Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

ASA MEC update.

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

FightingIrish

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2003
Posts
333
The ASA MEC (Master Executive Council) and the XJT MEC convened a joint meeting this week to discuss open issues with the JCBA (Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement), as well as how to move forward in a manner that represents the best interests of both groups. On Wednesday, the Company presented the joint MECs a financial briefing and reiterated their desire to move negotiations as quickly as possible. During this presentation, the financial situation of the Company was described by the Company as being a direct result of many factors, such as not achieving many of the combined efficiencies within labor groups, the extreme weather impact in comparison to previous years, missed completion and on-time performance incentives, and challenges with various reimbursement rates from major partners to cover rising costs associated with network and regulatory change requirements. It was candidly observed by the ASA MEC that the majority of the factors listed by the Company as contributing to the poor financial and operational performance were directly attributable to the decision to acquire XJT Airlines. At the conclusion of the briefing, the meeting was adjourned to allow both groups to separate and discuss amongst themselves the information that was presented.

On Thursday morning, the joint meeting resumed with the voting members discussing numerous ideas, viewpoints and concerns important to both groups. At times the meeting contained very candid discussions with spirited interaction.

A majority of the conversation centered on PBS (Preferential Bidding Systems) and the discrepancies between the two vendors being discussed for the combined pilot group to use in the JCBA. The ASA representatives made every attempt to educate and inform the XJT representatives of the known pitfalls associated with the globalized PBS system known as SmartPref currently being advocated for by some members of the XJT MEC. Furthermore, the ASA representatives strived to show the XJT representatives the whipsaw that is being created by actively negotiating an unproven system and the attendant waste of negotiating capital and efforts.

During these discussions, the XJT representatives were queried as to why neither the ASA CNC (Contract Negotiating Committee) nor the ASA PWG (PBS Working Group) were consulted before XJT committee members approached the Company to negotiate for SmartPref outside of the JCBA, an action specifically prohibited by the TPA (Transition and Process Agreement). It became clear that it was an incorrect understanding of their representatives that the ASA CNC was made aware of this meeting. No explanation was provided to the ASA MEC as to why some XJT MEC and committee members engaged in a course of action that was clearly detrimental to the ASA pilot group as well as to the overall goal of negotiating a JCBA.

At one point, the officers of both groups met in caucus with the JNC (Joint Negotiating Committee) and ALPA National staff members. Unfortunately, this meeting started with a disappointing tone, as the XJT Officers expressed disbelief in the financial briefing and communicated a refusal to even partially acknowledge the Company?s current financial condition. Equally disturbing in the context of a JCBA, the XJT MEC appears to still operate under the impression that having two separate pilot labor agreements is acceptable to the pilots and the company. This behavior threatens the livelihood and wellbeing of every pilot at XJT, whether they fly a CRJ or an ERJ.
The next joint meeting of the ASA and XJT MECs has been tentatively scheduled for August 11th, to be held in Atlanta. The ASA representatives were very appreciative of the XJT representatives? candor but still remain cautious moving forward.
 
The legacy XJET guys still think this is all a big accounting trick.

Wake up guys we truly ARE circling the bowl. It's not a trick.
 
And they're still pushing the ridiculous globalized PBS. What are they thinking on that side?
I really wish we had never been merged with XJT. SKYW made a real big mistake.
 
Reading that update shows everything wrong with this process. Whoever wrote it must be incredibly impressed with the many committee structures and fancy protocol agreements. What a complete joke - nothing will ever get done this way - total and complete waste of time. I can just see all the tersely written committee memos flying back and forth - bolstered by stern faces and hand wringing. Anyone who thinks this process will lead to a solution is dreaming.
 
I wonder how quickly the ERJ side can shrink.. Probably quick enough.


Yeah, so that the better contract can be voted out of existence?

Let's not sell ourselves short. Neither side should be taking any concessions. The two MECs have already previously agreed on how to handle their differences on PBS. It's called the Process Agreement for Interim and Single PBS. It is part of the failed TA should be used in any new TA so that we can move forward with getting a contract that is not concessionary for either side.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top