RockBottom

NWA MEC Resolution 06-06 Strike Ballot Authorization
Passed by Acclamation - NWA MEC Meeting, New York, NY, February 2, 2006


WHEREAS the NWA MEC has authorized alternative proposals regarding job protections, wages, working conditions and benefits for NWA pilots, and



WHEREAS these proposals are designed to provide NWA with the pilot contract modifications needed for NWA to successfully emerge from bankruptcy and prosper over the long-term, while providing NWA pilots with necessary job protections and competitive wages, working conditions, and benefits, and



WHEREAS the NWA MEC Negotiating Committee has reported to the NWA MEC that, despite these alternative proposals, only limited progress has been made in the negotiations to restructure the NWA pilot contract in these areas, including required job protection provisions for NWA pilots, and



WHEREAS this limited progress, though beneficial, has been insufficient to satisfy NWA pilots’ core interests of job protections including successorship, fragmentation, small jet flying, and other “outsourcing”, and



WHEREAS NWA management’s pilot cost reduction demands in the 1113c process are extreme and are not necessary for the restructuring of the company, and



WHEREAS if fully implemented management’s pilot cost reduction demands would position NWA pilots substantially below their peers in the area of pay and work rules, and



WHEREAS these job protection issues as well as the issues of wages, working conditions, and benefits must be resolved prior to the time the NWA MEC and NWA pilot group consider approving a consensual agreement, and



WHEREAS the NWA MEC strongly believes NWA pilots must be prepared to exercise a range of self-help options up to and including a strike in the event current NWA management is successful in its 1113c motion to reject the pilot collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and current NWA management imposes onerous terms and conditions of employment, including “outsourcing” of NWA pilot jobs, and



WHEREAS Article IV, Section 2.B, of the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws requires an MEC to authorize a strike ballot of the membership prior to that strike ballot being conducted, and



WHEREAS the NWA MEC fully realizes the implications of self-help options up to and including a pilot strike at NWA in the current environment,



THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the NWA MEC authorizes the MEC Chairman, in consultation with the MEC Negotiating Committee, to conduct a strike ballot at a time he considers appropriate, and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this strike ballot, once directed by the MEC Chairman, will be conducted in accordance with ALPA electronic balloting procedures, and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the NWA MEC strongly encourages all NWA pilots to vote in favor of the strike authorization to support the defense of NWA pilot job protections, wages, working conditions, and benefits, and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the NWA MEC Communications Committee, Strategic Preparedness Committee, Negotiating Committee, MEC Officers, and MEC will prepare and implement a communications plan to inform all NWA pilots of the necessity to conduct and support a strike ballot, and possible subsequent strike, and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this communications plan will include, but not be limited to, pilot information meetings, crew room visits by MEC members, pilot mailings, and electronic presentations on the NWA MEC website.