AWA LEC 62 Update – July 20, 2007
From: Your Elected Representatives
To: All Council 62 Pilots
This week we attended a joint MEC meeting in Washington, D.C. called by ALPA President John Prater to discuss the future of both pilot groups.
As you are aware, the east MEC made a request back in May to the ALPA Executive Council (EC) to vacate the Nicolau Award as in their opinion it did not conform to ALPA Merger Policy. Since that request was made, the EC has not ruled on this issue. Instead, they passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a committee that would seek to “assist the MEC’s and JNC in achieving the goal of developing consensual approaches that promote mutual career progression and mutual success, as part of achieving a an acceptable single collective bargaining agreement that improves pay, benefits, work rules and job security for both pilot groups, with the expectation that the MEC’s and JNC will cooperate and participate in this process.â€
ALPA First Vice-President Capt. Paul Rice was charged with leading this committee and reporting back to the EC on its findings. Last week, our Negotiating Committee met with Capt. Rice and clearly articulated the AWA MEC’s position and our vision for the future. The message was clear: ALPA needs to accept, defend, and present the Nicolau Award to US Airways management and then facilitate talks between the east and west pilots groups to achieve a joint contract that economically moves both pilot groups forward.
On Tuesday we brought this message to the EC and the east MEC. Where the east MEC was seeking to vacate the Award and presenting solutions that would forever separate the two pilot groups, we sought the application of the rule of law and a strict adherence to our collective plan as defined in the Transition Agreement. This plan once implemented will bring substantial pay, work rule, and job security improvements to both pilot groups.
Nearly three months after Arbitrator Nicolau’s decision, we sit here today in the predicament we are in because of false expectations, poor leadership, and ultimately a lack of integrity by the east MEC. From the very beginning they have told their pilots what to expect and how to act. No less than five times they were told that their solution was unworkable and they needed amend their position. Instead of heeding the sage advice of Arbitrator Nicolau, they forged ahead and we now all know the results.
We would like to thank our pilot group for the professionalism, restraint, and unity displayed during these trying times. We are in a righteous position and ultimately the rule of law must be followed. We are receiving excellent counsel from our outside merger attorney Jeff Freund and we are following his advice. Only through a joint contract that must be ratified separately by both MEC’s and both pilot groups will we fulfill the charge of the Rice committee to improve the pay, benefits, work rules, and job security of both pilot groups.
You have elected us to represent your interests, but we also feel an obligation to our fellow pilots that deserve more from their elected leaders. We firmly believe that both pilot groups should be given the opportunity to determine their futures through the democratic ratification process. It would be truly unfortunate for the east MEC to deny their pilots this right.
Your professionalism, unity, and focus on safety have been noticed and are appreciated at all levels within our union.
Please contact us with any questions or suggestions!
In Solidarity,
Captain Rick Pitt – Chairman
Captain CJ Szmal – Vice Chairman
First Officer Mike Bendett – Secretary/Treasurer
From: Your Elected Representatives
To: All Council 62 Pilots
This week we attended a joint MEC meeting in Washington, D.C. called by ALPA President John Prater to discuss the future of both pilot groups.
As you are aware, the east MEC made a request back in May to the ALPA Executive Council (EC) to vacate the Nicolau Award as in their opinion it did not conform to ALPA Merger Policy. Since that request was made, the EC has not ruled on this issue. Instead, they passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a committee that would seek to “assist the MEC’s and JNC in achieving the goal of developing consensual approaches that promote mutual career progression and mutual success, as part of achieving a an acceptable single collective bargaining agreement that improves pay, benefits, work rules and job security for both pilot groups, with the expectation that the MEC’s and JNC will cooperate and participate in this process.â€
ALPA First Vice-President Capt. Paul Rice was charged with leading this committee and reporting back to the EC on its findings. Last week, our Negotiating Committee met with Capt. Rice and clearly articulated the AWA MEC’s position and our vision for the future. The message was clear: ALPA needs to accept, defend, and present the Nicolau Award to US Airways management and then facilitate talks between the east and west pilots groups to achieve a joint contract that economically moves both pilot groups forward.
On Tuesday we brought this message to the EC and the east MEC. Where the east MEC was seeking to vacate the Award and presenting solutions that would forever separate the two pilot groups, we sought the application of the rule of law and a strict adherence to our collective plan as defined in the Transition Agreement. This plan once implemented will bring substantial pay, work rule, and job security improvements to both pilot groups.
Nearly three months after Arbitrator Nicolau’s decision, we sit here today in the predicament we are in because of false expectations, poor leadership, and ultimately a lack of integrity by the east MEC. From the very beginning they have told their pilots what to expect and how to act. No less than five times they were told that their solution was unworkable and they needed amend their position. Instead of heeding the sage advice of Arbitrator Nicolau, they forged ahead and we now all know the results.
We would like to thank our pilot group for the professionalism, restraint, and unity displayed during these trying times. We are in a righteous position and ultimately the rule of law must be followed. We are receiving excellent counsel from our outside merger attorney Jeff Freund and we are following his advice. Only through a joint contract that must be ratified separately by both MEC’s and both pilot groups will we fulfill the charge of the Rice committee to improve the pay, benefits, work rules, and job security of both pilot groups.
You have elected us to represent your interests, but we also feel an obligation to our fellow pilots that deserve more from their elected leaders. We firmly believe that both pilot groups should be given the opportunity to determine their futures through the democratic ratification process. It would be truly unfortunate for the east MEC to deny their pilots this right.
Your professionalism, unity, and focus on safety have been noticed and are appreciated at all levels within our union.
Please contact us with any questions or suggestions!
In Solidarity,
Captain Rick Pitt – Chairman
Captain CJ Szmal – Vice Chairman
First Officer Mike Bendett – Secretary/Treasurer