MEC Hotline

1. Check Airmen
2. Arbitration Settlement
3. AIG
4. CMH Crew Lounge
5. Parting Shots
6. Alcohol Accusation Protocol
7. Strike Center
8. ATA Contract
9. Code Words
10. Professionalism

Check Airmen
The MEC is hosting a special dinner and reception for our check airmen
and spouses this evening following their semi-annual check airman meeting.
As a reminder of our check airmen’s devotion to this union, we have received
donations from over 80 percent of the check airmen for FPL.

Arbitration Settlement
The company has agreed to settle the PBS mis-award arbitration on a precedent-setting
basis. They had originally agreed to settle, but without precedence. This
was not acceptable to the MEC. The final agreement, however, is precedent
setting for all future line holder PBS mis-awards as well as those mis-awards
in this grievance.

AIG
Much to the chagrin of the company, the MEC has obtained a copy of the
latest AIG STD and LTD insurance policies. Amongst the more onerous highlights
of the AIG STD policy is termination of benefits section (page 14), which
states in part that benefits terminate during “a general work stoppage
(including a strike or lockout).” Under the exclusions section of
the LTD policy (page 19) there is specific exclusion of benefits during
“any period of Disability which results from alcohol, drug, substance
abuse or dependency.” A grievance is pending.

CMH Crew Lounge
I got to experience first hand the new AWA CMH crew lounge this past
Monday during three and a half hours of “wait training.” It
consists of a lunch table, four hard plastic chairs and a computer. The
Chief Pilot has promised that we will have our old lounge back in September
after Mesa moves out. Meanwhile, the grievance is moving forward.

Parting Shots from a “Former” ALPA Member Still Employed Here
at AWA
“You have the [Blanking] nerve to fund a celebration on June
30th while additionally charging us to pay for furloughed pilots’ medical
insurance? You just lost a member. BLANK you.” His letter included
his cut up ALPA card. He actually didn’t say BLANK.

Alcohol Accusation Protocol
After a number of ALPA suggested rewrites, the company has finished the
latest FOM Bulletin covering passenger alcohol accusations. It is a reasonable
and balanced procedure, and thanks to the Chief Pilot’s office, we had
some input into the final product.

Strike Center
The MEC is still looking for a site for the strike center. We plan on
a ribbon cutting ceremony on Labor Day followed by full operation shortly
thereafter. Can anyone say “Red Disk Rising?”

ATA Contract
ATA pilots voted four-to-one to approve their tentative agreement for
a new four-year contract. The contract calls for the largest monetary
increases in recent memory, improved scheduling and the beginnings of
retirement plan. Please check the ALPA Web Site for more details.

Code Words
Our PHX to DCA flight was diverted into Dulles yesterday due to the failure
of the crew to correctly identify the daily code word. The problem was
not the crew’s. It was SOC’s failure to give the crew the correct code
word. VP of Flight Operations Joseph Chronic was on board, so he got to
experience the mistake first hand. He was headed to the Air Transportation
Association’s OPS Council meeting, which must have been more important
than addressing the Check Airman’s Semi-Annual meeting.

Professionalism
As we move closer to what will be a successful resolution to C-2000, we
are all under a considerable strain. But being the professionals that
we are, we need to be especially watchful that these pressures do not
spill over into our daily dealings with fellow crewmembers, fellow employees
and our passengers. And we will soon have a new set of procedures in place
to cover our dealings with those few odd balls who think remarks about
sobriety are clever.

We have survived a lot worse in the past. We survived the recession of
1990 and the resulting bankruptcy. We survived the 747 debacle. We have
survived Contract 95. We survived 9-11. We have survived chronic crew
shortages. We have survived re-routes and tags. We have survived false
accusations and we will survive C-2000 negotiations. So, keep your eye
on the prize and remember your union will protect you.

I realize the events of the last few weeks — the relentless press coverage
and nightly Jay Leno jokes we have to endure — have taken their toll
on our patience. But we will have a new company procedure in place, which
should be published in the form of an OPS Bulletin. The new procedure
will be part of the FOM, so please: keep a cool head out there despite
the frustration, and continue to obey the FARs, continue to obey the FOM
and continue to follow the contract. Our jobs and the very survival of
the company are at stake.