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| Good evening, this is MEC Communications Specialist Scott Sherrin with the hotline message for Thursday, Aug. 2 . Today’s topics are: |
| Upcoming MEC Meeting |
| Reduction Bid and Pilot Shortage |
| Premium Holidays |
| Terminal 4 Membership Meeting |
| Upcoming Labor Day Events |
| Comair Assessment |
| Merger Fund Delinquents |
| Air Traffic Control Documentary |
| Safety Committee Update on Stadium |
| Upcoming MEC Meeting |
| The next regular MEC meeting will be held Aug. 6-8 at the Wyndham Phoenix Airport, 427 N. 44th Street in Phoenix. The meeting begins at 0900 each day. In addition to regular business, the MEC will elect officers for two-year terms that begin Sept. 1. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend. |
| Reduction Bid and Pilot Shortage |
| Recently, the company initiated a reduction bid and, despite the continuing delivery of Airbus aircraft, is apparently waiting as long as possible to put out a vacancy bid. In addition, we have received several reports of crew schedulers pressuring pilots to fly during their vacations and on their days off. The company continues to tag pilots on trips and is also continuously attempting to illegally re-route pilots. You need to enjoy your well-earned days off and your vacation time. Making deals to fly on your vacation or days off takes a potential upgrade away from your fellow pilots and gives management the excuses they need to undermine our contract and work you beyond safe and sane flying limits. Read your contract and if you are asked to do something out of bounds, just say no for the benefit of all pilots. |
| Premium Holidays |
| In June we told you that America West sold the stock the company received in the de-mutualization of MetLife for a substantial profit. Under federal law, the company is required to return that profit to employees. This will be accomplished through “premium holidays” for five pay periods and reduced premiums for a sixth pay period. Our Retirement and Insurance Committee, in particular Joe Heil and John McIlvenna, kept close watch on the company and made sure management knew we understood what the law requires. The MEC thanks Joe and John for their work on behalf of all pilots. |
| Terminal 4 Membership Meeting |
| The MEC has reserved the meeting room near the Terminal 4 food court on Aug. 22 to conduct informal discussions with members. MEC officers, representatives and members of the Negotiating Committee will be available to answer any questions you may have relating to Contract 2000 or other issues. Arrangements are still being made, but we will give you more details about times and participants soon. |
| Upcoming Labor Day Events |
| The SPC is planning events for Labor Day weekend and needs your participation. In addition, the MEC would like you and your families to march in the annual AFL-CIO Labor Day parade in Phoenix on Sept. 3, after which the Family Awareness Committee is planning an event. We will provide more details soon, but mark your calendars now and plan to attend. Don’t miss this opportunity to show the public and media that all America West pilots fully support our negotiators. |
| Comair Assessment |
| While the majority of you have paid your Comair Strike Assessments in full, there are still some America West pilots who are two or more months behind in payment. Because these assessments are billed individually, they are not part of your regular dues check-off arrangements and must be paid by a separate check. Those who are two or more months behind in payment will go into bad standing and lose a number of ALPA benefits, including the ability to vote on ALPA issues such as contract ratification and access to the ALPA Intranet, MEC website and message boards. It is possible that our brothers and sisters at Comair will be called on to support us, as we were called on to support them, should our efforts to negotiate Contract 2000 result in release from mediation and self-help. To determine your assessment and/or membership status, or if you have not received any assessment notices, Contact Secretary- Treasurer Capt. Mike Calabrese at the MEC office or ALPA Membership at (800) 871-0899, ext 4169.ier New |
| Merger Fund Delinquents |
| Letters have been mailed to those America West pilots who have not fulfilled their $500 obligation to the America West MEC Merger Fund. If you’ve received a letter, contact Secretary- Treasurer Calabrese or the ALPA Membership Department to resolve your payment status. |
| Air Traffic Control Documentary |
| We urge all of you to tune into the premiere showing of a special program on air traffic control this Saturday, August 4 on CNBC at 1530 EDT. ALPA, Boeing, American Airlines, George Washington University and Arthur Andersen joined forces to produce this 30- minute documentary on the need for modernizing our national air space system. ALPA President Duane Woerth presents the Association’s point of view in the program. The documentary is targeted toward the traveling public and the general population in an effort to educate them on the problems plaguing the system and the solutions that need to be put into place to fix them. Again, the program will air this Saturday, August 4, on CNBC at 1530 EDT. |
| Safety Committee Update on Stadium |
| Later next week, the Central Air Safety Committee should have more information on the proposed Cardinals football stadium on its KIT System update. ALPA’s position on issues like this has always been focused on maintaining a level of airport safety equal to what existed prior to the beginning of construction. |
| The next hotline will be Thursday, August 9. Thanks for listening. |