- May 8, 2007
- 3,146
- 3,236
Fellow pilots
[SIZE=x-small]This past week your CLT reps (Bob Frear & Ron Nelson) attended the five-day fall quarter APA BOD meeting in Dallas. This is the time of year that all existing committees issue their final reports and are then reconstituted. Two days are allowed for vetting and voting by the BOD of new committee members. The BOD left many committees intact. In the case of the Negotiating committee, longtime APA Chairman Dave Brown remained on the committee, but not as Chairman. With the conclusion of JCBA and or mediation talks, Dave will be winding down his involvement with the committee for some much deserved rest. We would like to thank Dave for his dedication and commitment for the betterment of all American pilots. From the LUS side, Dean Colello and Ken Holmes were permanently added to the committee structure.[/SIZE][SIZE=x-small] PHX Captain Dave Schoppaul was appointed Chairman of the Strike Preparedness Committee as the only name submitted. Since then it has come to the BOD attention that Captain Schoppaul was the producer of the infamous "Goat video" that so poorly characterized the formation of USAPA. It is our view that such a divisive individual could not garner the unity needed to be on the Strike Preparedness Committee let alone lead it. We will have a motion to reconsider at the next meeting. If you would like to be considered for this appointment please let us know. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]PBGC H.R. 2697[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]As you are well aware, USAPA has waged war against the PBGC on two fronts, legislatively and in the courts. In the case of the legislative effort, the former GAC (Government Affairs Committee) has been working tirelessly to modify the payout for P4 pilots. As a reminder, the company paid insurance premiums to the PBGC assuming that pilots would retire at age 60 (which was the mandatory retirement at the time). At the termination of the LUS Defined Pension plan, the PBGC paid out all P3 pilots (53 & over) at the time of the termination, the maximum benefit at age 60, regardless if they continued to work till age 65. Many of these pilots had less vested time towards retirement then those on the property today. P3 pilots were generally paid from the forfeited assets of the plan. Even though the company paid the higher insurance premiums for age 60 retirements, the P4 pilots were annuitized under the ERISA age 65-retirement age. Not only did pilots covered under the former DB plan lose a huge amount of vested money, the ERISA statute further imposed an additional 35% loss in promised retirement income.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]Randy Dopp from the LUS GAC and your CLT/PHL reps, spent a great deal of time explaining to the APA BOD and the National Officers, the importance of continuing this legislative effort and the need for a robust lobbying effort and consultants. The APA Board expressed support for the concept and were understanding and sympathetic to our plight. They do recognize the importance of representing the issues of all of their constituents and have pledged to work towards finding a way to continue this effort in a way that makes sense for the organization and its newest members. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]We believe that the APA board and National Officers realize the importance of this legislation to the former LUS pilots, and to the over 14,000 pilots who were adversely affected by the termination of their DB plans. Rest assured, we will continue to pursue any and all pathways to correct this gross injustice. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]We are disappointed to report that the PHX representatives strongly lobbied the board against funding the legislative effort. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]NICOLAI AWARD[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]We find it interesting that in the opinion of APA’s General Counsel, the “Nicolai award” is NOT legally binding.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]FATIGUE[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]We have recently received calls from pilots regarding the use of “Fatigue”. A valid fatigue call is one that is incurred as a result of being at work, i.e. noisy hotel, fire alarm, onerous trip pairing resulting in fatigue, etc. Being at home prior to a trip and not sleeping because of a new baby, puppy, domestic argument is not a payable fatigue event. On another note, failure to voluntarily extend a FAR117 duty period is also NOT a “fatigue event”. The company (at least on the LAA) side has (erroneously) inserted “fatigue’ in a pilots history file for failure to extend. Remember, you do not have to extend your duty period by even (1) minute. While on the subject of fatigue, some bases are scheduled to a cap of 95 hours in November and December. Combine the extra on duty reserve days, currently required for east pilots, and trip pairings with multiple 5 leg days, one could cleary understand why fatigue calls could increase. Remember by law you must be rested for your duty assignment. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]JUMPSEAT[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]The hot topic of late (besides JCBA & Scope) is the Jumpseat. We continue to discuss this with the new APA BOD at every opportunity. Right now the general view of the BOD is to wait until the JCBA process is over and then make a decision. Understand, as often as we hear from LUS pilots regarding this issue, the LAA reps hear from LAA pilots on the other side of the fence. Our human and professional tendency is to be wary and resistant to change. When you meet a LAA pilot, please be professional, patient and informative as to why you would like to continue with the best J/S program in the industry. Go out of your way and offer to demonstrate to your fellow American pilot just how to call and reserve the J/S. A professional, courteous educational campaign will go a long way in helping to keep this outstanding program. Rest assured that it is one of our top priorities.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]UPCOMING CLT-PHL TOWN HALL MEETING: November 12, 2014 @ 6:30pm ET[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]During our time in Dallas the week of November 10th, your CLT & PHL reps will conduct a joint town hall meeting. These teleconference meetings allow a very large contingent of our pilots to participate and ask questions of your reps. Please plan to be on the call if you can. More details will be provided in an upcoming special update.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]THE NEW APA BOARD OF DIRECTORS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]In the month of October, we have attended three BOD meetings and numerous training classes. We are extremely encouraged by the professionalism and working relationship that the combined board has with each other. We are included and relied upon as if we have been there for years. It is the first time in our careers that we have seen such a unified body representing the pilots of an airline. Although there are differences here and there, one thing we are in total agreement on is our place within the industry. We are resolute and up to the challenge if the company decides to place us somewhere other than our rightful place with our peers. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]PAYBANK GRIEVANCE[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]As many of you know, the company erroneously computed the paybank values for pilots that incurred these values under the retrospective pay period. In our opinion, any hours that were credited to a pilot’s bank during the retrospective calculation, needed to be computed at the higher pay rates. This issue was heard in an Appeal Hearing two weeks ago and was not awarded by Captain Hale. As a note, the Flight Ops Leadership assured your CLT reps that this was due our pilots on several occasions. In our view this is a clear indication of the limited authority AA legal has extended to them. The issue will now be scheduled for pre-arbitration conference. Considering the extremely low cost of this item, it is amazing to us how quickly this company will sacrifice integrity and goodwill for a nickel! How do you like the new corporate (legal controlled) culture so far?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]EAST RESERVE GREIVANCE[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small] APA President Keith Wilson is preparing a Presidential Grievance on behalf of the LUS – East pilots. The fact that we continually have to fight our way through virtually every part of the MOU and MTA is worrisome and telling of what to expect going forward. We take no pride in putting out our joint CLT, DCA, & PHL “The Great East Reserve Screw Job” base blast, but the company left us no other choice. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]NOVEMBER 12-14, 2014 Special BOD Meeting[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]We will be in special session the week of November 10th to await the company's [/SIZE][SIZE=x-small]compensation proposal. In a recent note to investors, JP Morgan's airline analyst Jamie Baker estimated that the recent drop in fuel prices, "should afford AAL roughly $1.5 billion of reduced expenses in 2015". This is in addition to the just beginning $1.0 billion in net synergies and the recently disclosed increment positive of $400 million associated with hub re-banking and variable scheduling. In total that's nearly $3.0 billion in positives to the New AA. As President Keith Wilson stated in his recent update, “It’s our turn”. In our view, it would be a monumental miscalculation on management’s side to force a contract on the 15,000 pilots of the New American Airlines through interest arbitration with terms imposed upon us in bankruptcy. The future success of this airline is squarely in the hands of Messer’s Parker & Kirby.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]Fly smart and Fly safe[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]Captain Bob Frear[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]Captain Ron Nelson[/SIZE]
[SIZE=x-small]CLT-REPS@alliedpilots.org [/SIZE]
