The MEC was in recess for over 24 hours and did not reconvene until 6:00 p.m. Then after 5.5 hours of work the PIT F/O needed a break. I wish I only had to work 5.5 hours.
The PIT F/O's move was political in nature to permit the RC4 to caucus because we are at the 11:00 hour.
Late last night the MEC debated a resolution that was placed on the code-a-phone that MEC took no action on and adjourned the meeting. The meeting reconvened this morning and the Pittsburgh Captain Rep proffered the following resolution, which was unanimously passed by the MEC.
The resolution above was passed by acclimation and the Negotiating Committee has now been charged to discuss pilot participation in the Transformation Plan with no restrictions. The resolution is as follows:
WHEREAS the MEC has received the Negotiating Committee’s report, and
WHEREAS it is incumbent upon the MEC to provide direction to the Negotiating Committee as to how best to proceed in these negotiations, and
Whereas the company’s last offer has been reviewed by the MEC and found to be unanimously unacceptable, and
WHEREAS it is in the best interest of the pilot group that a negotiated settlement be reached,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the MEC directs the Negotiating Committee to continue table discussions on the basis of the August 28, 2004 ALPA proposal, and
BEIT FINALLY RESOLVED as any agreement deviates further from the above proposal, the likelihood of failure at the MEC level increases exponentially.
After passing the resolution the MEC went into recess at the “call of the chairâ€. Furthermore, all members of the MEC and NC now believe we are at the 11:00 hour. It is imperative that all pilots monitor ALPA communications and come to the Key Bridge Marriott in Washington for the resumption of business. There is no question in my mind that this pilot group, this airline, and 28,000 employees and their families are at a crossroads.
Later today there will be an interesting code-a-phone to update the membership from an official position.
Respectfully,
USA320Pilot