shimmydamp

Believe me, given the history of your negotiations, I probably wouldn't believe in the word "progress" either given the emotional rollercoaster you guys have gone through over the past 6 years.

From our viewpoint, all too often we hear from PCL pilots something to the effect of, "we know nothing what it's like to deal with PNCL management."

Well, we've been owned by that management for nearly 4 years. We can't stand some of the decisions and reactionary policies they've thrown our way. Scheduling is STILL horrendous and the biggest problem over here outside of pay. However, quite honestly, some of the managers they inserted on the Colgan side have been huge improvements from what we started with. That generally speaks more to the horrible managers that preceded them and the hard work of our MEC but... We now have a D.O. (from PNCL) who is as straight forward and fair as I've seen in management, we have a filling of vacancies process that did not exist 2 years ago (where you got based or when you transitioned/upgraded depended on who you were friends with), and a fatigue review board with ALPA reps involved in the process. We've gone from 6 month PC's to alternating PC and non-jeopardy sim training events. We have completely new Chief Pilots that aren't part of the good ole boys club. Those are a just a few examples. We've made tremendous strides.

Many of the people who used to run this airline had the last name Colgan and no other qualifications. My point is that we at Colgan know what it's like to deal with pi$$ poor management, we are all in this together.

You seem like a level-headed guy and I appreciate the rational discussion.

xjsaab

We were on the path to unifying the pilot group. We will all soon be flying in the same cockpit. You have successfully put a wedge between all 9L/xj pilots and 9E pilots. Do you realize how toxic you made that cockpit? It's a tangible road block to safety of flight.

I would really like to know how all the MEC's will patch this up.

Bartok

I am starting to think the 9E group attitude is starting to shift toward NOT supporting the JCBA and taking their chances alone.

PapaMike

The way I see it is if 9E wants to walk, then let them walk. Whether or not it is beneficial will probably never be known. But as much as 9E has the right to walk, XJ/9L have the right not to and it doesn't seem fair to portray us as not supportive of 9E's cause. Especially if, as SE said earlier, there were only 12 spots available at the picket and they didn't really need a huge turnout since they couldn't apparently all partake anyway. There was a lot of emotion thrown around the last few days and I hope everyone can see past it. It isn't like anyone has backed out of negotiating or is seeking to just get a quick bs ta just to have a ta. We all want the same thing.

N261ND

So if you didn't even have room for us, and you made no attempt to gather support, why are the xj and 9L pilots being accussed of being not supportive of 9E picketing?

BIGRIG

None of his pilots are happy with him. Just look at all the previous threads on him being out of touch with the Line Pilots. A vocal minority was able to pull his strings and HE started this whole thing by picketing during good faith negotiations. Congratulations SErickson, instead of having 1250 pilots mad at you, you were able to make 3000 pilots mad at each other.

80ktsClamp

.... not worth it. Just typical SE crap.

CAPTAINPCL

These are not complete e-mails, rather they are bits and pieces of Negotiation updates...Maybe this will shed some light on the battle that Pinnacle pilots have been facing and make people understand why we are frustrated. I hope that we have a joint contract sooner than later, but with this kind of history its hard to have any faith in the process.








>Oct 1st 2006
9. Negotiations Update

The Negotiating Committee met with Management on for 3 days last week under the guidance of Mr. Jack Kane of the National Mediation Board (NMB). Earlier in the month, Mr. Kane spent some time with both the Negotiating Committee and Management for a briefing of events that led to his involvement, to receive a summary of the remaining open issues and to suggest future meeting dates. On September 26, the Negotiating Committee presented Management with a new proposal for Section 22 Seniority and Longevity. The proposal was accepted and TA’d. That brings the total number of TA’d sections to 20. Both sides remain far apart on all the fundamental issues which include scope, compensation, hours of service, scheduling, retirement and insurance.

It has been 518 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.

>Oct 16, 2006
Negotiations Update

There are no new updates regarding our negotiations. NMB mediator Jack Kane has not scheduled any negotiating sessions at this time.

It has been 532 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.

>November 3rd, 2006
Sending a clear message that they will not accept a substandard contract, Pinnacle Airlines pilots will be conducting informational picketing on November 8 at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport.
The Pinnacle pilots, who have been engaged in Section 6 negotiations for nearly 2 years, remain one of the lowest compensated group of pilots, especially first officers, in the airline industry.
Management continues to pressure the pilots to accept a substandard contract. With bankruptcy filings at Northwest and Mesaba Airlines, Pinnacle management may put even more pressure on pilots to take concessions.
>November 16th, 2006
Negotiations Update

There have been no discussions or negotiations with management on contract negotiations. The NMB has not scheduled any negotiating sessions.

It has been 564 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.

>November 27th 2006
Fellow pilots,

On Tuesday the 5th of December, the Strategic Planning Committee will be hosting informational picketing followed by a rally in Memphis. Unlike the localized picketing in Detroit and Minneapolis, we are asking that pilots from all three bases attend the event in Memphis. Since this is Memphis, it is the perfect venue to show this management group that we are unified and determined to gain the fair contract we so richly deserve. Captain Duane Woerth, President of ALPA, will be attending and we are expecting a good turnout from our fellow ALPA pilots from FEDEX , Northwest and other airlines. In short, this is an event you do not want to miss and those who attend will remember it for a long time.

Throughout the past two years, your MEC has simply asked that our pilots remain patient and informed. Now we are at a point in our negotiations that we need the active participation of the entire pilot group to gain a new contract. We are asking every pilot in all three bases with the day off to commute in and attend.

The event will be commutable, starting at 1000 and finishing prior to the last bank of flights. We will meet at the Holiday Inn Select (the old company hotel) and will be using our own vans for transportation to/from the airport. We are also working with the NWA MEC to extend the jumpseat courtesy to those pilots commuting in.

Thank you for your support and for joining us in Memphis.

>November 28th 2006
The race to the bottom is officially over and the move to raise the bar has begun! We’ve had enough of management’s foot dragging and lame attempts to stall contract negotiations. Now we’re ready to take it to the streets.

The street in front of the corporate office to be exact.

For our Memphis Informational Picketing on December 5, the Strategic Planning Committee is going to close one lane of Nonconnah Blvd. in front of the Pinnacle Airlines corporate offices to conduct informational picketing and a rally.

We want every Pinnacle pilot who’s not flying that day to participate in this event from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Let’s show our management that we’re united in our efforts to achieve a fair and reasonable contract in a timely fashion.

At 8 a.m., vans will begin picking up participants from the baggage claim level of the Memphis International Airport and transporting them to the Holiday Inn Select. At 10 a.m., picketers will be transported to the Courtyard by for final review and preparation for the picketing. The Courtyard is across the street from Pinnacle Corporate offices and will be used as the “break and lunch” location for participants.

Picketing will be held until about noon, at which time Capt. Duane Woerth and other ALPA leaders will speak to the crowds and call out to Mr. Trenary to agree to a contract that we have earned and deserve.

Picketing will continue into the afternoon. Picketers will be transported back to the airport for departures.

We will be joined by pilots from across the ALPA family who support our efforts to take back the professionalism that has been stripped from our careers during the last five years.

Let’s have a good turnout of Pinnacle pilots to tell management that their “Last, Best, and Final, no not Final, yes now its Final” offer is simply the worst, not good enough, and will not be final for Pinnacle Pilots!


>November 1st 2006
10. Negotiations Update

There have been no discussions or negotiations with management on contract negotiations since the end of October and there is no new information to report. The NMB has not scheduled any negotiating sessions.

It has been 579 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.

>December 16th 2006
Negotiations Update

As of December 16th, there have been no discussions or negotiations with management on contract negotiations since the end of October and there is no new information to report. The NMB has not scheduled any negotiating sessions.

It has been 594 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.


> April 4, 2007

Contract Negotiations Update

On Monday we received a letter from Pinnacle Management, portions of which are quoted below:

“Overall, we are offering our Pilots a comprehensive deal that meets their needs while maintaining the Company’s ability to remain competitive and secure additional business from Northwest and other carriers. We do not necessarily have to be the lowest cost operator in order to keep Northwest’s business, but their purchase of Mesaba requires us to preserve our financial viability in order to compete.”

“We are again respectfully requesting that our proposal be put out to our Pilots so that they may have an opportunity to review in detail the Company’s proposal. Once they have reviewed the complete proposal, we request it be put to a ratification vote with at least a neutral position being taken by the MEC and ALPA Negotiating Committee. If this promptly occurs, we will have a better chance of retaining these aircraft.”

The MEC’s response in its entirety was as follows:

“Under ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws, the Pinnacle Master Executive Council is charged with the responsibility of representing its members’ interests in all matters dealing with their employment. This is a solemn responsibility that is taken very seriously by every member of the Pinnacle MEC. If at any time the membership of our union becomes dissatisfied with the MEC’s performance in this regard it can invoke procedures to recall their current representatives and replace them with pilots who they believe will better represent their desires.

One of the most important duties of an MEC is to exercise judgment with respect to the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement under which we all work. The MEC unanimously agrees that management’s current offer does not meet the reasonable needs and expectations that have been clearly communicated to us by our members.

When Pinnacle management agrees to contract terms meeting the requirements set forth by our pilots, the Pinnacle MEC will, with great pride and enthusiasm, present that contract to them with a resounding vote of confidence. Until then, we will continue to do the job we have been elected to do and look forward to continuing our negotiations toward a new agreement.”

Unless we hear otherwise from its members, the Pinnacle MEC will press on.

>May 1st 2007
Negotiations

With the announcement of new flying with Delta the MEC has initiated bargaining talks on this equipment. Under Section 26.Z of our agreement, the parties are to meet and attempt to negotiate rates covering the larger equipment. If these talks are unsuccessful, an arbitrator will be chosen and the matter decided by that person. The Negotiating Committee has already done the investigative work to determine our position on an appropriate rate and will be ready when these talks begin.

Section 6 negotiations are set to resume on May 16 under the guidance of NMB mediator Jack Kane. These talks will be held in Kansas City, MO and are scheduled to continue throughout the remainder of May. Open issues are scope, job protections, compensation, benefits and duration.

It has been 731 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.

>May 25th 2007
Our overall situation is that we have reached agreement on all substantial contract sections, except, scope, compensation, health benefits, 401k and duration. These, of course, are some of the most important issues before us. To date, management has not made a proposal in any of these areas that come close to being acceptable. While the MEC clearly understands the company’s needs to run a profitable operation, we cannot, and will not, accept proposals that would put us at near the bottom of the industry. Frankly, management’s positions are inexplicable to us. Careful reading of management’s discussion of operations contained in their 1st quarter report to investors reveals management statements admitting to a shortage of qualified pilots. Further, performance penalties paid to Northwest for cancelled flights and excess training costs cost Pinnacle close to $2.5 million. Management believes that another performance penalty in excess of $1 million will be paid in the 2nd quarter. What we find inexplicable is that these reported pilot shortages could be easily corrected by compensating Pinnacle pilots in line with industry standards. The current difference between the two parties runs to about $4 million per year.

Since the negotiations ground to a halt after March 31, we were notified by the NMB mediator, Mr. Jack Kane, that mediated talks would resume in Kansas City on May 16. Two days of talks were scheduled, and we spent most of the two days cleaning up language in several sections that had been agreed to pending attorney review. Talks continued in Kansas City on May 22, and management, during these meetings, began back-pedaling on the conceptual agreement the parties had reached on Section 1 - Scope. We are disappointed in this move by management since, in our view, this constitutes negotiating in bad faith. At this time, we do not know the status of our future negotiations.

>June 1st 2007
Negotiation Update

We met with the Company and our mediator for two weeks during the month of May. The first week was spent on completing the legal review of TA’d sections 12, 13, 14, and 25. Both legal teams approved all four sections.

During the second week of negotiations Section 1 (Recognition and Job Security) was discussed. We presented our full language Section 1 proposal complete with Holding Company letters to the company. The Company subsequently withdrew the concepts they had formally proposed on Scope and left us with no official position.

At this time no future negotiation dates have been set.



It has been 764 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.

>June 19th 2007
Negotiation Update

There have been no negotiating sessions since our last update. An effort is being made to secure negotiating dates in July from the Mediator.

>July 1st 2007

Negotiations Update

The Negotiating Committee has confirmed that mediated negotiations with the Company will resume July 24th thru July 27th in MSP at the ALPA Representation Offices.

It has been 775 days since the Pinnacle Pilot Agreement became amendable.
>Aug 17th 2007

Negotiations Update

No negotiating sessions are currently scheduled. We are working with our mediator to secure dates in the near future.

>Sep 15th 2007


No new hard progress has been made in recent talks with the company. We still remain divided on eight open sections. Economic terms are still far apart and the company refuses to give us any real assurances on job security. New mediated sessions are set for September 18-2

>Sept 18th 2007

Mediated Negotiations

Today was the first scheduled day of a four day mediated session with the Company concerning our ongoing contract negotiations. Representing the Association were the entire Negotiation Committee, MEC Chairman Captain Scott Erickson, and ALPA Attorney/Contract Administrator Dan Froehlich. Representing the Company were Clive Seal, Frank Fato, David White, and Joseph L. Manson III from Baker & Hostetler, LLP.
The parties meet with Mediator Jack Kane throughout the morning and the afternoon and developed a plan of action for the remainder of the week. It is expected that full language proposals will be exchanged and discussions to follow.
It is the goal of the Negotiation Committee to provide the members of this union with daily updates on the progress of these mediated sessions.

Sincerely,

Captain Brian Dillard
Chairman, Negotiation Committee
Airline Pilots Association
Pinnacle MEC

>Sept 19th 2007
Your Negotiating Committee attended the second day of this week’s scheduled mediated negotiations today. Also in attendance were Company representatives Frank Fato, David White, Clive Seal, and Joseph Manson. Our federal mediator Jack Kane presided over the meeting.

The activity at the table today was dominated by proposals from the Association. We presented proposals on open sections 3, 4, 5, 8, and 31. The company received our proposals and should be responding to them in the near future. We are scheduled for additional talks on Thursday, September 20th.

As more information becomes available we will make it available. Thank you for your support.

>Sept 21st 2007
On Thursday your Negotiating Committee met with the company for the last scheduled day of mediated talks this week. Present from the Company were Clive Seal, Frank Fato, David White, and Joseph Manson. NMB Mediator Jack Kane once again presided over the day's session.

A late start was requested by the Company and it was anticipated that the Company would use this extra time to formulate a response to the five sections that the Association proposed earlier in the week. We were disappointed when no reply or constructive discussion was provided to us on the remaining open issues.

The weeks events can be summed up by the Association replacing our previously expired offers with updated bargaining positions. The Company seemed to take great exception to our new bargaining positions and provided no constructive input at this weeks sessions.

Currently, no new mediation dates have been set but we are hopeful to see some dates scheduled in October.

>Oct 6th 2007
Negotiations Update

Mediated contract negotiations will continue in St. Louis, MO on October 22 thru October 24.

>November 2nd 2007

Negotiation Update

No current negotiations are scheduled. Once our arbitrator has decided on a schedule for new dates we will inform you.

>November 19th 2007


Negotiation Update

There are no mediated negotiating sessions on the calendar. Once a new schedule is finalized we will let you know.

>Jan 1st 2008

Fellow Pilots,

Today, your MEC decided that due to the stagnant pace of contract negotiations the time has come to request a proffer of arbitration from the National Mediation Board. Should the NMB decide to accept our request and tender the parties a proffer of arbitration and at least one party did not accept the offer, we would enter a 30-day “cooling off” period. At the end of this period, if a tentative agreement has not been reached, the respective parties may engage in “self-help”. For us, that would mean a strike.

Your MEC has not taken this step lightly, however, we firmly believe that management will not negotiate to a fair agreement lacking this step.

A press release will be released Tuesday morning and more details will be available shortly.



>Jan 23rd 2008

At the Company's request our federal mediator cancelled this weeks scheduled mediated negotiations. Your MEC received notification today that the NMB has rescheduled mediated negotiations for January 30th thru February 1. Your Negotiating Committee is looking forward to engaging the Company next week.

>Feb 1st 2008

Fellow Pilots,

Your Negotiating Committee met this week with the Company in St. Charles, Missouri for mediated contract negotiations. Present for the Company were Clive Seal, Frank Fato, David White, and their attorney Joseph Manson. Present for the Association were your full Negotiating Committee along with Captain Scott Erickson, ALPA attorney Jim Wilson, and ALPA Executive Administrator Captain Randy Helling.

The Association met with the Company on Thursday in hopes of closing out Section 8 (Deadheading). We came prepared to compromise but the Company met us with a proposal insisting on concessions from other previously agreed upon sections in order to secure deadheading provisions that are standard in the industry. The remainder of Thursday’s talks were unproductive.

Friday’s talks brought no new proposals and the parties adjourned without any measurable progress. New dates for negotiations are not yet officially scheduled but we are hopeful to secure additional dates in February.

CAPTAINPCL

>Feb 2nd 2008

Fellow Pilots,

My patience has run thin with the half-truths, spun facts, and bold-faced fabrications communicated by our management team of late. Their accusations that your MEC, your fellow pilots, have been untruthful with you are unforgivable.

The implication of the Negotiating Committee moving the goal posts is not accurate in any way, shape, or form and the truth needs to be fully explained from someone who was actually there. During our negotiations last February and March we were making great progress and came to agreement on most open items except for financial and job security issues. As the March 31st deadline (a deadline set by the company to coincide with the new Air Service Agreement negotiated between Pinnacle Management and Northwest Airlines) drew closer, the company asked ALPA to present its bottom lines on the financials and job security to hopefully bring the talks to a close prior to the deadline. The company asked us to do this away from the formal negotiating table, the mediator and the lawyers for both sides. We attempted to work with the company by making a time limited, one time offer that would have recognized our contribution to the success of our airline as well as given the company the ability to aggressively compete in the marketplace. While our one time bottom line offer reflected our efforts to close the gap, the company bottom line fell far short of industry standards in nearly every regard. It was deemed unacceptable by the Negotiating Committee.

Our deal-closing offer was offered in the best of faith imaginable. We made it clear that the offer was time limited and was made in the spirit of working with the company in connection with its self-imposed deadline. When our offer expired and the company failed to act, we returned to updated versions of our prior table positions in order to resume traditional negotiations. Our good faith gesture to close the deal back in March is now being used by company lawyers and representatives to discredit the Association. They would like to force us into a position where our bottom line as of almost a year ago would be the starting place for further negotiations. In hindsight we were fools for trusting them to cleanly walk away from a good faith effort to close the deal. We will not make this mistake again.

There have also been some allegations of the Negotiating Committee reneging on a handshake deal between the parties. While Im not exactly sure what they are talking about, Ive been told that they are referring to an alleged agreement by us to consider a full counterproposal from them after the expiration date of our offer. The only thing we ever received from them was incomplete financial terms scribbled on scratch paper and the promise that we would walk about scope once we formally agreed to their low-ball financials. Without a full offer we never considered their proposal and in no way could any of this be considered a handshake deal.

Its clear that as time marches on the company is running out of ways to put the brakes on a negotiating process that has already spanned nearly three and a half years. Managements lawsuit is simply a desperate attempt at stalling the inevitable. It has no merit and no possibly favorable outcome for either party. The companys unwillingness to deal quickly and fairly with us has probably cost us opportunities to secure additional business but we will not subsidize the growth of our airline with a sub-par working agreement. We are ready, willing, and prepared to meet the company anytime and anywhere to conclude these negotiations, however, any resolution must contain work rules and compensation that either meets or exceeds standard industry provisions. Pinnacle pilots will NOT work for less than equally qualified pilots employed by more enlightened managements.

Your support has been astounding, your unity is unbreakable, and your faith is unquestioned. The Wilson polling data we continue to collect gives us clear guidance as to what you need to ratify a new contract and your collective goals are achievable. This process has taken much longer than any of us would have liked but we will succeed. We will take this contract into the 21st century, we will all prosper, and the company will continue to thrive.

In Unity,

Captain Scott Erickson
>Feb 9th 2008

Negotiations Update

Mediator Jack Kane has notified us that contract negotiations will resume next week. Talks are scheduled for February 14, 15 and 16 and will be held in San Diego, CA due to mediator Kane’s handling of another case in that locale.

Feb 18th 2008

The week’s negotiations can be characterized as having accomplished very little. Management continues to insist on compensation terms that, at the end of the contract period, would result in Pinnacle being near the bottom of the industry in all compensation categories. This is unacceptable to your MEC, and we remain committed to remaining at the table until such time as management places a proposal on the table that addresses our concerns.

No further negotiating sessions are currently scheduled but we expect to be returning to the bargaining table in early March. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

>March 17th 2008

Negotiations Update

We were expecting to be back at the bargaining table by the posting of this communication but our efforts to secure additional negotiating dates for March have so far been fruitless. We remain in close contact with our mediator and hope to have some additional sessions scheduled soon. There have been no other developments on the negotiations front.

>April 2nd 2008

Negotiations

We are still waiting for the mediator to schedule the next round of negotiations. We are hopeful that Mr. Kane is planing to set dates for negotiations in the very near future.

>April 14th 2008


Fellow Pilots:

I am writing to you in order to bring to your attention a very important event in the near future.

As you are all aware, May 1st 2008 marks the three-year anniversary of our contract amendable date. Negotiations have taken place for well over three years and have to date, not yielded a new working agreement. Pinnacle Airlines management continues to earnestly come to the table with contract proposals that would fairly recognize the immense contributions and sacrifices made by the pilot group that have allowed Pinnacle Airlines to succeed and grow.

May 1st marks a shameful date. While Pinnacle Airlines has grown and prospered one employee group has been left out in the cold: the pilots. Our pilot group now holds the dubious distinction of being some of the lowest paid airline pilots in the nation working under a nine year old contract that will have been amendable for three years on May 1st, 2008.

Your SPC Committee is organizing a major event on May 1st outside of the company corporate offices. This is your opportunity to express your outrage at management’s delay tactics and refusal to agree to a fair contract that accurately recognizes the invaluable role that our pilots play towards the success of Pinnacle Airlines.

I am personally requesting that every pilot who is not working on May 1st - regardless of domicile - attend this important event. While it may require a small sacrifice to give up your day off, it is a very small price to pay towards the powerful message we will be sending when hundreds of pilots show up at managements front door to give them the message: 2008 is three years too late!

>April 20th 2008

Negotiations Update

As of this publication, there are no new dates set by the Mediator for Section 6 mediated negotiation sessions. Both your Negotiating Committee and the Company are eager to meet as soon as possible in the hope of achieving a new contract. Your Negotiating Committee is presently at work preparing for the next session as well as exploring some alternative measures to facilitate the process of achieving our goals for a new contract.

>May 6th 2008

Negotiations Update

Your Negotiating Committee has been at work preparing a comprehensive contract proposal in the hope of finally reaching a contract with management. This proposal was submitted on Friday, April 25th. The negotiating committee believes the proposal to be fair and to accurately reflect the work done by our pilots. With the mediator’s approval, the proposal has been sent to management and your Negotiating Committee is eagerly awaiting a response.

As of this publication, there have not been any further negotiations sessions scheduled by the mediator.

>May 21st 2008

Negotiations Update

Your Negotiating Committee presented to Pinnacle Airlines management a comprehensive contract proposal in late April, in the hope of finally achieving a fair contract. To date, no response has been received. The mediator has not scheduled any further negotiations at this time. We will update you as soon as any new information becomes available.

>June 6th 2008

Negotiations Update

There have been discussions with the company regarding possible mediated negotiation sessions on June 9th and 10th. The dates have not yet been finalized however your Negotiating Committee will keep you updated with any progress. Both the company and your negotiating team are eager to meet in the hope of finally achieving a contract.

>July 9th 2008


Negotiations Update

No negotiations are currently scheduled. We remain in contact with our mediator and hope to have further sessions scheduled shortly.

>July 19th 2008

Negotiations Update

The last round of negotiations ended on June 30th, 2008. Although small amount of progress were made, there remain significant differences between the Association and the Company regarding the PBS System (Prefbid), Scope and some economic factors.

We have maintained communications with the company and both sides are eager to get back to the negotiating table. Our mediator has indicated that negotiations may resume sometime in early August. As soon as the mediator schedules firm dates for the next round of negotiations, we will issue a communication to the pilot group.

>Aug 4th 2008

Negotiations Update

Mediator Jack Kane has informed us that we will reconvene for mediated negotiation sessions during the week beginning August 25th, 2008. The negotiations are scheduled to take place at the National Mediation Board headquarters in Washington DC and one of the members of the NMB has pledged to be in attendance. We look forward to making progress towards achieving the fair contract that the Pinnacle Airlines pilots deserve. We will keep the pilot group updated as much as practical during the negotiation sessions and issue a communication at the conclusion of the sessions.

>Aug 19th 2008

Negotiations Update

Section six negotiations are scheduled to resume in Washington DC at the National Mediation Board headquarters on August 26th, 2008. Your Negotiating Committee has been informed that a National Mediation Board member will be present at the table.

During the last few weeks your Negotiations Committee has been working closely with the company on the Preferential Bidding System. The negotiations regarding PBS have so far yielded positive results in securing a system that protects the quality of life of our pilots. We will not accept anything less.

In addition to some hanging pref bid issues there are still several open economic items in addition to scope provision. We will keep you as updated as much as possible during these next negotiating sessions.

>Aug 26th 2008

The Preferential Bidding System (PBS) dominated the days negotiations which adjourned late this evening with little to no progress. Negotiations will resume early tomorrow morning. Other than PBS, open items include scope and certain economic items.

>Aug 28th 2008


As previously reported, the Preferential Bidding System (PBS) dominated yesterday’s negotiations, which adjourned late yesterday evening with little to no progress. Over the past four weeks, the Association had met with the Company “away from the table” on multiple occasions to discuss PBS in an effort to achieve mutually agreeable terms while improving the quality of life of the pilot group. While these meetings were not mediated, they were conducted with the approval of Mediator Jack Kane. Your Association was lead to believe that significant progress was made on PBS and received verbal assurances that only minor issues remained in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on PBS. Your association came to Washington D.C. ready to close PBS and discuss the remaining open items: scope and certain economic items. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Yesterday, the Association was presented with a PBS document that did not in any way represent the spirit of the talks conducted over the past weeks. In many respects, the PBS proposal submitted by the company could be characterized as regressive. As a consequence of the company’s position, a substantial part of time set aside for negotiations today was consumed by reviewing the latest company proposal and formulating a response that served the best interests of the pilot group.

This afternoon, the Association presented its response to the Company’s PBS proposal. At the conclusion of the presentation, corporate counsel Joe Manson indicated that the company would respond to the Association at a later date. Excluding PBS, open items include scope and certain economic items.

At the conclusion of today’s negotiations sessions, National Mediation Board Mediator Jack Kane informed both parties that mediated negotiations were recessed until further notice. Mediator Kane reiterated NMB Member Hoglander’s stance that the duration of the negotiations combined with the existing open items were the driving force behind the decision to recess further negotiations.

>Sept 3rd 2008


Your Contract Negotiating Committee met briefly with management negotiators and the National Mediation Board last week in Washington, D.C. for yet another round of mediated negotiations. Prior to last week’s session, your Negotiating Committee worked closely with members of the management Negotiating Committee to create a document that would define a preferential bidding system that was mutually acceptable to both parties. It was understood prior to going to Washington that all but two issues were settled and that it should not take long to reach a final agreement on PBS and proceed to other outstanding issues. However, once we got to the bargaining table in Washington, management had backtracked on significant portions of the jointly negotiated PBS document, as well as the concepts behind the document, laying waste to the prior month’s work.

We were clearly disappointed with the management team for pulling the rug out from under us in Washington. I believe this disappointment carried through to our mediators as well as the NMB member assigned to our case. After a brief deliberation, the NMB made the decision to place our unfruitful negotiations into recess for an indefinite amount of time.

>Sept 26th 2008

Negotiations Update

There are no new negotiations updates. Our status of being “on recess” from the NMB has not changed and it is not expected to change in the near future.

To review the negotiations update issued after the last round of negotiations, please see the September 1st, 2008 Payday Hotline or go to the Negotiations Update thread on the www.airlinkpilots.com message board.

>Oct 7th 2008


Negotiations Update

There are no new negotiations updates. Our status of being “on recess” from the NMB has not changed and it is not expected to change in the near future.

To review the negotiations update issued after the last round of negotiations, please see the Negotiations Update thread at the top of thewww.airlinkpilots.com message board.

>Nov 12th 2008

Negotiations Update

Your Negotiating Committee met again with the company on November 6th and 7th in talks regarding preferential bidding. A comprehensive agreement on Pref Bid has not yet been made but slow progress continues. We plan to meet again with the company on November 13th and 14th in Memphis.

>Nov 22nd 2008


Negotiations Update

Your Negotiating Committee met with the company on November 13th and 14th to once again discuss issues regarding preferential bidding in the new contract. Additional progress was made but much work remains to be done. There are currently no more meetings scheduled with the company. We will advise you when additional meeting are scheduled.
>Dec 7th 2008
Negotiations Update

There have been no new meetings with the company over the past few weeks. There is a possibility of a meeting later in December or early January. We will keep you updated on any dates that get locked down in the near future.

>Jan 17th 2009
Negotiations Update

Your Contract Negotiating Committee will be returning to the bargaining table with Company negotiators and our NMB mediator on January 26th through the 30th. This session will end a five-month break in mediated negotiations. As always, your negotiators will be prepared to make significant progress at this meeting. Updates will be provided as soon as they become available.

>Jan 22nd 2009
Negotiations

As a reminder, your Negotiating Committee will be meeting with the company and our Federal Mediator the week of January 26th in Memphis for continued contract negotiations.

>Jan 30th 2009
This weeks negotiations did not yield any measurable progress at the bargaining table. The front half of the week was dominated by discussion of the two remaining overriding issues left in pref bid and the back half of the week was dedicated to discussion on Scope. Good dialog developed late in the week but no agreements were made that would have pushed the negotiations process forward or reduced the number of differences we still have with the company.

All three parties are intending to discuss future negotiations dates in the coming week. The next scheduled session will be advertised as soon as the date is set.

>March 16th 2009
Your Negotiating Committee will be informally meeting with members of the Company’s Negotiating Committee again this week to further discuss language that addresses some of the more complex but less contentious concepts of the new Agreement. Good progress was made two weeks ago during similar discussions and we hope to keep the momentum going on writing these less contentious concepts into contract language. The more contentious issues remaining in our negotiations remain unresolved and will be addressed in mediated negotiations.
>March 23rd 2009
Negotiations Update

Your Negotiating Committee met with Company representatives again last week to continue to work through contract language issues that must be resolved before reaching a comprehensive agreement. Again, progress was made on narrowing differences on the structure and wording of various contract sections that have not already been agreed to.

The Negotiating Committee will meet again with Company representatives the week of the 23rd to continue their work. A mediated session has still not been called by our mediator but it is anticipated that one will be soon.

>April 9th 2009


Negotiations Update

Your Negotiating Committee continues to work with company representatives to draft new language and clean up smaller issues still outstanding in the new contract. Full Committees and legal counsel are scheduled to meet again for sessions beginning April 14th and April 22nd, 2009. The Company has recently replaced their legal counsel and these sessions will be the first time working with the new attorney. We continue to communicate with our mediator on getting new mediated sessions scheduled but as of yet there is no firm date on the schedule.

>April 25th 2009
Two weeks ago, both parties had identified 29 areas of disagreement standing in the way of closure on a new agreement. I am happy to report to you that as of this Friday afternoon, we have narrowed the list of disagreement down to just nine items. The past two weeks of negotiations have been difficult but they have been carried out with a much improved atmosphere of mutual respect, productivity and compromise.

>May 13th 2009
Your Negotiating Committee met with Company representatives this past weekend from May 9th to the 12th in Memphis to continue to try and find agreement on this long overdue new working agreement. We managed to further our progress toward a new contract with agreement reached on the remaining open issues within the Preferential Bidding System as well as Cancellation Pay and Reassignment. We still remain apart on limited terms within various compensation, benefits, and job security sections.

>May 20th 2009
Negotiations Update

The Negotiating Committee has verified that we will be meting with the Company once again starting on June 9th for a resumption of contract negotiations. The meeting location has yet to be determined.

>June 3rd 2009
Negotiations Update

Our Negotiating Committee will be meeting again with the company on June 9th in Memphis. A full update will be distributed after the session is complete.

>June 13th 2009
At the start of the week, a handful of the most significant contract items remained open including job security, financial issues and duration. Many proposals were passed and compromises were made in an attempt to consummate these negotiations but one issue remained unresolved. We were unable to close what should have been an insignificant item in the overall picture of a labor agreement valued at nearly one half of a billion dollars over its duration.

Company negotiators insisted that we accept their proposal that pilots be dual qualified in both the CRJ-200 and the CRJ-900, with specific work rules and financial arrangements for the dual qualification scheme undetermined at the date of signing and therefore subject to interest arbitration should future negotiations be unsuccessful in achieving mutual agreement. We offered to accommodate the Company’s request contingent upon non-concessionary financial terms and work rules in place that safeguard our crews, passengers and aircraft from the unique hazards that plague the common operation of these two aircraft variants. Our proposal was rejected.

Airlines engaging in common pilot qualification between the CRJ-200 and the CRJ-900 are relatively uncommon and the practice is disallowed under our current contract and the Company’s current practice. Your Negotiating Committee and MEC Officers were genuinely disappointed by the Company’s unwillingness to agree to reasonable terms that would allow the full MEC and pilot group the opportunity to ratify a contract that is long overdue. We are hopeful that this final issue can be worked out during the time that we have set aside late next week to continue negotiations.

>June 21st 2009

Negotiations Update

We had originally anticipated retuning to negotiations with the company this week however some changes were made to the schedule after the NMB showed renewed interest in our case. We will be meeting briefly with the company early the week of June 21st to try and resolve the outstanding issue and if these talks are unsuccessful we will be meeting in Washington D.C. for a mediated session with the NMB.

>June 14th 2009


This past Tuesday we received a message from the company’s attorney stating that the company had reconsidered its position on the dual qualification issue and wished to meet with us to explain their new ideas. Under approval from the NMB we met with the company this past Wednesday and Thursday to hear their ideas and consider the merits within their new proposal. The company did move in our direction on some of the sub-issues but their position on the critical “pay status” component was not sufficient to close a deal. The discussions ended Thursday night without getting past this last issue.

CAPTAINPCL

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