Originally Posted by gettinbumped

This update just released:

The United MEC and a few members of the Continental MEC began Ground School today on the 25 Sections of the Tentative Agreement which still requires the Letters of Agreement discussed in Friday's MEC Update. The MEC members received a status update from the Joint Negotiating Committee Co-Chairmen, First Officer Phil Otis (United MEC) and Captain Dave Owens (Continental MEC). They reported that progress is being made on the remaining Letters required to complete the Tentative Agreement. The National Mediation Board (NMB) last week gave the two MEC Chairmen permission to begin MEC reviews of the Agreement while waiting for the Letters to be completed, and the United MEC began this review in earnest with the intent of getting the Tentative Agreement to all the pilots as soon as possible.

This afternoon’s session covered Sections 22 and 24: Retirement and Insurance. The briefings were conducted by UAL-MEC R&I Committee members Fred Greene and Marty Torres, CAL-MEC R&I Committee members Dave Earnest and Drew Minarcik, and ALPA Benefits Attorney Russ Woody.

On Sunday, the Ground School will cover Section 8 – Filling of Vacancies (Staffing); Section 9 – Training; Section 23 – Flight Instructor/Evaluator; Section 16 – Missing, Internment, and Hostage; and Sections 17 and 18 – Grievances and System Board of Adjustment.

The UAL-MEC is tasked with being knowledgeable and assisting in the editing (spelling, references, etc.) of the new Agreement. This is to ensure the product the Pilots receive is thoroughly vetted and crisp. They are taking their representational responsibilities seriously.

We will keep you informed of the MEC’s progress.

This jives with what I've heard today which is that several members of the CAL MEC (led by a certain F/O rep friend of JP's) have stalled viewing the "unofficial TA" until the arbitration hearing is completed on the retro issue. The issue that was AGREED to by JP before he reneged (again) and decided that he wanted to change "retro" pay to a "signing bonus". This makes me scratch my head, as "signing bonuses" are generally considered a concession given to a management that doesn't want to pay retro. We will see what happens in expedited arbitration over the next two days, but since JP wouldn't agree to binding arbitration, I have a feeling he will pick up his toys and go home if he doesn't get his way. Anyone else feel that he would be a shoe-in to lead the USAirways East pilots??

This further delay of a 1000 day wait for a TA is entirely unacceptable. I know if MY reps were playing this game, I would be on the phone right now screaming bloody murder to stop fooling around and get on with the business of returning the TA to the NC or sending it to the membership. Enough is ENOUGH