April 1, 1999 Hotline

  April 1, 1999

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Negotiating Committee update

In the meantime, the Negotiating Committee, along with
Contract Administrator Andrew Shostack, and Communications Specialist Yvette Freeman, will
return to Herndon later this month to meet with ALPA’s professional negotiators and
senior staff members in order to finalize our coordinated campaign strategy for Contract
2000 negotiations.

Also on the negotiating front, the committee will launch
formal discussions with management on Flight Operations Quality Assurance, aka FOQA, next
week.

Rumor Control

10. With the success of our Star Flight Program, America
West has entered into discussions to purchase the entire Star Alliance.

9. All newly hired America West executives will wear orange
hats or green vests their first 90 days on the job.

8. Future pilot crew meal recipes will be taste-tested in
the executive cafeteria at our new corporate headquarters.

7. To save costs, Management’s Contract 2000 opener will
propose shared layover hotel rooms for pilots and flight attendants.

6. There will be no sound effects on future MEC hotlines.

5. America West management is considering several new
markets, including non-stop service to Lewisburg, PA; Marion, IL; and Lompoc, CA.

4. The only aircraft in our fleet that is immune to the
Melissa virus is 708.

3. Pilots caught on duty out-of-uniform will be given a
last crew meal prior to being executed.

2. The new America West advertising slogan will be:
“Since we have to be number one at something, we may as well be number one at baggage
handling.”

1. In keeping with the recent program of providing escorts
to pilots entering the new corporate headquarters building, all pilots will be provided
with escort services while on layovers.

That concludes this week’s update. The next scheduled
hotline will be Thursday, April 8. Stay focused, fly safe, and thanks for listening.

  • Negotiating Committee update
  • Rumor Control
  MEC Hotline
Don Steinman for the MEC.


Two key Negotiating Committee projects are nearing completion. First, a contract
comparison of the top 10 jet carriers is nearly complete and will be mailed to the
membership, with a target mailing date of the first of May. Second, a draft of the
forthcoming pilot survey is currently under review by appropriate committee members, and
should be at the printer by mid-April. It will be mailed to the membership approximately
three weeks after the contract comparison. According to Negotiating Committee Chairman
Pete Neff, the goal is to have the survey returned for analysis by mid-June, after which
construction of the Section 6 opener should begin around the first of July.


As you know, we fight a constant battle against misinformation, and work diligently to
keep the pilot group up-to-date on the facts. To further these efforts, we have compiled
the first annual April Fool’s MEC Hotline Top Ten False Rumor List. The following rumors
have been thoroughly researched, and are certified by the MEC to be absolutely false. The
Top Ten False Rumors circulating among America West pilots are: