AWA ALPA Thread for the Week 9/14-9/20

[b737fo]

Meanwhile, all the new hires will go to the East.

Later,
Eye

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good argument.

 

[USA320Pilot]

AWA MEC Hotline - September 14, 2007

• Security Tip

• 2008 Open Enrollment

• Age 60 Update

• Check Podium for Jumpseaters and Non-Revs

• Pilots of Champion Air and Pinnacle Airlines to Picket

• Executive Council Meeting Next Week

• Negotiations Update

• Captain Prater Addresses America West Pilots

Security Tip

If you, as the Pilot in Command (PIC) and In-Flight Security Coordinator (ISC), are not satisfied that a Security Sweep has been performed on your flight, have it done and documented prior to taking off. Please use the correct form outlined in your FOM. Old forms (US-0030 dated 10/06) being used by certain stations are no longer acceptable. The only form that is currently valid is the one that requires the captain's signature.

The stations are responsible for this procedure and cannot make alterations. There have been several occurrences of stations doing improper sweeps and signing the documents without actually performing the functions. As a result, our Flight Operations Security Committee (FOSC) is working with management to correct this matter before a situation that could have been avoided by following the procedures occurs or a fine is imposed.

Please report any discrepancies to the Chief Pilot on duty and the FOSC, and be sure to include the date, flight number, time and location.

2008 Open Enrollment

The Company will begin mailing out the 2008 Annual Enrollment information within the next couple of weeks. The enrollment period will be October 15 through October 29, and will once again be conducted on-line at www.ebenefitsUS.com along with a call-in number to customer support. There will not be any changes to West pilots’ benefit options or insurance plans. Pilots desiring to re-enroll in flexible spending accounts will have to specify the amounts they want to have withheld.

NOTE: Employees on the East plans will have the option to choose coverage under UHC or return to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. US Airways management made the decision to not offer Blue Cross/Blue Shield to West pilots even for those few pilots living east.

Participation in the enrollment process is recommended so you can confirm who you have covered in each plan and review your designated beneficiaries. If you do not go online during the annual enrollment period, you will remain in the plans you have today. Similarly, if you have opted out or waived any coverage currently, you will remain uncovered in 2008 if you do not participate in the enrollment process. The one exception is medical or dependent care tax-free spending plans; you must actively enroll in these plans each year during the annual enrollment process if you want to participate next year. Look for additional details from the Retirement & Insurance Committee.

Also look for additional reminders from us, as this is a shorter enrollment period than usual.

Age 60 Update

The U.S. Senate passed its FY'08 Transportation Appropriations bill earlier this week by an 88 to 7 vote. This bill contained the “Oberstar language,†which ALPA has supported for any legislative directives to change the FAA mandatory pilot retirement age rule.

The Oberstar language is contained in the House FAA reauthorization bill, not the House Transportation Bill. The Senate version of the Transportation Bill must now be reconciled with the House-passed bill in conference. The White House has threatened to veto the Senate version of the bill for excessive spending, and we will keep you updated on this issue as events warrant.

Check Podium for Jumpseaters and Non-Revs

Please continue to check the podium for jumpseaters and non-revs prior to each flight. Let’s help make sure that each and every employee has an opportunity to make it to his/her destination as space allows on our aircraft.

Pilots of Champion Air and Pinnacle Airlines to Picket

The pilots of Champion Air and Pinnacle Airlines have each been in their respective negotiations for more than 18 months and are inviting all ALPA pilots to join them on Wednesday, October 10, for a joint rally and picket to protest the protracted pace of negotiations in front of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul.

Pilots will meet at the CHA MEC office in Bloomington, Minn. at 10:00 a.m. and walk to the CHA corporate offices for informational picketing from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Buses will transport attendees to the State Capitol for a rally and lunch from noon to 2:00 p.m. Buses will transport participants back to the CHA MEC office afterwards. Transportation to and from the airport will also be provided. If you have any questions, contact CHA MEC Chairman Matt Marsh at [email protected] or 612-282-1287 or PCL MEC Chairman Scott Erickson at [email protected] or 651-226-3797.

Executive Council Meeting Next Week

The ALPA Executive Council will meet next week in Washington, D.C. While there are many items on the agenda, the following four items will be of particular interest to America West pilots.

1) Further consideration of the East’s request to overturn the seniority list.

2) Consideration of a new resolution to present the arbitrated seniority list to US Airways management.

3) Continuation of access to an already approved MCF grant for financial support to our Communications, Family Awareness and Strike Preparedness Committees to achieve a fair, single contract. (Access to this fund was stopped when the East MEC resolved to withdraw from JNC talks.)

4) Transition Agreement dispute brought forward by the East to appeal to the Executive Council and require the America West MEC to participate in arbitration with management. They are specifically grieving management’s move to a single operating certificate. To merge the airline, a single operating certificate, a merged seniority list and joint contract are all required. The AWA MEC’s position is that moving to a single operating certificate is not in violation of the Transition Agreement, but rather it is one of the three required steps—agreed to by both pilot groups and management—to merge the airline.

Negotiations Update

Joint contract negotiations are scheduled for the week of September 24, in Washington, D.C. During this session, we anticipate discussing Section 25 (Scheduling), Section 26 (General), and the scheduling of more dates in October and throughout the remainder of the year.

Captain Prater Addresses America West Pilots

More than 150 America West pilots showed up to the PHX crewroom today to speak with ALPA President John Prater. Throughout the day, Captain Prater fielded questions about ALPA Merger Policy, work of the Rice Committee, presentation of the list, the future of joint negotiations, the threat of decertification, and more. His stated goal is to attain an A-scale contract, moving the B-scale America West pilots and the C-scale US Airways pilots up to reflect their contributions and sacrifices for their respective airlines and the new US Airways. He also stated clearly that he has the authority to take action immediately, if necessary, to ensure that both East and West members are represented at the bargaining table during joint negotiations. As mentioned above, the Joint Negotiating Committee is scheduled to meet with management September 24-26, and we will continue to keep you updated.

Captain Tania Bziukiewicz
Communications Committee Chairman

 

[Phoenix]

... He also stated clearly that he has the authority to take action immediately, if necessary, to ensure that both East and West members are represented at the bargaining table during joint negotiations. As mentioned above, the Joint Negotiating Committee is scheduled to meet with management September 24-26, and we will continue to keep you updated.

Captain Tania Bziukiewicz
Communications Committee Chairman

If true that Prater said this... Does it idicate he intends to cram down the joint contract like the MEC did for the pension giveaway? Threatening No membership ratification? That is stupid if he thinks he is helping prevent USAPA. But then maybe he is complicit to a plan to do an end run on USAPA.

Imagine the situation if there is a merger between three or more companies planned where USAir gets split up. Imagine the situation if he crams the completion of the merger between US and AWA, with a merger announced soon after in some combination of two or three of other ALPA carriers (United, Northwest, Continental, or Delta).

Imagine the precedent set.. USAir pilots, both East and West could be all but stapled to make the "real" legacy carrieres happy.

Would USAPA supporters get scared about having a new union support them in broken up units going to different airlines (up against ALPA at each one of them)?

Would a vote for a union change even be authorized with a merger in progress?

Prater knows many think he is a "Devil". Does he respond, "Yeah, but I'm a "Devil" you know. Do you want to gamble on the "Devil" you don't know?

 

[Phoenix]

Not for long. Hiring off the street is beginning for pilots and continuing for FA's, ya gonna have to past the baton to the new generation. New blood is the future for this group of passive aggressive malcontents.

AWA pilots haven't done anything (but whine), so I guess they are passive. And they certainly appear aggressively upset about Prater not doing his job. But AWA doesn't have to worry; Prater isn't displeased about their disposition or a smile on their face as long as their dues keep flowing.

Keep him happy and you can comfortably remain passive aggressive malcontents. But whatever you do don't vote for change or you might risk becoming something other than a passive aggressive malcontent.

 

[Junebug172]

If true that Prater said this... Does it idicate he intends to cram down the joint contract like the MEC did for the pension giveaway? Threatening No membership ratification? That is stupid if he thinks he is helping prevent USAPA. But then maybe he is complicit to a plan to do an end run on USAPA.

Its VERY true. Prater has stated that someone will be at the table representing the east pilots. If you look at the TA, National's signature is on it. They're not going to let the east set them up for a lawsuit because of some dumbass resolution.

But, please, call your reps to verify.

And he does have the support of the EC.

 

[capn scud]

Junebug:
I see your posts here are as boring as your posts on the national ALPA forum!
Its just ashame that somewhere a village is missing its idiot!

CS

 

[Junebug172]

Junebug:
I see your posts here are as boring as your posts on the national ALPA forum!
Its just ashame that somewhere a village is missing its idiot!

CS

Are you posting drunk - AGAIN!?!?!

 

[hp_fa]

Junebug:
I see your posts here are as boring as your posts on the national ALPA forum!
Its just ashame that somewhere a village is missing its idiot!

CS

Say it ain't so!!

You mean there was actually a private forum for all these internal ALPA discussions rather then this very public forum where folks have felt free to post MEC and LEC documents that were written for the members of those groups? Are you inferring that people who posted Hotlines and other items were trying to stir public opinion regarding internal ALPA issues?

Come on, say it ain't so.

 

[Richard]

OK, here's another reminder, this time to Capn Scud -- Do NOT make this personal. Keep on topic and refrain from personal attacks, or you will find yourself with some serious time off.

No more warnings, folks....the cornfield awaits the next poster who posts a personal attack or insult.

Do we have to keep closing threads as well??? I hope not.

 

[ableoneable]

Prater did say that JNC talks could go on without east participation. This does not mean that the contract would go into effect without a vote.

He is talking about the negotiations process exclusively. The east pilot group would still have to ratify any agreement. ALPA national's polling data leads them to believe that a contract with pay/vacation/scheduling improvements and fences would be ratifiable on the east.

 

[AWA320]

Its VERY true. Prater has stated that someone will be at the table representing the east pilots. If you look at the TA, National's signature is on it. They're not going to let the east set them up for a lawsuit because of some dumbass resolution.

But, please, call your reps to verify.

And he does have the support of the EC.

Hey Junebug is that a pickle ball and paddle????

 

[Junebug172]

Hey Junebug is that a pickle ball and paddle????

Sure is!!!

Sent my money and card in to USAPA a weekago.

The other USAPA keeps telling us how they'll be a union to all of us yet they won't even let us onto their website.

 

[Tiger 1050]

Pickle Ball!!!! I love Pickle Ball!!!!!

 

[Callsign_Cactus]

You couldn’t be more right! In PHX Prater openly admitted he won’t submit the list because it has value (what a low life scumbag). By holding the list he thinks he can prevent the east from decertifying, and leverage the west into voting for a contract with some fences and minimal raises. ALPA is playing a game of chess, and like any decent chess player, they are trying to make calculated moves several steps ahead of their opponent. The only problem for ALPA is this is not a political game, not to mention they are not very good chess players. Holding the list has emboldened the east and angered the west, and in the end, ALPA will lose which ever way they proceed. All because of Darth Prater and the Emperors Colonies (EC)!

Everyone in the east says they will not vote for a contract with NIC…anyone ever consider what it will take to get the west pilots to vote for a contract? Think about it, with the potential for fences in the contract and very little raise compared with the east, do any of you feasties think that once YOUR problems are solved everything will be A-ok? My guess is there will be some sort of protection offered for Nic but the west pilots will not buy it and vote no to any contract. Quite the little conundrum we have here.

Prater knows many think he is a "Devil". Does he respond, "Yeah, but I'm a "Devil" you know. Do you want to gamble on the "Devil" you don't know?

 

[Mr Furlough]

You couldn’t be more right! In PHX Prater openly admitted he won’t submit the list because it has value (what a low life scumbag). By holding the list he thinks he can prevent the east from decertifying, and leverage the west into voting for a contract with some fences and minimal raises. ALPA is playing a game of chess, and like any decent chess player, they are trying to make calculated moves several steps ahead of their opponent. The only problem for ALPA is this is not a political game, not to mention they are not very good chess players. Holding the list has emboldened the east and angered the west, and in the end, ALPA will lose which ever way they proceed. All because of Darth Prater and the Emperors Colonies (EC)!

Everyone in the east says they will not vote for a contract with NIC…anyone ever consider what it will take to get the west pilots to vote for a contract? Think about it, with the potential for fences in the contract and very little raise compared with the east, do any of you feasties think that once YOUR problems are solved everything will be A-ok? My guess is there will be some sort of protection offered for Nic but the west pilots will not buy it and vote no to any contract. Quite the little conundrum we have here.

Well well Callsign Catie.....seems you post admits what we've been saying all along. You don't want those fences, you want our attrition. What makes it yours to have?