This is Eric Edwards with the MEC hotline
on Thursday, October 31. Tonight’s topics:
1. Local Council Rep Candidate Nominations
2. MEC Meeting
3. Freedom Air
4. COBRA Fund for Furloughed Pilots
5. Election Day
6. Strike Center Happenings
7. Grievance Committee Needs Your Help
Local Council Rep Candidate Nominations
Last night, nominating ballots were counted to determine candidates
for the four Local Council status representative positions and Local Council
secretary-treasurer for terms that start March 1, 2003. As a result of
a change in representational structure passed last week at ALPA’s Board
of Directors meeting, these terms will last for three years. The nominees
are:
Captain Representative
Scott Andrews
Herb Holland
Archie Turnbull
Russ Webber
First Officer Representative
Chad Aarhaus
Bruce Beckington
Vern Reaser
Misty Warren
Secretary-Treasurer
Mike Calabrese
Ted Phipps
Voting instructions should be mailed in
the next week to the address you have on file with ALPA. As in past elections,
voting will be conducted by telephone and the Internet. The winners will
be introduced at the December 11 Local Council meeting. Look for biographical
information from the candidates in the November-December issue of “A
Line in the Sand.” Congratulations to the candidates and thanks to
those of you who cast a nominating ballot.
MEC Meeting
Yesterday and today, your MEC held a special meeting to receive a
briefing from the Negotiating Committee and to hear a comprehensive presentation
from ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis staff on the financial condition
of the company and industry and the outlook for the next year. For the
first half of yesterday’s session, the Negotiating Committee detailed
the unresolved issues in eight currently open contract sections. These
sections include Minimum Pay Guarantee, Vacations, Hours of Service, Leaves
of Absence, Sick Leave, Filling of Vacancies, Scheduling, and General.
During our session today, we discussed these open sections in detail and
the MEC provided the committee with direction in preparation for next
week’s negotiating sessions. It is our intent to get these remaining open
sections finished so comprehensive work can begin work on Scope, Compensation,
Insurance and Retirement.
During the second half of yesterday’s session,
members of ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis department gave the
MEC and Negotiators a comprehensive review of the company’s condition
and outlook following a thorough examination of the company’s financial
books. Their findings were not unexpected given the current state of the
entire industry and the company’s recently announced third quarter loss.
While the company has performed somewhat better in terms of losing less
revenue relative to our competitors, the fact remains that the economic
downturn continues and its effects are difficult to forecast. Adding to
this already negative environment are the increases in security costs,
insurance and taxes that airlines are paying since Sept. 11. Given the
fact that most airlines including America West have cut costs about as
much as possible, profitability will be dependent on when the economy
rebounds and revenues return to higher levels. The realities of this environment
make our negotiations that much more challenging, but we understand the
cyclical nature of airlines and the importance of reaching an agreement
that meets our pilots’ needs and keeps America West a viable airline.
Finally, President and CEO Doug Parker
along with Executive Vice Presidents Jeff McClelland and Steve Johnson
spent an hour with the MEC and negotiators answering questions and hearing
our feedback. We raised our ongoing scheduling and grievance concerns
and made it clear that the success of our airline depends on management
realizing that the pilots and all employees are assets and treating us
accordingly. We will continue to send this message at every opportunity.
Freedom Air
Our management shows complete disrespect to us and all ALPA pilots
by subcontracting flying to Ornstein’s Freedom Air in our America West
colors. While political pressure was used in an attempt to stop this before
it started, the effort obviously came up short. Council 62 will now get
behind ALPA’s effort to convert this Mesa subsidiary to ALPA-represented
flying. The first step is for ALPA to file an amended single carrier petition
with the National Mediation Board. A few months ago, the NMB ruled that
another Mesa subsidiary, CCAir, was in fact part of a single carrier with
Mesa and Air Midwest for the purpose of collective bargaining. ALPA will
pursue a similar ruling about Freedom. The second step will be federal
court on Nov. 18, when hearings will begin on ALPA’s suit alleging bad-faith
bargaining on the part of Mesa management. Mesa ALPA is in contract negotiations
now and is addressing scope as they attempt to capture all of Mesa Air
Group’s flying, including the upcoming US Airways “Jets for Jobs”
program. Freedom cannot join in that program as the US Airways MEC has
veto power over non-union carriers participating and has already passed
a resolution denouncing Freedom. Along those lines, both the United and
US Airways MECs have passed resolutions to discourage their furloughed
members from trying to fly at Freedom Air. In fact, the US Airways MEC
has indicated that all ALPA-negotiated benefits furloughed US Airways
pilots are receiving will not be available for any pilot that chooses
to fly for Freedom.
With different pressures being applied,
Council 62 will join the concerted effort by coordinating with ALPA as
to how we can be most effective. The status representatives and the MEC
office have received all your e-mails about this issue. I suggest you
keep voicing your opinions. You will get updated as events unfold.
COBRA Fund for Furloughed Pilots
The MEC office has received many thanks from furloughed pilots and
their families this year for your financial support continuing their health
benefits under COBRA. Since the last furloughees have returned and the
final insurance payment made, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Ted Phipps will
begin the refund process for the excess funds in the account. He will
report to the MEC on Nov. 19 at our regular meeting on how the refunds
will be processed. We will work to close out the account by the end of
the year.
Election Day
An MEC reminder to get out and vote next Tuesday in our national,
state and local elections. If you are Phoenix-based, your absentee ballots
must be postmarked by tomorrow. As you know from our Local Council meeting
on Oct. 2, your MEC is supporting Craig Columbus for the District 5 Congressional
seat. This district is home to America West and many of you and your families
live within in its limits. While I know many of you are independent thinkers,
Craig has taken the time on three separate occasions to discuss pilot
issues with your MEC officers and supports our opposition to the McCain-Lott
baseball arbitration bill. The political winds for the past couple of
years have been blowing hard against all airline pilots, so I suggest
we all blow back by encouraging our families and friends to vote for those
candidates who support our issues. We will e-mail a reminder notice to
all PHX pilots prior to next Tuesday.
Strike Center Happenings
Volunteers are beginning to staff our Strike Center in order to call
every pilot and update your contact information. When you hear from these
volunteers please take a minute to make sure we have all your contact
numbers and e-mail address. Monday Night Football continues every Monday
starting at 5:30 p.m.
Grievance Committee Needs Your Help
The Grievance Committee is looking for a few volunteers who are willing
to join the committee and assist in processing pilot grievances. Your
work on this committee will go a long way toward making a difference for
all pilots at America West. Interested pilots can contact Jon Dudeck at
602-418-6902. Also, the committee asks pilots who submit grievances to
include as much background information on your issue as possible to assist
in making your case stronger.
That’s all for tonight; the next regular
hotline update will be on Thursday, November 7. Thanks for listening.
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