Joint Message from the ASA and XJT MECs



The two Master Executive Councils of ExpressJet Airlines (XJT) and the former Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) met in the first joint session of the year on April 17-18. This joint meeting was an important step in the process of re-evaluating and subsequently affirming a common strategy to move forward with negotiations for a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) that serves the needs of all pilots of ExpressJet Airlines.



As with any relationship, the parties involved have expectations of each other throughout the course of the relationship. As the negotiations for a JCBA have progressed, the similarities and differences between each of the pilot groups in this merger have progressively come into focus. Many obstacles to the joint relationship of our pre-merger pilot groups have presented themselves in the two-and-a-half years since the announcement of the merger.



During this joint session of the two MECs, several challenging topics were discussed. The progress of negotiations, or lack thereof, was a subject that both MECs addressed. While there is not a single explanation of the lack of progress, the representatives present at the meeting engaged in an open, and sometimes difficult, dialogue. With the renewed communications, it became clear that both sets of representatives remain dedicated to the merger of the two pilot groups as the best possible outcome for the future of all pilots they represent.



The metaphorical “800-pound gorilla in the room” is the different positions of each MEC on which bidding system methodology best meets the needs of the combined pilot group. In early February, the Association’s Representation Department offered to facilitate bidding system discussions between the ASA and XJT MECs in an effort to develop a single bargaining position that would allow JCBA negotiations to continue. Since then, facilitated meetings of the Joint Negotiating Committee, including the ASA and XJT MEC chairmen, have produced passionate, thorough discussions that ultimately resulted in a tentative process agreement between the ASA and XJT MECs.



At this time, the process agreement only represents the positions of the ASA and XJT MECs and has not been discussed with the Company. Appropriately, details of the agreement are a confidential matter. However, both MECs have agreed that the process protects the goals and needs of their pilots and represents the best path forward for the combined pilot group. As negotiations with the Company progress, and the agreement is finalized with the Company, more information will be provided.



There has been a long and storied history shared between the ASA and XJT MECs regarding the scheduling system for the JCBA. Both sides have clearly put forward their best efforts to represent their pilots over the last two-and-a-half years, and the approval of this process agreement represents a major step forward in our efforts for a JCBA. The MECs of ASA and XJT are both hopeful that this is the first of many steps to come that will finally bring us from two separate groups to one unified ExpressJet Airlines pilot group.