"...beyond any sense of reasonablenss."
03-14-2013, 03:45 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,866
"...beyond any sense of reasonablenss."
March 14, 2013
Dear Fellow United Pilots:
With the ratification of the United Pilots Agreement (UPA) barely behind us, your entire MEC, your committee structure and ALPA staff have been as busy as ever. Integration and implementation issues continue to surface daily. Thanks to your PDRs, emails, Local Council officers and committee reports, we continue to deal with literally hundreds of issues that must be resolved. Besides the obvious issues delineated in LOA 26, your MEC is dealing with passport reimbursements, retirement pay, jumpseat access, payroll statements, W-2 corrections, retro pay distribution disputes, downtown layovers, crew meals and a myriad of others. We find ourselves in a unique position – without a fully implemented Contract. Just as the final language writing of the JCBA took several months after reaching an AIP on the major economic sections, it will take several months for every provision of the UPA to be fully implemented. During that time it is important to understand that most of the UPA is based on previous United and Continental CBAs that bring binding past practices under principles of contract construction and the RLA which cannot be changed without notice to the Association and bargaining under Section 6.
I would like to emphasize that you are receiving updates from your MEC team regarding the many changes underway at United, not the least of which is related to the United Pilot Agreement “Next Steps.” These Updates are your source of up-to-date factual information regarding your working agreement and your union’s activities.
The MEC Committees will confirm that the implementation progress has not been easy. Despite having a ratified JCBA, there are two major impediments to fully implementing our UPA.
The first impediment lies within management and their jockeying for managerial positions and self-career enhancements. Despite all sides of the negotiators agreeing to implementation timelines and processes, there remain low-level managers responsible for following through on implementation who continue to be an impediment to the process and are causing consternation on all sides. A statement attributed to one such manager is that “LOA 26 of the contract is merely a guideline.” This deconstructive behavior creates new issues nearly daily that must be resolved and has been pointed out several times, but no immediate solution has been offered by management. In the meantime, implementing parts of the UPA have been delayed and any goodwill expected from finally reaching a consensual agreement is being eroded.
Another impediment is the protracted use of ISL-based arguments well beyond any sense of reasonableness. This is preventing all 12,000 pilots from enjoying the full benefits of the UPA. The two Merger Committees have completed their 100 days of negotiations with no results. They will begin arbitration proceedings on April 15. That initial week of arbitration will include opening statements by both United and Continental Merger Committee counsels. The CAL Merger Committee will then begin presentations of their entire "direct" case. The arbitrations are scheduled on the following dates:
April 15-20
May 11-15
Jun 11-13
Jun 18-20
Jun 27-28
The United Merger Committee will begin its direct case May 11. Post Hearing Briefs are due by July 25. The arbitration will be in Washington D.C., and we will keep you updated on the specific location as the proceedings are public.
We all recognize the importance of the single seniority list – it will last for the rest of our careers. But the seniority list will be what it is, and no one can predict its outcome accurately enough to make assumptions prior to its implementation. The Merger Committees and their respective counsels will make their arguments, and a three person arbitration panel will compile the list. We all wish the ISL was complete and that we could move forward as one Pilot group under single representation. Any pre-ISL scheduling of training, assignments, awards, or other seniority based activities that occur post-ISL (which is expected in late August) is a usurpation and perversion of the ISL and a myopic view of the longer term issues facing our 12,000 pilots. The United MEC is only interested in equitability for all Pilots.
Mergers are not easy. No one can deny that the United and Continental Pilots are coming from very different histories, cultures and interests. But the merger has brought us together nonetheless and we have truly learned that 12,000 strong is better than a divided house. History has shown that divided pilot groups do not fare as well as a unified pilot group. Building and maintaining relationships is not easy but we have to overcome our distrusts, suspicions and differences for the benefit of our entire Pilot group.
Dear Fellow United Pilots:
With the ratification of the United Pilots Agreement (UPA) barely behind us, your entire MEC, your committee structure and ALPA staff have been as busy as ever. Integration and implementation issues continue to surface daily. Thanks to your PDRs, emails, Local Council officers and committee reports, we continue to deal with literally hundreds of issues that must be resolved. Besides the obvious issues delineated in LOA 26, your MEC is dealing with passport reimbursements, retirement pay, jumpseat access, payroll statements, W-2 corrections, retro pay distribution disputes, downtown layovers, crew meals and a myriad of others. We find ourselves in a unique position – without a fully implemented Contract. Just as the final language writing of the JCBA took several months after reaching an AIP on the major economic sections, it will take several months for every provision of the UPA to be fully implemented. During that time it is important to understand that most of the UPA is based on previous United and Continental CBAs that bring binding past practices under principles of contract construction and the RLA which cannot be changed without notice to the Association and bargaining under Section 6.
I would like to emphasize that you are receiving updates from your MEC team regarding the many changes underway at United, not the least of which is related to the United Pilot Agreement “Next Steps.” These Updates are your source of up-to-date factual information regarding your working agreement and your union’s activities.
The MEC Committees will confirm that the implementation progress has not been easy. Despite having a ratified JCBA, there are two major impediments to fully implementing our UPA.
The first impediment lies within management and their jockeying for managerial positions and self-career enhancements. Despite all sides of the negotiators agreeing to implementation timelines and processes, there remain low-level managers responsible for following through on implementation who continue to be an impediment to the process and are causing consternation on all sides. A statement attributed to one such manager is that “LOA 26 of the contract is merely a guideline.” This deconstructive behavior creates new issues nearly daily that must be resolved and has been pointed out several times, but no immediate solution has been offered by management. In the meantime, implementing parts of the UPA have been delayed and any goodwill expected from finally reaching a consensual agreement is being eroded.
Another impediment is the protracted use of ISL-based arguments well beyond any sense of reasonableness. This is preventing all 12,000 pilots from enjoying the full benefits of the UPA. The two Merger Committees have completed their 100 days of negotiations with no results. They will begin arbitration proceedings on April 15. That initial week of arbitration will include opening statements by both United and Continental Merger Committee counsels. The CAL Merger Committee will then begin presentations of their entire "direct" case. The arbitrations are scheduled on the following dates:
April 15-20
May 11-15
Jun 11-13
Jun 18-20
Jun 27-28
The United Merger Committee will begin its direct case May 11. Post Hearing Briefs are due by July 25. The arbitration will be in Washington D.C., and we will keep you updated on the specific location as the proceedings are public.
We all recognize the importance of the single seniority list – it will last for the rest of our careers. But the seniority list will be what it is, and no one can predict its outcome accurately enough to make assumptions prior to its implementation. The Merger Committees and their respective counsels will make their arguments, and a three person arbitration panel will compile the list. We all wish the ISL was complete and that we could move forward as one Pilot group under single representation. Any pre-ISL scheduling of training, assignments, awards, or other seniority based activities that occur post-ISL (which is expected in late August) is a usurpation and perversion of the ISL and a myopic view of the longer term issues facing our 12,000 pilots. The United MEC is only interested in equitability for all Pilots.
Mergers are not easy. No one can deny that the United and Continental Pilots are coming from very different histories, cultures and interests. But the merger has brought us together nonetheless and we have truly learned that 12,000 strong is better than a divided house. History has shown that divided pilot groups do not fare as well as a unified pilot group. Building and maintaining relationships is not easy but we have to overcome our distrusts, suspicions and differences for the benefit of our entire Pilot group.
03-14-2013, 03:57 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.
Posts: 5,709
With the above in mind I'd like to bring forth the top ten coherent and meaningful ISL arguments for each side that I've seen here on APC.
1. Liar, liar, pants on fire!
2. I know you are, but what am I?
3. My dad could beat up your dad!
4. You're more stupider than me!
5. You're ugly and your mom dresses you funny!
6. Meet me after ISL completion in the parking lot I'm gonna kick your butt!
7. You and what army?
8. Oh yeah well I hate you and your whole pilot group!
9. Good cause you guys are losers anyway!
10. My airline is more better than your airline!
I think that sums up the average ISL argument on APC very nicely. Does anybody have anything to add?
1. Liar, liar, pants on fire!
2. I know you are, but what am I?
3. My dad could beat up your dad!
4. You're more stupider than me!
5. You're ugly and your mom dresses you funny!
6. Meet me after ISL completion in the parking lot I'm gonna kick your butt!
7. You and what army?
8. Oh yeah well I hate you and your whole pilot group!
9. Good cause you guys are losers anyway!
10. My airline is more better than your airline!
I think that sums up the average ISL argument on APC very nicely. Does anybody have anything to add?
03-14-2013, 04:38 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 2,575
Originally Posted by Airhoss
With the above in mind I'd like to bring forth the top ten coherent and meaningful ISL arguments for each side that I've seen here on APC.
1. Liar, liar, pants on fire!
2. I know you are, but what am I?
3. My dad could beat up your dad!
4. You're more stupider than me!
5. You're ugly and your mom dresses you funny!
6. Meet me after ISL completion in the parking lot I'm gonna kick your butt!
7. You and what army?
8. Oh yeah well I hate you and your whole pilot group!
9. Good cause you guys are losers anyway!
10. My airline is more better than your airline!
I think that sums up the average ISL argument on APC very nicely. Does anybody have anything to add?
1. Liar, liar, pants on fire!
2. I know you are, but what am I?
3. My dad could beat up your dad!
4. You're more stupider than me!
5. You're ugly and your mom dresses you funny!
6. Meet me after ISL completion in the parking lot I'm gonna kick your butt!
7. You and what army?
8. Oh yeah well I hate you and your whole pilot group!
9. Good cause you guys are losers anyway!
10. My airline is more better than your airline!
I think that sums up the average ISL argument on APC very nicely. Does anybody have anything to add?
03-14-2013, 04:47 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2012
Position: Holding over Macho Grande
Posts: 602
Originally Posted by Airhoss
Does anybody have anything to add?
Want unity and cohesion? Find a recognizable and common enemy.
Until then, the bad/hard feelings will never go away (particularly from those who feel "hosed" by the merger).
As it is...
Just waiting for the inevitable tale of the crew pairing where one guy made out well and the other didn't, but it comes to a head in the cockpit.
It's only a matter of time.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
machz990
Cargo
61
12-28-2006 05:31 AM
