April 30th released date?
 

In This Update
· Captain Heppner: Reality Check -- Time To Wake Up

· Tuesday's Agenda


Captain Heppner: Reality Check -- Time To Wake Up

MEC Chairman Captain Jay Heppner opened the week-long
MEC Meeting in Chicago with his address to the MEC.

Dear United Pilots,

It is time for a reality check about what are increasingly becoming unfriendly skies for United Airlines pilots as it relates to our contract negotiations. Based on the facts discussed below, as it relates to the management of United’s strategy to slow walk the negotiations so they can continue to outsource and offshore pilot jobs, we now have no recourse but to take steps to formally execute a release from our Section 6 negotiations under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) on April 30 if United management does not commit to completing these negotiations by June 1. We have waited two years and made no progress – if executing a release is what is necessary to make sure U.S. commercial airlines jobs go to U.S. pilots and the safety of U.S. airline passengers is put first, we are ready.

It is now clear that United's management strategy is really just to fly in a holding pattern when it comes to these negotiations, seeking to fly in circles so that the longer we work without a contract, the more aggressive United can be about offshoring and outsourcing our jobs -- and not working to honor the commitment pilots made to the company dating back to 9/11.

The facts speak for themselves:

· Executive level decision makers at United refused to attend our negotiations at all in 2011, and only once since being held in the same city where these executives live and work.
· For nearly 24 months we have negotiated with little progress on the core issues related to the offshoring and outsourcing of our jobs.
· Throughout the entire negotiations, while saying one thing, United has continued to outsource to regional carriers and seek agreements to ultimately outsource all international flying at the expense of U.S. workers in America. Meanwhile United Airlines alone has 1,437 pilots who were laid off because of 9/11 and merger schemes, and they continue to be grounded.
· As the company moves forward post-merger, without contractual protections, it will continue to outsource domestic, and ultimately international, flying to the detriment of safety and U.S. jobs.
· And while the company talks about needing to be competitive it continues to compensate its executives at very non-competitive levels.

Simply put, enough is enough.

We are at a decisive moment in time when it comes to the offshoring and outsourcing of our jobs. This has implications for our ability to earn a fair wage for a fair day's work, the capacity for the United States to have a highly trained U.S-based commercial pilot work-force, and the safety of U.S. airline passengers.

As you are well aware, following 9/11, United pilots stood up and worked to help save the U.S. airline industry from going out of business, including substantial pay cuts, watching fellow pilots laid off and, subsequently, losing our pensions.

We agreed to economic sacrifices out of a belief that everyone needed to do their part and our trust in United's representations that once back on its feet, the company would honor our commitment by bringing back our pilots.

However, more than a decade after 9/11, United pilots are still laid off and the company, whose executives are compensated as well as any commercial airline executives in the marketplace, rather than hire U.S. pilots, has aggressively moved to increase its STAR Alliance partners, while securing Global Antitrust Immunity in the recent UAL/CAL Atlantic ++ Antitrust agreement approved in 2009. This agreement allows Open Skies in not only the Atlantic arena, but also in the South American and Pacific regions.

Offshoring of U.S. pilot jobs is an almost certain outcome without negotiated protections that we do not currently have in our contract that was stripped during Bankruptcy. A consequence of this action will be the compromising of safety for our passengers as both inexperienced and foreign pilots will be in our customer’s cockpits. The tragic incident in Buffalo is a prime example of the consequences of United management’s approach.

We have an obligation to our members and to the public safety to stand up and fight United’s outsourcing and offshoring - a strategy that is purely designed to put profits before safety.

United has close to 40 contracts with foreign carriers that it uses for international flights, which has eliminated thousands of U.S. jobs.

Further, the outsourcing to regional carriers has compromised the safety of travelers, as pilots with less training and experience than United flight crews are flying long hours for little pay, often into challenging airports and airspace. It should come as no surprise that a significant number of the incidents involving pilot errors, and virtually every airline crash in the U.S. for years now, have occurred with such outsourced pilots in the cockpit. The loss of life in the incidents in Buffalo and Louisville are but two such examples.

Against this backdrop, we have been working for some time to negotiate a fair deal with United that was seeking to address these issues of offshoring and outsourcing.

During the merger with Continental, the company pledged to Congress in oversight hearings that once the two companies merged, they would once and for all complete a fair deal with us.

Management has not made good on this pledge, which is merely the latest in a series of misrepresentations.

We made multiple concessions after 9/11 to support the company, including lay-offs.

Too many of our pilots have not been rehired, as United replaced them through outsourcing and offshoring.

We lost our pensions during the bankruptcy.

We listened to the company's representations before and during the merger.

We have seen them intentionally delay the negotiations so they can continue to outsource and offshore jobs.

And still the pilots at United and Continental Airlines are working under bankruptcy concession contracts.

Time and time again, United management has made clear that they will say one thing to us and then do another thing when it comes to actions vs. words.

Throughout all of this, there is one unmistakable, irrefutable, immutable lesson derived from the company's actions: United's strategy is to cut costs and compromise safety by offshoring and outsourcing our jobs. Their continued insistence of increased outsourcing in the new contract is testimony.

Attached to this email, please find a confidential analysis, THE UNFRIENDLY SKIES: UNITED AIRLINES AND THE OFFSHORING AND OUTSOURCING OF U.S. JOBS, which documents the company's outsourcing of American jobs since September 11, 2001.

This report reveals that if the company continues on its current course, United will eventually eliminate all of our jobs and replace us with less experienced and in many cases foreign workers. That is exactly why you received a letter from me Saturday explaining the rationale for why we might seek a "release" from our Section 6 negotiations under the RLA, which would allow us to pursue specific actions in relationship to management's refusal to negotiate in good faith.

I encourage you to read this report, as it shows how we worked with United in the wake of the 9/11 attacks – and in doing so helped save the airline from going out of business. In the years since 9/11, the airline has exploited the situation in many different ways, to include offshoring flights and outsourcing jobs. The result is compromised safety for passengers and loss of jobs for U.S. pilots – all the while United executives continue to pay themselves multi-million dollar compensation packages.

We Are United


Captain Jay Heppner
Chairman, United MEC

Tuesday's Agenda

The MEC Meeting is being conducted at the Hilton Garden Inn, 10 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. Members in good standing are welcome to attend all open sessions.

9 a.m.: Administrative
9:15 a.m.: Membership Committee Report, Bill Neveu
10 a.m.: International Code Share Committee Report, Ron Abel¹
10:45 a.m.: Domestic Code Share Committee Report, K.C. Mueller¹
Noon: Lunch
1:30 p.m.: Committee Elections
1:45 p.m.: Uniform Committee Report, Denise Silkworth
2:15 p.m.: Central Air Safety Committee Report, Bob Sisk
3:15 p.m.: International Committee Report, Wayne Aleshire
4 p.m.: Recess to Subcommittee

¹ Portions of the presentations may be in closed session.

UAL v. ALPA: Preliminary Injunction
The United States District Court has issued a preliminary injunction. (Click Here to read the Preliminary Injunction Order. Click Here to read the Memorandum Opinion and Order). The injunction enjoins ALPA, the individual defendants, and all persons and organizations acting by, in concert with, through or under them, or by and through their orders, from calling, permitting, instigating, authorizing, encouraging, participating in, approving or continuing any interference with United's airline operations, including but not limited to any strike, work stoppage, sick-out, slowdown, work to rule campaign, concerted refusal to accept voluntary or overtime flying, or other concerted refusal to perform normal pilot operations in violation of the Railway Labor Act.

The Court has directed that all United pilots resume their normal individual working schedules and practices, and ALPA is hereby instructing all pilots to cease and desist from engaging in any slowdown, sick-out, work to rule campaign, refusal to accept voluntary or overtime flying, or other concerted refusal to conduct pilot operations in the normal manner. With this message ALPA is instructing that you cease and desist all such activity and cease and desist from all statements or communications encouraging such conduct.

We must comply with the Court's direction. This is about all of us, because each of us will be at risk of court fines or company discipline if we engage in any Court-prohibited activity or if we encourage others to do so. Do not engage in any form of sick-out, improper use of sick leave, improper use of fatigue calls, slowdown activity such as intentional delays in the operation, pressure or harassment of other pilots for taking overtime flying, concerted refusal to accept junior/senior manning, or any other form of economic pressure, and do not encourage others to do any of these things. We must resume normal individual working schedules and practices. Again, these are requirements of the Court, and we must comply starting immediately.

United Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association
9550 W. Higgins Road, Suite 1000
Rosemont, Illinois 60018 | 847/292-1700
www.ualmec.org




Air Line Pilots Association, International
www.alpa.org

United Airlines pilots want faster talks

CHICAGO (AP) -- Pilots at United Airlines said on Monday that they will ask a federal mediator to release them from further talks if the company doesn't commit to making a deal by June 1.

Pilot union head Jay Heppner said pilots would ask on April 30 to be released from talks. A release from negotiations is one step of many required before an airline union can strike. Mediators often refuse such requests and order the two sides to keep talking.

Pilots who came from United and from Continental are in talks for a joint contract at the combined airline. It has taken longer than either side had hoped when they merged in 2010.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Continental pilots will make a similar move. United and Continental pilots are represented by their own units of the Air Line Pilots Association, with separate leadership and governing councils.

The union said the airline is purposely slowing negotiations so it can keep hiring regional and foreign airlines to do flying that had been done by United pilots. Big airlines commonly hire regional feeder carriers to pick up passengers in smaller cities and bring them to big airline hubs. They also have arrangements with foreign airlines allowing them to sell seats on each other's planes.

United issued a statement saying it is "committed to reaching agreements quickly, but those agreements must be fair to the company and fair to employees."

On Monday, the union distributed to pilots a study that said that 66 percent of United's domestic flights are done by regional carriers. It also said United now employs 20,000 fewer people than it did in 2000, despite the addition of Continental.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, United alone employed 96,646 people in 2000, compared to 81,400 at the combined company as of January. U.S. airlines laid off thousands of workers during the 2000s, and United went through bankruptcy protection as well.

Shares of United Continental Holdings Inc. rose 86 cents, or 4 percent, to close at $22.30.

So for all you CAL pilots will you stand up and speak? The proverbial "*** or get of the ***" is upon you or maybe do you see this as a victory against the UAL pilots?

Tough choices?

Yep, that's the million$$$ question. Will our CAL bretheren stand with us? Can't wait for J.P.'s response.

Seriously guys, why all the smart-ass comments all the time against the CAL pilot group? Really doesn't bode well for you and is getting pretty old...................... :rolleyes:

Blah, Blah, Blah my UAL breathren. Yes I like the message but I too am tired of the self-congratulatory responses. This tone is great and I'm on board but please stop all the BS grandstanding.

I'll be more than happy to strike side-by side with you any day of the week but please tone down the constant CAL bashing for all of our sakes.

I'm not grandstanding, and I'm not bashing. I really hope the CAL MEC releases a similar statement today. It's time for ALL of us to get the contract we deserve

Fellow CAL pilots are you not enraged by the actions of the UCH Management? You call this action of the UAL MEC as "self-congratulatory responses" and respond in a mocking manner?

I've been though this once before, 1985, and I had hoped my last years would be marked a bit different but they appear to not be. I have observed this one thing, if your MEC Chair puts out another non-unified, "I will do what is best for the CAL Pilots" response again all hopes for a decent combined contract are lost and it's time to be released and the honest truth is it will be hard to call the CAL pilots "brethren" in this cause.

"It is what it is."

I am still waiting for communications from S-CAL MEC similar to that of our SPC chairman two weeks ago about "Saving for a Rainy Day".
After the last 10 years whom ever is not foaming at the mouth to get at these SOB's(management), is a lost soul.

I think Heppner just chambered a round. I also think there's a good chance its a dud.

That good will and cooperation has been bought and paid for!

No question that was something many were concerned about at the time. I'd like to think that this was a joint effort, but I haven't seen any meaningful evidence of working together at this point. Hence my cynicism.

I'm not referring to your MEC, I'm referring to the responses above from your own Pilots. I love the message that was just put out and as I said above, I'll be there every day of the week to strike with you guys.

Glad to see you participated in the '85 strike and if you didn't read about it, we had one too. Yours turned out one hell of a lot better than ours did but we still have plenty of guys still around who were out on strike for 2 full years. Thats a glaring fact that unfortunately seems to get lost amongst all the scab tales. How long were you out for?

We've got plenty of guys who struck, we also have plenty of guys who wear the star from Eastern. We hear you loud and clear but please stop discounting us. Yes we have a lot of scabs but they're down to around 10% of us or less so please keep that in mind when you're about to launch into a strike lecture. The overwhelming majority of us will be with you, picket signs proudly in hand.

I'm sure most cal pilots are fed up with Smizek. Question of the day is, is Little Lord Jay? What does he have to gain?

Remember that Pierce said on 3/12 EXACTLY what the J(oint)NC put out less than a week later. The "J" means that your guys on the JNC Honeycutt(sp?) and Phil Otis also felt that things were going well as of late.

It was Heppner's message on 3/16 that was at complete odds with what had been recently put out by the CAL MC AND the JNC.

I like Heppners message on this, but BOTH SIDES need to get some comm discipline and put out ONE MESSAGE if they want the troops to fall in line instead of looking around saying ***!

There was no coordination on today's message between the MEC's from what my Rep just confirmed.

Completely agree. Why didn't both MEC's put out a message at the same time?
I thought (perhaps mistakenly) that the JNC initiated release, in other words it's a joint decision. Can a single MEC request release on it's own initiative?

X2...my EWR rep ( no coordination between MECs)...

See, your response pretty much summarizes why all the smart-ass comments against the CAL group. "Really doesn't bode well for you" ??
Like , you and the 735 CAL scabs are gonna keep the airline running ?
Rather than say "it doesn't bode well for YOU", you should be saying, "doesn't bode well for co-worker Jeff". We'll be taking pictures if you turn a wheel.

Brother, I'll walk shoulder to shoulder with you. You're the kinda CAL pilot I'd like to fly with.

Frats

Robert

Well I'd love to see some pressure from our CAL bretheren on your MEC to get on board with this message. Clearly, things are NOT going well at the table. The JNC had to cancel a meeting the other week because the company didn't show up. The JNC update said this week that the company had retreated to teir stock 2010 position on work rules.... so 15 months of negotiations are now back to square 1. Heck, they are only meeting once a week!!!!!!! This is unacceptable. I'm VERY thankful that Capt Heppner has taken this step, as it is LONG overdue. I invite, request, and implore our brothers and sisters at CAL to draw the line in the sand and demand the contract we deserve. Otherwise, the pace of negotiations will continue at present levels. After 2 years, we have NO section of substance negotiated.

Agree with the intent and need to push up negotiations pressure ( too slownand too long) but problem is that if you want CAL pilot support, then at least communicate your intentions to our elected reps...so they can be thumbs up or not and bring to the CAL pilots. Obviously, the MECs do not trust each other...otherwise why wouldnt you communicate a desire to pull out of negotiations and go solo? BTW, our position report stated it was R&I that the company retreated to a 2010 position. Did you guys get a different version from your side?

I'm sure most CAL pilots would welcome a release, but we haven't heard a thing yet regarding this and I'm wondering why. If it's a decision that's made at the JNC level then it's not an issue. Otherwise the silence is rather ominous.

Well said. One problem seems to be that the MEC's can agree on very little of anything substantive. If one side wants to get released and the other does not, then what. The winner in that scenario initially appears to be Smizek.

I don't think the jnc would make the decision. This is up to the MEC. Ominous is right.

I can appreciate that line of thought. My guess is that there has been some communication about this at the MC level, but I'm speculating. Regardless, here we are. I really hope we can start down the road towards self help. Clearly Heppner, who has been at the table and is intimate with the negotiations thinks its time. I agree with him

Walking out on a strike is a bit like being a new-guy in combat; you don't really know who the brave ones are until that first round comes snapping over your head. I'm going on the premise that there are enough brave on both sides that we will put up quite a picket line. Now is not the time to throw stones at each other

Didn't think that was throwing stones .. quite the opposite was my intent. I'm ready to walk the line with 757driver ... That was the point. I'm digging his commitment.

I see that now; sorry

You are absolutely correct. Let's quite popping off rounds at each other and concentrate fire on management where it belongs.

Pilotbiffster...................THIS is exactly what I'm talking about. You won't find me crossing a picket line EVER, so as 757 Driver said, knock of all the grandstanding. The constant bashing really is getting old. I've seen on other forums how much some of you guys kiss some of our slickties butts. I'm not impressed.:rolleyes:

A very very hypothetical question. JP doesn't support the LUAL MC's position of release. The NMB somehow finds it in their heart to release the LUAL pilots if they request it. Thirty days of negotiations doesn't bear fruit and the LUAL pilots are free to engage in self help.

Then what? Is there a clause in your contract that allows you to honor a picket line? Would the CAL pilots continue to fly their legacy routes thereby benefiting the company as a whole?

In all honesty, the lack of unity/communication is deafening producing many more questions than answers. Are the LUAL pilots going to to the heavy lifting that JP(not the CAL pilots) refuses to do?

The big question is if JP doesn't doesn't get on board, how long will he remain at the helm at LCAL? Not very long. There are enough CAL pilots ****ed off to the point of release as well. I don't see JP not following the same route as JH but if he chooses not to do so, it becomes the CAL pilots responsibility to act accordingly. As it stands, our current contract does not allow for the flying of struck work.

Prediction. JP will issue correspondence on the subject today by 17:00 Central time.

Misleading question. It depends upon how the CAL reps feel about the situation...and the tone from the JNC. They have no allegiance to the UAL MEC or it's communication apparatus.

The only thing "joint" under current conditions is the JNC and TPA.

Beer bet. Your on.

Roger that

If it turns out that this was not a coordinated message by both MEC Chairs; they have both failed! One making the other look stupid. Take your pick whom.

So true!

One. A MC who has seen the company repeatedly refuse to bargain in good faith.

Two. A MC who categorizes negotiations as progressing while the amendable date has passed by SEVERAL YEARS. (and why?)

Yeah, I'll take my pick

Cart before the horse
 

Seems to me the cart is before the horse. A strike vote, IMO, should occur before a release request.