1. Meeting
2. Local Council Meeting
3. Road Show
4. MEC Special Event
5. RJs
6. Video/Camera Volunteers
7. Fatigue policy
8. FPL Pins
9. Furloughed pilots
10. Dealmakers
11. Volunteerism
12. Professionalism
Meeting
Eric Edwards, Ted Phipps, Dave
Chambless and I met with Vice President of Flight Operations Joe Chronic
this morning to discuss numerous operational issues. We emphasized that
the new fatigue policy we are developing is not the precursor of a job
action, but a safe, sane and equitable approach to dealing with “Chronic”-ally
fatiguing pairings. We also continued to emphasize that this pilot group
has vast intellectual and operational talent which the company refuses
to utilize.
Local Council Meeting
The next local meeting will be convened on Thursday, May 30 at 6 p.m.
at the Doubletree Suites. We will be electing an interim First Officer
rep and nominating candidates for the permanent F/O rep position. No proxies
will be allowed for the interim election vote, but nomination ballots
will be accepted by mail or in person for the permanent position. You
should receive nominating ballots at your home address this week. The
announced candidates at this time are:
Mark Burman
Vance Osmon
Vern Reaser
Russ Webber
Road Show
Eric Edwards and I will be attending
the ALPA semi-annual Executive Board meeting next Monday through Thursday.
Also known as the “Begging Table,” we will be presenting motions
as necessary to ensure our access to the Major Contingency Fund promised
us for strike preparation and strike operations this fall and winter.
We will also be participating in what I am sure will be a rather contentious
Scope Conference. I’ll be posting nightly Web Board updates during the
session, although I don’t expect any earth shaking resolutions to reach
the floor.
Special MEC Event
Don’t forget this Thursday’s special unity event at the Doubletree.
Food and grog will start at 6 p.m., followed by words of inspiration from
Phil Comstock, founder and president of the Wilson Center for Public Research.
RJs
It appears that the RJ invasion continues unabated, despite our warnings
to the company that Scope is now our number one strike issue. Yes we have
heard the rumors that 70/90 seaters are coming this summer to Orange County.
The schedule, however, does not reflect that. We presently fly six non-stops
to Orange County each day. In June the total goes to eight, only one of
which is an RJ – a 50 seat RJ. In mid-July the number of non-stops increases
to 10, three of which will be RJs. Those are the facts as pulled up on
the AWA reservations Web site. Anything else is just rumor.
Video and Still Camera Volunteers Wanted
I have volunteered Scott Germain to be our official family awareness
photographer, but we are looking for back-up shutterbugs. We are also
looking for a volunteer with a high skill level in videotaping. I’m not
going to let the cat out of the bag until all contracts are signed, but
we are planning a blow-out family awareness event for the end of June.
Fatigue Policy
We stapled the general guidelines of our new fatigue policy to the
bottom of the last hotline. We are still putting all the pieces together
and hope to have them out to all of you by the end of the month. The policy
will be consistent with the FARs, the FOM, the contract and NASA studies.
So should the company take issue with any part of it, they will be taking
on more than they can handle. Until the final wording is complete, don’t
inadvertently make yourself a target. If you have any questions, call
one of your reps or me at home 24/7.
FPL Pins
The FPL pins are in your mail slots at T-4. Please use the old clasps.
These new ones are the cheap kind and don’t stay on very well. Sorry.
Our distribution staff will be making a weekly run to get the pins to
the terminal as pilots donate to the FPL fund.
Furloughed Pilots
As of today we have 56 pilots on furlough and I have to be honest,
the company does not have any immediate plans to recall any of them. Which
brings me to the next item:
Dealmakers
We continue to have reports about pilot cutting deals to enhance
their lifestyles and their banks. Dealmakers cost jobs. This has to stop.
NOW! In fact, as soon as we finalize the wording, the MEC will begin “Dealmaker
Education.” There will be one warning, then heavy fines. Every time
you troll the open time on a Golden Day and volunteer and volunteer to
fly you are cutting a deal. Every time you answer the call and fly on
a Golden Day you are cutting a deal. Every time you offer to be on reserve
in a city other than PHX, you are cutting a deal. The next time you call
crew scheduling directly instead of using TAS, and volunteer fly, think:
is it worth a $1,000 fine if you get caught? Do you feel lucky today?
And finally, think about that furloughed
pilot who is still doing odd jobs, substitute teaching, debating a major
career change. And think about that captain still sitting in the wrong
seat.
Volunteerism
Volunteering for an extra trip: BAD, VERY BAD!
Volunteering for the union: GOOD, VERY GOOD!
After hearing the reports of our volunteer
committee chairmen at the MEC meeting last week, I can say that we have
an amazing group of folks who are committed to making our jobs not only
safer, but easier and more fulfilling. These are the unsung heroes who
never get the credit they certainly deserve. And that is why the Flight
Pay Loss donation program is the lifeblood of this MEC. Every dollar donated
comes right back to us and every dollar pays for UNION BUSINESS!
The obvious way to support their work is
to contribute to FPL. 687 of you have already answered the call this year.
But you could even be a bigger help if you could volunteer to be a committee
member. The pay: lousy. The hours: horrible. But the satisfaction: priceless.
Very few committees are filled up. So check out the next Sandy, find a
committee which is short and say the “V” word. VOLUNTEER!
One last thought tonight: PROFESSIONALISM
The pilots at America West are by far the most professional, dedicated
group of pilots I have ever had the opportunity to fly with and the privilege
to serve. Every day for me is exciting. Every day I find one more reason
to be working with you. Every day I have the privilege of welcoming someone
new to our crusade. Someday, hopefully before it is too late, this company
will once again turn to this multi-talented pilot group, as they did after
9-11, and accept our participation in the struggle to make America West
number one. To ignore such talent is surely folly.
I do miss full-time line flying, but still
haven’t entirely quit my night job. Because that is where I can best face
the same problems you are facing. Because that is where I can best listen
to your legitimate complaints about not only the company but about your
own union. And because that is where I can best communicate with you.
As we approach the ultimate end of contract
negotiating season, I ask that each of you keep an eye on what you can
do to make America West – OUR airline – number one in the industry. I
ask that each of you keep an eye on continuing to make America West –
OUR airline – the safest airline in the industry. And I ask that each
of you keep an eye on the prize: a fair, equitable and industry standard
C-2000.
Continue to obey the FARs, continue to
obey the FOM, and continue to follow the contract.
Yurushco, onigauchimus. Kinechiwa. Ecke
Kombawa.
| Good evening, this is Herb Holland with the MEC hotline for Wednesday May 15. Tonight’s subjects: |
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