Good evening, this is Herb Holland with
the MEC hotline for July 11.
Tonight’s Topics:
1. Local Council Election
2. Committee Vacancies
3. Jump Seat Wars
4. Crew Scheduling Blooper of the Year
5. Crew Scheduling Blooper of the Week
6. Recalled Pilots
7. Throw Mama From the Plane?
8. Professionalism
Local Council Election
Russ Webber has been elected permanent First Officer Rep and will
serve through February 28, 2003. The final vote was Vern Reaser, 227 votes
and Russ Webber, 262 votes.
Committee Vacancies
Monday, July 15 will be the last day for submitting applications
for the vacant FOQA and Central Air Safety Committee Chairman positions.
We are also looking for Strike Preparedness Committee volunteers and a
new food taster (Crew Meal Committee Chairman).
Jump Seat Wars
Once again we are receiving complaints from both America West pilots
and Mesa pilots about denied Jumpseats. Don’t let the actions of the CEOs
of AWA and Mesa Air Group whipsaw you into a discourtesy to a fellow pilot
and union member. Don’t blame Mesa pilots for the actions of Mesa gate
agents and baggage handlers who “accidentally” misplace your
bags. And don’t forget a Mesa pilot who has been denied a jumpseat on
AWA has a lot more options on getting to work out of LAX than a commuting
AWA pilot has getting to work from COS. The Mesa MEC is addressing this
same message to their pilots. In a jumpseat war, only management wins.
Crew Scheduling Blooper of the Year
This is the one I have been sitting on since April:
Your MEC has a strict policy of not commenting
on ongoing Section 19 cases, but for every rule there has to be at least
ONE exception. On April 1st, one of our pilots was called at home and
asked why he wasn’t at work. Knowing he wasn’t scheduled to fly that day,
he assumed it was some sort of April Fool’s joke. No it wasn’t. He was
scheduled to fly and because he no-showed, the CP sent him a discipline
letter which stated: “The records indicate you no showed for a trip
on April 1, 2002, which will result in the following disciplinary action:
Loss of pay for trip missed; Letter of Discipline placed in personnel
file.”
Now for the REST of the story. The pilot involved was Russ Payne, one
of our negotiating team members. Russ was removed from the schedule for
union business back in early March. But there is always that 10 percent
that doesn’t get the word. And this time crew scheduling and the chief
pilot’s office were that 10 percent. But there’s MORE. Russ assumed that
the error had been corrected, but the certified letter he received dated
April 8th included his line printout (also dated the 8th), which still
showed him having a full line of flying for the bid period. Hence, another
no show for April 8th. And this was AFTER Russ notified in person not
only Mike Finn, Director of Crew Scheduling, but VP of Labor Relations,
Greg Garger. When Russ volunteered for the Negotiating Committee, he promised
he wouldn’t quit his day job. I guess the company took him seriously.
Crew Scheduling Blooper of the Week
Once again, another case of ready, fire, aim. One of our pilots was
scheduled to fly PHX-SJC-LAS-RNO (arriving at RNO at 0106 AM local time).
He arrived in LAS only to find out that the company had rerouted him to
CMH, a flight which was scheduled to arrive at 0735 local time, three
and one-half hours later than his original release time and well beyond
his ability to comply with FAR 91.13. He knew he would be too fatigued
to fly to CMH, so he wisely refused the assignment and asked to be returned
to the RNO flight. But crew scheduling had already cancelled the RNO flight.
Long story short: an RF on his line, 26-hour layover in LAS and possibly
a pay hit. Any pay reduction will be grieved. Once again, we commend the
pilot who put the safety of his passengers and fellow crewmembers ahead
of the safety of his wallet.
Recalled Pilots
The MEC hosted another enjoyable evening at Ziggy’s for the most-recently
recalled pilots. We hope to have two more such events in the near future
as we get ALL of our pilots back and ALL of our captains out of the wrong
seat.
Throw Mama From the Plane?
As we are all aware, passengers are making some snide remarks about
our professionalism regarding alcohol. All these outrageous accusations
have proven to be false. And now to cover up and deflect their own ineptness
and lack of policy, the company is looking for scapegoats. There is no
better example of that than top level company management’s statements
of the last 24 hours claiming that the “crew” overreacted! Overreacted?
That is untrue, defamatory and absurd! The SFO crew had nothing to do
with the passenger’s removal. The captain’s only comment to the gate supervisor
was: “What are you doing about the passenger who made the accusation?”
The answer from the SFO supervisor: “We have already removed her.”
The flight crew had nothing to do with the passenger removal. And this
MEC’s patience is being sorely tried by company management’s accusations
and statements that do not lend full support to us as professional pilots
at America West.
I discussed this issue with President and
CEO Douglas Parker. He is going on the record with following statement
addressed to you, the pilots of America West: “I apologize for inadvertently
accusing the crew of overreacting in Monday’s SFO passenger removal incident.”
Finally after 10 days of official and unofficial
complaints from your MEC, the company is crafting a policy to reflect
the realities of this sensitive issue. And hopefully their final product
will precisely define a logical, step-by-step process that minimizes pilot
angst and flight schedule disruption.
The final product should be distributed
early next week. Until then, please try to be thick-skinned, try to avoid
confrontations with passengers and above all, use your common sense. Let
the station managers take the heat. Let the station managers deal with
the passengers. Let the station managers do their jobs. And let’s help
out in this critical time by lowering the rhetoric and getting this issue
off the front page and off the Jay Leno show.
Professionalism
Once again, in the aftermath of last week’s incident, please keep
a cool head even when faced with baseless accusations. These are the times
which put our professionalism on the line. As always, Captain’s authority
is the final word on all matters involving the safe operation of any flight.
It is a powerful tool that must be used wisely and with discretion. If
you faced with a comment or accusation, obey the steps in the FOM 9.143,
as confusing as they may be. If you have any questions, call one of your
reps or one of the MEC officers.
And now more than ever: obey the FARs,
obey the FOM and follow the contract.
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