Not to deviate from the subject at hand, but, check this out ! Educate yourself. This is what sends a message and how its suppose to be sent.
June 20, 2012
To my Fellow Pilots,
Last month, the UAL-MEC passed a resolution authorizing MEC Chairman Captain Jay Heppner to conduct a strike authorization vote. The UAL-MEC joined their counterparts on the CAL-MEC in giving its chairman the authority to conduct such a vote. Each MEC's respective resolution passed unanimously. This is a momentous undertaking, as it places great responsibility on the pilot group to exhibit the resolve and determination to finally achieve a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA).
The Railway Labor Act (RLA) defines the procedures that govern the process of collective bargaining: Section Six opening letters are followed with bilateral negotiations between the parties—management and labor. If negotiations are unsuccessful, mediation is available, followed by a proffer of arbitration. If arbitration is refused by either party, a 30-day “cooling off” period begins. Finally, the parties can either adjourn or seek judicial help elsewhere. In our case, the two parties are a unified management from UCH (United Continental Holdings) and a Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) composed of the two airline components.
The bilateral negotiations became mired due to a lack of interest on the part of the management, so mediation was requested per the RLA. This too became hindered by an apparent lack of enthusiasm by the company, leading the Air Line Pilots Association to request a release from the National Mediation Board (NMB). That request initially came from each MEC chairman and was signed by the ALPA National President, Captain Lee Moak. Capt. Moak has additionally petitioned the NMB a total of three times as the pilots’ case for release continued to develop. Last week, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka also weighed in with a
letter to the NMB Chairman requesting a proffer of arbitration. If either party refuses a proffer of arbitration, the parties would be released from mediated negotiations.
Our main goal is achieving a negotiated JCBA. A negotiated contract is always preferable to any other outcome. As pilots we hope for the best, but must prepare for conditions that are less than optimum. It’s what we do. Shortly, Captain Heppner will ask all of us to vote on the issue the MEC authorized in May—strike authorization.
You will have the opportunity to vote soon to authorize a strike or not. Voting for a strike empowers our union. It signals that we are one; unified in our cause and willing to go to great ends to reach our goal. Regardless of your view,
you must vote. A strike authorization vote may come along once in your career and it may well shape your future. It is your duty to consider the options and make your voice count. To vote FOR a strike bolsters the leverage we need to finally nail down this JCBA.
So I ask you to join your fellow pilots, and vote. The company may only recognize one metric in this exercise: participation. I ask that you enable your union leaders to use every tool possible to secure the contract we all deserve and vote FOR a strike. Only by being prepared for the worst can we assuage it. A vote FOR a strike is the empowering act that would actually do the most to help avoid a strike.
Again, our main focus is achieving a JCBA. We’ve earned the recognition and respect that demands an industry-leading contract. We’ve earned the right to utilize every legal tool at our disposal to achieve that. Authorizing a strike assures we are using every tool possible to make that a reality.
Respectfully Yours,
Pieter M. Velzeboer
Chairman, MEC Strategic Planning and Strike Committee
