December 14, 2000
This is MEC Chairman Roger Cox with the MEC hotline message for Thursday, December 14.
Topics tonight are:
Local Council Election Results
Christmas Party
Pilots for Kids and AASK
Quarterly Safety Meeting
TRO’S
We’ll Arbitrate, Part II
Local Council Election Results
Congratulations to our newly elected Local Council. Taking office on March 1 will be
Captain representatives David Chambless and Bill Goin and First Officer representatives
Eric Edwards and John McIlvenna. Captain Mike Calabrese will remain local council
secretary treasurer as well as serving as MEC secretary treasurer. The Representation
Election Certificate, which shows vote totals and statistics, will be posted on the ALPA
bulletin board. This will be an outstanding group.
Christmas Party
The party is on tonight at Rockin’ Rodeo in Tempe. Corner of Priest and Elliot in
Tempe (across from Costco), 7 PM. If you can come a little early and help Christina set
up, she and her team would appreciate it.
Pilots for Kids and AASK
Every year Captain Win Copeland runs our Pilots for Kids Hospital visits. If you can
participate this year Win is planning a visit on Monday December 18. Call Win at 623
492-9912 for details. Win is also heading up a campaign to support Arizona Aid to the
Adoption of Special Kids (AASK). This one is eligible for up to $200 in Arizona State tax
credit. Look for more information on this at tonight’s party.
Quarterly Safety Meeting
Last week our Safety Committee met with company Safety and Operations officials for
their quarterly meeting and had a full agenda, which included maintenance, fatigue and
FOQA. The FOQA I&O (implementation and operation) plan has been approved by the FAA.
As soon as the company selects a vendor the program will get under way. This program,
which we participate in, will be a vital part of an enhanced safety culture at America
West. Safety Chairman Captain Terry Stadler will be reporting more details to you when he
gets time.
TRO’S
The speed dial to the courthouse got a busy signal this week. Federal judges have
rescinded restraining orders sought by United and Delta against their own employees. Maybe
ducking bargaining by running to the courthouse isn’t automatic after all. Tempting
fate, Delta has now appealed their judge’s opinion. Maybe they can make him mad. Stay
tuned.
We’ll Arbitrate, Part II
You didn’t think America West would handle the PBS arbitration promptly, did you?
Despite being formally notified of the need to strike for an arbitrator a week ago, and
despite being called nearly every day for a week by our attorney, VP of Labor Relations
Greg Garger did not return our call until today. He said he wasn’t stalling. Sure.
They’re hiring O’Melveny and Meyers for this. That’s probably a cool
$50,000 or so. I hear money is tight, except when it comes to hiring lawyers to fight your
own employees.
Our Implementation side letter says “the board shall meet within sixty days from
the receipt of the submission.” That clock started last Friday. We’ve already
checked and there’s a quality arbitrator available the first part of January.
Let’s go.
That’s all for this week. The next hotline will be Thursday, December 21. Thanks
for listening.
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| December 14, 2000
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