Good evening, this is Herb Holland the
MEC hotline for June 20th.
Tonight’s Topics:
1. Simulator Training for Resident Aliens
2. FOQA
3. Salmon Bake and Concert
4. Crew Scheduling Outrage of the Week
5. Special MEC Meeting
6. Airport Insecurity
7. Late Night Phone Calls
8. The Eaton Award
9. Early Departure
10. Professionalism
Simulator Training
America West Airlines has approximately 35 legal resident alien (green
card holders, if you will) pilots on the payroll. Under new Department
of Justice (DOJ) “Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force” regulations,
or the FTTTF, all pilots who are not U.S. citizens will no longer be able
to attend ground school or simulator sessions without first complying
with the provisions of the FTCCP (Flight Training Candidate Checks Program).
So if a pilot is subject to the FTTTF he must complete the paperwork required
for an extensive background check to comply with the FTCCP. But if a legal
resident alien is working for an FAR 121 carrier, his compliance with
the provisions of the FTCCP as issued by the FTTTF can be expedited using
the procedures set forth by the Transportation Security Administration
in their agreements with the FSDO, provided those procedures do not conflict
with the TSA mandated DOJ FTCCP directives as amended. But in the case
of any FTTTF jurisdictional disputes, the TSA provisions supercede those
specified in other DOJ, FBI, FAA, or FSDO regulations or guidelines. If
not, there would obviously be great confusion.
So an LRA pilot may continue to fly any
FAR Part 121 aircraft without additional security checks, but he may not
practice in a simulator or attend ground school without complying with
the FTCCP as set forth by the FTTTF. Your Federal tax dollars at work!
FOQA
Despite our constant warnings to crew scheduling, our FOQA gatekeepers
were not allowed to bid based on their seniority in BP 194. This is yet
another example of crew scheduling continuing to disregard the FOQA LOA.
This system benefits the company, and yet they were willing to risk suspension
of the program rather than fix the problem. At the eleventh hour (this
morning) we reached a one time only solution to crew scheduling’s mistake.
The company safety department is on notice that any future violation of
our gatekeepers’ seniority will result in suspension of our participation.
In other words, the program will cease to exist.
Salmon Bake and Esteban Concert
Don’t forget to call in for your tickets to the June 30th Esteban
Concert and “Tuna” bake. Don’t miss the event of the summer.
Call the office at 602-306-4100. We are going to get the festivities off
to a start at about 2 p.m.
Crew Scheduling Outrage of the Week
As we are all aware, the company has been canceling ground school
and simulator training the last two weeks in an effort to “staff
the airline right.” Unfortunately this line-of-sight staffing has
been at the expense of pilots and common sense. One example is that of
a pilot who finished a three-day pairing on a Wednesday evening, which
was to be followed by a simulator warm-up with a 1400 report the next
day. He woke up early the next morning to study only to be called at 1230
and informed that sim had been cancelled and that he would have to fly
the all-nighter to JFK. He agreed to fly anything else, just not an all-nighter.
He did not feel he could safely do that.
Crew scheduling, in a classic example of
intimidation and heavy handedness, not only refused to pay him the 2:45
allowed in Section 4-G-4 of the contract, they told him they would reduce
his pay by 4:17 should he not reach MLG! Once again, Assistant Chief Pilot
Dan Rogers had intervened to help the pilot. Dan and JR are trying to
reverse this totally absurd decision. Kudos to both of them and to the
pilot who refused to be intimidated, the pilot who put the safety of our
passengers over the size of his paycheck. Well done!
Special MEC Meeting
This afternoon the MEC met in special session. The agenda followed
the posted script with the exception of the proposed late agenda items.
First Officer Rep John McIlvenna removed the five late agenda items he
originally proposed and replaced them with five others. They were: discussion
of the 22 retired LTD pilots who had their medical benefits reduced, MCF
money clarification, R and I Committee member work load burnout, negotiation
updates, and protocol on meetings with company top management. To comment
on all these issues discussed today is beyond my capacity to post this
hotline tonight. Approximately 25 members showed up for the meeting. Suffice
it to say, this was a very productive meeting and reaffirmed that we are
united and reinvigorated in our crusade for a fair and equitable industry
standard contract.
Airport Insecurity
We have received what we believe to be accurate reports that security
screeners at COS have been singling out pilots for excessive scrutiny.
If you are subjected to any such treatment at COS or any other location,
do not turn this into an issue. Discreetly make notes of the incident
and immediately contact the MEC or Barry Kendrick of our Security Committee.
Late Night Phone Calls
The Scheduling Committee has asked me to request that you postpone
all but the most critical of calls until normal daylight hours. They have
been barraged by pilots calling their homes at two or three in the morning.
They maintain full schedules and have young children at home. If you have
a problem at 2 a.m., feel free to call me at home, 480-807-3546. Although
I am far from being a scheduling expert, I will attempt to steer you in
the correct direction to solve your problem.
The Eaton Award
As you all may be aware, the company has unilaterally decided to defy
the arbitration award and force 22 medically retired pilots to pay the
entire amount of their health care coverage. This MEC is fighting that
ruling on a number of different levels and will protect those pilots who
have been victimized by this most cynical violation of the CBA and an
arbitration award.
Early Departure
I am sad to report that George Olmstead passed away yesterday at
the age of 46 from an aneurysm. George was hired at AWA in 1988. George
had been on disability since the early 90’s and we became acquainted when
I represented him in the first post contract battle with the company over
disability benefits. We lost the grievance, but George never lost his
sense of humor. George’s close friend and fellow pilot, John Bergeson,
will let us know about funeral arrangements.
Professionalism
The MEC has fielded a number of complaints from pilots who have had cockpit
discussions turn into cross words amongst fellow union members. Some of
these have resulted in crew separations. Let’s remember, we are all on
the same team. We have to work together during and after contract negotiations.
I hope that’s ’nuff said.
Last week the issue was reduction in benefits for over age 60 pilots on
LTD. This week the issue is pilot pushing and intimidation crew scheduling.
No telling what it will be next week. But whatever it is, remember to
hold your head up high; remember to be courteous to your passengers and
your fellow employees; and remember to keep your eye on the prize: a C-2000
we can all look forward to. As of today we still have 56 pilots on furlough,
28 captains sitting in the wrong seat and more than 850 donations to FPL.
“Keep it safe and keep it standard.” Obey the FARs, obey the
FOM and follow the contract.
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