|
|
Don Steinman for the MEC
After one year’s preparation, the Negotiating Committee has completed its
industry-wide contract comparison and a contract survey, both of which will shortly be
mailed to all members. Due to delays at the ALPA print shop, distribution of the contract
comparison has been delayed by about two weeks. The contract comparison should be in the
mail by mid-June, followed about three weeks later by the contract survey.
Just a reminder that the Family Awareness Committee will hold a free summer barbecue on
Saturday, June 12 from 3pm to 7pm, at McCormick Railroad Park in Scottsdale. All members
and their families are invited. Family Awareness Chairman Frank Helton requests that you
please RSVP by June 7 so we can gauge how much food to prepare. To RSVP, give Sandi
Siniaho a call at the MEC office.
A number of pilots have reported problems printing from Maestro on their home computers,
particularly with certain models of Hewlett-Packard printers. Captain Del Brummet has been
working this problem with both SBS and HP, and reports that a fix is in the works in the
way of updated printer drivers. Captain Brummet would like any pilot who has experience
problems printing from Maestro to send email with the details, including pilot name, phone
number, and printer model. Email this information to [email protected]
MetLife will replace Aetna as America West’s disability insurance carrier.
ALPA’s R&I specialists are monitoring the change closely to ensure that the
company is in compliance with the contract, and that benefit levels are not reduced.
The Age 60 Retest grievance (also known as the Ed Sherman case) was heard by the
arbitrator in April. Both ALPA and America West are now in the process of submitting
closing briefs to the arbitrator. A final decision is expected in another two or three
months.
The FAA is continuing its close scrutiny of America West pilots and maintenance for
aircraft logbook infractions. Paragraph 1.201 of the FOM is explicit: the crew must ensure
that “each time Maintenance is called out to the aircraft for a discrepancy, a
logbook entry is made and the corresponding corrective action entered.” If there is a
discrepancy, write it up. Any time you call Maintenance to the aircraft, even for such
routine actions as oil or hydraulic service, write it up. Don’t let anyone tell you that a
logbook entry is not required. It’s your license that’s on the line, and the FAA is
watching.
At its May 17th meeting, the MEC passed a resolution calling for joint action
by both ALPA and America West to establish reasonable restrictions on pairings that
generate excess fatigue, and specific steps that fatigued crewmembers may take to be
relieved of duty without risk of punishment or discipline. America West pilots are among
the most productive in the industry, flying more hours than most of their peers at other
carriers, and flying them around the clock. At the same time, America West management has
never acknowledged that a flight assignment may be excessively fatiguing even though it
complies with FAA regulations and contractual work rules. At upcoming meetings, the MEC
will challenge management to acknowledge a simple statement of fact: pilot fatigue is a
real problem, around the industry, and at America West. And the MEC will challenge
management to establish a joint working group charged with addressing the fatigue problems
in America West’s pilot schedules.
|