According to the Capt rep at my base, before the start of talks our MEC supposedly met with the head of the NMB, and she supposedly told them what to expect if we got to that point. I suggest you call your rep and ask him.

 

In fact, I actually spoke to him in person. We are not at that point first of all. Second, her comments about what to expect have been taken out of context in a subtle manner according to my rep.

"When the ledgend become fact, print the ledgend."

 

Yeah, one look around the industry ought to tell you how out of context her comments were. Pilot groups are making great progress in mediation. NOT!

 

Not that it matters but since we kept that carve out for RAH I wonder if their E-190's will be flying in DAL colors soon. Since that Frontier stuff didn't work out and we offered up a carve out in our TA I'm sure they will try and slide some kind of MOU or LOA in there.

 

So, refresh my recollection again.

How many airlines are in mediation presently?

I could only come up with one. Here is a little something to refresh your recollection as to their CEO's response to our 'TA"

Seems to me he tossed a load of man chowder over our TA when he was briefed on it. What should that tell you


Dear Pilots:
I want to thank you for your professionalism, as you provide our customers with safe and reliable air transportation every day.
As I’ve said ever since we merged, my goal is to bring work groups together in a manner that is fair to them and fair to the company. Fairness, in a highly competitive business like commercial aviation, means paying competitively, and receiving in return competitive services so that our customers will want to fly us and our investors will want to invest in us. We need to charge competitive prices for our products, and pay competitive prices for the goods, services and people that we need to run our airline.
I’ve spoken to a large number of you in the cockpit as I have traveled around the system, and I share your desire for a quick resolution to contract negotiations for a joint collective bargaining agreement. Since March 2012, when NMB mediators and the parties established the “small group” negotiating process, we’ve made substantial progress in reducing the number of open issues. We are fast approaching the point that the parties will begin to negotiate the key remaining issues.
I’m sure by now you know that Delta and its pilots’ union recently announced a tentative agreement which, among other things, provides significant pay increases, along with efficiencies for the carrier and scope changes permitting expanded use of larger regional jets. The new Delta TA raises the market pay for commercial airline pilots, and effectively sets a new competitive standard for pilot pay. We will be responsive to the impact of the new Delta TA in our negotiations and will need to adjust our current contract proposal to be competitive with the Delta TA. Our proposal will include significant pay rate increases that are competitive with the new Delta TA, as well as scope and work rules that are competitive with the new Delta TA and permit us to remain competitive in the airline business.
Now is the time for all parties to put aside political differences and posturing, and focus on the remaining open contract items. What I ask of you is that we work together to complete our negotiations promptly.
We’ve been negotiating long enough. Let’s get this done.
Respectfully,

Jeff

 

The words highlighted above wouldn't hold water in a court of law.

 

The what? The led-gend? Seems like you are fibbing!

 

Since I wasn't there myself but heard it from the rep, I stated it that way. You're welcome. That takes away your "were you there?" question.

 

Then you might be 9 short.

As of January 2012, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are 10 pilot groups in mediation. (EIA, AA, GLA, USA, AWE, PIED, CAL, UAL, NAC, PSA) With a total of 110 cases currently under mediation and only 12 mediators, with 50 weeks available/year each. That's 600 weeks of mediation split among 110 cases (they do railroads too). Yeah, that sounds good, less than 6 weeks a year of mediation. No wonder it's a quagmire.

Duration of␣recent Section 6 Negotiations
Airtran – 7 Years
America West␣– 6 Years**
American – 6 Years**
Continental – 4 Years**
United␣– 3 Years**
US␣Airways – 3 Years**
** Still in negotiations

What facts do you have? Not rhetoric, but facts.

 

Add another. RAH - 5 years**