No NWA extension this time.....

[goin' missed]

Did anyone notice the last sentence?



SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWACQ
NWACQ<IMG class=pixelTracking height=1 width=1 border=0> ) said Wednesday it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with its flight attendants represented by the Professional Flight Attendants Association. The agreement, which is subject to ratification by Northwest's PFAA-represented employees, includes $195 million in labor cost savings toward its requirement to reduce annual labor costs by $1.4 billion. Northwest said it remains in contract discussions with its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association. Earlier today, the trial on Northwest's motion asking the court to reject its collective bargaining agreement with the ALPA concluded in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The judge will rule on the motion in the near future, the airline said. http://i.mktw.net/mw3/News/greendot.gif


Very anxious to hear. Best of luck 'red tails'!

 

[320AV8R]

The judge will rule on the motion in the near future, the airline said.


I bet it will be by March 6th...........2010.


320AV8R

 

[FDJ2]

"The judge will rule on the motion in the near future"

I thought he was scheduled to rule today, not in the near future. Management must have convinced him to give them more time. The NWA pilots sent a powerful message to management and the judge.

I wonder how the balance of equities test will play out in court now. The judge has to consider the ramifications of a strike on the company and conclude that more is saved by tossing the contract then by enduring a strike.

Another extension would not surprise me.

 

[AAflyer]

I live in MSP,

Local news just said the judge has asked to speak with the attorneys for both sides. 1708 Central.

AA

 

[i fly boxes]

if the glove doesn't fit, you must aquit

 

[SWA/FO]

OJ was framed by the LAPD... NWA is a different story.

 

[goin' missed]

Latest and greatest. Looks like at least tomorrow night or beyond.


Negotiations continued Wednesday night in New York and Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper told the parties to update him again Thursday night, said Wade Blaufuss, a spokesman for the Northwest branch of the Air Line Pilots Association. He said Gropper said he would not rule on Wednesday night.
Absent a ruling, the law appeared to give Northwest the right to impose its terms on pilots -- which would likely prompt a strike. Blaufuss said Gropper indicated "that would not be wise. (That) if they had that intention to advise him first." Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch wouldn't comment directly on whether, or when, the company would impose terms on pilots. But he did say, "It's our intention to continue negotiations until the judge makes his decision."

 

[filejw]

Did some body say no more extensions
MEC Hotline Wednesday, Mar. 1st.

This is the NWA Master Executive Council (MEC) Hotline recorded at 9:30 p.m. CST Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
This Hotline contains new information about a negotiations update, Furloughed Pilot Assistance Fund refunds, and High Time options.
There is repeat information about the strike authorization voting results, the NWA pilots strike procedures manual, and call-down assignments.
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE (3/01/06)
At 6:00 p.m. EST, ALPA and Northwest management attorneys participated in a status conference call with Judge Allan Gropper. Judge Gropper will not be issuing a ruling tonight. ALPA does not know when Judge Gropper will issue a decision. The extension of the 30 day period for the Judge to issue a decision expires tonight. Under the law Northwest technically could implement its proposal pending decision by the Judge, but ALPA does not expect the company to do so absent advance notice.
The Negotiating Committee continues to meet around the clock with NWA management. Progress is being made, but some important issues still remain unresolved. Negotiations during the next 24 hours will be very intense and we will communicate significant news as soon as possible.
The Company and PFAA reached a tentative agreement at about 11:00 a.m. today. Details are not available at this time.
FURLOUGHED PILOTS ASSISTANCE FUND (FPAF) REFUND (3/01/06)
The Furloughed Pilots Assistance Fund (FPAF) has been audited. After all administrative and furloughed pilot medical expenses were paid, a fund balance of $1.6 million remains in the account. The FPAF enabling referendum passed by the membership requires all remaining funds to be refunded to pilots that paid the assessment on a pro-rata basis. The MEC passed NWA MEC Resolution 05-57 directing the MEC Secretary/Treasurer to ask each member receiving a refund to consider on a voluntary basis donating all or a specific part of their refund to the Northwest Pilots Assistance Fund (NPAF). The NPAF provides assistance to Northwest pilots – including pilots on furlough – who may experience financial hardship.
If you wish to donate all or a specific part of your refund electronically, please go to the following NWA ALPA website address: WWW.CREWROOM.ALPA.ORG/NWAMEC/
If you prefer to make your donation by mail, please make sure that the donation forms you receive from ALPA International are completed and received at the enclosed address by no later than March 20, 2006. If we do not receive a response by that date, a check for the full amount of your refund will be mailed to your address.
HIGH TIME OPTIONS INFORMATION (3/01/06)
The Feb. 1 Hotline reminded pilots to be aware of the pitfalls of using the High Time Options selection in PENTRY. Some pilots have requested additional information on how, or how not to, use this function. The screens found in the High Time Options allow for HIGH TIME ACCEPT or HIGH TIME DECLINE and are found on the Schedule Adjustment Menu in PENTRY. These options were designed for reserve pilots to make Crew Scheduling aware of their preference to fly HIT or to decline HIT.
Blockholders should NOT use the High Time Options screen to request HIT flying and are advised to cancel any notice made to the company via the High Time Options screens. HIT trips have been forced on blockholders because of HIGH TIME ACCEPT entries on the High Time Options menu selection. Blockholders desiring to fly HIT can make that indication on the individual screens (Drop/Add, Upward Adjustment).
Reserve pilots who use the High Time Options function should use the screens with caution. A reserve pilot wishing to notify the company of their preference to fly HIT via the HIGH TIME ACCEPT function should only indicate ON DUTY days for HIT flying. DO NOT indicate days off, particularly inviolate days off. While the selections made via the High Time Options are not recognized in the order of assigning trips in Section 30.E., Northwest has been using your selections via these screens to assign trips and as waiving days off, including volunteering to fly HIT on inviolate days off. Use the High Time Options menu selection if you need to, just be careful when using it.

*** The Following is Repeat Information ***

STRIKE AUTHORIZATION RESULTS
Strike authorization results were certified earlier today and presented to the MEC at 5:45 pm EST. Northwest pilots overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if management imposes new working conditions on the pilot group. Northwest pilots voted to authorize their union leaders, by a 92.16 percent margin, to utilize all legal self-help options up to and including a strike. Over 90 percent of the pilot group voted (4,413 votes were cast out of an eligible 4,851).
NWA PILOT STRIKE PROCEDURES MANUAL
The NWA Pilot Strike Procedures Manual was posted today on the NWA MEC Pilots website (www.nwaalpa.org/pilots) and was mailed to all NWA pilots' homes. This manual outlines strike procedures, ALPA contact information, a pre-strike check-in checklist, pilot duties during the strike, and jumpseat procedures.
CALL-DOWN ASSIGNMENTS
The MEC office has received many calls that captains are being assigned to fly in the right seat, particularly on the DC-9. If you receive such a call, please read the following information. In summary, it is illegal to call a Captain down to FO in base. Also, a Captain should never accept the assignment if he feels uncomfortable doing so.
From Section 24.J.2.b.
24.J.2.b. Call-Down
The Company may call a pilot down pursuant to Section 24 J.3. to fly in a lower paying category (as in Section 24 F.) only: (i) while in a trip hour period after departure from base and; (ii) only from Captain or IRC to fly as a First Officer, or from IRC to fly as a Second Officer; and (iii) only on the same aircraft type. A Captain or IRC called down to fly as a First Officer shall not be required to do so if, based on a self-assessment, the Captain would not be able to do so within his own safety comfort level. If a pilot is called down during a bid period under Section 24 J.3., he must be returned to his original bid schedule immediately after completing the trip in the lower paying category (as Section 24 F.) or upon reaching a pilot base that has a reserve pilot available in that category to replace him on that trip, whichever comes first.
From FOM 4.25.1.
Call Downs - Captains Flying As First Officers
Under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to ask a captain to fly as a first officer. Such a call down should only occur as a result of an “away from base” rescheduling event. It is intended that this provision be used only to prevent an imminent flight cancellation. The decision to exercise this call down provision will be made after a review of the captain’s experience and with the captain’s concurrence. In general, such a call down is allowed in the following cases:
• The aircraft is one in which crew augmentation routinely takes place (747, for example).
• The captain in question is an instructor certified on the aircraft.
• The captain has been previously qualified as a first officer on the aircraft.
• The captain is a qualified International Relief Captain (IRC) who has received IRC right seat training.
Such a call down is not allowed:
• If the captain is in the consolidation period on the aircraft.
• If the captain has not been previously qualified as a first officer on the aircraft and has less than 300 hours as a captain.
• If the captain declines the assignment based on a personal evaluation of the pertinent safety issues.
*** This marks the end of today's Hotline. Until next time, fly safe, fly the contract and remember that over 700 Northwest pilots are on furlough. ***

Previous Hotline: Tuesday, Feb. 28th.