HSLD

To: United Pilots

From: Captain Wendy Morse, Chairman, United MEC

Re: Vereinigung Cockpit Strike

As you may have heard, the pilots of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings, represented by Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), plan to go on strike on Monday, February 22. One of the primary issues over which they are striking is scope. Scope issues center around their Company’s desire to allow them to outsource flying through the acquisition of foreign subsidiaries that have lower labor costs setting up what Vereinigung Cockpit aptly calls a 'race-to-the-bottom', in which one party offers to operate cheaper than the other. The Lufthansa and Germanwings pilots have said “Growth should take place equally in Germany as well as in foreign countries.” Does this sound familiar?

Vereinigung Cockpit plans to begin its strike on Monday at 0000LT. They plan the strike to last for 96 hours until Thursday, February 25 at 2359LT.

At this time, the only demonstration is planned for Monday at 1000LT at the Frankfurt Airport in front of Tor 21. Tor 21 is the entrance to the Lufthansa Base. Vereinigung Cockpit has invited us to join their demonstration and will arrange for transportation to the venue, if not already at the airport. The point of contact in Frankfurt is Joost van der Meer, with the Vereinigung Cockpit Board and is an IFALPA Director. His email address is joost_vdm@hotmail.com and his cell phone number is 0049-176-16-959-006. The location of the demonstration can be found by clicking here, with the A being the approximate location of the customs exit and B being the demonstration location.

Vereinigung Cockpit has asked for mutual assistance calling for a ban on extra flights and capacity, wet leasing, and assistance provided to stranded pilots. I have advised Vereinigung Cockpit President Captain Steicher that on behalf of the United MEC and all United pilots that we are pleased to assist our fellow Vereinigung Cockpit pilots with their request. I have advised United that our Collective Bargaining Agreement precludes the Company from entering into agreements with Lufthansa to assist it during a strike and that United pilots are not required to fly on wet leases with Lufthansa or to fly extra sections added in response to a labor dispute, or to fly up gauged aircraft designed to benefit from the dispute. We have also asked United to assist Lufthansa crew members stranded in the United States with transportation as result of the labor dispute, and we intend to directly assist Lufthansa crewmembers as well.

While we do not expect a picket line with regard to the Vereinigung Cockpit strike, should a picket line be encountered, Section 1-G-1 of the Agreement provides for our right to honor a lawful picket line. In this instance the Company has put the Association on notice that they will cease pay for the remaining flying, per diem and lodging and pilots will be required to make their own arrangements home if the trip is not completed as a result of the honoring a picket line.

What happens to one pilot group in this global industry happens to us all. We wish our fellow Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings pilots at Vereinigung Cockpit success in their industrial action and a speedy resolution to securing the Contract with the provisions including scope that they are seeking.

sinsilvia666

Lufthansa pilots begin four-day strike - CNN.com


Awesome. Hope they get all they deserve. If only we had that power and mass willingness !

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F.U.*P.M. !

Airhoss

Ever heard of the RLA?

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Happiness is V1 in Newark.

jet320

I am happy for them, but I will like to point out that during our strike in 1993 (LACSA Airlines, Costa Rica) those german Lufthansa pilots went to fly our birds. We lost everything, and from that moment on, the working conditions had gone downhill.

AAflyer

Could you give more details? Your summary is rather broad. Did they fly down there and cross your picket line? Did Lufthansa step in and fly your routes?

Did German pilots come down on contract and fly as Direct Entry Captains?

Thanks in advance,

AA

DWN3GRN

Good luck guys..... Stay Strong.....

WeaselBoy

I believe that was what he was referring to in the "power" part.

jet320

1993 after years of negotiating a new contract, most of the pilots walk out (9) remain loyal with the company. LACSA mgnt at the time brought German pilots, and other nationalities, but mostly Lufthansa pilots to fly our birds.

Lufthansa didn't step in, some of their pilots did. After 4 months on strike, most of the Costa Rican pilots came back to fly. Obviously the conditions have changed. We lost ALL our rights, and since that moment on the Costa Rica Goverment left the door open for TACA Airlines to expand in Central America.

Right now a FO's on a the A320/EMB190 makes around $600 to $800 dollars monthly, without perdiem. Captains around $5200 montly, with no benefits. And i forgot, during that period Captains that came to fly for LACSA made $15000 monthly. And those 9 Costa Rican Capt's that remain loyal, 3 where very senior Captains, the rest where FO's that where upgraded during that process illegally. Ahhh....and their salaries until today $9000 dollars montly! paid in dollars. Not like the rest, that where paid in the local currency ( Colones ) and exchange in dollars, earning less every month. Policy that stands still today.

Again, Iam happy for them

Commando

Wow. That was a Short Strike. Management has agreed to talks without conditions. I knew Strikes worked if allowed.@%&&& RLA!!!!

Hopefully Spirit will be as successful. Then AMR. Then UAL. Then FDX. etc.

bcpilot99

Anyone find it amazing that they were without a contract for less than a year? My company has been in negotiations going on 3 years now.....