Let's get ready to rumble!!!
 

Last night we got a letter from the MEC about what control freaks Airgroup's managers are and how it bodes very poorly for Section 6 negotiations. Today we get a letter from the VP of Flights Ops saying that they are going to ignore the contract and force uniform changes on the pilot group without ALPA's consent.

Hopefully, management is in for a big surprise when morale goes into the toilet...

I work at Alaska's red-headed stepchild, so pardon me for asking things that might be obvious to Alaska pilots. I thought that Alaska management had reached some accommodation with the Alaska pilots regarding the new uniforms. Do you mean to say that Alaska management is just ignoring your contract and forcing the new uniforms on the pilots and other work groups?

Horizon is supposed to roll out the new uniforms later this year. I haven't heard an exact date, but we have to order our stuff by the end of August. The company is providing us with only a basic uniform kit - no outerwear. Our union has filed a grievance stating that the pilots should not be required to pay for their own jackets or parkas.

I'd appreciate an update from the Alaska pilots. Thanks!

We have a clause that says the Union and Company will agree on any uniform changes. The Union is trying to use the process to leverage the company to negotiate a new contract in good faith. The company has basically just told the Union to put their good faith up where the sun don't shine.

That being said the Union did successfully get the company to agree to pay for a basic uniform, with a parka/trench coat... I think its BS that you guys can't get the same treatment.

This is just the first shot over the bow. They’re testing the the resolve and mettle of this pilot group. I don’t blame them. It’s what they’re paid to do. Lions kill and eat gazelles. They don’t respect gazelles. They only respect other lions. Gazelles just run as fast as possible and hope the lions kill someone else in the herd before they get to them. Experience has taught this team, we’re just a bunch of gazelles. Don’t blame the lions.

This pilot group is gonna have to decide if they are also lions... or gazelles.

Expecting this to turn out how the orange lanyards turned out. Hoping I'm wrong.

Airbus Pilots look like shi$ wearing old black pants and a piece of crap tie. I think we should have a common uniform.

I don't understand the resistance to the Big Lots Lulu & Benny collection

I have no problem with the new uniform. The issue is how the company is circumventing the contract. As a unionized pilot group we have to uphold every detail of the contract, otherwise the company will continue to try and violate it knowing we won’r doing anything about it. What good is a contract if one side doesn’t have to abide by it?

Well said. And... it’s not the first item they disregard. Contract is unambiguous regarding ability to drop trips/days of reserve for yearly annual physical (other than FAA), but every time for the last year and a half someone has told scheduling they want to invoke this contractual right, scheduling tells pilot they must get CP approval. And then, depending on who is your BCP, you may get zero blow back or the exact opposite

If you don’t understand the resistance you don’t read your union emails and you live under a rock. This kind of blind ignorance has to stop if we ever expect to be taken serious as a pilot union. Call your rep, visit the union website, read all your emails you missed, and stay informed.