A320

Is there anything stopping the company from doing any of this without this agreement since the existing TPA has expired?

CALFO

I don't know if this makes it any easier as the company had the rights to do this already.

I think the company's plans to reallocate flying instead of completing a jcba is short sighted and another insult to the pilots (especially the UAL side). The only winners in a reallocation are commuters from opposing hubs. Everyone else, with the exception of wb pilots and Guam crews will be negatively affected by the company's act. I believe the union saw this and did what they could to mitigate damage.

APC225

In the end it isn't about commuters, hubs, extending TPAs. It's about a culture of chronic and inexorable wearing down of the employees so that they just give up. Lorenzo started it and although it let up a bit once, it's back with a vengeance now.

oldmako

Bingo.

I knew a guy whose father was in upper level management at UAL during the ESOP days and beyond. His dad hated unions to his marrow and loved nothing more than sticking a finger in labors eye every chance he got. It was corp culture to screw the pilots in particular since they owned the majority of the airline. Tilton was this guys wet dream, and now Smisek is following his lead. I believe that screwing us (L-UAL) was part of the plan and they are enjoying it. It will be interesting to see how we, as a combined group stand up for ourselves in the coming months. So far, I'm disappointed in the lack of resolve and anger displayed by some of the troops on both sides of the fence. It's beyond embarrassing. I feel like I'm flying with "The Stepford Pilots".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stepford_Wives

MXDUDE

Same pattern. 1. Beat down pilot group 2. Put out mother of all bids just before substandard TA to soften up beat down pilot group 3. TA passes 55/45. Has worked ever since contract '95.

socalflyboy

My thoughts EXACTLY!! Why? Why not tell someone to pound sand and present an INDUSTRY LEADING contract and THEN, and only then, can we talk?????????????????????????

EWRflyr

The TPA did not expire. Essentially it was like our contract: amendable. There were terminable portions of the TPA that either side could opt out of by written notice. Until that notice came, ALL PORTIONS OF THE TPA REMAINED IN FULL FORCE.

The company could have simply notified ALPA in writing that it was terminating the provisions having to do with domiciles, flying ratios, furlough protections. Then the company could have done whatever it wanted essentially. While not the greatest outcome for any of us, some protections remain in place as of now.

UASnake

I think it's easier now with both MEC's stamp of approval on it, less likely to cause an uproar in the ranks. As you and others rightly point out, the company could have done this and more anyway, but would have risked more fallout.

IMO, it's telling that UCH wouldn't agree to make all TPA provisions expire/terminable at JCBA ratification instead of on a future date, assuming ALPA was pushing for that. Maybe their plans don't include a JCBA before, say, next spring. Given that work rules have taken a year and aren't done yet, they could drag out scope and pay for another year. By which time they'll be enjoying synergies out the wazoo and may have even less motivation to get the JCBA deal done, or even to extend the TPA provisions again. I hope I'm wrong, but every time I think it can't get any worse, it does!

UASnake

Does the CAL contract include paid moves for pilots going to new dom, excuse me, bases, voluntarily and involuntarily?

I'll bet their wet dream is that most of the pilots will make lateral moves in the same fleet/seat so the transition training load won't go through the roof, and also keep the follow-on displacement letters to a minimum.

Spicy McHaggis

No time to dig out the contract, but I believe for voluntary the only moving expense will be when you are upgrading for the first time. Involuntary moves are paid. Again, without looking into the contract, I'm sure the details suck.

Edit: I found the time, here's the moving section:



Section 6 - Moving Expenses
Part 1 - Definition
1. Base - “Base” means the airport, for purposes of eligibility and distance.
2. Eligible Family Members - “Eligible Family Members” means a spouse or companion
and dependents.
3. Residence - “Residence” means the home where a pilot physically resides on a
permanent basis.
Part 2 - Eligibility
A. A pilot will be eligible for reimbursement of moving expenses for a move to a Base in
which he holds a bid position other than his current Base if:
1. He is displaced to such Base (excluding seniority displacements); or
2. The Base in which he holds a bid position is a "new or reestablished” Base. A
new or reestablished Base is one which has been available for twelve (12)
months or less; or
3. His bid position results from a first time upgrade to Captain and he is unable to
upgrade to Captain in his current Base, or he is unable to hold Captain in his
current Base with a bid more senior than sixty-nine percent (69%), but is able
to hold Captain in his new Base with a bid more senior than sixty-nine percent
(69%).
For Recall Moves, see Section 23, Part 5.F and Part 6.
B. To be eligible for reimbursement:
1. A pilot must change the location of his Residence after he is staffed in his
newly awarded Base, but in no case later than twenty four (24) months after
the effective date of the bid placing the pilot in his new Base, provided,
however, that with written permission of the Vice President of Flight
Operations (“VPFO”) the pilot may move after the award date but before he is
staffed in his new Base. The pilot will not be entitled to paid moving expenses
to another Base should he bid and be awarded such other Base before being
staffed in the Base to which he was moved. However, when a pilot who has not
used his entitlement to a paid move is awarded another Base, he may elect to
use his entitlement to move to the new Base so long as the move occurs within
twenty four (24) months after the effective date of the original award which
entitled him to the paid move. Further, a pilot will not be entitled to a paid
move to a Base for which he no longer holds a bid.
2. A pilot must actually establish his permanent home at his new Residence,
which must be located within a radius of one hundred fifty (150) miles of his
newly awarded Base and fifty (50) miles closer to the airport than his previous
Residence.
Section 6 - Moving Expenses Part 3 - Expenses Paid by the Company
6-2
C. A pilot will forfeit eligibility for moving expenses if:
1. He does not relocate his Residence within the allotted time; or
2. Prior to relocating, he is awarded a position at his former Base; or
3. Prior to relocating, he becomes eligible for relocation benefits again under this
Section; or
4. Prior to relocating, he retires, dies, or is terminated.
Part 3 - Expenses Paid by the Company
A. Actual moving expenses for pilots meeting the eligibility requirements of Part 2 above
will be reimbursed to the pilot upon submission of expense reports with actual receipts
attached. All expense reports must be submitted to the pilot's new Chief Pilot within
sixty (60) days of the completion of the move. Unless prior written permission is
obtained from the VPFO’s office, all paid moves must be performed by a Company
designated vendor.
B. Expenses will be paid for the following:
1. Actual moving expenses for household effects up to a maximum of 18,000
pounds. Moving expenses cover packing, shipping, unpacking, and insurance.
2. Necessary storage of household effects for up to a total of sixty (60) days at
either the origin or destination (or a combination thereof) of the move.
3. Actual reasonable hotel expenses to a maximum of sixty dollars ($60.00) per
night for the pilot and his spouse plus an additional thirty-five dollars ($35.00)
per night for each child, to a maximum of one hundred forty dollars ($140.00)
for four (4) children or more, for each night of travel as allowed in Part 4
below, plus one (1) additional night.
4. Actual meal expenses for the pilot and each member of his immediate family
with a daily limit of thirty dollars ($30.00) per day for the pilot and twenty
dollars ($20.00) per day for each immediate family member for each day of
travel as allowed in Part 4 below plus one (1) additional day.
5. A flat rate of twenty four cents ($.24) per mile or greater as provided by
general corporate policy for each of no more than a total of two (2)
automobiles, for actual driving of a pilot's automobile(s) to his newly awarded
Base by the most direct route (AAA mileage), but not to exceed the mileage
from the pilot's old Base to his new Base plus two hundred twenty-five (225)
miles.
6. On paid moves within the contiguous United States, the shipment of not more
than two (2) automobiles. If two (2) automobiles are shipped, then the pilot
will not receive hotel or meal expense in conjunction with such shipment. If
one (1) automobile is shipped, the pilot will be provided expenses outlined in
Part 3.B.3, 3.B.4 and 3.B.5 above in conjunction with his driving the second
automobile to his new Residence.
Section 6 - Moving Expenses Part 4 - Time Off
6-3
7. On paid moves to or from outside the contiguous United States, shipment of
one (1) automobile by the Company or by a shipper arranged by the Company
at its cost. Additionally, mileage will be paid from original Base to port, in
accordance with Paragraph 5 above, and mileage expense from destination port
to Base.
8. One thousand dollars ($1000) for miscellaneous expenses not otherwise
covered by the provisions of this Section.
Part 4 - Time Off
A. For the purposes of house hunting, a pilot who is eligible for reimbursement of
moving expenses may request up to four (4) continuous Days Off. Days may be taken
in a block or two (2) blocks at pilot’s request. Such days will be unpaid (including
pay for Trips missed), and will be scheduled with the prior approval of Crew
Scheduling.
B. For domestic moves, a pilot who is eligible for reimbursement pursuant to Part 2
above will be given one (1) day travel for each four hundred (400) miles or fraction
thereof (in increments of one hundred [100] miles) from his old Base to his new Base.
For moves between the mainland and Honolulu or Guam, a pilot who is eligible for
reimbursement pursuant to Part 2 above will be given one (1) day of travel for each
four hundred (400) miles or fraction thereof (in increments of one hundred [100]
miles) from his old Base to/from a west coast port (either Los Angeles or San
Francisco), plus one (1) additional day for travel to/from Honolulu, or two (2)
additional days for travel to/from Guam. Additionally, he will be allowed four (4) paid
Days Off in conjunction with the travel days for purposes of packing, unpacking, and
other necessary activities associated with his move. Pay for these four (4) Days Off
will be Trip loss, with RX Days or personal (unpaid) leave days for touching days.
The four (4) paid Days Off may be taken as a block, or may be split into two (2)
blocks at the pilot’s request, however; in either event, the days must be adjacent to the
actual move days from either home or storage. (Note: It is understood that certain
provisions of this Paragraph may be modified by the parties upon implementation of a
Preferential Bidding System [PBS].)
C. A pilot who is transferring Bases and who is moving his Residence to a location
within one hundred fifty (150) miles of his new Base, but who is not eligible for
reimbursement pursuant to Part 2 above will be allowed the same number of moving
Days Off as an eligible pilot. These days will be unpaid (including pay for Trips
missed), and with the prior approval of Crew Scheduling, may be split into two (2)
blocks. The scheduling of moving and travel Day Off for a non-eligible pilot may not
conflict with Holidays as defined in Section 2, and is subject to the same conditions
and restrictions as are provided in Paragraph F below. In addition, any such pilot will
be entitled to two (2) nights in a Company provided hotel in his new Base, to be
arranged through his new Chief Pilot’s Office.
D. A pilot will not be scheduled for any duty during his moving and travel days.
E. A Lineholder pilot who is eligible for reimbursement pursuant to Part 2 above will be
paid for any time lost from his Line as a function of his moving and travel days. A
Section 6 - Moving Expenses Part 5 - Moving General
6-4