Midwest grievance

[FSIGRAD]

To: All Midwest and Skyway Employees
Date: January 20, 2009
From: Corporate Communications
Subject: Arbitration Ruling

As you know, on Sept. 3, 2008, Midwest Airlines entered into an airline services agreement with Republic Airlines to operate a fleet of Embraer 170 aircraft under the Midwest Connect brand. The Air Line Pilots Association subsequently filed a grievance, contending that the arrangement was a subcontract that violated our collective bargaining agreement with the pilot group. The grievance was submitted to the System Board of Adjustment for review. The board has issued its decision denying the grievance.

The board concluded that our arrangement with Republic Airlines to operate the Embraer 170s is permissible under our collective bargaining agreement with the pilot group. Specifically, the board found that the arrangement is a legitimate codeshare agreement, and further found that our collective bargaining agreement with the pilots provides Midwest the unrestricted right to engage in codeshares. Accordingly, the board ruled there was no violation of the labor agreement

 

[labbats]

ALPA lost a grievance based on their contract language being too vague? Surely you jest!


All kidding aside this is bad news for every one of us, but particularly Midwest guys right now. I hope the best for all of you.

 

[hockeypilot44]

Do we ever win in arbitration? In my experience, even when we do win an arbitration, the company still finds out a way to make us lose. This is just about everywhere. Management used to have ethics and honor the spirit of contracts. Now they look for every possible loophole to f*ck us.

 

[CitationLover]

pay attention delta, united, us airways, american, <insert narrowbody (>100 seat) airline here>...

its coming for you. we were the cheap test.

 

[GOULET!]

Wow, what a shock the Midwest pilots lost the grievance (insert sarcasim). How have the load factors been there lately? With everybody else reporting big 4Q losses I can't see Midwest's performance being too stellar.

 

[lookin4better]

well the commuter pilots are RAH can tell people they fly for Midwest...

 

[Windsor]

This is very bad for everyone

Citation is right! This is the first of many possible screwings. Note to all Unions, pilot groups, ect..... IRONCLAD SCOPE and Codeshare agreements.


The swirl down the toilet of this career.....continues.

 

[slackass]

Rode on a Midwest/Repuplic flight last week. Asked how things were. FO responded the Midwest flying sucks but at least it beats furloughs. Bet the mainline guys would think otherwise.

 

[Propsync]

Not as bad as when the 130 or so left agree to RJ rates for the 717. The company has the company guys on the fence. Take it or leave it. Name me a pilot group that has ever said leave it and shut it down. Midwest pilots could easily kill narrowbody rates in one fell swoop.

 

[ultrarunner]

Midwest pilots could easily kill narrowbody rates in one fell swoop.

Not really Propsync. While ALPA and pilot groups will certainly disagree with this, the comparison between MEH vs. DAL/NWA really isn't valid because of the size of the MEH operation.

A 6 plane or so operation, flying a limited network, etc... is just not going to factor into a valid salary benchmark study. MEH is just too far off the curve because of the size of operation.

HOWEVER, with that being said, if you look at the DC-9 rates currently in place, MEH is right in there...

NWA, the largest DC-9 operator pays:

$133 to $153 CA. Yr 1-12
$52 to $99 FO. Yr. 1-12

MEH, the smallest operator of the type:

$82 to $138 CA. Yr. 1-12 (max $153 Yr. 16)
$41 to $91 FO. Yr 1-12 (max $100 Yr. 16)

The only big discrepancy would be a MEH FO that updgraded to CA within the first couple of years on the list, which is essentially a non-issue.

I'd say the rates for MEH, given the size of the outfit is quite competitive.

Now, it will remain to be seen if an MEH pilot ever flies the E-170, and if so, if the MEH MEC would be sucessful in holding on to those rates on that airframe.