Look how ALPA fights deal sweetners
11-02-2007, 06:10 PM
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Look how ALPA fights deal sweetners
ALPA Files Suit Against Pinnacle Airlines For Violating Labor Law
MINNEAPOLIS – The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), which represents the pilots of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. (Pinnacle), filed suit in U.S. District Court Thursday against Pinnacle management. ALPA asserts that Pinnacle violated the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the federal statute that governs contract negotiations in the airline industry, when it unilaterally implemented pilot bonus programs by changing the status quo pay and working conditions of the pilots without first bargaining and reaching agreement with ALPA.
“Pinnacle management is circumventing the law and this Union in its attempt to address our pilot shortage, which is caused by low pay and inferior working conditions. The company should be focused on working cooperatively with ALPA at the bargaining table for a comprehensive solution to improve pay and working conditions for all Pinnacle pilots as quickly as possible,” said Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “We cannot and will not allow any management team to undermine our Union’s legal right to negotiate fair wages and work rules for pilots.”
Pinnacle pilots and management have been negotiating for a new contract since February 2005, and have been in federally mediated negotiations since September 2006.
Pinnacle management met with Union leaders a few months ago to discuss the implementation of bonus programs – one to recruit new pilots and one to reward existing employees who referred a pilot who was ultimately hired by the company. The Union leaders informed Pinnacle management that implementing such bonus programs without first bargaining and reaching agreement with ALPA would impermissibly alter the current “rates of pay, rules and working conditions of Pinnacle pilots without prior negotiation,” which is a violation of the RLA.
The Union made it clear to Pinnacle that it was quite willing to help the carrier with its serious pilot recruitment and retention problems, which are the result of Pinnacle’s substandard pay and working conditions, by properly negotiating a bonus program as part of overall pay and working condition improvements in the negotiations for a new contract, but that request was summarily rejected by management and the bonus programs were unilaterally implemented by Pinnacle. ALPA has since reiterated its demand that Pinnacle first bargain and reach agreement over these issues, which the carrier again rejected.
ALPA believes that Pinnacle’s actions violate numerous provisions of the RLA and are obviously designed to evade the union and the carrier’s collective bargaining obligations. ALPA is therefore asking the court to direct Pinnacle to properly deal with ALPA as the exclusive collective bargaining representative of Pinnacle pilots, to bargain in good faith and complete all required mediation procedures under the RLA before implementing such changes to Pinnacle pilots’ pay and working conditions, refrain from otherwise undermining ALPA as the bargaining representative of the Pinnacle pilots; and to require Pinnacle to cease and desist from utilizing these bonus programs in the future unless it first bargains with and secures ALPA’s agreement.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), which represents the pilots of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. (Pinnacle), filed suit in U.S. District Court Thursday against Pinnacle management. ALPA asserts that Pinnacle violated the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the federal statute that governs contract negotiations in the airline industry, when it unilaterally implemented pilot bonus programs by changing the status quo pay and working conditions of the pilots without first bargaining and reaching agreement with ALPA.
“Pinnacle management is circumventing the law and this Union in its attempt to address our pilot shortage, which is caused by low pay and inferior working conditions. The company should be focused on working cooperatively with ALPA at the bargaining table for a comprehensive solution to improve pay and working conditions for all Pinnacle pilots as quickly as possible,” said Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “We cannot and will not allow any management team to undermine our Union’s legal right to negotiate fair wages and work rules for pilots.”
Pinnacle pilots and management have been negotiating for a new contract since February 2005, and have been in federally mediated negotiations since September 2006.
Pinnacle management met with Union leaders a few months ago to discuss the implementation of bonus programs – one to recruit new pilots and one to reward existing employees who referred a pilot who was ultimately hired by the company. The Union leaders informed Pinnacle management that implementing such bonus programs without first bargaining and reaching agreement with ALPA would impermissibly alter the current “rates of pay, rules and working conditions of Pinnacle pilots without prior negotiation,” which is a violation of the RLA.
The Union made it clear to Pinnacle that it was quite willing to help the carrier with its serious pilot recruitment and retention problems, which are the result of Pinnacle’s substandard pay and working conditions, by properly negotiating a bonus program as part of overall pay and working condition improvements in the negotiations for a new contract, but that request was summarily rejected by management and the bonus programs were unilaterally implemented by Pinnacle. ALPA has since reiterated its demand that Pinnacle first bargain and reach agreement over these issues, which the carrier again rejected.
ALPA believes that Pinnacle’s actions violate numerous provisions of the RLA and are obviously designed to evade the union and the carrier’s collective bargaining obligations. ALPA is therefore asking the court to direct Pinnacle to properly deal with ALPA as the exclusive collective bargaining representative of Pinnacle pilots, to bargain in good faith and complete all required mediation procedures under the RLA before implementing such changes to Pinnacle pilots’ pay and working conditions, refrain from otherwise undermining ALPA as the bargaining representative of the Pinnacle pilots; and to require Pinnacle to cease and desist from utilizing these bonus programs in the future unless it first bargains with and secures ALPA’s agreement.
11-02-2007, 06:43 PM
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Meanwhile, our guys hastily pen this moronic piece of work for a similar situation:
"While the union did not engage in any negotiations with management dealing with these issues since the LOA was ratified, we will attempt to incorporate this benefit into the contract at the next opportunity."
Anyone else look to our union leadership and feel the the future of their careers severely threatened by gross incompetence?
"While the union did not engage in any negotiations with management dealing with these issues since the LOA was ratified, we will attempt to incorporate this benefit into the contract at the next opportunity."
Anyone else look to our union leadership and feel the the future of their careers severely threatened by gross incompetence?
Last edited by de727ups; 11-02-2007 at 07:16 PM. Reason: profanity edited out
11-04-2007, 05:36 PM
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Position: FedEx
Posts: 666
Might not take much.
I seriously considered a run for the NC (and spoke with WR about the process and requirements), but determined that I could not do that and continue in my current flex position, which I am not ready to give up. I also realistically weighed the chances of me getting through the interview process given my past comments about the MEC and the NC, both on here and face to face at the roadshows and joint council meetings. Those chances were slim to none, and slim just left town.
A block rep position might be possible, but I would be very surprised if I could break into the inner circle of the MEC, given the support that John had during the "recall" effort.
Might be fun to try though.
FJ
I seriously considered a run for the NC (and spoke with WR about the process and requirements), but determined that I could not do that and continue in my current flex position, which I am not ready to give up. I also realistically weighed the chances of me getting through the interview process given my past comments about the MEC and the NC, both on here and face to face at the roadshows and joint council meetings. Those chances were slim to none, and slim just left town.
A block rep position might be possible, but I would be very surprised if I could break into the inner circle of the MEC, given the support that John had during the "recall" effort.
Might be fun to try though.
FJ
11-04-2007, 05:50 PM
#7
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Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Nothing like putting your money where your mouth is. Worst case is you win and get to work your butt off. Best case is you lose and nobody can say you didn't try...
Either way you are a winner. I don't know when block 11 is up but with your experience on the line as a "stuck junior" for a while guy, a flex, and some other stuff you've done--you'd certainly be able to represent some folks who've been far from the top of the seniority list.
Either way you are a winner. I don't know when block 11 is up but with your experience on the line as a "stuck junior" for a while guy, a flex, and some other stuff you've done--you'd certainly be able to represent some folks who've been far from the top of the seniority list.
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