper was exchanged this week between management and the Association resolving the issue
of the Association’s freedom to place union material in your pilot mailbox, and the issue
of the manner in which management and the Professional Standards Committee would handle
crew separations out on the line. Suffice it to say that the Association was able to sign
agreements that mirror exactly the way business has been done for the last several years,
in both of these areas. This particular Cold War is over.
The MEC is reviewing the situation as a possible grievance.
We will update the entire pilot group, as more information becomes available.
MEC-LEC Summit
The MEC, along with the newly elected LEC members, held a summit meeting this past Monday
and Tuesday, with Contract Administrator Andrew Shostack and Communications Specialist
Yvette Freeman.
The purpose of the summit was to clarify the roles of the
MEC and the LEC in our new Council 62 structure before the new LEC members take office on
March 1st. During the meeting, presentations concerning PBS and the upcoming
Contract 2000 negotiating process were made and discussed at length. Both Andrew and
Yvette made presentations concerning their roles as professional staff members for the
council. They each also gave a review of their respective department’s 1998
activities, as well as their goals for 1999. The Negotiating Committee also presented its
preliminary goals and strategies for the upcoming negotiations.
A320 Nightlines
Upcoming Bid 150, which will be published next Tuesday, Jan. 19, contains numerous
night-to-day circadian flip-flops on the A320 lines. As a result, many lines will contain
back-to-back trips; trips with six-days-on and three-days-off; and seven lines will have
less than 10 days off. Some lines contain as many as seven 24-hour layovers on an
individual line. Naturally, this will negatively impact staffing on the A320.
Scheduling Committee Chairman Jerry Hargis has voiced his
disapproval and concern to Crew Scheduling; however to no avail. The Committee has never
approved of back-to-back lines, nor lines with less than 10 days off, unless there is low
time away from base and/or multiple trips ending before 0300 with the rest of the day off.
Lines such as these are a major concern because they contribute heavily to crew fatigue.
Remember, it is your responsibility to evaluate your physical and mental ability in order
to determine if you can safely continue your trip.
More information concerning this issue will be available
after the bid package has been published. We will keep you informed of new developments
via this hotline.
Inaccurate Pilot Seniority List
America West published an inaccurate Pilot Seniority List. We have sent a letter to
Captain Randy Olin, Chief Pilot, informing him of the issue. The MEC expects to have this
matter resolved immediately. In the meantime, please return the inaccurate seniority
list(s) to the Chief Pilots office.
Pilot Mailboxes and Crew Separation issues
PBS
This meeting was very productive resulting in several
important policy and technical issues being resolved, including preserving seniority-based
awarding of preferences, determining the number of regular and relief lines, and awarding
reserve lines. The PBS Committee and Ad-Opt will now conduct tests using Bid 149 data to
verify that these latest decisions are valid. Throughout the testing period, we will
continue to develop the Detailed Requirements Document (DRD).
AWA Personnel Change
Merger Fund
In the meantime, those pilots who have not paid their
merger fund assessment now face formal charges and hearings under Article VIII of the ALPA
Constitution and By-Laws, possible expulsion from ALPA, and termination from America West.
The affected individuals will be receiving letters from the MEC beginning next week.
Age 60 Retest Hearing
The age 60-retest hearing, which was postponed in December, at the company’s request
to the arbitrator, has been rescheduled. The hearing is now scheduled for April 12 and 13,
1999.
Hotel Committee
According to David, this was a much more positive meeting
than he had anticipated, because for the first time ever, the union had the opportunity to
participate in the review and update of the hotel list. In fact, more than half of the
hotels on the list, were changed. Some of the changes include moving from the Claremont
Inn, in Ontario, back to the Doubletree. The company has agreed to pay the $15 room rate
increase. Also, we will be moving from the Holiday Inn, in Miami, to the Wyndam, at the
Omni Center.
The only negative aspect of the meeting was the new eastern
regional director’s intentions to do incremental operations, which means that crews
at long layover properties, or properties away from the airport, would be moved to
properties at the airport. The purpose of this would be to prevent flight delays. However,
David argued that this was not necessary since the Operations Manual gives captains the
responsibility of ensuring their crews get to the airport on time.
We will keep you updated as this issue develops.
Local Council Meeting
Postcards have been mailed to your home addresses as a
reminder. All pilots are encouraged to attend this meeting.
LEC Chairman Election Ballots
If you have not already received your ballot to elect an LEC chairman, you should be
getting it in the mail within the next week or so. If you do not receive your ballot by
the end of next week, please call the MEC office so that we can update your address and
arrange for a replacement ballot. The ballots have a postmark return deadline of January
30th and will be counted at ALPA in Herndon on February 10th or 11th.
We will announce the results of the election on the February 11th hotline.
On both sides of each ballot, you will find the names of
the four representatives elected last fall. On one side, you will choose a chairman; and
on the backside, you will choose a vice chairman. This is in contrast to previous messages
to the pilot group, which indicated that pilots would not have the opportunity to choose a
vice chairman.
We feel this is a much better election process than
previously described. It is also unique to Council 62, as other council’s ballots do
not allow pilots to directly vote for a vice chairman.
All eligible members are strongly encouraged to participate
in this election.
Committee Appointments
The Merger Committee has two new members. Mike Larkin has joined the committee as the new
vice chairman. He replaces Bill Beeler. MEC Executive Administrator C.J. Szmal has also
joined the committee.
Also, Brian Bevins has been appointed to the System Board
of Adjustment. He replaces Barry Cooper as an alternate member.
Capt. Dick Starr Retirement
Captain Dick Starr will retire this Saturday, January 16. His flight will arrive in
Phoenix at 5:25 PM this Saturday from Seattle. All pilots are encouraged to help Captain
Starr celebrate his retirement when he arrives at the terminal.
MEC Chairman on Vacation
That concludes this week’s Hotline update. Fly safe; fly
your contract; and wear your pins and ribbons. The next hotline update will be on
Thursday, January 21. Thanks for listening.
- AWA Cancels Vacations
- MEC-LEC Summit
- A320 Nightlines
- Inaccurate Pilot Seniority List
- Pilot Mailboxes and Crew Separation issues
- PBS
- AWA Personnel Change
- Merger Fund
- Age 60 Retest Hearing
- Hotel Committee
- Local Council Meeting
- LEC Chairman Election Ballots
- Committee Appointments
- Capt. Dick Starr Retirement
- MEC Chairman on Vacation
| MEC HOTLINE | ||
| This is Communications Committee Chairman David Weeks with the MEC hotline for Thursday, January 14, 1999. Tonight’s topics are:
|