May 6, 1999 Hotline

May 6, 1999


CIGNA Medical
Insurance Update

However, if you try to
get a prescription filled and the pharmacy computer shows that you do not have CIGNA or RX
coverage, instruct the pharmacist to call the CIGNA hotline. A CIGNA representative will
inform the pharmacist that you do indeed have the appropriate coverage.

On a separate but
related issue, CIGNA plans to mail new medical ID cards to all pilots. You should receive
your new ID card by May 31st. Once you have received your new CIGNA card,
discard the old one. This, in no way, changes your coverage level with CIGNA. The CIGNA ID
cards previously sent to pilots contained an incorrect group number and did not display
the America West logo. The new cards are simply correcting those printing errors.

If you do not receive
your corrected CIGNA ID card by the end of this month, call the America West Employee
Benefits Department at 602-693-8845.

Grievance Update and
Request

Additionally, Bill
Archer, Grievance Committee chairman and Andrew Shostack, contract administrator,
presented several grievance appeals to the Vice President of Flight Operations earlier
this week. There are two grievances of interest to many pilots. The first is the
diminution of pass privileges imposed upon the pilots by senior management in anticipation
of self-help by the flight attendants during their 30-day cooling-off period. Any pilots
who experienced personal damages, such as out-of-pocket losses, as a result of the pass
privilege embargo are asked to contact either Bill or Andrew. The second grievance
pertaining to vacation cancellations of pilots in upgrade or transition training was
presented. Pilots that have been affected are encouraged to contact either Bill or Andrew
to ensure that your name is included in the group grievance.

Las Vegas Security
Update

Anyone who is not in a
uniform, i.e., check airmen, will not have ramp access, and must be escorted by a badged
Las Vegas employee.

Just the Facts

New Director of Crew Resources

The company has also
announced a re-alignment of the reporting structure within Flight Operations. Mr. Yerse
and the Crew Resources department will now report to Jim Tabor, senior director of System
Operations Control.

Local Council
Meeting

Committee Chairmen
Needed

Family Awareness
Get-Together

That concludes this
week’s update. Remember, if you do nothing, you deserve nothing. What are you doing to
help secure a contract? Get involved with your union.

The next scheduled hotline will be
Thursday, May 13th.

  • CIGNA Medical Insurance Update
  • Grievance Update and Request
  • Las Vegas Security Update
  • Just the Facts
  • New Director of Crew Resources
  • Local Council Meeting
  • Committee Chairman Needed
  • Family Awareness Party

  MEC Hotline
This is MEC
Secretary-Treasurer Mike Calabrese with the MEC Hotline for May 6, 1999.  Tonight’s
topics are:


Earlier this week, the MEC learned that CIGNA, America West’s medical insurance
provider, had inadvertently cancelled the RX prime coverage for a number of pilots. The
company has assured us that CIGNA has corrected the problem and that all pilots are still
covered under the RX prime coverage.


As last week’s hotline reported, ALPA won a substantial victory in the retirement and
insurance arbitration. In order to ensure that our members are properly compensated, any
pilot who has used short- or long-term disability or workers compensation since May 5,
1995, is requested to contact the ALPA office by telephone or fax. Specifically, we need
to know your name and the period in which you were on leave.


Security Committee Chairman Barry Kendrick has informed us that all previous ramp and
concourse restrictions on AWA pilots at Las Vegas have been lifted. Our pilots now have
ramp-to-ramp and concourse-to-concourse access – while in uniform.


A Just the Facts issue was distributed to all pilot mailboxes at Terminal 4 today.
The publication discusses the Association’s recent arbitration award concerning the
cancellation of medical benefits for disabled pilots. All pilots are encouraged to read
this information. It is also available on the MEC web site at www.awalpa.org.

America West has hired Jerry Yerse as its new Director of Crew Resources. Mr. Yerse was
previously with USAirways, where he served in a similar position.


The next Council 62 meeting will be held Wednesday, May 26 at 6pm, at the Holiday Inn
Select, located at 44th and Washington streets in Phoenix. Gilbert Mook,
America West’s new executive vice president and chief operating officer will be the
guest speaker. All members are encouraged to attend.

Several MEC committees are in need of volunteers, particularly committee chairmen. The
Retirement & Insurance, Government Affairs, and Crew Meals committees are currently
without chairmen. If you are interested in volunteering as a member or as chairman of any
of these committees, contact one of your LEC representatives.

The Family Awareness Committee invites all active ALPA members and their families to a
free summer get-together on June 12 from 3pm to 7pm, at McCormick Railroad Park in
Phoenix. A BBQ dinner, beer, ice cream, and children’s entertainment will be
provided. Members interested in attending must RSVP to Sandi Siniaho at the MEC office by
June 7. Members who RSVP will receive a free train ride for their children under 12.