NPA BoD endorses last-minute T.A.

[Lear70]

Reduces hourly pay rates to get rid of Core Block and 4.5 hour average day?

*sigh*

President's Update


Tuesday, August 22, 2007

Dear NPA Member:


Yesterday, August 21, your NPA Board of Directors and your Negotiating Committee met along with the Company Negotiating Committee in Atlanta at the request of Mediator, Mike Tosi. After explaining the potential consequences from the National Mediation Board's perspective if the ratification vote fails, Mr. Tosi urged both parties to make one last attempt to arrive at a consensual agreement that was satisfactory to the Company and the NPA and one that would be endorsed by the NPA's Board of Directors. Early this morning at 2:00AM, the NPA reached a new T/A with AirTran. This new T/A supersedes the Company's "Last Final Offer" (LFO) that is currently being voted on by the pilot group and will be processed in accordance with the NPA CBL.


As a result, we will stop the current vote on the Company's LFO and start a new ratification vote once the new TA is finalized and sent out to the pilot group this week. However, the vote to recall the NPA President and Vice President is not affected by this change and will close on Wednesday, September 5 as scheduled.


This new T/A accomplishes two major objectives; it removes both "core credit" and the 4.5 hour average minimum duty period. These two issues alone is why your leadership recommended a no vote for the Company's LFO. The cost for completely eliminating the concept of "core credit" from the T/A was a small reduction in proposed hourly rate (a reduction significantly less than the Company was insisting on).


In addition we were able to achieve additional improvements to the Company's previous offer, including an additional lump sum payment to all pilots of 1.5 million dollars which includes money set aside for resolution of all non disciplinary grievances filed prior to July 1, 2007 and elimination of any age requirement for eligibility for insurance coverage for medically retired pilots.


I know that many of you are feeling frustrated by this process, and I don't blame you.
But, the fact of the matter is it was only because of your support and the NPA BoD's rejection of the Company's last offer that we were able to achieve this improved TA.


Consequently, based on all the circumstances, including on the Nation Mediation Board's position, and the improvements achieved, the NPA BoD decided it was in the best interest of the pilot group to unanimously endorse the TA and recommend its ratification.


Please check the website and watch your e-mail in the coming days for more information about the T/A and schedules for road shows.


Captain Allen Philpot
President, National Pilots Association

 

[Kharma Police]

Sigh........

 

[Ace McCoy]

Wait so that means the FO pay is even lower than before?

Sigh..

I hear Delta is hiring though.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

What is the PROPOSED FO pay under the new TA. Is this enough to get the 51% vote?

 

[Ace McCoy]

What is the PROPOSED FO pay under the new TA. Is this enough to get the 51% vote?

Not sure. But the previous TA's was waaay too low.

I wonder if the NPA still thinks we are gonna upgrade in three years when the company keeps deferring 737 deliveries.

 

[RadioClash]

deleted

 

[whymeworry?]

I just don't see why you guys and gals should get anything less than your competitor, SWA.

Vote no.

 

[ATLplt]

I'm think we're all getting really tired of this. I can't believe they'd endorse this unacceptable TA AGAIN!!! Let's concede more and more pay until we're back to 2001 rates. I don't even want to imagine what FO rates are now. Let's not forget scope as well. I can't wait to see (insert favorite regional here) flying 900's/190's with a big A on the tail...uke:

 

[TV9Driver]

sounds like they are angling for the "older" vote - those close to retirement. Increased lump sum and medical bennies... and all it costs is our paycheck for the rest of us.

What a chickensh#t manuever.

Now I have to go through the trouble of voting F##K NO!!! again.....

i

 

[RadioClash]

When can I vote no on this one?

 

[gt1900]

This is getting rediculous.... Loss of the door closed time is still in there, and now they wanna lower the FO pay even more??? Our own union is pushing for a 51% yes vote.... They just don't get it, and they still don't get it... Maybe AP should go work for the FO rates he is proposing... Screw him... Can I vote no twice??

 

[c9skytrain]

I think I will wait to see what it actually states before making up my mind. Or is that bad?

 

[gt1900]

1 cent less for fo pay is too much..

 

[twepilot]

its still block or better...the door thing is not an issue anymore (to me) now that core block is gone.

RV

 

[twepilot]

anyone have a scoop on how much we are talking about on the pay rates. Also, a comparison on 1st year at some other airlines would be helpful.

RV

 

[Eagle757shark]

Now past the smoke and mirror. I smell MERGER again! Hmmm.....go to the finance people....say....we need xxxx dollars to finance a new deal (and it must be kept absolutely quiet til the deal is done)....finance company ask.....have you got your pilot contract resolved.....oh...we will call the NPA to an all night session and get it done.....deal done....new TA on the table supported by BOD and NC....CLASSIC! (Airline merger 101 all the way)

Remember as of last night we were voting on a TA that was the companies final offer! Now a new deal...things that make you say.....HMMM!

 

[gt1900]

I can give you third year comparison.. AAI's TA'd rate before the new concessioned TA'd rate...

SWA.... $98 hr
AMR.... $89 md 80- $91 737-800
DAL..... $79 md 88 $88 737-ng
NWA... $69 DC9 $77 A320
CAL..... $66 SNB $86 Wide
UAL..... $73 737/320
ALA..... $73
FRNT.... $73
HWN..... $81 B717
JBL...... $67 320

AAI... $68.. And its sounds like thats going to be less now... Woohoo... Lowest payed third year FO's in the industry with the exception of Spirit and Midwest...

What a joke.. AAI has made money for the last 8 years and they want FO's to accept a rediculously low FO scale... What a slap in the face. This union doesn't give a rats @ss about the FO's.. Lets hope the CA's stand up for us and vote this new TA down as well... Screw the wheel movement time.. Door closed and nothing less than at least Frontier and Alaska FO rates.... BTW.. Don't forget that most of the airlines will be in negotiations very soon.. Alaska is looking for big pay raises as we speak... Lets vote this one down.. Then, maybe, we will get the last, last, last, last final offer...

 

[~~~^~~~]

You guys need a union, preferably ALPA, on the property. This is rediculous.

The chart above is helpful, but does not tell the whole story. Delta, for example, will have a 6% raise added to its number (I think) if the Company hits it's expected level of profitability this year and they get 11% put into a 401K / B Fund. The 737-700 rate is about $1 below the MD88 rate and the MD90 rate is slightly higher.

Anyho' the chart above indicates AAI's rates are 15 to 20% below their peers. AAI is a great airline (from a market perspective) and should pay its employees commensurate with their productivity and expertise.

 

[Big Iron]

How about a last and final chance to vote No! The FO rates where an insult before and now they are going to be worse? If a single FO votes to approve this warmed over TA they are crazy. Can't get rid of these NPA guys fast enough. At least the vote for the recall will count.

 

[twepilot]

since the stink is about 1st year rates I was curious about how our proposed rates jived with other airlines. I haven;t been on the job hunting band-wagon in a while so I haven't kept up with what the market rate is for 1st year guys at other airlines. I seem to remember that AA's was like 25 k a year but that was back in 1999 I believe.

RV