This is Eric Edwards with the MEC Hotline
on Thursday, January 23. Tonight’s topics:
1. Language Writing T/A Update
2. New Negotiating Team
3. Merger Fund Report
4. Mesa T/A
5. Industry Bankruptcy Musings and Rumors
6. Local Council Meeting
Language Writing T/A Update
As of this evening the language writing
for the tentative agreement remains incomplete. The ALPA team continued
paragraph-by-paragraph today on Section 24, Filling of Vacancies, to ensure
that previously agreed language was in place or disputed language was
addressed. This process has proven more time consuming than the MEC had
anticipated. For the many who question why this is taking as long as it
is, I submit today’s example. Section 24, sub-paragraph M, deals with
displacements plus seat and equipment bidding rights This issue came to
the forefront repeatedly in the past couple of years as pilots moved backwards
when the fleet size shrank. This produced multiple grievances as Contract
95 language was not clear and its intent was disputed. Clearer Contract
2000 language was agreed to in July save a couple of items that were slated
for close out toward the end of negotiations The America West team raised
new questions about a majority of this section today that developed into
an hour and 45 minute point counter-point. The two sides subsequently
recessed, then reconvened to listen to what could still be agreed upon.
The remaining open items of this section were added to a list of all open
items that the MEC must confer on. This process has already taken place
on other sections in the contract and should explain the lengthy time
requirements.
Tomorrow, the ALPA team will be meeting
with the management side again to perform the same exercise on Section
25, Scheduling. Sections such as scope and compensation that are being
written by ALPA National staff must go through this review process also.
This pilot group has learned from experience how poor contractual language
has made contract enforcement difficult. The MEC mandated clear and unambiguous
language and intent for Contract 2000; garnering such results is taking
time.
Your MEC realizes that many pilots are
anxious to read the tentative agreement and start the road show and voting
process. We are anxious to get this process started as well and will do
so when the language writing is complete and all pilots are able to have
their own printed copy. Last week’s hotline ventured a tentative date
of January 29th for the first road show; that date is now being revised
to a February 7th estimate.
After meeting informally yesterday, the
MEC has agreed upon the TA’s current state. There are three levels of
contract language that need to be finalized.
1. The melding of language between ALPA and management on the 34 issues
in the mediator’s proposal that serves to capture his intent.
2. The agreement of language on many more open sub-issues that were not
addressed in the mediator’s proposal and were not agreed upon prior to
the tentative agreement vote.
3. The capture of all previously agreed negotiated language that has been
re-opened during this language writing process.
The current process is closing down some
of these sections for good while other open sections that are still not
agreed to are being transferred to a master list. Upon completion of all
sections and this master list, the MEC has requested a meeting with COO
Jeff McClelland and CEO Doug Parker to discuss a final resolution. The
mediator may be called back to our property for his assistance. There
will be more updates as more facts present themselves. We will continue
this process until the language is complete and unequivocal in its intent.
New Negotiating Team
With our current Negotiating Committee
members completing their work and returning to the line, the MEC is starting
the process of looking for pilots interested in serving on this committee.
This committee will be working closely with the new MEC members who take
office in March. Interested pilots should e-mail me at [email protected]
as soon as possible.
Merger Fund Report
The 2002 Merger Fund Annual Report is now
available on the MEC website and in the T-4 pilot lounge. The report details
investment returns for this past year and plans for this year’s investments.
The report will also appear in the March-April issue of A Line in the
Sand.
Mesa T/A
This week, the ALPA pilots for Mesa Airlines
reached a tentative agreement on their new contract. They achieved ALPA-position
scope, which includes all present and future flying for all Mesa Air Group
carriers (Mesa Air, Air Midwest, CC Air, Freedom Air) and restricts the
ability of Mesa to start another alter-ego carrier. Their agreement encompasses
six previous T/A’d sections along with an offer from management to jointly
write final language for remaining sections and implementation issues.
Their completed document will then be presented to their MEC for consideration.
Industry Bankruptcy Musings and Rumors
As reported by various media outlets this
week, a number of major airlines have hired bankruptcy law firms for ongoing
consultation. Some airlines like American provided brief details including
the law firms retained while others like Continental declined to provide
any details. While a bankruptcy law firm has advised America West since
September 2001, the company is not actively working with their counsel
at this time. During today’s conference call with analysts and reporters,
Doug Parker assured the public that America West faces “no imminent
threat of bankruptcy.”
Local Council Meeting
The next Local Council meeting is set for
Monday, January 27 at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 320 N. 44th Street
in Phoenix. The meeting begins at 1800.
That’s all for tonight; the next regular
Hotline update is scheduled for Thursday, January 30. Thanks for listening.
|
|
|
|
Pilots
Only |
|
|
MEMBER
LOGON |
|
|
Public
Links |
|