This update just released:

The United MEC and a few members of the Continental MEC began Ground School today on the 25 Sections of the Tentative Agreement which still requires the Letters of Agreement discussed in Friday's MEC Update. The MEC members received a status update from the Joint Negotiating Committee Co-Chairmen, First Officer Phil Otis (United MEC) and Captain Dave Owens (Continental MEC). They reported that progress is being made on the remaining Letters required to complete the Tentative Agreement. The National Mediation Board (NMB) last week gave the two MEC Chairmen permission to begin MEC reviews of the Agreement while waiting for the Letters to be completed, and the United MEC began this review in earnest with the intent of getting the Tentative Agreement to all the pilots as soon as possible.

This afternoon’s session covered Sections 22 and 24: Retirement and Insurance. The briefings were conducted by UAL-MEC R&I Committee members Fred Greene and Marty Torres, CAL-MEC R&I Committee members Dave Earnest and Drew Minarcik, and ALPA Benefits Attorney Russ Woody.

On Sunday, the Ground School will cover Section 8 – Filling of Vacancies (Staffing); Section 9 – Training; Section 23 – Flight Instructor/Evaluator; Section 16 – Missing, Internment, and Hostage; and Sections 17 and 18 – Grievances and System Board of Adjustment.

The UAL-MEC is tasked with being knowledgeable and assisting in the editing (spelling, references, etc.) of the new Agreement. This is to ensure the product the Pilots receive is thoroughly vetted and crisp. They are taking their representational responsibilities seriously.

We will keep you informed of the MEC’s progress.

This jives with what I've heard today which is that several members of the CAL MEC (led by a certain F/O rep friend of JP's) have stalled viewing the "unofficial TA" until the arbitration hearing is completed on the retro issue. The issue that was AGREED to by JP before he reneged (again) and decided that he wanted to change "retro" pay to a "signing bonus". This makes me scratch my head, as "signing bonuses" are generally considered a concession given to a management that doesn't want to pay retro. We will see what happens in expedited arbitration over the next two days, but since JP wouldn't agree to binding arbitration, I have a feeling he will pick up his toys and go home if he doesn't get his way. Anyone else feel that he would be a shoe-in to lead the USAirways East pilots??

This further delay of a 1000 day wait for a TA is entirely unacceptable. I know if MY reps were playing this game, I would be on the phone right now screaming bloody murder to stop fooling around and get on with the business of returning the TA to the NC or sending it to the membership. Enough is ENOUGH

 

My Rep is not there, but his proxy is. He has had 2 deaths in the family recently.

 

Full Retro...period.

I'll never vote to outsource my job...ever. And why are we worth less than Delta Pilots?

We're not.

 

At least we all can agree that when this turd drops on us it will solely be the fault of Jay Pierce!

 

Or

Perhaps the CAL Reps want to see a COMPLETE TA and not bits and pieces before voting? Our last contract, '02, was a rush job and with that disaster fresh on their minds, I'd say it was the responsible thing to do.

I want my Reps to be fully briefed on this thing and if that takes an extra day or two, so be it.

 

Oh man.... That's HORRIBLE. Don't know who he is, but that sure takes precedent over any airline related stuff. My thoughts and prayers go out to him

 

Perhaps, but from the sound of things, it's not about wanting to see a COMPLETE TA before voting. They will have ALL the information they need before they vote. Of course they will have the final version of the TA, the LOA's, and the "retro distribution" before they vote. In the meantime, they have 25 sections of a TA in front of them that is finished and need in review. They are spending OUR dues money down there. IMHO they can and should be starting the review process instead of sitting around playing politics.

What you are suggesting is that they aren't capable of reviewing the finished sections now while they wait for the other issues to be arbitrated? If that's true they shouldn't be pilots because this isn't an advanced level of multi-tasking.

I think it's pretty clear that they are waiting to see what the arbitrator says about the $$ distribution. If it doesn't go JP's way, I fully expect him to delay the TA review, hence my USAirways East comment.

Just for a little comparison: If the arbitrator sides with JP, I'll accept that decision, and I hope my reps will too. This despite the fact that JP already AGREED to a distribution method, and now at the 11th hour he's changing his mind and holding the TA review ransom. That's the type of behavior I expect from management, not my "fellow" pilots. This isn't a bash at CAL pilots in general, once again, it's just SOME OF your union leadership playing games which is directly at the expense of the UAL pilots. If you find that statement offensive, ask yourself how you would look upon JH and the some members of the UAL MEC if they suddenly announced that they were holding up the review of the TA until our pension was re-instated to be equal with the CAL contract despite previously agreeing to leave it out. Something smells down there in PHX