Originally Posted by
1257
May 4, 2012
Dear Fellow Pilot,
We write jointly to update all of you on our Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) negotiations and to discuss our joint steps going forward. We do this from our common recognition that we can and we must complete this negotiation.
Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) has in fact made significant recent progress in scheduling and hours of service, but many issues remain. We have also agreed to dates for meetings on the critical issues of job security and scope, but we know that these are hard-fought issues. And we must also move on to the essential matter of our rates of pay.
So how can we complete the task at hand? This is our plan: - First, the two of us will meet next Tuesday with outside legislative/regulatory advisors in Washington, D.C., to help us build support within our government for intensive negotiations and for a firm time line, including consideration of a joint request for a release from mediation, to complete the job.
- Second, on May 17 and 18, our two MECs will be meeting jointly in Washington, D.C., to confirm our course going forward.
- Third, starting immediately and through the remainder of May, the JNC will negotiate intensively with management to close out as many of the open scheduling, job security/scope and benefit issues as possible.
- Fourth—and this is key—at the end of May, we will commence concentrated bargaining, with involvement from the highest levels of the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Washington, D.C., to continue to the middle of June.
We are confident that the intensive efforts in May and the concentrated sessions in June can and should result in a comprehensive tentative agreement.
Differences between pilot groups are natural, even within the same union, and we’ve certainly had our share. But we share something more important—a common goal—to make sure that the contributions that every one of our pilots have made to the survival and success of our Company are fairly rewarded through our JCBA. And when we—all of us working together—have completed that goal, we will indeed be one pilot group ready for the future.
We need your unified support to reach this goal. We will jointly provide more information on a regular basis over the coming weeks.
Fraternally,
Capt. Jay Heppner
UAL MEC Chairman
Capt. Jay Pierce
CAL MEC Chairman
Gentlemen,
I for one am willing to hold you to your message. You have this published window of time to deliver...but not beyond...
Make us all proud to be UNITED!