Nothing really to report. The entire process, both the rla process and the jcba negotiations are completely out of our control. While i cant say im surprised, the system is outdated, purely disingenuine towards labor, badly broken and needs ammended. It appears the NMB and puchala want to get a deal done, but are to chicken sh+* to let the process run its course, thereby giving the company a blank check for delaying yet again... The company will get a jcba when they absolutely are forced to for other financial or beneficial reasons, and not a minute before. The nmb, by not allowing a release, basically endorses this procrastination and behavio and undermines the process simultaneously. Really sad. Let the fn process work, if a peb has to be instituted, then so be it, but at least there are more tools at our ready then.

Dear United Pilots:

Here is where we are in JCBA negotiations: Our last mediated session of negotiations was June 30. There, with the National Mediation Board’s direct involvement including the attendance of the NMB Chairman, we came the closest to concluding negotiations that we have ever been. The degrees of separation were reduced. And while we remain under an informal gag order from the NMB that we have been very careful to follow, it leaves a vacuum of information for you. You may safely assume that the remaining issues in the contract are the obvious ones, including scope.

I informed you that ALPA had its follow-up status conference with the NMB on Wednesday, and management had its conference on Thursday. While we obviously were not at management’s conference, the NMB informed us yesterday that they had that conference with them and will have an additional conversation with management. In the meantime, the JNC has been preparing to renew negotiations as soon as management is ready. We do not require the NMB to continue negotiations – only a motivated partner.

There currently are no future scheduled negotiations, but that should not be misconstrued. This week, the two MECs are in individual and joint sessions all week, as was scheduled earlier in the year, so no negotiations were expected anyway. The JNC stands ready to negotiate anytime and anywhere, and sessions may be scheduled at a moment’s notice.

We remain under the NMB’s process for a negotiated agreement. We are complying with their requests and are prepared to resume negotiations at any time. As pilots, we like to be in control and analytically understand everything around us. However, the NMB is in the best position to determine our next steps. They have not yet informed us of their intentions for us. But we are confident they will use all the tools available to them under the RLA to assist us in achieving a JCBA.

We must be patient and prepared for any eventuality. We must continue to be smart and professional in our everyday dealings with the company. Management continues to look for any chinks in our unity, and inactivity makes us the most vulnerable. The pilots remain the better characters in these proceedings and will continue to be so.

As soon as there is more information to pass on to you, we will do so. In the meantime, keep your heads up and do what you do so well – safely delivering our passengers to their destinations each and every day.

We are United,

Chairman, United Master Executive Council

As long as individuals we keep voting in people like Scott Walker and Paul Ryan you can only expect the assault on organized labor to continue. Again look no further than the results under the Bush presidency and the changes to process since Obama took office. It was Bush that only allowed a release when the company wanted it (example NWA AMFA). It was Obama's appointee that was able to get the voting rules changed to a more pro employee election process. It was this administration that the Spirit strike took place.

What you are talking about would yield a reduction in ALPA dues-paying members...now you can answer your own question.

Let's minimize Liberal Drivel and avoid thread drift please. Nobody want's to read about YOUR political beliefs whilst we are negotiating a contract under the watch of one of the most pro-labor Presidents this country has see but yet, our negotiations continue.

If I remember right the rules of this blog are NO political and religious discussions. I got warned by the administrators awhile back about a political comment I made.

Here's the deal on the contract, in my opinion, the NMB are going to tell us to follow Delta. What's good for them is good for us.

If we can not discus the process of negotiations under the governments RLA, or how the members are appointed to the board that makes the ultimate choice as to letting our group enter self help where is the line? The sole point of my post is so many are frustrated with the process but can not come to grips with why the process is what it is.


Does anyone know how long Republic has been in mediation and have they got a response back from their request for a release?

That may be a good off the cuff answer but I'm not so sure that it is accurate. The demand for seats is a constant..for this discussion. The question is what airframe will be flying those seats...and who will be flying those airframes. The plethora of 50 seaters and the dues paying positions they represent will be history..sooner rather than later. The question now becomes who flies the larger 70 plus seaters. Wouldn't ALPA , in theory, want those postions filled by the higher earning mailine folks rather than the lower wage of the regional? I dunno, your statement may or may not be so clearcut when the theoretical math is accomplished. Most importantly, I still maintain it was a wasted opportunity to put forth a common legacy mainline strategy that would have a higher chance of success than going it alone, which is what the UAL CAL JNC are trying to do now.

Put yourself in his position. Would you risk damage to the economy, and alienate potential Democratic voters by putting ramp rats and mechanics out of work during a pilots' strike, all for the cause a labor group, airline pilots, who probably cast four out of five votes for Republicans?

He could pressure the NMB to declare an impasse, let us strike during the GOP and Democratic conventions last month, win a new labor agreement -- and then in November the majority of pilots would trek to the polls and vote for Romney anyway.

At sUAL, my own unscientific sampling shows that if Nancy Pelosi or Karl Marx ran for president, they would get 90% of the pilot's vote against any Republican.