MEC Hotline

1. Negotiations
2. Prescription Drug Coverage Changes
3. Local Council Officer Elections
4. Third Annual Union Christmas Party
5. Monday’s Picketing
6. Holiday Neckties Available
7. Unwanted Toys Wanted!
8. MEC Office Closing

Negotiations

This week your Negotiating Committee resumed mediated talks with the Company.
We came to the table Monday with a list of critical “must-have”
items as directed by the mediator in an effort to identify the remaining
areas of contention, and hopefully establish a framework for completing
negotiations. Jeff McClelland, COO of America West Airlines, has served
as spokesman at the table for the Company this week, a move widely regarded
as positive by the ALPA team. Howard Attarian, Executive Administrator
for ALPA National, also joined us at the table on Wednesday.

Monday and Tuesday talks were dominated by an exchange of positions on
remaining open sections accompanied by discussions on costing model refinements.
ALPA R&I representatives, with the assistance of Jim Connolly from
ALPA National’s R&I department, met with Company representatives in
subcommittee on Wednesday and discussed the critical issues pertaining
to retirement and benefits.

On Thursday afternoon, the Company provided the negotiating team with
a comprehensive proposal that addressed the remaining open items. This
is the first legitimate counterproposal since the current Negotiating
Committee resumed negotiations some nine months ago. Tonight the MEC met
with the negotiating team to discuss where we stand. Friday afternoon,
the MEC will meet in closed session to discuss the week’s progress and
to evaluate where we are with respect to a final product.

Prescription Drug Coverage Changes

During open enrollment, ALPA’s R&I committee notified the pilots that
America West Airlines Employee Benefits contracted with Caremark for the
handling of our prescription drug benefit claims. Caremark will issue
Prescription Drug Coverage cards to be used only for prescription drug
benefits. Those of you who have received your 2003 health insurance cards
will notice that the prescription drug benefit has been removed. America
West employee benefits has indicated that Caremark will begin mailing
prescription benefit cards on December 20th, 2002.

Effective January 1, all AWA employees (including pilots) will need to
present their Caremark cards to their pharmacy to fill prescriptions.
Please check and ensure your current pharmacy accepts and participates
with Caremark. It is possible that due to the holiday mailing delays,
some cards may not make it.

The Retirement and Insurance Committee recommends that all pilots and
their families get necessary and eligible current prescriptions filled
or refilled prior to 2003 using their current Cigna or Mayo prescription
drug coverage to prevent potential interruptions in prescription drug
coverage during the change to Caremark. America West has provided assurances
that the transition to Caremark will be seamless. The R&I committee
will reviewing the process as it is taking place.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call AWA Employee Benefits
at 480-693-8910.

Local Council Officer Elections

Now that the new Local Council representatives have been elected, elections
must be held for Local Council chairman and vice chairman. Voting instructions
should be mailed to all eligible voters Friday, December 20 and balloting
will close at 8 a.m. Phoenix time on January 10. As before, votes can
be cast by phone or via the Internet.

Third Annual Union Christmas Party

The Third Annual America West Union Employees Christmas Party was held
Monday night and more than 200 AWA union members attended. Our silent
auction and gift donation drive brought in more than $2,500 and more than
100 toys for Aid to Adoption of Special Kids in Phoenix. Thanks to all
who attended and donated toys for the kids and to all who donated items
for the raffle and silent auction. Special thanks to Kyle Sims and Christina
and Marc Oliver for all their hard work in putting this event together.

Monday’s Picketing

Thanks to the SPC for getting the word out and organizing a successful
picketing and leafleting event in Phoenix. More than 185 America West
pilots were joined by fellow ALPA members from Mesa in demonstrating against
Freedom Airlines for six hours at the airport.

Unwanted Toys Wanted!

Scott Andrews and Frank Helton of our Scheduling Committee will be coordinating
the donation of unwanted but usable toys to a local Phoenix orphanage
before Christmas. Any members who may have some unwanted toys around their
house that they would like to donate should call Frank at 480-225-4211
before Dec. 24.

MEC Office Closing

The MEC office will be closed December 23 through December 25, and will
re-open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, December 26. On behalf of the entire MEC
and office staff, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday.