and the HINTS keep coming!!!
 

A strike vote is next. My guess is that after the 30th if we ask to get released, the UAL MEC will have to track down JP from his VACATION getaway to get his blessing on the Strike vote communication....
Remember JP was very critical of Wendy Morse for going on vacation last December during the PS negotiations, now he takes off on vacation himself when the going is getting tough....


April 24, 2012

Dear United Pilots:

As we all have experienced throughout our lives, timelines are common; they come and go, often without notice. However, attached to any meaningful timelines are usually consequences. If debtors don’t pay their bills on time, students don’t complete their exams on time, taxpayers don’t mail their taxes on time and employees don’t get to work on time, there are penalties. If passengers don’t get to their gates on time, the ship sails without them.

Until now, whenever a timeline was inserted into these negotiations, it has always been one that would prove to be detrimental to the pilots. While attempting to negotiate the Transition and Process Agreement (TPA), we insisted on no terminable provisions prior to JCBA but were forced to settle on a timeline. However, when negotiations went past that deadline, it was the pilots who lost profit sharing, domicile and flying protections, etc. During the TPA extension talks, there was an attempt to again include consequences (monetary penalties and non-terminal provisions) should management not conclude a deal, but they refused.

In our latest discussions before the National Mediation Board’s mediators, management again easily agreed to a timeline but, as in the past, without any penalties against them for failing to abide by it. The only people who are harmed by missing that kind of a timeline are the more than 11,000 pilots who must go on without a JCBA. Under the law defined by the Railway Labor Act (RLA), there are no palpable incentives or motivations for management to reach a JCBA. Setting yet another useless timeline that the company could disregard is hardly in the best interests of all the United Airlines Pilots.

Seeking a release under the RLA is the only legal and meaningful leverage available to this pilot group. Agreeing to palpable timelines with real consequences will truly determine who is motivated to complete a JCBA and who is not.

The United MEC has sought out and hired some of the most highly regarded professionals working in Washington, D.C. They know how labor relations work and how to work within those parameters. They have represented more than 20 labor organizations at different times in the past. Teamsters, Machinists, Brick layers and the Police Association are but just a few of those who have benefitted from their services. One of their recent clients was the NFL Players Association. The NFLPA is significant due to the fact, like our profession, that football players have diverse highs and lows in their contracts that make their negotiations extremely complicated. We have hired the right people with the right relationships to get the job done.

Your entire MEC and the MEC structure are committed to getting us towards a JCBA. As reported to you in January, we created a Strategic Planning Group to help plan, organize and work together in a concentrated effort to secure a JCBA. The Negotiating, Grievance, Communications, SPSC, Family Awareness and Legislative Committees’ efforts have been directed, focused and coordinated with each others to ensure we are on the same correct glidepath and course for a JCBA. They each have a specific job to do in achieving our mutual goal.

The goal of the UAL MEC Strategic Plan is real and achievable – the conclusion of a JCBA for all of our pilots. The time for delay is over. Our pilots deserve a new contract.

We are United,


Captain Jay Heppner
Chairman, United Master Executive Council

You need to check your source, JP held an all pilot conference call yesterday and then attended an LEC meeting that evening.

[QUOTE=CALFO;1175361]Ok so he will be in phone range! Good, got it.

[QUOTE=LeeMat;1175366]Hmm, what part of "attended" don't you understand? BTW, if you want to have a dialog with a pilot force as large and as spread out (GUM to EWR) as CAL, an all pilot conference call is the best way to achieve that.

I understand legitimate criticism of JP, but in this case you couldn't be further off the mark. You're throwing darts with a blindfold on, hoping one of them hits.

[QUOTE=CALFO;1175371]CALFO no need to argue over this, do you have access to your PBS awards, or VAC awards simple way to put this to rest...I will man up to it, if false for posting this rumor without verification. fair enough? peace.

[QUOTE=CALFO;1175371]You've got to love it! Let me see if I can puff out my chest - No not worth it. Just hope when it counts JP is standing by the phone, but then again JP will likely claim he was blindsided again by the UAL MEC.

[QUOTE=Once United;1175399]Got it! I will demand to my Rep that JP be within one ring of his phone 24/7 just in case JH needs to get a hold of him! God I hope he doesn't make JH wait three or four rings or, dare I say it, voice mail.

Pierce is busy furthering the cause devising "any well thought out and realistic attempt to positively influence a prompt resolution to our joint negotiations, including seeking a release". In doing so he wants to develop an "agreed-upon process", aka protocol, while he continues "to participate with the NMB and try to advance the JCBA to its conclusion or an appropriate time to petition for release."

Why the rush?

Better yet demand from OUR reps that they all be ready to act over the next 6 weeks since this is the new critical time line that has been set....
If we are going to attack(and rightly so ) the management negotiator for not being available for schedule talks, and purposely missing schedule meetings then we best not be hypocrites. We have been delayed long enough....

Serious question for L-UAL guys: of all your contracts where a new agreement wasn't reached on the amendable date, how common was it to receive either a signing bonus or retro check? I have heard conflicting info. Merely curious. One of my largest frustrations was that 100% retro wasn't being screamed from the top of our lungs at L-CAL at the end of Dec. 2008. Somehow I don't think they are going to cut me a check for past due wages for what is coming up on 3 1/2 years. Grrrrr.

What meeting have we missed. Who says that we are going to miss future meetings? What are you talking about?

It was explained to me that 100 % full retro will be dived to make it look as though United did not pay 100% full retro. In other words, 25% retro, 25% signing bonus, 25%? Equity etc. in the end it will be close to full retro. Our other labor groups have "ME TOO" clause in their contracts and this is a way around that...I am not saying I buy all this bull$hit but it sounds as though they are looking at ways to get this done.

The JOINT meetings that are long past overdue! Lets get on with it and schedule these JOINT MEC meetings and start working together for a change. It's JCBA first then SLI not the other way around.

That's the first I've heard of that strategy, but it makes sense. Don't go getting my hopes up. :D

That is pretty rich coming from you guys. Looking forward to your next unilateral action.

Well, I for one am seeking FULL retro..and being just back from furlough and a solid B scaler, it is not a dollar issue for me..it is simply an ethics issue..if you are not gonna pay back retro..then why even have an amendable date on the jcba? these clowns have dragged this out WAY to long...get a big ass subway sandwhich, a couple gallons of starbucks..lock the door and you COULD have a jcba in 3 to 4 days! jmho..

I love it. JP has turned his back on us multiple times since the engagement yet the one time JH makes a move you're "looking forward to our next unilateral action."

Sometimes unilateral action is better than inaction. I am sick of working for slave wages while JLo lines his pockets and ruins the airline.

Blockoutblockin, I am along for the ride just like you and the rest of us....All I am saying is that it is $hitty ride and I hope it ends soon....What are you saying? Do agree with your EWR rep storming the first and only joint MEC meeting threatening to delay the JCBA as long as possible unless we agreed on pay banding? Lets get this show on the road, enough already!

Enough chest thumping from both MEC's Let's tell the Jay's to suck it up and meet with each other and get on board. If we need to get released, lets do it.

This is getting really old.

It is - Thank You!

Why is it that JP is always the last to know and the last to the party. Does he really think this gives him some kind of advantage over the process. He's played this card several times now and at best he comes off as being very slow. Why don't you ask him to get involved with the pilot side of the process and to stop working the company side. He's used his position to delay JCBA and as a result kept money from going in our collective pockets.

He works for Jeff - Not You!

contract 2000. i believe "retro" was the label used.

I've talked to several committee chairman about our union relations with the L-UAL side and to a person they tell me that the prevailing attitude on the L-UAL side is your way or the highway. And, I hear the same story from the flight attendants. As far as contract negotiations go, I don't want a quick contract, I want a fair contract. Keep all the chest thumping on your side - you earned it.

Maybe if we ask nicer and more often, Smizek and company will be more willing to ink a deal that is fair.

While we are at it, define fair, and for whom.

Look it up and who do you think?

+1. I think we can all agree there have been enough mistakes and childish behavior from both sides. If ever there was a time to get united, it is now. I'm ready... though I still can't find my hat. But I'll have it before we start walking.

I'm not talking Smizek fair. That is obvious.

You said you don't want a quick contract, you want a fair contract. What is your vision of fair? Regarding quick, would you rather enter a cooling off period and 11th hour negotiations, or years of continued timelines and "good faith" negotiations?

You guys let your MEC chair delay the JCBA while trying to get leverage on the SLI - we call you on it and now we are "chest thumping".

It's about time you guys step-up and do something about the delaying tactics of your MEC. If you think everything will be forgotten after JCBA and SLI, think again, it will last the rest of your career.

OMG, you mean to tell me that unless I fall in line with your every demand, the rest of my career will be tarnished. Please safe your chest thumping for management and continue to write your revisionist history.

Are you satisfied with the pace of negotiations?

I don't think anybody said that - what was said was once one is caught attempting rape, they'll always be known as a rapist even though they didn't succeed.

Don't follow this analogy. What he said is that our MEC is using delay tactics with regards to the JCBA. How so? How is my MEC delaying the JCBA? What specifically are our tactics? What is their motivation for delay?

The last time I checked there were two Unions negotiating against management. Hence the J in JCBA. Both parties (yes, BOTH) agree that the process is too slow. One party has decided to take matters into their own hands and is demanding the other party come along for the ride. One party has declined to brief the other party on its strategy.

I am ready and anxious to wrap this up, so we can all integrate seniority and sign KumBaYa. However, I am not anxious to blindly follow the leader of UMEC into battle when he isn't even confident enough in his plan to brief his ALLY at CalMEC. If this is such a great plan, then why not share it with the other party that you are supposed to be working with?

If the plan makes sense, then let's go and I'll be happy to lead the charge. If not, then please stop stirring the pot for the sake of stirring the pot.

I want a industry leading contract!!!

A...greed.

It's not a matter of your interpretation of a good plan or people lining up to lead the charge. It's a matter of direction from the leadership. JP does more to stir the pot with his whining about not being advised of UAL MEC actions and sending a message to the company that these are not his actions and he's still a friend of Jeff's.

Can you tell us what is JP's plan - I'm sure it makes sense?

I have no idea what JP's plan is. Until recently, I thought both MEC's were following the same plan. If the parties felt that plan wasn't working then I expect BOTH parties to agree on a new plan. What I don't expect is for one party to change the course of the negotiations without consulting the other party.

The CAL MEC has risen to the occasion however by agreeing to support the plan by JH that will lead to a JCBA. The one caveat being that they still need to see the plan and agree that it makes sense. Is that so much to ask?

By the way, JH tipped off Jeff well before JP started "whining." The moment that JP announced HIS decision it was pretty well evident that he hadn't consulted JP. Imagine if he had consulted JP and if THEY had issued a joint statement. I believe it is called Unity.

I let you slide on the rest, but how was it evident that JH hadn't consulted JP beforehand?

Why not have joint MEC meetings after or before the regular individual MEC meetings? JP won't go for it, but it would show unity. May even be a good idea for the UAL MEC to notify all members of the CAL MEC of it's intent to act instead of just JP. JP won't be able to deny the communication if all the CAL MEC knows.

I guess you missed the part where I said "both sides".

OU...You are aware that the agreement for a mid june TA completion a day before JH unilateral decison ( with all partners, to include our lead NMB rep and his boss) potentially violated good faith. In fact my concern now is if the NMB states no to the request, which is highly likely, then JH just gave the company an out to delay negotiations further and the mid JUne agreement is off the table. They can ask for it to be removed BTW...hiring lobbyist? The company has lobbyist also, so the impact on the NMB is fools gold. Our leverage was the timeline that all agreed upon, with the NMB leadership in the room..and if the company delayed or backed out, give us greater leverage and the NMB for release...Hope is not a strategy, and it appears that's exactly what JH is resting upon...Hoping the NMB will say yes...

I was referring to another post that used a "chest thumping" reference. I missed your whole post - Sorry!

JP's self preservation actions scare me more - let's see what JP does to undermine the JH effort. I bet you're hoping the company gives us an industry leading contract out of kindness. Stand Tall - Show Strength.