Good evening, this is Herb Holland with
the hotline for Friday, May 24th.
Tonight’s topics are:
1. Road Trip
2. Mesa Airlines
3. Robby Attaway and Good News
4. Negotiations
5. Local Council meeting
6. Unity Extravaganza
7. Fatigue
8. Professionalism
Road Trip
Eric, Ted, and I are back from our whirlwind tour of ALPA politics.
For you computer denizens and e-mail recipients, you have probably already
read the updates on our venture to that most august of decision making
bodies. So I won’t repeat my posts, but I will say that we got considerably
more than we expected. R and I assurances, MCF assurances and scope grievance
support assurances.
Mesa Airlines
Speaking of scope protection, we still have much ground to cover
with our Mesa brothers down the (office) hall. I hope they will participate
in a joint statement with the MEC to clarify their position on our scope
clause.
Robby Attaway
By now I’m sure you all know that Robby Attaway was hospitalized
last week with a heart attack. He is now at home and beginning the recovery
process. I’m sure he’d like to hear from his fellow pilots.
Negotiations Resume
We’ll back at the negotiating table next week with our definitive
scheduling and hours of service proposals. And your negotiators have prepared
one heck of a package. Think greed: greed for lifestyle or greed for money.
And think flexibility: flexibility for your daughter’s first day in school
or flexibility for your dental appointment.
Despite initial protests from corporate
legal, we have actually been working closely with Crew Scheduling in devising
the language in Section 25. Their input over the last few weeks has helped
us avoid wasting time on hot button issues which may be unworkable even
in the workers’ paradise we plan to create. They also have much to offer
in the realm of FARs and in expensing out our proposal. They wouldn’t
buy off on our eight hour duty day demand, however.
Local Council Meeting
Don’t forget the next local council meeting, this Thursday, May 30th
6 p.m. at the Doubletree, 44th and Van Buren. We will be electing an interim
First Officer Representative and nominating candidates for the permanent
position. Proxies for the interim election are not allowed.
Unity Extravaganza
OK, the contracts have all been signed and on June 30th recording artist
Esteban will be performing a concert exclusively for us. This family awareness
event will begin at 2 p.m. with games for the kids, union “activities,”
guest speakers and a superb salmon bake served up by that internationally
renowned chef and all around party animal: Archie Turnbull. We are holding
it on a Sunday to catch the crowd coming back from weekend outings, to
allow you to bid accordingly for BP 194, and to accommodate Esteban’s
busy schedule. He is performing gratis (that’s free for those of you who
live in Rio Linda). The venue is the Mesa Centennial Center and we will
be indoors! We will have a full schedule of activities for you next week.
Since we are limited to 600, we will have to insist on R.S.V.P.s and a
$5.00 non-refundable deposit. This will be our signature pre-strike family
awareness event. Look for more information on how to get tickets next
week. To learn more about Esteban, go to this web site: http://www.spencertheater.com/Summer02/esteban.html
So make sure you bid off the first day of BP 194 so you, too, can be part
of the family.
Fatigue
If you check your e-mail today, you will find a copy of a letter the
MEC sent to the company regarding 55 extremely unsafe black flag pairings.
These pairings are the worst of the worst for BP 193. Some of the fatiguing
elements are obvious, others more subtle. Check to see if any of them
are on your line. If so, be especially careful and if you are too fatigued
to continue during one of these or during any pairing, stop, get out of
the cockpit and call in fatigued. We will continue to try to get these
pairings modified, but until they are improved, be extremely cautious.
If you have any questions, call one of your reps or the MEC office.
And finally tonight, once again: Professionalism
Since last Saturday this MEC
has had to deal with three pilot-induced problems that shouldn’t even
be on the radar screen this late in negotiating. Since our MEC officers
were in D.C. and the status reps were flying, these incidents took up
valuable time for us all.
I will be specific on one of them. On Monday,
PHX ground control asked one of our flights to “follow company”
ahead. Well, the “company” was an RJ. A pissing contest ensued
on ATC frequency. And now our CP is involved. Be careful where you pick
your battles. Don’t leave a “tail of the tape.”
Professionalism means wearing your uniform
with pride. Professionalism means cooperating with fellow employees. Professionalism
means following the contract. Professionalism means not cutting deals.
This Memorial Day weekend, remember that
our ultimate obligation is not to the company and not even to our union,
but to the passengers who fly our airline. Don’t ruin their weekend just
to make a statement. Don’t ruin their weekend because you are mad about
Mesa. And don’t ruin their weekend because you are distracted into making
an operational mistake.
FPL donations have soared to 721. However,
we still have 56 pilots on furlough and 28 captains sitting in the wrong
seat. Keep obeying the FARS, keep obeying the FOM and keep flying the
contract.
Peace, through fire superiority. That does
not need to be translated.
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