E-190 Preparations...

[careerfurloughee]

Atlantic,

Haven't seen anything has been agreed to. Last I saw was it was heading to arbitration. You have a copy of any code-a-phone or such stating such?

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE
June 9, 2006

This is Arnie Gentile with a US Airways MEC update for Friday, June 9th, with three new items.

Item 1. MEC Chairman Jack Stephan will soon be recording a Chairman's message to the pilots that talks about how successful this week's MEC quarterly meeting was, and also gives an update about the joint MEC meeting that was held yesterday with the America West MEC. You can access the Chairman's message by calling the Code-a-Phone and choosing option #2.

Item 2. During the joint US Airways and America West MEC meeting on Thursday, The US Airways MEC passed a counterproposal to the America West MEC on B-757 and EMB 190 growth aircraft that was well received. Keep listening to the code-a-phone and check the pilots only website for updates on this important issue.

Item 3. The Legislative Affairs Committee is again asking pilots to contact pension conferees. This is a crucial time as specifics of the bill are being narrowed, but it appears to have slowed down due to the immigration situation and other matters on Capitol Hill. The specific airline provision still includes the Akaka amendment language, which is very critical to our pilot group.

The Akaka amendment could have a significant impact on the guaranteed benefits payable from the PBGC to US Airways pilots. The most obvious improvement would be for pilots who were under the age of 53 at the time of plan termination on March 31, 2003. Those pilots are considered PC-4 pilots, and the Akaka amendment would allow them to receive the higher, age-65 dollar guarantee of $43,977 per year at age 60. Without the Akaka amendment, the age-60 PBGC dollar guarantee would be $28,585, a full 35% less.
Pilots who are eligible for PC-3 benefits could also receive additional benefits under the Akaka language. PC-3 benefits are those benefits that would be paid to any vested pilot who was age 53 or older as of March 31, 2003.




MEC Chairman's message
June 10, 2006


This is MEC Chairman, Jack Stephan, on Saturday, June 10th, with an MEC
Chairman's message to the pilots.


...Along with dealing with financial issues, the MEC dealt with the
difficulties surrounding the 757 and EMB 190 Growth Flying issues. I'm happy

to say that we're at the threshold of a deal with the AWA pilots on the
B-757 growth issue and we will continue to work towards a resolution of the
EMB 190 flying. The first of those aircraft are scheduled to arrive here by
the end of the year. ...


Thanks for listening.

 

[Dorf]

Read the transition agreement the 757/190 are considered growth flying which is to be divided among west/east. Abritration will decide not wheather it will happen but the ratio which it be done at. Its all there in black n white.

Yep, sounds pretty black & white to me....

"This is MEC Chairman, Jack Stephan, on Saturday, June 10th, with an MEC
Chairman's message to the pilots.


...Along with dealing with financial issues, the MEC dealt with the difficulties surrounding the 757 and EMB 190 Growth Flying issues. I'm happy to say that we're at the threshold of a deal with the AWA pilots on the
B-757 growth issue and we will continue to work towards a resolution of the EMB 190 flying.

 

[Atlantic]

I stand by what I said with 757's. I don't agree with it,but it is what it is. East pilots gave up jobs that are going to go way jr. on the West side. By jr., I mean v/s years of service to East pilots. And that's outside arbitration, so it's not going away.
As far as the 190's, 50-50 split might be MAY be a good deal for the East pilots. If the company does in fact replace some 737/319 flying with the 190's, East pilots may have cut their exposure to that reduction.
I'm not sure when the West new Airbus order arrives, but if it after jan.1, it will be a non-event.

 

[fr8tmastr]

Sounds like an ALPA deal all around, East has 1700 on furlough but West has to have growth. I have no problem with equal access to new aircraft and all. But with people on the street? I want my quick upgrade you will just have to stay unemployed longer. Seems like D woerth wrote that one personally

 

[Crzipilot]

Saying we are at a threshold to a deal is far from saying a deal is done.......Basically feel good wording, that the two sides are still talking, Unlike the AWA Merger com. canceling more meetings to discuss integration...

 

[USA320Pilot]

AWA ALPA MEC Hotline - June 9, 2006

As reported to you earlier, after meeting in session in Phoenix, your MEC traveled to Philadelphia this week to meet with the US Airways MEC to review the status of joint negotiations and discuss the distribution of growth flying. I am pleased to announce that we are at the threshold of an agreement on the B757 growth flying, subject to final legal review. We are also working through the weekend on the distribution of Embraer 190 seats, which are expected to enter the fleet later this fall. We expect to finalize these agreements next week, and once complete, we will provide you with more details.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[aquagreen73s]

Sounds like an ALPA deal all around, East has 1700 on furlough but West has to have growth. I have no problem with equal access to new aircraft and all. But with people on the street? I want my quick upgrade you will just have to stay unemployed longer. Seems like D woerth wrote that one personally

There will be no hiring off the street until all furloughs are recalled. The only effect of the EMB growth deal is where the recalls go to. Some will likely end up in the West system since some from the West will go to the EMB.

It's important to remember that the purpose of the growth clause is not about fairness so much as it's about preventing the company from whipsawing the pilot groups against one another.

 

[EMBFA]

Any word on where the plane will be based? I hope philly... we need more blocks and i miss my brazilian baby. plus the only f/as that are EMB qualified are mostly based in philly with the recall. i wonder if we have to go through training again? its just a 170 with a window exit they were able to throw my ass on a 757 on june 1st so i dont see why we couldnt do the 190 from day one. how many more pilots and f/as will this bring back? i hope all

 

[Zarah]

Not sure on that one. The 170 did not have a window and we would not be checked off on that exit. So, does that mean a new AC day of training?

 

[EMBFA]

someone who did recurrent said the 190 door is already in CLT but not the window. i think your right we have to be checked off on every exit. its the exact same door jumpseat, control panel, exactly the same. maybe we'll get a shortened version. it would be annoying to have to go to clt just to swing my leg through a window. bring it to the airport and ill do it on a productivity break.

 

[Atlantic]

At first, I think the 190's will be based where we have 24 hr. mx. PHL and CLT are the front runners, but maybe BOS as well. Remember, we are only getting a hand full of these a/c this year.

 

[exB717Flyer]

There will be no hiring off the street until all furloughs are recalled.

Just to clarify, there'll be no hiring off the street until all furloughees are offered recall. Chances are many will bypass instead of come back as 190 FOs and street hiring will make up the difference.

 

[USA320Pilot]

EMBFA:

EMBFA asked: "Any word on where the plane (EMB-190) will be based?"

USA320Pilot answers: It is my understanding the initial pairings indicate the aircraft will initially be based in PHL.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[Furloughedagain]

Chances are many will bypass instead of come back as 190 FOs and street hiring will make up the difference.

Does anybody else think this is going to be a logistical mess?

We learned in the furlough-admin thread that if a pilot bypasses recall he may find himself on the street while a more junior pilot who accepted it goes to the Airbus on a system-bid. (Since active pilots bid, and the leftovers go to the furloughees)

So now there will be newhires brought onboard to staff the E190. Wouldn't the same thing potentially happen?

Now you might have a 15-year furloughee remaining on the street -- bypassing to await an Airbus or Boeing position -- while a newhire takes that position in a system bid?

Boy ALPA has really got this one all figured out, haven't they? What is it that they do again?

 

[Freighterguynow]

Chances are many will bypass instead of come back as 190 FOs and street hiring will make up the difference.

Does anybody else think this is going to be a logistical mess?



Seniority is seniority - that pilot would have the first choice of recall or pass. It may get sticky further down the road but that's an issue that would sort itself out in the long run. At some point in time the pilot would get the Airbus and be senior again on the list.
We had the same issues in the 90's with pilots recalled to Metrojet and subsequent newhires going to the 757.