MEC Hotline

Local Council Meetings
MEC Meeting
The Buttsizer
Jumpseats
A Special Message of Disappointment
Solidarity and Peaking too Early
Weekend Escape
Special Thanks
Professionalism

Local Council Meetings
The regular August Local Council meeting will be held on the 14th at the
Doubletree Suites, starting at 6 p.m. There will a special Local Council
meeting on Tuesday, September 3rd. At that meeting we will have nominations
and elections to fill the FO representative vacancy for the remainder
of the term that ends Feb. 28, 2003.

MEC Meeting
Yesterday the MEC completed an extremely successful quarterly meeting,
the highlight of which was a hastily prepared open meeting with President
and CEO Douglas Parker. Mr. Parker’s presentation and the Q and A that
followed were not what made the meeting a success. The credit goes to
the 100 plus pilots who showed up at the meeting with only four hours
notice. Your display of solidarity sent a message stronger than 10 informational
picketing events could have ever accomplished. The number attending stunned
not only Doug Parker but also AWA EVP Steve Johnson.

Besides that, we actually got some work done. The minutes will be posted
on the MEC website as soon as Ted has them prepared.

The Buttsizer
I’ve taken a lot of good-humored ribbing about my post regarding the 4th
FA Jumpseat. All in fun, “butt” this is a legitimate program
and will be fully activated tomorrow. Please refer to the read file for
instructions, which will be followed up by butt another company bulletin
this weekend. The company DRS computer will be modified today to revise
the FA jumpseat policy. Per Ron Arfsten, until further notice, please
report to the Flight Standards Office at the Training Center for your
official “buttsizing.” If you pass the butt test, you will be
given an ID badge sticker that says CJQ (cabin jumpseat qualified). Wear
that badge with honor, sit your butt down and enjoy your ride.

Jumpseats
Speaking of jumpseats, as you may be aware, some Mesa gate agents are
refusing to allow AWA pilots who are wearing Scope badges or bag tags
access to jumpseats or non-rev seats. I discussed this issue with Mesa
MEC Chairman Andy Hughes. He understands that the tags are not an attack
on our fellow union members at Mesa. He understands this is part of our
internal contract demands for strong and meaningful scope protection.
And he is taking this issue to the highest levels at Mesa, not only because
of our request, but because jumpseat decisions do not belong to a gate
agent. At Mesa Airlines, as at America West, the jumpseat belongs to the
pilot in command, and it is, pure and simple, a captain’s authority issue.

Official Mesa policy? Who knows? But Mesa Airlines management is so bereft
of scruples, so lacking in ethics and so determined to undermine union
solidarity that they are deliberately provoking a jumpseat war. DON’T
fall for it. DON’T let another airline’s management get under your skin.
And DON’T retaliate against the fellow union members who will pledge their
support to us by not flying struck work.

A Special Message of Disappointment
“Our team has been negotiating for more than a year now, sacrificing
long days away from their families. The pilots have worked under concessionary
contracts for more than a decade and we’re tired of going above and beyond
for this company. It is distressing that management has chosen to test
our resolve instead of appreciating the sacrifices the pilots have made
to this company. We now intend to evaluate all possible legal remedies
under the Railway Labor Act such as national informational picketing…
However, the company should be aware that the pilots have been losing
motivation and enthusiasm from the frustration of working under this concessionary
contract, and the company’s failure to meet this deadline only heightens
that frustration. Speaking for myself, I’m through going the extra mile
until the pilots have a contract.”

I know, it doesn’t sound like my style of writing. In fact, that is why
it is in quotes, because the author of that paragraph is none other than
First Officer Joe Chronic, taken directly from a TWA MEC “Press”
release dated June 27, 1998. The release went on the say: “The TWA
pilots, who have been in contract negotiations since May 1997, make approximately
50 to 60 % of what their counterparts with the same training and experience
make at other airlines.” Thank you, Joe. With hundreds of pages of
“Chronicgasms” to draw on, he has made my job so much easier.
So much cannon fodder, so little time. National informational picketing;
nice touch.

Solidarity and Peaking too Early
Since we resumed negotiations last spring ALPA National and the MEC have
been cautiously optimistic that we could wrap up this contract by mid
to late fall. The company also thought that was a reasonable timetable.
After Mr. Parker’s presentation Tuesday, we now know why the company thought
a fall contract was possible. The company has no intention of even discussing
any wage package that exceeds the ATSB 15% guidelines. And if we want
5% increased staffing, I’m sure they’re going to reduce the pay increase
offer to only 10%; and if we demand 15% increased staffing, bringing us
nearer to industry staffing levels, you guessed it: they wouldn’t offer
us a pay raise at all! “W”s box! So after we are done with what
looks like a five month Kabuki dance over scheduling, the company is just
going to fold its tent and say: “cost plus 15%, that’s all you get.”
Their plan is so ludicrous it doesn’t even pass the laugh test. And despite
the company’s continued efforts to manage our expectations and to negotiate
outside of the negotiating table, they have failed. They better start
thinking out of the box.

We listened to Mr. Parker’s gloom and doom over the company’s financial
condition. That was less than two weeks after he declared that the company
was in the best financial position in its history. We continue to be abused
by a rapidly imploding crew scheduling department. We continue to compile
a bumper crop of grievances. And we continue to deal with managers who
just don’t get it and never will.

So, why aren’t we out picketing every day? Why aren’t we manning a 24/7
strike center? Why aren’t we hooting and hollering at the company every
chance we get? Not simple questions, but they deserve an answer.

As evidenced by our walkout from negotiations two weeks ago, the gun that
is cocked but not fired and the bullet that is still in the chamber can
still be fired another day. We got their attention and they came back
to the table better prepared. A perfect example of “Peace through
fire superiority.” They attempted to blame us for their own failures
and they got pummeled with the truth. Next time we may have to pull the
trigger.

The pilots of Council 62 have been on a war footing for well over a year.
The atmosphere in the crew lounge and on the line shows it. The polls
show it and the turnout on Tuesday shows it. But despite the unity we
have, we still see some pilots cutting deals with scheduling, sniping
at each other and not financially prepared for a prolonged strike. As
far as the deal cutters, education is over and retribution has begun.
As far as the sniping, it has to be a peer-policing mechanism. The MEC
cannot and will not censor anyone who is more concerned with revenge than
with obtaining a fair and equitable contract. But for those who are strictly
looking for revenge, don’t expect a welcome mat from the throngs of volunteers
willing to serve during the end game of this crusade. For those not financially
prepared, SPC and Family Awareness will be offering literature (Strike
101) and seminars to better prepare all families for what is looking more
like the inevitable.

VDRs will be increasing. We will be participating in the Annual AFL-CIO
Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 2nd. We will also celebrate the
ribbon cutting for the strike center that day. Even though the attire
for the parade will be casual, the parade will be early in the morning
and the walk quite short; it will still be hot out there. The heat alone
will test our resolve and our willingness to participate in VDRs under
the worst of conditions.

VDRs are more than just picketing. They are block (VIP Code) parties with
a purpose. They are attending Local Council meetings. They are voting.
They are strike center participation. They are spousal luncheons and they
are letter and e-mail writing campaigns. The number of VDRs will be increasing
dramatically over the next few months. And the ultimate VDR will be the
strike authorization vote. Because without near maximum participation,
we might as well close the strike center and accept what is on the table.

These events have been planned over the last two weeks and should carry
us well into the fall. These events are not being set up as a knee-jerk
response to any member demands, but based on previously successful campaigns
at other ALPA properties. Obviously our original timetable of contract
completion is, through fault of ours, much too optimistic. And as such
that timetable of VDRs may have to be stretched out. Informational picketing
events will increase as negotiations heat up and the OAT cools down. Yes,
we do have a plan. Do YOU have the right to know what it is chapter and
verse? Answer that question on your own. Do YOU want the company to know
what our plan is?

Weekend Escape
Continuing with my pledge not to quit my night job, I am flying a four-duty
period trip this weekend. Call it therapy. Should you encounter any crew
scheduling issue or other problem, please call your reps as well as my
cell phone, because I might not be able to get back to you from FL 350.

Special Thanks
This week marks my sixth month anniversary as your MEC chairman. I have
attempted to take in stride my bumps and bruises from the company, ALPA
National, fellow volunteers and from some of you. But I know we have turned
the corner. The solidarity amongst your volunteer MEC members, the negotiating
team and the committee volunteers has never been stronger. And the unity,
solidarity and the commitment “to hold the line” amongst the
membership has never been higher. And your financial preparation for the
inevitable final countdown has never been greater. The MEC has noticed.
ALPA National has noticed and most importantly, the company has noticed.
The position of MEC chairman has become more than a job for me, more than
just an adventure. It has become a passion. But it is not one I could
possibly undertake alone. It is your support and your enthusiasm that
focuses me to keep my eye on the prize.

Professionalism
As you all realize by now this MEC legally cannot advocate any action
that is contrary to the RLA nor condone such behavior with a wink and
a nod. To the contrary, any illegal job action would park us all and end
up with a Federal Judge approving the hotlines. We will win this crusade
by obeying the FARs, obeying the FOM, and paying more attention to following
the contract. Hardball, not bean ball. “Hold the line” and we
will prevail.