From the Comair MEC
As you now know, last week MEC Chairman Capt. JC Lawson, MEC Vice
Chairman Capt. Cory Tennen and ALPA's Assistant Director of
Representation Mr. Bill Roberts met with senior Comair management in
what was thought to be a meeting to respond to the joint CMR/ASA MEC
proposal for integration of the two pilot groups. Unbeknownst to Capt.
Lawson when the meeting was requested, this meeting also included
representatives of the IBT (representing Comair Flight Attendants).
When ALPA became aware that the IBT was also invited, it became obvious
that we would not receive a serious response to our request.
Some of the members of management that were present were Comair
President Randy Rademacher, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations
K. Michael Stewart, V.P. Flight Operations Don Osmundson and V.P. Labor
Relations Walter Darr. Mr. Rademacher began the meeting not by
immediately addressing our proposal but instead he stated we were
brought together so management could "take one last shot at the new
aircraft". In other words, one more attempt to convince your
representatives to voluntarily cannibalize your Agreement.
Mr. Rademacher did respond to our proposal after a few introductory
sentences to simply state that Comair "discussed the ALPA proposal with
our legal council" and had been advised that Comair has "no authority to
negotiate the types of considerations which ALPA wanted". Further he
stated that ALPA's certification at Comair pertains "only to the
representation of Comair pilots" and that the ALPA proposal was "beyond
the purview of either the Comair MEC or of Comair".
Your ALPA Representatives were extremely disappointed that Comair made
the comments they did. Not only did management simply state what was
already known to all at the table, they ignored the fact that the ALPA
proposal specifically requested involvement from Delta and DCI personnel
in order to protect the future job security of all Comair and ASA
employees. They made it very clear that management had no interest in
truly discussing such job protections.
Instead, as you may have already seen posted on the ALPA LEC board in
operations, management had a two-option approach to convince us to
partake in "bidding for flying" (for up to 45 additional aircraft).
Management did state that these are suggested changes and we could
negotiate others, but the cost savings must be proportional.
Option #1
Maintain current pay scale with 1.5% annual increases in "04" & "05"
Include pilots in new Performance Pay Program (effective June "04")
Current per diem with $.05 increases for "04" & "05"
10 Days off for all reserve pilots (effective Jan "05")
Reserve assignments to lowest credit order (effective Jan "05")
Option #2
Maintain current pay scale with 2.5% annual increases in "04" & "05"
Pilots not included in new Performance Pay Program
Current per diem with $.05 increases for "04" & "05"
10 Days off for all reserve pilots (effective Jan "05")
Reserve assignments to lowest credit order (effective Jan "05")
It was further stated by management that the above options do not
guarantee all additional aircraft and in fact should only some of the
proposed aircraft arrive then we will meet to discuss a prorating of the
above items (somehow, somewhere).
A word about the Performance Pay Program: This "new" program is in fact
similar to those used at other carriers. It is a system set up by
management that utilizes such things as mishandled baggage, on-time
performance, customer satisfaction and operating costs. The "goals" are
naturally set by management, and perhaps adjusted as needed by
management. It is a tiered system based on seniority that pays out
quarterly using monthly statistics. Management explained that it could
pay out anywhere from $0 dollars to as much as $2,400 dollars a year.
Mr. Rademacher stated that he would expect it to pay no more than $1,200
dollars in a good year. However it is important to note that no matter
what the payout, even if it were the absolute maximum amount, it would
never reimburse the employee for even the hourly dollars they gave up in
the Agreement, never mind the other contractual savings management
seeks.
Captain Lawson after careful discussion with all of your MEC
representatives notified management late on Thursday afternoon that ALPA
would not partake in any discussions at this time which would require
pilots to concede various contractual provisions in an attempt to "bid
for flying". He stated very clearly that ALPA was disappointed that
management failed to address ALPA's job security concerns and that ALPA
had been very clear in the original ALPA proposal that unless management
did address our concerns, ALPA would have no choice in deciding not to
engage in discussions. Captain Lawson further said that management has
made the decision themselves to not address their employee concerns and
that management (Comair, ASA and Delta) bare all blame for the loss of
any future flying which Delta management chooses to give to carriers
other than Comair or ASA.
If you have any further questions, please contact your Status
Representative or MEC Officers.
As you now know, last week MEC Chairman Capt. JC Lawson, MEC Vice
Chairman Capt. Cory Tennen and ALPA's Assistant Director of
Representation Mr. Bill Roberts met with senior Comair management in
what was thought to be a meeting to respond to the joint CMR/ASA MEC
proposal for integration of the two pilot groups. Unbeknownst to Capt.
Lawson when the meeting was requested, this meeting also included
representatives of the IBT (representing Comair Flight Attendants).
When ALPA became aware that the IBT was also invited, it became obvious
that we would not receive a serious response to our request.
Some of the members of management that were present were Comair
President Randy Rademacher, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations
K. Michael Stewart, V.P. Flight Operations Don Osmundson and V.P. Labor
Relations Walter Darr. Mr. Rademacher began the meeting not by
immediately addressing our proposal but instead he stated we were
brought together so management could "take one last shot at the new
aircraft". In other words, one more attempt to convince your
representatives to voluntarily cannibalize your Agreement.
Mr. Rademacher did respond to our proposal after a few introductory
sentences to simply state that Comair "discussed the ALPA proposal with
our legal council" and had been advised that Comair has "no authority to
negotiate the types of considerations which ALPA wanted". Further he
stated that ALPA's certification at Comair pertains "only to the
representation of Comair pilots" and that the ALPA proposal was "beyond
the purview of either the Comair MEC or of Comair".
Your ALPA Representatives were extremely disappointed that Comair made
the comments they did. Not only did management simply state what was
already known to all at the table, they ignored the fact that the ALPA
proposal specifically requested involvement from Delta and DCI personnel
in order to protect the future job security of all Comair and ASA
employees. They made it very clear that management had no interest in
truly discussing such job protections.
Instead, as you may have already seen posted on the ALPA LEC board in
operations, management had a two-option approach to convince us to
partake in "bidding for flying" (for up to 45 additional aircraft).
Management did state that these are suggested changes and we could
negotiate others, but the cost savings must be proportional.
Option #1
Maintain current pay scale with 1.5% annual increases in "04" & "05"
Include pilots in new Performance Pay Program (effective June "04")
Current per diem with $.05 increases for "04" & "05"
10 Days off for all reserve pilots (effective Jan "05")
Reserve assignments to lowest credit order (effective Jan "05")
Option #2
Maintain current pay scale with 2.5% annual increases in "04" & "05"
Pilots not included in new Performance Pay Program
Current per diem with $.05 increases for "04" & "05"
10 Days off for all reserve pilots (effective Jan "05")
Reserve assignments to lowest credit order (effective Jan "05")
It was further stated by management that the above options do not
guarantee all additional aircraft and in fact should only some of the
proposed aircraft arrive then we will meet to discuss a prorating of the
above items (somehow, somewhere).
A word about the Performance Pay Program: This "new" program is in fact
similar to those used at other carriers. It is a system set up by
management that utilizes such things as mishandled baggage, on-time
performance, customer satisfaction and operating costs. The "goals" are
naturally set by management, and perhaps adjusted as needed by
management. It is a tiered system based on seniority that pays out
quarterly using monthly statistics. Management explained that it could
pay out anywhere from $0 dollars to as much as $2,400 dollars a year.
Mr. Rademacher stated that he would expect it to pay no more than $1,200
dollars in a good year. However it is important to note that no matter
what the payout, even if it were the absolute maximum amount, it would
never reimburse the employee for even the hourly dollars they gave up in
the Agreement, never mind the other contractual savings management
seeks.
Captain Lawson after careful discussion with all of your MEC
representatives notified management late on Thursday afternoon that ALPA
would not partake in any discussions at this time which would require
pilots to concede various contractual provisions in an attempt to "bid
for flying". He stated very clearly that ALPA was disappointed that
management failed to address ALPA's job security concerns and that ALPA
had been very clear in the original ALPA proposal that unless management
did address our concerns, ALPA would have no choice in deciding not to
engage in discussions. Captain Lawson further said that management has
made the decision themselves to not address their employee concerns and
that management (Comair, ASA and Delta) bare all blame for the loss of
any future flying which Delta management chooses to give to carriers
other than Comair or ASA.
If you have any further questions, please contact your Status
Representative or MEC Officers.
