ALPA’s Executive Council met in special session today to continue deliberations on the AAA MEC’s request that the Nicolau Award be set aside. The Council heard from ALPA’s president, Capt. John Prater, that additional work remains to be done to carry out the May 2007 Executive Council resolution.
After much discussion, the Council reaffirmed its desire that the two MECs and Joint Negotiating Committee should, in the best interests of their respective pilot groups, fully engage in working together on such consensual approaches. To facilitate that work, the Council passed two resolutions.
In the first, the Council resolved that “continued consideration of issues as to the Award take place at the regular meeting of the Executive Council scheduled to commence on July 17, 2007.â€
In the second, the Council resolved that ALPA’s President
meet as soon as practicable jointly with the two MECs to address programs called for by the Executive Council, the concerns of the Council, and the concerns of the MECs;
establish a communications program to provide AAA and AWA members and all other members of ALPA with accurate information on issues concerning the Award; and
establish a committee chaired by ALPA’s first vice-president, Capt. Paul Rice, as chairman, and including Executive Board members, to work with both MECs and the JNC. (Click here to read the Council’s Final Resolutions.)
The resolution further directed the committee to
assist the MECs and the JNC in developing consensual approaches that promote mutual career protection and mutual success;
assist with the communication program; and
report to the Council at its July meeting and also report to the members of the Executive Board to keep them up to date.
Integral to the Executive Council’s consideration of the matter was the provision in ALPA Merger Policy that provides, “In no event, except by mutual agreement of all parties, will the company be given the right to use the merged seniority list prior to the successful conclusion of the merged working agreement.â€
The Council’s goals in taking these actions are to
promote mutual career protection and mutual success;
help both pilot groups to negotiate a single, progressive CBA;
educate all pilots on the details of merger policy and the criticality of negotiations between pilot groups that are merging; and
avert a union-replacement campaign at either pilot group.
The Council concluded that the issues concerning the pilot seniority integration award at the new US Airways will have important, long-term consequences to the two pilot groups and the entire union.
On Tuesday, as the Council concluded its debate, members learned that the AAA MEC had filed a lawsuit to vacate the award. ALPA’s Legal Department is reviewing the suit.
The situation that the Executive Council is facing is the direct result of decisions made by two pilot groups who acted independently to develop their own strategies, make their own decisions, and negotiate with each other. Despite that fact, the Council accepts that the results of those decisions have created a situation that has the potential to negatively affect all members. Although Capt. Prater and the Council are committed to helping the two pilot groups, the two groups must engage and work toward a solution.
Without the merged seniority list being implemented, the pilots can have no joint collective bargaining agreement that improves the pay, benefits, and work rules of both pilot groups, while preventing whipsawing.
Litigation will not lead to joint solutions or success on common goals. Without a consensual solution, US Airways pilots will continue to suffer under a bankruptcy-era contract, rather than receive the very substantial improvements that are available when bargaining is completed.
The Council concluded that there is no effective solution to this problem outside of the ALPA structure. A new union for either pilot group will inherit all agreements without providing any internal protections to find mutual solutions. All ALPA pilots are watching the events unfold in your pilot groups. As this issue is of vital importance for all ALPA pilots, the National Officers and the Executive Council will provide more information in the coming days and weeks.
After much discussion, the Council reaffirmed its desire that the two MECs and Joint Negotiating Committee should, in the best interests of their respective pilot groups, fully engage in working together on such consensual approaches. To facilitate that work, the Council passed two resolutions.
In the first, the Council resolved that “continued consideration of issues as to the Award take place at the regular meeting of the Executive Council scheduled to commence on July 17, 2007.â€
In the second, the Council resolved that ALPA’s President
meet as soon as practicable jointly with the two MECs to address programs called for by the Executive Council, the concerns of the Council, and the concerns of the MECs;
establish a communications program to provide AAA and AWA members and all other members of ALPA with accurate information on issues concerning the Award; and
establish a committee chaired by ALPA’s first vice-president, Capt. Paul Rice, as chairman, and including Executive Board members, to work with both MECs and the JNC. (Click here to read the Council’s Final Resolutions.)
The resolution further directed the committee to
assist the MECs and the JNC in developing consensual approaches that promote mutual career protection and mutual success;
assist with the communication program; and
report to the Council at its July meeting and also report to the members of the Executive Board to keep them up to date.
Integral to the Executive Council’s consideration of the matter was the provision in ALPA Merger Policy that provides, “In no event, except by mutual agreement of all parties, will the company be given the right to use the merged seniority list prior to the successful conclusion of the merged working agreement.â€
The Council’s goals in taking these actions are to
promote mutual career protection and mutual success;
help both pilot groups to negotiate a single, progressive CBA;
educate all pilots on the details of merger policy and the criticality of negotiations between pilot groups that are merging; and
avert a union-replacement campaign at either pilot group.
The Council concluded that the issues concerning the pilot seniority integration award at the new US Airways will have important, long-term consequences to the two pilot groups and the entire union.
On Tuesday, as the Council concluded its debate, members learned that the AAA MEC had filed a lawsuit to vacate the award. ALPA’s Legal Department is reviewing the suit.
The situation that the Executive Council is facing is the direct result of decisions made by two pilot groups who acted independently to develop their own strategies, make their own decisions, and negotiate with each other. Despite that fact, the Council accepts that the results of those decisions have created a situation that has the potential to negatively affect all members. Although Capt. Prater and the Council are committed to helping the two pilot groups, the two groups must engage and work toward a solution.
Without the merged seniority list being implemented, the pilots can have no joint collective bargaining agreement that improves the pay, benefits, and work rules of both pilot groups, while preventing whipsawing.
Litigation will not lead to joint solutions or success on common goals. Without a consensual solution, US Airways pilots will continue to suffer under a bankruptcy-era contract, rather than receive the very substantial improvements that are available when bargaining is completed.
The Council concluded that there is no effective solution to this problem outside of the ALPA structure. A new union for either pilot group will inherit all agreements without providing any internal protections to find mutual solutions. All ALPA pilots are watching the events unfold in your pilot groups. As this issue is of vital importance for all ALPA pilots, the National Officers and the Executive Council will provide more information in the coming days and weeks.
