This is Eric Edwards with the MEC hotline
on Thursday, December 12. Tonight’s topics:
1. Negotiations
2. Local Council Rep Elections
3. SPC Activities
4. $920 Retirement Supplement
5. Resumes
6. Pilots for Kids
7. Third Annual Union Christmas Party
8. Holiday Neckties Available
Negotiations
Contract negotiations were halted last
night due to a lack of progress at the bargaining table. Our negotiating
team, the MEC, and the contract negotiation support staff at ALPA International
are all in agreement that the current company negotiators are not interested
in making further progress. Negotiations are tentatively scheduled to
resume on Monday, December 16. However, the MEC will meet prior to the
resumption of negotiations to assess our present position and strategy
moving forward.
We are extremely disappointed at the present
level of intransigence exhibited by the company negotiators at the bargaining
table and the disconnect between senior company management and their negotiators
is troubling. While CEO Doug Parker tells us and the entire pilot group
that he wants to make this a better place to work and wants to complete
our contract quickly, his negotiators continue to engage in counter-productive
stalling tactics.
The MEC will be consulting with the Strike
Preparedness Committee to develop plans for additional public displays
of our frustration.
Further information will be distributed
to the pilot group over the next few days via MEC e-mail, www.awalpa.org
web site postings, KIT Telephone System Hotlines, Pilot-to-Pilot volunteers,
Pilot Lounge Bulletin Board postings. Make certain to verify that you
are receiving official MEC Communications, your only source for accurate,
up-to-date information.
Local Council Rep Elections
Balloting for our Local Council representatives
closed Tuesday morning and the following members were elected: Scott Andrews
and Herb Holland as captain representatives; Vern Reaser and Misty Warren
as first officer representatives; and Ted Phipps as secretary-treasurer.
The terms of office begin on March 1, 2003 and end on February 28, 2006.
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all candidates and all of
you who voted.
SPC Activities
Many of you have asked “When are we
picketing?” Well, this Monday, December 16 is your chance to visibly
demonstrate your support of your union as we picket with Mesa pilots against
Freedom Airlines in Phoenix. There will be three picket shifts of two
hours each from 8 to 10 a.m., 10 a.m. to noon, and noon to 2 p.m. Pilots
must attend a briefing at the MEC Strike Center an hour before each shift.
Your MEC is requesting that all members who can show their support by
participating in this event – now is the time for action from all members.
If you can participate, you must call Elly at the Strike Center at 480-967-1002
to sign up for a shift.
The Strike Center also has a new e-mail
address: [email protected].
$920 Retirement Supplement
Some of our pilots who have been removed
from the seniority list for long-term disability have found that they
are not receiving their $920 supplement upon reaching age 60. We ask that
all pilots who are reaching age 60 soon contact both America West employee
benefits and the ALPA MEC office to prevent undue delays in receiving
the supplement.
Resumes
America West has again started limited
hiring of new pilots. The recruitment office is accepting resumes for
review prior to sending out applications. If you strongly believe in a
pilot candidate who would fit in well on our flight line and make America
West his or her career choice, take some time to personally recommend
them and send any correspondence to corporate headquarters in care of
pilot recruitment.
Pilots for Kids
The upcoming Christmas season will again
afford us the opportunity to visit Phoenix Children’s Hospital to pass
out toys and spread good cheer to those spending their holidays under
medical care. Captain Win Copeland leads this annual event, and has spent
time organizing our visit and buying gifts. This program thrives completely
on your generosity and envelopes have been placed throughout the pilot
lounge for donations. Amounts of any kind are appreciated and all donations
are tax deductible. Please take a moment this holiday season to stuff
one of these envelopes and drop it back in Win’s mail slot in the pilot
lounge. Our visit to the hospital this year will be on December 19 at
10 a.m. Win will be looking for a cadre of 20 pilots so consider this
a worthwhile venture if you have that day off. You can call Win to sign
up at 623-492-9912 or 602-740-0810.
Third Annual Union Christmas Party
The Third Annual America West Union Employees
Christmas Party is set for Monday, December 16 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at
Club Rio in Tempe. Tickets are now $15 per person. The cost includes a
dinner buffet, dancing and door prizes. Once again, there will be a silent
auction to benefit Aid to Adoption of Special Kids. More information on
buying tickets can be found by logging in to the pilots-only section of
the MEC website at www.awalpa.org.
Holiday Neckties Available
We have holiday-themed ALPA neckties available
for purchase that feature a Christmas tree decorated with several ornaments
reflecting various contract issues. They are compliant “holiday-themed”
ties in accordance with the FOM. You can see a picture of the tie on the
MEC website. They are for sale at the ALPA office or you can drop a check
payable to the AWA MEC Flower Fund in Captain Gregg Popovec’s mail slot
in the T-4 Pilot Lounge and he will deliver a tie to your mail slot. Cost
of the tie is $10.
That’s all for tonight; the next regular
hotline update will be on Thursday, December 19. Thanks for listening.
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