Release OFFICIALLY requested
 

May 11, 2012
VIA E-MAIL, FACSIMILE AND FIRST-CLASS MAIL
Linda Puchala, Chairman National Mediation Board
1301 K Street, N.W., Suite 205E Washington, D.C. 20005-7011
Re: NMB Case Nos. A13589-90 United Airlines-ALPA
Dear Chairman Puchala:
As the Board is aware, ALPA is bargaining for a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) covering both United and Continental pilot groups with United Continental Holdings, Inc. (the Company). The parties initiated joint negotiations -- i.e. negotiations between the two pilot groups and the Company for a JCBA -- in May of 2010. The parties jointly requested mediation in December of 2010 and mediated negotiations were initiated on February 28, 2011, and the parties have been in mediated bargaining since that time.
Recently, the United and Continental pilots and the Company, with the Board’s assistance, have committed to an expedited schedule of intense negotiations and mediations with the goal of completing a JCBA between now and mid-June. Still, after many months and years of direct negotiations and mediation, ALPA strongly believes that it is necessary to bring new factors to bear on these negotiations in order to bring them to conclusion.
Where, as here, despite intense and prolonged effort, mediation has not succeeded, Section 5, First of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, provides that the Board shall proffer arbitration, but, if arbitration is refused by either party, “the Board shall at once notify both parties in writing that its mediatory efforts have failed.” This last step, as you know, constitutes a release from mediation, although even such a release is typically followed by further mediation efforts in the public interest.
For all the reasons that Congress long ago placed these powers in the Board, the possibility of a successful agreement at this time will be increased by the Board’s taking the actions described in Section 5, First. Accordingly, ALPA requests that the Board further assist the parties to bring about an agreement by proffering arbitration, and if not accepted by both parties, issuing a release under Section 5, First of the Act.
Linda Puchala, Chairman National Mediation Board May 11, 2012
Page 2
In making this request, we emphasize, once again, our commitment to a negotiated outcome by mid-June, and we ask that the Board continue to use its powers under the Act in order to improve the chances of success. If there is any other information that you require, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Respectfully submitted,
Captain Donald L. Moak
President
Air Line Pilots Association, International
cc: Harry Hoglander, NMB Board Member
Elizabeth Dougherty, NMB Board Member
J. Heppner, United MEC Chairman
J. Pierce, Continental MEC Chairman
Bruce York, Director, ALPA Representation De

About time....

Frats,
Lee

Finally something to stand up for.

FINALLY!!!!! Hopefully I get a chance to wear my hat. If only I knew where it was

+1..........

Honest question:

Do you think the POTUS would pressure the NMB to not release you guys this close to an election?

Does all the "class warfare" rhetoric that's been tossed around recently help or hurt your chances of being released (assuming the POTUS does have influence on the NMB)?

Good questions.

POTUS releasing a labor group under the RLA would be as crazy as stating a firm position on gay marriage during an election.

Under the RLA the "P" in the PEB portion of the process stands for "Presidential." So yes, the POTUS has some influence with the process. ;)

Exactly one of many reasons this had to be done asap and not delayed any further. The window is closing. We seen what Willard thinks of the awful union bosses too.

No win for POTUS. If we strike he'll loose votes. 30 day "cooling off" actually means intense negotiations. After 30 days I can see him via POTUS order extending for another 30-45 to settle. You'd better believe his people have already called both sides with one message, SOLVE IT.
He stops the strike, he loses labor votes. He allows us to strike and he allows "rich" airline pilots to strike and hurt the economy. He doesn't want to make a decision. He want it settled.

It needs to be done before Nov or expect the long haul if he does not get re elected.

Sorry but gotta chuckle at those that believe BO is going to 'lose labor' because of stopping an ALPA strike. Are you really that blind to how the political reality works esp one coming out of The Windy City? Yep I'm sure the AFL-CIO is ready to throw all it's chips behind Rom Paul! :rolleyes:

ALPA is the only AFL-CIO affiliated union with more registered Republicans than Democrats.

Chance of the NMB releasing the UAL/CAL pilots under BO = 50/50
Chance of the NMB releasing the UAL/CAL pilots under a Republican President = 0%

This is what it comes down to. ALPA member can keep supporting Republicans who NEVER side with labor, or side with politicians who at least sometimes side with labor.

This is what it comes down to:
ALPA member siding with republicans who usually don't side with labor or democrats that say they will and then don't when it has to do with airline pilots.

They won't as long as ALPA members keep voting for the GOP.

Labor obviously has less clout in DC due to the reduction in union membership over the past 20-25 years but the AFL-CIO still has great influence over the Democratic party.

Similar to being in the military, I vote for who will be the best Commander in Chief and President. I don't vote for who will give the military a pay raise. Same goes for being in a Union. My vote is not for me personally, it's what's best for our country as a whole. That's the who I try to vote for anyway. Cheers.

Ok well don't complain when the NMB either says "no" to being released or the PEB says you're not going on strike and lose all your leverage in negotiations.

Better yet, if a day ever comes that the GOP controls both Houses and the White House don't expect friendly legislation to make it through...you should actually be ready for them to weaken the RLA even further.

We're still running on time. We don't have the balls to use what little leverage we have now.

Unfortunately, he has another option, and it's the most likely option right now: the NMB will simply not give an answer until after the election. They aren't required to answer your request within any period of time. They can sit on it for months (or years) if they want to. Nothing in the Act compels them to make a decision in a short period of time.

That's swell, but I see a clear case in a candidate that would be good for the country (at least better than the last excuse for a POTUS: W) and give labor a fighting chance.

TW

Did you mean to say you "don't see". If that's the case, I agree with you. BTW, just so you know my leanings, I am a conservative independent. There is no good choices, just the 2 we're presented after a year and a half of bad campaigns.

Bingo! Always amazes me when people I fly with complain about the union, negotiations and work rules then proudly says "I always vote Republican".

I wouldn't paint the picture so broadly with that brush.

Many an aviator served in the armed forces. Traditionally, Liberals and Democrats don't understand National Security or the Constitution, so those that have served look for candidates that "get it" on those issues.

Conservative candidates, who are't looking to re-write the constitution, or looking to turn the military into a GLBT camoflage fashion show tend to look for Republicans since to-date, a 3 party system hasn't really been viable.

I wouldn't say that I am anti-democrat. I am just in favor of politics that favor accurate interpretation and implementation of the core values of the constitution.

When you ask most Americans their view of airline pilots, they don't associate us with "labor" in the same tenor that they think of as the UAW, or the Amalgemated Meat Cutters Union.

I am all for labor, after all I pay 3 grand a year in union dues, but I am all for smaller government that actually reads the constitutuion instead of using it for a door stop.

Weighing in here very carefully since we're dealing with politics. My opinion only, but ..

As a labor union, we have a lot more influence with the Democrats then the GOP. All that said, if the country self destructs ala Greece due to runaway spending, all that influence is meaningless. What good is a friend in the Whitehouse if the economy is in total meltdown? My "co-workers" tell me, "you gotta vote your paycheck." My response is, "No, I gotta vote for my country and for my children's future." I'm, not here to argue "who's" vision of the future is better. All I'm saying is that, as much as I want to be fairly compensated, I'm not going to cast my vote for president based on that.

Is it not true that the last time the Feds had a balanced budget was under a Democrat in the White House? As a matter of fact...wasn't there a surplus until the most recent Republican President moved in the WH?

Many people associate us liberals/progressives with "big government" and that's just untrue. We're for efficient government, there's a difference.

Not gonna discuss who is best for what in this forum. Believe what you want, even if you think the sky is pink. My point is that there are far more important considerations than just, "I'm voting my paycheck." I'm voting for my country and my children that have to live in this country. As far as "efficient government", that's the most oxymoronic expression I've ever heard :).

Your for effecient government, go get em tiger, geez

Look at Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway...

The role of government in those countries is bigger than in the U.S. but it's also much more efficient and at the end of the day people are doing much better in nearly every aspect.

Socialism works very well until you run out of other peoples money.

Question
 

Question for my leftward-leaning brothers and sisters:

ALPA has long touted its close realtionship with Labor and, by association, the democratic side of the aisle.(Although not in every issue) In addition to my dues, I am asked to contribute money to "Back th PAC". Those that do contribute are championed by the union in the "Roll of Distinction".

I generally have no problem with this, as long as it produces tangible results and doesn't undermine unity, which I believe is the real strength of the union, above politics.

Today we have the perfect opportunity to see whether the money and loyalty we have spent as a union will have been worth it.

The question is, if the NMB, and by default the POTUS, defer or equivocate on our request for release does he still deserve our loyalty as Airline Pilots/Employees?

I seem to remember that during the NWA strike, the AFL-CIO helped to secure the release, NWA went on strike and than Clinton sent someone named Lindsay in to settle. APA around the same time period got a PEB and was not a member of AFL-CIO...its been a long time.

Exactly. And, watching the news, Greece, Spain and Portugal are just about out. California is next :)

I think the real question is this: Does the POTUS feel obligated to repay the promisory note?

He made big promises to get labors vote. Is he willing to brush aside the "too big to fail - too big to go on strike" mentality his poltical advisors, A4A, and Wall Street will be telling him? Will he be willing to put the economy further at risk with the nations largest carrier getting ready to go on strike?

I think Obama is weak at heart when he is taking the risks. I think he blinks. But, if he holds on and fights for labor and lets labor fight for themselves and use all of their tools, then he's got my vote.

He needs to show up on June 15th and speak for labor, or he needs to run and hide and just pretend like it is another day on the calendar and go play golf and refuse to step in and stop us.

No, the role of government is actually smaller in those countries. However, those governments have a great impact in making smart policies. Not sure what your metrics are, but those countries are lean and mean when it comes to GDP.

All of the countries you mentioned changed their unemployment laws about 10 years ago to discourage unemployment (encourage productivity). look at the legal structure of their laws governing unemployment, homelessness, social security, and compensation via social programs (food stamps, public assistance).

Those countries don't pay for people to sit at home, watch the view, smoke crack, and make babies.

The President could just as easily ask the opposite question of ALPA: "I do you guys a favor by putting the most pro-labor NMB in recent history in place, and you thank me by trying to go on strike just months before my re-election?"

Look at it from his perspective. He's trying to get re-elected to another 4-year term, and all he really needs is a few months of time to get it done without any major unrest that the Republicans can use against him. A major airline strike right before the election would doom his campaign.

Yeah, that's a bit insensitive of us. Maybe we should wait another year or two before we ask....

Yeah...All I've heard from the union is Obama this and Obama that. Now somebody is saying that this isn't a "good time" to ask for release. TOTAL B.S.!

I agree with Freight Dawg's sarcasm...

If we don't get released I'll just count it as another lie from this administration about supporting labor.

I don't see the NMB releasing you before the elections this November. Even after that...the odds aren't very good. Why? The RLA.

You're the biggest carrier in the U.S. and you think Wall Street is just going to let you walk? Look at how long it took the Spirit pilots to get released and they're 1/20th your size.

Like the new flight and duty time rules? New RLA union voting rules? New ATP requirements for a job at the regionals? All lies....this admin does not support labor at all!! :rolleyes:

Or.......................................we could get a contract??

I KNOW it's crazy talk, but it IS an option right?:rolleyes:

+1

Doug Parker did it in a few days, Richard Anderson did it in a few weeks; why cant Jeff Smisek do it in 2 years?:mad: