November 12, 1998 Hotline

November 12, 1998

ALPA, Intl

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PBS Development Difficulties
Discussions are ongoing between ALPA and company members of the PBS Committee. The subject
of discussion continues to be development of the Detailed Requirements Document, a
complete specification for the PBS software. Discussion has recently centered on the
questions relating to reserve coverage and the amount of open time to be set aside for
TAS. The company committee members appear to be somewhat out-of-sync with the side-letter
language and their negotiators’ intent. These negotiators have recently departed the
airline. If the committee is unable to reach a consensus, this issue may become the first
conflict to be resolved in expedited arbitration. This could serve to delay PBS
development while the parties await the arbitration decision.

Medical Benefits
America West has distributed benefits packages to all T-4 pilot boxes. With the exception
of premiums, the 1999 pilot health benefits package remains unchanged from the 1998
program. The MEC did not approve the company’s proposal to change to a combined HMO/Point
of Service plan because the company failed to provide ALPA “reasonable advance
notice” of changes, as required by the contract. Without reasonable advance notice,
ALPA was unable to conduct an industry standard “due diligence” revue in order
to verify that the proposed changes did not constitute a reduction of benefit levels.

So our medical plan remains unchanged for 1999. However,
the company proposes to increase pilot contributions substantially. To date the company
has not met with the Association to fully document the need for such cost increases prior
to implementation, in violation of the contract. In addition, the increases themselves are
in violation of the contract. It appears that the company prefers the burden of
arbitration–with the likelihood of an expensive, make-whole remedy–to the alternative of
conducting business with ALPA in a rational, deliberative, and contractual manner.

Access to Pilot Mailboxes
The MEC recently received a letter from Labor Relations questioning whether ALPA should
have access to T-4 pilot boxes. ALPA has had free access to pilot boxes since the pilots
approved the union in 1993. Before that, the FAB had free access. In fact, every pilot has
had free access to all pilot boxes at America West since the airline’s launch in 1983.
This practice is common in the industry, with similar arrangements–either formal or
informal–in place at a number of the majors. At these carriers it is understood that such
access is mutually beneficial. The MEC believes that it would be in the best interests of
both parties for the practice to continue. Meanwhile, the September/October issue of the Fenix
Flight is on its way to the printer and will be distributed in the near future. Stay
tuned for details.

That concludes this week’s Hotline update. The next update
will be on Thursday, November 19. Fly safe; fly your contract; and remember to wear your
ALPA pin proudly EVERY time you fly. Thanks for listening.

• PBS Development Difficulties
• Medical Benefits
• Access to Pilot mailboxes