Airline Pilot Central Forums

C—12 ORD update.

Dear Council 12 pilots,

Council 12 Officer Terms Begin
Today is the first day of the new term of office for Eric Popper as Chair, Phil Anderson as Vice Chair, and Peter Bess as Secretary Treasurer. We want to sincerely thank Lisa Peasely for her years of service and unionism on all of our behalf. We welcome Peter and thank him for his willingness to serve the pilots of our council for the next three years. We also want to thank Nicholas Patronis for stepping up to the Council 12 Communications Committee Chair position.
Contract Negotiations
This morning, we received news that the Delta TA has passed by a margin of 78%. Their scope LOA passed by 90%. There are no more excuses for Mr. Kirby. The bar for industry leading value has been set!
We have all been watching our contract negotiations with keen interest. As you know, ALPA recently submitted a proposal that adequately reflected both industry leading pay rates and overall industry leading contract value. You may remember, the ratified Delta agreement has approximately 7.2 billion dollars worth of improvements over its four year term.
While Section 3 pay rates are optically pleasing and certainly the most obvious component of comparison between any pilot contract, keep in mind that pay-rates alone do not make an industry leading agreement. You have made it abundantly clear that vast improvements are necessary to our current UPA (which still contains some work rules that date back to the bankruptcy era); improvements which are sure to affect each and every one of our daily lives.

Industry leading means wide sweeping improvements to reserve, sick leave, disability, scheduling, PBS, and other areas of concern. The fine print matters!

Industry leading does NOT mean Delta pay-rates plus one dollar, nebulous work rule changes, and a free suitcase.

During the last 60 days or so, the MEC has regrouped as a result of the grassroots recall efforts over the previous 6 months. The Delta pilots raising the bar (to the tune of $7.2 billion dollars) also caused a natural delay. During that time, Mr. Kirby failed to acknowledge our previous contract offer and negotiations were more or less stalled. Concurrently, Mr. Kirby and senior management have attempted to manage your expectations by speaking directly with the pilots and he has publicly blamed ALPA for the delay in negotiations.

He has boldly stated that a quick agreement could be reached in as little as two weeks if ALPA would only come to the negotiating table. We are not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either, that these words are proving to be hollow as negotiations have resumed in full vigor with little sign of reaching the promised and deserved industry leading deal.

Our negotiating committee is fully engaged with the company and some progress is being made. Currently though, it is obvious that management has not come to terms with the definition of industry leading. As we stated, the Delta TA is now ratified so Mr. Kirby is out of excuses.

MY UNION SPEAKS FOR ME

Many pilots have asked us what they can do to help. The answer is simple. Please read what your union has to say. Please participate in showing unity, even if it is something as simple as wearing a “Contract First, United Next” lanyard and button along with your ALPA pin. Management and the other employees notice when we are aligned as a group. Please come to meetings and stay informed. Participate in picketing events when you are available (expect more SPSC events soon), and please take advantage of union sponsored social events such as the recent Top-Golf Family Awareness event.

Every time we show management that we are unified and standing shoulder to shoulder, no matter how simple the gesture, they take notice.

There are also some things that you may inadvertently do which harm our collective efforts. Please do not engage with management directly about negotiations. Time and time again, pilots complain directly to the CEO - when given the opportunity - about whatever weakness in the contract is the most fresh on their minds. The feedback comes directly back to the negotiating table as something that the company uses against us.
Additionally, when high level management personnel travel and they visit your flight deck, tell them, “my union speaks for me.” Do not engage management and ask questions at company sponsored events such as town-hall meetings. There are frequent training sessions such as new Captain seminars, PPD classes, and quarterly instructor meetings where captive groups of pilots still give our senior management teams standing ovations. What message does this send? These overt actions of satisfaction, praise, and support do not help your negotiating team deliver an industry leading agreement. We are in year four of this contract negotiation; be situationally aware.

"Simply tell management, “my union speaks for me!”

CONTRACT FIRST, UNITED NEXT….

Speaking of the Top Golf event, the recent turn-out across the system was fully subscribed in all of the locations. Your council officers attended the event in Naperville. It was a positive experience for everyone there to be able to meet new peers and their families. We attempted to interact with all of the attendees and answer questions or discuss concerns. Expect more Council 12 informal gatherings to come and we hope to see you there!

45 Days of New MEC Leadership

We are now about 45 days into the term of our new Master Chair, Captain Garth Thompson. While those of us who have done ALPA work in the past know Garth and have worked with him, many of you told us that you were not familiar with him. We hope that you are pleased, as we are, that the tone of our MEC leadership is much more reflective of your collective voice than it has been for quite some time. Please continue to pay attention to union communications and provide feedback. We hope to have Garth attend a future Council 12 meeting soon and we hope that you are able to attend.
Unity and Probationary Pilots

For probationary pilots, welcome to United and Council 12. We are happy to have you here.

When you consider what you can do to help, it is important to realize that you play an equal and important role within our pilot group. Wear your ALPA pin with pride. It is a symbol of what those before us have sacrificed to protect the profession. We strongly encourage you to participate in our demonstration of unity, especially by wearing a “Contract First, United Next” lanyard and button.

As members who are the most in-touch with incoming new hire classes, you can share our efforts with those pilots still in the hiring pool and explain how our unity and solidarity help advance our efforts at getting an industry leading contract. Most importantly, read the communications from the union and don’t be afraid to ask questions. And if you’ve come to United from another ALPA carrier, please mentor those who may not have any union experience.

A few common questions have been raised since the first picketing event was held in November as to whether or not probationary pilots can or should participate in various union displays of unity. These questions involve:

1) wearing the “contract first / United next” lanyard,

2) participating in picketing events,

3) “crossing the picket line” during picket events, and

4) being fearful of retribution from the company by participating in any of the above

Our MEC Legal representatives have provided guidance on these issues.

1) Can new hires wear the “contract first / United next” lanyard? YES!

2) Can new hires participate in picketing events? YES!

3) Is reporting to work when there is an informational picket considered “crossing the picket line?” NO!

Informational picketing is intended to make management and the public aware of our dissatisfaction with the progress of negotiations. Probationary members should join in and walk shoulder to shoulder with their brother and sister pilots when they can.

4) Should new hires be fearful of retribution from the company due to participation in any of the above? NO!

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. The Company is not going to fire anyone for exercising their right to engage in legally protected union activity while on their own time. If some rogue manager attempts to do so, we will challenge it.
Welcome to United - we are happy that you’re here!

In Unity,
Contract First, United Next