AIP for review?
 

I've seen a lot of rumors on here, and I get the union email updates. However, I don't see anything definitive. Perhaps I've missed it, but does anyone have reliable information as to when we'll see what's in the AIP? I'm not trying to guess what's in it, just when we might find out. I know everybody's hard at work, and I appreciate that, but I think we'd all like to have some idea of a timeline. Thanks.

Ask Barton

I'm hearing the final language is a negotiated settlement all unto itself. Don't hold your breath.

Why is it I'm anticipating this TA like I was the result of bankruptcy negotiations?

The latest and greatest that was put out by the MEC was mid September. Of course, don't hold me to that.

Aug 24 CAL MEC Chair Blastmail
 

"As for the language-writing project, things are advancing steadily. Each section is receiving focused attention from the JNC and SMEs, along with our ALPA advisors. While it is always possible for events to occur that could slow progress, the timeline at this point appears to remain consistent with what I described in last week’s update: the TA to be completed in time for the ratification process to be finalized between mid to late Q4. I have been working with our Communications and SPSC volunteers and ALPA staff to ensure they are kept up to date on the timeline as we move forward, in anticipation of the informational campaign that will be needed for the pilot group. Specifics are being worked out for Town Hall meetings, web-based information, videos, crew room visits and more – all of which will be provided so that you have the opportunity to access all the facts and information you need to make an informed decision about the TA when the time comes."

Aug 24 UAL MEC Chair blastmail
 

"This week, the JNC is continuing to transform the closed areas of the Agreement in Principle (AIP) into contractual language. We are still resolving the pending issues not specifically addressed by the conceptual agreement reached in last month’s mediated sessions in Washington, D.C., but are working those issues in parallel to our efforts to finalize language. The process is much like drafting a large research paper. The AIP is the outline for each of the chapters (sections). Now we are writing the language for each specific chapter. Some sections are longer than others, and most are related to the others, so changes in one section often require changes to others. The sections are being addressed in a manner and order designed to reach Tentative Agreement language in the most careful, efficient and expeditious manner possible.

Further, this task is more difficult and complex than a typical research paper assignment because as we reduce the general concepts of the AIP into more specific contract language, we must resolve with management differences in opinion that invariably come up about what was precisely intended in various circumstances not previously discussed at the table. At both legacy United and Continental, hard lessons have been learned in the past about the adverse effects to pilots of poor contract language. Although no contract language can be perfect, carefully drafted language is the capstone of a good contract. Your JNC is working hard to deliver the language product our pilots deserve in the most expedient manner possible."

den lec
 

Two weeks ago, ALPA reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the Company regarding all the major economic and scope provisions of a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). While these Agreements do not complete the entire JCBA, they are an important milestone in the JCBA process. It means that both parties reached a meeting of the minds about what the JCBA should look like. The process, however, is not over yet. ALPA and the company must resolve a few minor items before a full AIP is complete, and then must convert that AIP into the final language of a Temporary Agreement (TA). As a guide, the following timeline is an approximation of what happens next, and is based upon our estimation of certain event timelines described in previous MEC communications. The final timeline will be in close coordination with the CAL MEC.

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) continues intense discussions with the company to reach agreement on the remaining minor issues, while simultaneously completing language on the Sections already with an AIP. ALPA should complete the AIP in the next few weeks. The MEC will then preview the AIP at the end of August (assuming no further delays by the company). The JNC will then finish transforming the complete AIP into the final language of a TA. This process will take several weeks longer after completing the AIP, and defining a precise timeline is very difficult, but we estimate completion of the TA by mid-September.

The JNC continues to exert an extraordinary effort to finalize the TA as quickly as possible, but the TA language must be written with great care and attention to detail. Also, much of the AIP exists in “whiteboard bullet format” due to the small group supposal process that the NMB suggested and the two parties followed to achieve an agreement. We cannot rush this important step, and the task of writing language for what most consider “the most complicated negotiations in ALPA’s history” is no small task. Fortunately, the experienced and skilled members of the JNC and their assigned attorneys are up to that task.

After the JNC crafts the final language, the UAL & CAL MECs will meet to review the TA, receive extensive briefings from the subject matter experts, and discuss the agreement. After a thorough review, the two MECs will vote individually on acceptance or rejection of the TA. As a reminder, the NMB is still actively managing the negotiations, and the NMB directed that the MECs will review and vote on acceptance or rejection prior to releasing the TA to the Pilot membership. For this reason, we cannot at this time discuss the details of the agreement until after the MECs make an acceptance or rejection decision.

We understand that this black-out period is frustrating for the Pilots, and also presents a unique opportunity for attention seekers to claim they are “in the know” about the details of the AIP- speculation about the details is already rampant. We ask that you maintain a healthy dose of skepticism during these discussions, and refrain from forming any opinions based upon rumor and conjecture. The NMB recently reemphasized its “gag order” on the parties because some were not fully complying, and the MEC intends to honor that directive completely. The MEC Office is committed to more frequent updates on the status of finalizing the TA, and you can expect that in the weeks ahead.

Also, some factions within our union continue to suggest that the MEC is not fully informed by the MEC Chairman and the Negotiating team, but these inferences are not accurate. Over the past two-plus years of negotiations, the MEC received more briefings and presentations and updates on the status of negotiations than any other MEC in the past. These updates included unprecedented access to actual proposals and supposals at various times in the past. Although the MEC is not yet briefed on the final endgame details that occurred the last few weeks, the upcoming briefs will cover those items.

If both MECs accept the TA, then the Pilot Membership Ratification (MR) process begins. In that event, the JNC will conduct several weeks of domicile presentations to the Pilots and answer any questions they have on the TA. This is a close engagement between the JNC and MEC and membership in order that the Pilots can make a well-informed decision to ratify or reject the TA. If the Pilots ratify the TA, then we have a new JCBA. This domicile Q&A process will occur concurrently with the MR balloting, and will likely conclude in late October. ALPA will do everything it can to expedite this process, but quality control of the language and a thorough review by the Pilots must occur, and several sections of the JCBA will be new to one pilot group or another. Again, this is our current best guess at an approximate timeline; as we proceed, expect timeline updates from the MEC Office.

If the Pilots ratify, then most of the pay elements of the JCBA are immediately in effect upon Date of Signing (DOS), which occurs a few days after Membership Ratification completes. Pay rates will activate upon DOS, and any lump sum distribution will begin. Other parts of the JCBA (such as work rules) will take longer to implement, and some elements of the JCBA will not trigger until after the Seniority List Integration (SLI) process completes.

As a reminder, the SLI process begins when and if both MECs accept the TA, but cannot continue unless the Pilots ratify the TA. This is the sequential “JCBA then SLI” process agreed to by the two MECs in 2010. The SLI process will take about six or seven months to complete the resulting Integrated Seniority List (ISL). After implementation of the ISL begins, the two MECs will first consolidate co-located councils, and then merge the two MECs. That process takes about six weeks.

During the next few months, we will publish some explanatory articles on JCBA issues. Obviously a lot of Pilots are discussing the significant recent events, including our AIP, DAL’s new CBA 2012, the APA’s 1113 events, etc., and it is hard to distinguish fact from conjecture. These articles will not discuss the details of the TA, but rather should provide some fact based discussions that will facilitate an educated examination of the TA (if the MECs both approve it for MR). We are currently updating the C33 website with an extensive industry comparison database, and we will reopen that webpage next week. We will schedule a Local Council 33 meeting when we have a more definitive timeline of events.

Well now, some parties weren't adhering to the gag order. I wonder what parts of the premature aip are factual?

I love the last paragraph. They are gonna be so kind to give us a framework to facilitate our examination of the ta. Keep digging in the manure kids, theres gotta be a pony in there somewhere.

And lotsa retro hay for said pony!

I'm going to use my retro money to take a leave of absence and get any degree I can from Duke.;)