Dear Fellow USaviation.com Message Board Participant,
I have been asked to limit the number of new topics that discuss ALPA issues. I am going to create no more than one ALPA topic per week since most of the communication revolves around the same subject. Today US Airways ALPA MEC Chairman Jack Stephan sent the following Chairman's message to all East pilots, which I believe is insigthful and accurate. Moreover, the vast majority of rank-and-file pilots agree with Jack's comments.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
US Airways MEC Chairman's Message - August 1, 2007
This is MEC Chairman Jack Stephan with a Chairman's message to the pilots for Wednesday, August 1st, 2007.
Last week, your MEC met in special session in Washington, DC with a full agenda. We planned this meeting at the conclusion of the joint meeting in DCA that involved the AWA MEC and ALPA International Officers, Executive Council and staff. Recall at that meeting, the Rice Committee kicked off their work as they tried to promote dialogue between the MECs in exploring consensual
approaches to career protections and success.
The MEC and I have told you from the very first day we received the Nicolau award, that your seniority, and vacating the award, will be our main focus. Since that infamous day, my Chairman’s Messages and Code-a-Phones have been replete with reports of our strategy sessions and meetings.
We have told you that we have been exploring all options, creatively investigating areas both inside and outside the proverbial box. Make no mistake, however, that we are in un-chartered waters. But as you so painfully know, we have chartered unfamiliar territory before. It has unfortunately become part of our legacy. I am pleased to report to you that through persistence and cooperation, the MEC has been successful in narrowing our options and unanimously passed a resolution that provides a path to achieve both seniority protections along with the most favorable economic returns—protections concerning the Nicolau Award and returns through collective bargaining. The resolution, which has been posted and emailed to you is a big step for our pilot group and demonstrates your MEC’s commitment to deliver these protections and returns.
The resolution is called "Equivalent Contract Negotiations," and endorses the concept of equivalent contracts (separate contracts of comparable value for US Airways and America West pilots), but with separate operations. These separate operations are to be permanent and will include preemptive contract language to assure that they are used during any future merger involving both the US Airways and America West pilots. With this resolution, the MEC authorizes the US Airways members of the Negotiating Committee (NC) to pursue an equivalent contract using all necessary ALPA resources, including the assistance of the Rice Committee.
The path that we embarked on after receiving the news of the Nicolau award is beginning to take shape. After a great deal of deliberations, the MEC designed this "separate operations" resolution to set both a foundation and a direction for advancing the cause for all US Airways pilots. Although we must remain flexible as the situation remains dynamic, we are now committed to a common path to success. We will also continue to pursue all litigation options.
As of today, it's been 673 days since September 27th, 2005, when your investment provided the resources that allowed US Airways’ departure from bankruptcy and the merger with America West. During this time, our decision to bankroll this company into survivability and profitability has culminated in six consecutive profitable quarters that is now funding lucrative executive
compensation packages and generous profit sharing checks to all employees, while still leaving US Airways a cash rich airline with over 3 billion dollars in the bank. The profitability road that we are on is squarely on the backs of the AAA pilots. And as the breakdown of the second quarter financials indicate, the AWA portion of the operation continues to show a loss. This makes it all the more disheartening to learn that the AWA MEC approached management and relayed that the "West pilots would be outraged if the East was granted parity." Such sentiment sinks to a level that is not representative of our profession or of unionism at its most basic form. The inescapable reality remains that we make less for doing the same job. And our bankruptcy-garnered wages continue to generate a stockpile of cash even during a period when our operation is at an all-time low.
On another matter related to equal pay for equal work, and equally as irritating, the AWA leadership continues to report to their pilots and other parties that we are not truthful in our communications to our pilots. I personally take exception to their claim. While I served you as Communications Chairman and while I have served you as MEC Chairman, your leadership has onsistently reported the good, the bad, and the ugly and we will continue to do just that. To suggest that your leadership is guilty of protecting you from the truth, reflects a mindset that “just doesn’t get it.†I hope you share the indignation of your elected representatives and your MEC Officers over this totally inappropriate accusation. We remain committed solely to the US Airways pilots and we work for you, period. As for the offhand comments of the AWA leadership, we will consider the source and we will refrain, as always, from commenting on their affairs. We will continue to be professional in all our communications.
Obviously, these issues will not be solved in hotel lobbies or crew vans. Please continue to treat your fellow pilots with respect and professional decorum. Our problems result from the Award, not with the AWA pilots. We will continue to handle your issues and your concerns in a professional manner, using every available resource and continuing to look under every stone for an improved path to success.
I ask that you give your leadership the opportunity to further develop our strategy and to employ our resources on your behalf. I certainly respect the sentiment on the line with regard to decertifying ALPA. I have always respected your right to determine your future, whether it be with ratifying agreements or determining who is best equipped to represent your interests. I simply ask that you give your MEC a chance to get further down the path we have chosen. We believe it is the best one that affords us the quickest path to financial gains as well as preserving your seniority. If we fail you, if we fail to deliver, the choice remains yours.
Our plan needs a chance to work, so I ask that you give your elected reps a chance to make our plan work for you before making any decisions on your form of representation. I ask that you stay onboard and join our fight to protect our seniority and to correct the wrongs of our B-Scale wage system. Much remains to be done and we’ll need you and the benefits of a unified pilot group, as well as a stable representational foundation to be successful.
I ask you again to stick with each other; continue to follow our “Three Pronged Approach.†It remains an indispensable part of our strategy and there will be more to come. And as always, fly safe and thanks for listening.
I have been asked to limit the number of new topics that discuss ALPA issues. I am going to create no more than one ALPA topic per week since most of the communication revolves around the same subject. Today US Airways ALPA MEC Chairman Jack Stephan sent the following Chairman's message to all East pilots, which I believe is insigthful and accurate. Moreover, the vast majority of rank-and-file pilots agree with Jack's comments.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
US Airways MEC Chairman's Message - August 1, 2007
This is MEC Chairman Jack Stephan with a Chairman's message to the pilots for Wednesday, August 1st, 2007.
Last week, your MEC met in special session in Washington, DC with a full agenda. We planned this meeting at the conclusion of the joint meeting in DCA that involved the AWA MEC and ALPA International Officers, Executive Council and staff. Recall at that meeting, the Rice Committee kicked off their work as they tried to promote dialogue between the MECs in exploring consensual
approaches to career protections and success.
The MEC and I have told you from the very first day we received the Nicolau award, that your seniority, and vacating the award, will be our main focus. Since that infamous day, my Chairman’s Messages and Code-a-Phones have been replete with reports of our strategy sessions and meetings.
We have told you that we have been exploring all options, creatively investigating areas both inside and outside the proverbial box. Make no mistake, however, that we are in un-chartered waters. But as you so painfully know, we have chartered unfamiliar territory before. It has unfortunately become part of our legacy. I am pleased to report to you that through persistence and cooperation, the MEC has been successful in narrowing our options and unanimously passed a resolution that provides a path to achieve both seniority protections along with the most favorable economic returns—protections concerning the Nicolau Award and returns through collective bargaining. The resolution, which has been posted and emailed to you is a big step for our pilot group and demonstrates your MEC’s commitment to deliver these protections and returns.
The resolution is called "Equivalent Contract Negotiations," and endorses the concept of equivalent contracts (separate contracts of comparable value for US Airways and America West pilots), but with separate operations. These separate operations are to be permanent and will include preemptive contract language to assure that they are used during any future merger involving both the US Airways and America West pilots. With this resolution, the MEC authorizes the US Airways members of the Negotiating Committee (NC) to pursue an equivalent contract using all necessary ALPA resources, including the assistance of the Rice Committee.
The path that we embarked on after receiving the news of the Nicolau award is beginning to take shape. After a great deal of deliberations, the MEC designed this "separate operations" resolution to set both a foundation and a direction for advancing the cause for all US Airways pilots. Although we must remain flexible as the situation remains dynamic, we are now committed to a common path to success. We will also continue to pursue all litigation options.
As of today, it's been 673 days since September 27th, 2005, when your investment provided the resources that allowed US Airways’ departure from bankruptcy and the merger with America West. During this time, our decision to bankroll this company into survivability and profitability has culminated in six consecutive profitable quarters that is now funding lucrative executive
compensation packages and generous profit sharing checks to all employees, while still leaving US Airways a cash rich airline with over 3 billion dollars in the bank. The profitability road that we are on is squarely on the backs of the AAA pilots. And as the breakdown of the second quarter financials indicate, the AWA portion of the operation continues to show a loss. This makes it all the more disheartening to learn that the AWA MEC approached management and relayed that the "West pilots would be outraged if the East was granted parity." Such sentiment sinks to a level that is not representative of our profession or of unionism at its most basic form. The inescapable reality remains that we make less for doing the same job. And our bankruptcy-garnered wages continue to generate a stockpile of cash even during a period when our operation is at an all-time low.
On another matter related to equal pay for equal work, and equally as irritating, the AWA leadership continues to report to their pilots and other parties that we are not truthful in our communications to our pilots. I personally take exception to their claim. While I served you as Communications Chairman and while I have served you as MEC Chairman, your leadership has onsistently reported the good, the bad, and the ugly and we will continue to do just that. To suggest that your leadership is guilty of protecting you from the truth, reflects a mindset that “just doesn’t get it.†I hope you share the indignation of your elected representatives and your MEC Officers over this totally inappropriate accusation. We remain committed solely to the US Airways pilots and we work for you, period. As for the offhand comments of the AWA leadership, we will consider the source and we will refrain, as always, from commenting on their affairs. We will continue to be professional in all our communications.
Obviously, these issues will not be solved in hotel lobbies or crew vans. Please continue to treat your fellow pilots with respect and professional decorum. Our problems result from the Award, not with the AWA pilots. We will continue to handle your issues and your concerns in a professional manner, using every available resource and continuing to look under every stone for an improved path to success.
I ask that you give your leadership the opportunity to further develop our strategy and to employ our resources on your behalf. I certainly respect the sentiment on the line with regard to decertifying ALPA. I have always respected your right to determine your future, whether it be with ratifying agreements or determining who is best equipped to represent your interests. I simply ask that you give your MEC a chance to get further down the path we have chosen. We believe it is the best one that affords us the quickest path to financial gains as well as preserving your seniority. If we fail you, if we fail to deliver, the choice remains yours.
Our plan needs a chance to work, so I ask that you give your elected reps a chance to make our plan work for you before making any decisions on your form of representation. I ask that you stay onboard and join our fight to protect our seniority and to correct the wrongs of our B-Scale wage system. Much remains to be done and we’ll need you and the benefits of a unified pilot group, as well as a stable representational foundation to be successful.
I ask you again to stick with each other; continue to follow our “Three Pronged Approach.†It remains an indispensable part of our strategy and there will be more to come. And as always, fly safe and thanks for listening.
