1. Fatigue
2. Guns and Stun Guns
3. Secret Meeting
4. May MEC Event
5. HIMS and LTD
6. Dealmakers
7. MEC May Smackdown
8. Early Departure
9. Next Local Council Meeting
10. Professionalism
Fatigue
We have just received the Black Flag Pairing report for BP 192 from
our scheduling and safety committees. Once again, the numbers are not
encouraging, over 286 black flaggers. We cannot emphasize enough, if you
are too fatigued to fly a leg, call in fatigued. Do not endanger your
passengers. Do not endanger your license and do not endanger yourself.
If you are forced to call in fatigued, do not be afraid to back up your
call with an event report.
One thing which is not acceptable is pilots
using fatigue as a scheduling enhancing device. It is not fair to the
company and not fair to the pilot who has to replace you. This is not
a mixed message and should not be taken for anything other than its face
value.
Guns and Stun Guns
This week Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta will be announcing
guidelines which will allow the use of stun guns in the cockpit. United
Air Lines has already trained 1/3 of its 9,000 pilots in their use. Being
on the cutting edge of airline security as they are, I’m sure America
West is studying the issue.
Also, this week Congressmen Young and Mica
introduced ALPA-backed legislation which would authorize specially trained
volunteer pilots to carry weapons in the cockpit. This legislation is
opposed by most, if not all airline CEOs. Whether you believe in guns
in the cockpit or not, the issue is the result of the current administration’s
refusal to aggressively address airline security. By the way, Young and
Mica are both Republicans, so your contributions to the ALPA-PAC do find
their way to both sides of the aisle.
Secret Meeting
On Friday, April 26, your MEC chairman, accompanied by ALPA attorney
Andrew Shostack, met with AWA CEO Douglas Parker. During the one-hour
meeting, the MEC stressed the importance of immediately addressing scope
which, according to the latest Wilson Poll, is now the number-one strike
issue. The MEC discussed the need to immediately address the most onerous
black flag pairings. But most importantly, the MEC emphasized that this
pilot group is an untapped, underutilized asset which has an enormous
willingness to participate in our company’s future success.
May MEC Event
Don’t forget to set aside May 16th for an evening of solidarity and
inspiration as we welcome Phil Comstock, President of the Wilson Center
for Public Research. Food and grog begin at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Suites,
followed by comments by Phil. You will be receiving an invitation in the
mail next week.
HIMS and LTD
As I mentioned in last week’s hotline, we were in discussions with
the company regarding LTD payments to pilots in recovery and participating
in the HIMS program. AIG continues to refuse to pay the benefits and the
company is negotiating with them to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, as that
battle over a clear violation of our contract continues, Vice President
of Flight Operations Joe Chronic and the MEC have reached a temporary
resolution to the problem. In a stand alone agreement, the company will
make the equivalent of LTD payments, including back pay, to the pilot
who has been adversely affected. We will monitor and report the company’s
progress in negotiating with AIG.
I realize your MEC has adopted a no deals-no
side letter policy with the company, but this particular situation is
an exception. On both our part and the company’s part it was the right
thing to do. I trust there will be no objections to this one-time agreement.
Deal Makers
Speaking of deals, the MEC is still receiving reports of pilots cutting
their own deals with crew scheduling. On a number of levels this has to
stop. NOW! First, it is extremely difficult to argue that we are understaffed
if the staffing problem is being solved by pilots who pervert the existing
contract for their own convenience. Section 25.M.5 was never intended
to allow you to check open time on a golden day, and then trade for a
trip that day. This is worse than accepting a JA on a golden day. Masking
understaffing just keeps furloughed pilots on the streets. Nor is there
any section in this contract which allows pilots to stand reserve in LAS.
Such behavior only reduces the chances of us getting a LAS base now or
in C-2000. This will be the last warning. We will vote on a resolution
to fine the deal makers at the next MEC meeting.
MEC May Smackdown
The MEC quarterly meeting is scheduled for this coming Tuesday and
Wednesday, May 7th and 8th. It will be held at the DoubleTree Suites,
starting with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. All pilots are encouraged
to attend. Lunch will be served each day. Because of our continued commitment
to free and open meetings and free and open discussion of the issues,
we will suspend the rules as necessary to allow comments from our brothers
and sisters who are able to attend. At the conclusion of the second day,
we will have an open-ended discussion as to the state of the MEC and where
we are heading.
Early Departure
First Officer Rep Lance McMillan has tendered his resignation from
the MEC. Lance has shared the reasons for his resignation with the MEC
and on the Web Board.
Next Local Council Meeting
The next Local Council meeting will be Thursday, May 30 starting at
6 p.m. at the Doubletree Suites. The agenda includes officer and committee
reports and a speaker to be named later. We will be electing an interim
First Officer Rep at this meeting; proxies will not be allowed. A protocol
letter to fill the permanent First Officer Rep position will be mailed
to your home shortly.
Professionalism
As we are all aware, America West has been experiencing a remarkable
turnaround in performance over the last eight months: unprecedented load
factors and industry leading on-time reliability and completion percentages.
All while we continue to maintain a safety record that is the envy of
the industry. And this record is the result of all operational employee
groups working together to make us number one.
Your MEC has shared in your sacrifices.
Your MEC has shared your frustration as we begin year eight of a five-year
contract. And your MEC recognizes that your patience will not last forever.
But once again your MEC asks for not only your patience, but for your
restraint as we near the end of the negotiating season. If we disrupt
the operation of OUR airline, we not only do a disservice to the traveling
public, but we interfere with the progress at the negotiating table. And
don’t forget, the mediator flies back and forth to Baltimore on OUR airline.
There will be a time to show the power we can wield, but it is not now.
So continue to wear your uniform and your
ALPA pin with pride, continue to obey the FARs, continue to obey the FOM,
and continue to follow the contract. As of today we still have 56 pilots
on furlough and 28 captains witting in the wrong seat. FPL contributions,
the lifeblood of your committee work, have reached 641. The FPL pins should
be here next week. Don’t be the only one in the cockpit who isn’t wearing
one. Thank you for listening.
“I told the audience how I had
sent a letter to John Rockefeller, Junior, telling him of conditions in
the mines. I had heard he was a good young man and read the Bible, and
I thought I’d take a chance. The letter came back with “Refused”
written across the envelope.” — Mary Harris “Mother”
Jones, September 1919
| Good evening, this is Herb Holland with the MEC hotline for Thursday, May 2. Tonight’s topics: |
|
Private
Links |
|
|
(Login
Required) |
|
|
Public
Links |
|