Council 5 LEC Update
March 18, 2020
C5 Covid-19 Update
The MEC is in Special Session via teleconference all this week to receive updates from the MEC Officers and various committees as they work to mitigate the impact of this unprecedented crisis on our pilots. MEC officers are in constant contact with United management providing ALPA's input to help guide their efforts.
Despite what you read on the forums or your favorite social media platform, we are not ATM's for the company! Master Chairman Todd Insler has stated publicly several times that the MEC has always opposed the company's ill-advised stock repurchase agenda. The day will come when we revisit this topic with management, however, the time for chastisement and criticism is not now.
In the meantime, we are working very hard making sure ALPA's position is heard loud and clear while Willis Tower tries to figure this situation out. Your input is extremely valuable. Let us repeat, we are not ATM's for the company. The mantra of shared sacrifice rings hollow on the ears of those of us who have been around long enough to have seen this play before. We have excellent officers and committee people working on your behalf and are truly impressed by their dedication to each and every one of you.
When not on conference calls or teleconferences, we are answering your many phone calls, text messages and emails. Keep them coming! We need to hear how you are doing, what you are hearing, and what your desires are. When one of us asks a question during one of our teleconferences, it usually starts with, "I'm getting a lot of calls from my pilots saying...." We do request that individual members not try and contact the MEC officers directly, as they are working around-the-clock in coordinating with their management counterparts and the MEC staff. Please let us speak on your behalf!
We know that this situation, while not unique, is unprecedented in terms of impact and uncertainty. Even after the 9/11 attacks, we knew what the threat was and how to neutralize it quickly. CoVid-19 is a different threat: It's not readily identifiable; it cannot be countered directly (yet), and the scope and duration of its impact remain uncertain... for now. That said, we are confident that this, too, shall pass, and that United Airlines will emerge successfully.
As of last night, management was still making changes to their plan on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Like choosing a route or altitude, none of us flight plans without looking at the big picture in consultation with solid forecasting. Your ALPA Reps can't and won't make any decisions on anything until we have a clear picture and a reliable forecast. One thing is for certain though, more turbulence lies ahead.
For now, nothing's been decided. COVID-19 is worse than 9-11. The good news is we learned ALOT of lessons back then and will apply those lessons now. And for starters, we need to see the WHOLE picture before we decide anything.
As we work toward shaping some sort of strategy to get through this crisis and back to the prosperous careers we were all so recently enjoying, we need to keep one thing in mind: Nothing is Free. United can't come to us, cap in hand, and expect us to bail them out after their wasting of capital on buybacks. Anything they get from us will be temporary and come with a price. Let us say it again, Nothing is Free.
We are living through a global pandemic that has turned our world upside down. Everybody's stress levels are increased. As professional pilots, it's imperative we continue to do what we always do: Fly the Airplane. Prepare for the threats. Stay informed and engaged as future developments arise. We need you to care for yourselves, your families, and your careers. You can start by limiting the amount of cable news you consume (30-min in the AM, 30-min in the PM). Also, try not to mainline the financial news networks or internet forums all day. To the extent you can maintain social distancing; go for a run, visit a park, walk the dog or take the kids on a bike ride. Thank a nurse or doctor, thank the person restocking your local grocery store shelves. Be kind to each other. If you're sick, don't fly. Be smart about your finances. Wash your hands!
Lastly, the best way to stay informed is as follows: The MEC's link to COVID-19 news is copied below. Use that as one of your main sources of reliable information. Realize your Council 5 reps will try to keep regular updates coming, but your primary source of information is still the MEC Updates. We will try to fill in the local C5 news gaps where we can.
Fraternally,
Glenn, Chris and Phil