Airline apps just asks if you've been laid off form an ALPA carrier. Nothing about a specific airline. Sounds like the MEC is wrong, unfortunately.

 

I'm going to assume that until these negotiations are complete and finalized, the fact is we are losing block hours rapidly and still stop flying for AA next year with no other contracts for the future, therefore we are a considered a distressed carrier in the eyes of the UAL MEC.

The ZW MEC said the worked it out with UA MEC to give us distressed carrier status in an official email from the MEC. Until they redact that statement, I am keeping that box clicked.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was another blunder by the MEC. Seems strange that only one carrier would consider Awac distressed when ALPA has dozens of carriers. Either you're distressed to everybody or you're distressed to no one. By definition awac is not distressed. UAL MEC does not control UAL hiring, so whatever they might've "worked out" at the hotel bar holds no legal weight to change UAL hiring practices.

At least this gambit encouraged some dialogue. Can't remember the last time there was any word from the CEO.

 

The announcement from our MEC


January 26, 2017

UAL Approves “Distressed Carrier” Status for ARW Pilots

The MEC is very pleased to report that the United Airlines MEC has worked out an agreement with their management to offer “distressed carrier” status to Air Wisconsin pilots. We received this information today directly from the UAL MEC. This support will offer additional points for ARW pilots in United Airlines’ hiring algorithm, but it is not a guaranteed job offer. Here are the facts regarding what “distressed carrier” does – and doesn’t – mean.

United is the only ALPA airline that talks about being a “distressed carrier” from a contractual perspective. Under United’s pilot contract, section 21.R loosely defines a distressed carrier pilot. The actual language states:

21-R Hiring Standards

Subject to other legal obligations, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to fill Pilot vacancies with the individuals who satisfy United’s hiring standards, who have previously worked for carriers represented by ALPA, and who are no longer working for those carriers for economic reasons such as lay-offs or the shutdown of that carrier.

Note that the language defines the individual pilot, not the airline. Somewhere along the way, the term “distressed carrier” was used to describe the phrase “no longer working for those carriers for economic reasons such as lay-offs or the shutdown of that carrier.” As you can see, the language is fairly vague and really only speaks to the individuals who have been laid off by way of furlough or shutdown. If you take the language at face value, it does not speak to those pilots that are still employed with the carrier. Over the years this language was used to encompass an entire pilot group vs. individuals.

How will this help us? Now that the Air Wisconsin pilots are being categorized as distressed, every ARW pilot is now able to fill out the Affiliates portion of the application. If you have an Airline Apps account, you can go to the United Airlines addendum section and select “Unemployed by virtue of lay-off/shutdown from ALPA-represented carrier” under the affiliate section, like below:



After you select the “Add Affiliate” button, you will see this added to your addendum:



Once this is selected, your application will receive an unspecified amount of additional points. If you are close to the interview point’s threshold, it could be enough to get you a call to begin the full interview process, including the Hogan assessment. If, for whatever reason, you are not close to United’s pre-determined interview point threshold, then it will not make a substantial difference for you.

Once again, “distressed carrier” status alone does not offer anyone a guaranteed opportunity to begin the hiring process with United, but it may be a game-changer for some of us and certainly is the type of support needed during this time of uncertainty. The ARW MEC asks that you do everything in advance to prepare yourself for success if given the opportunity with United. Stay tuned for additional resources that will assist you with that request. This includes organizing a series of hiring workshops for ARW pilots that we will be offering in the coming months.

The ARW MEC greatly appreciates the support that the UAL MEC has given us over the last 12 months. This particular support exemplifies what it means to belong to this Association and we hope other carriers follow the example set by the United MEC.

In unity,

ARW MEC






Air Line Pilots Association, International
www.alpa.org

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Christine Deister's Response late last night:

From: Corporate Communications
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2017 8:27:05 PM (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
To: Everyone
Subject: Important Update from Christine Deister

I want to take the opportunity to update everyone on some developments in Air Wisconsin’s effort to secure a long-term flying contract. For the past several weeks, we have been in discussions with a major U.S. airline to operate our 65 aircraft beyond the term of our existing agreement. The negotiations are going well, and we believe we are very close to finalizing a capacity purchase agreement for those aircraft.

Given where we are in these discussions, we were disappointed to read yesterday’s Air Wisconsin pilot MEC message stating that United Airlines had approved a determination that Air Wisconsin is a “distressed carrier.” This statement is untrue. I spoke with United yesterday and they confirmed today that United did not approve or make any such determination. The MEC communication also cited a United collective bargaining provision that provides additional consideration in United’s hiring process to ALPA represented pilots who have been laid off. As you all know, Air Wisconsin has not laid off any pilots, does not intend to do so, and has recently implemented a pilot retention program. The MEC acknowledges that the provision on its face does not cover, “. . . pilots that are still employed with the [ALPA] carrier.” United confirmed, and we agree, that in fact this provision does not apply to Air Wisconsin pilots and that anyone choosing to apply to United should be careful not to misrepresent their employment status.

I will keep you updated regarding the progress of our discussions, in which our prospective partner has proposed enhanced opportunities for our pilots to move to mainline and to provide a bright future for all employees. I am very grateful for all that you do each and every day in safely providing outstanding and reliable service to our customers and for taking care of one another. Thank you for your continued dedication and loyalty; you should be very proud that Air Wisconsin is the best regional airline in the industry. We hope to be making an exciting announcement very soon.

Christine R. Deister
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

You can't put that you've been laid off on your application just to get the extra points. If you do, you are lying on your application. No one that still has a job is "distressed". Terrible advice from the MEC.

 

CEO on a Friday night sent an email, !!!!!! WOW
, no steak night for her!!!!! TMHU !!!!
MEC and his bravado is creating a mass confusion from what am reading.
Sweet holy....
^^^^ he is right don't lie on an application, you will be mark for life with the carrier for that !!!!



Freaking auto spell.....war

 

"From: Corporate Communications"

She typed it, some poor employee had to email it late last night, late enough no one could be reached at United to confirm or deny the MEC or Company claims.

Silence broken though, as if anyone believes it. Lies before, lies now. I'm sure we have an 'agreement in principle'.

 

My buddy at AWAC just had all of his trips dropped and is going to E170 initial (STL) in Feb. How bow dah?

 

Good joke. I'm sure the CEO will do seat support