Cowboy75
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2008
- Posts
- 397
Phoenix Domicile Update
Dear Phoenix Pilots,
Events prior to and at this week's BPR meeting in Charlotte have led to the resignation of our single West negotiator from the Negotiating Advisory Committee. It has long been the position of all current and former West representatives that we are, and have been underrepresented at the negotiating table since the very day that USAPA took over as the collective bargaining agent for all US Airways pilots. This is not to find any fault whatsoever with the performance of our single West negotiator, Captain Mark Burdick. Mark has always been helpful, readily available, and receptive to the concerns of your PHX representatives and our constituents.
It is worth noting, once again, that all the other members of the NAC spoke against the request to add an additional West member to their committee, and that all other members of the BPR voted against a resolution designed to accommodate the clear intent of the Transition Agreement that both the former AWA pilots, and the former US Airways pilots were supposed to be equally represented at the table during negotiations for a joint agreement. The resolution that was defeated contained this language within its preamble:
The Transition Agreement Section IX-C states that America West will pay the flight pay loss for three West Negotiating Committee Members. This was done to match what was in the East Contract and to provide an equal number of Negotiators from each side to ensure fair representation throughout the Negotiating process. This section further states that the Company will provide an eighty-four (84) hour monthly flight pay loss credit to the West MEC to be used at their discretion.
Needless to say your West representatives, as well as Captain Burdick, are dismayed and alarmed at the failure of all other members of the board and the NAC to comprehend the need for additional resources and representation for the former AWA pilots on this critical committee at this most crucial time in the negotiating process. Captain Burdick has decided that, going forward during the NMB mediation process, his involvement without the assistance and support of an additional West pilot in the process would be futile. Your PHX representatives agree with Mark’s decision. The rest of the BPR is apparently satisfied with the progress of negotiations over the last two-plus years, as it has determined that the exact composition of that committee required no additions or alterations. We, of course, find this incomprehensible and the overt resistance to the addition of another West negotiator is puzzling.
Nonetheless, the decision has been made, and we recommend that no West pilot accept an appointment to the Negotiating Advisory Committee alone. There is positively no reason to allow oneself to be the single point of accountability to the former AWA pilots on this committee. Our East counterparts on the Board and on the NAC clearly believe that they have the situation under complete control and do not desire or see the possible benefit of additional input from any former AWA pilot.
Sincerely,
David Braid
PHX Chairman
Eric Ferguson
PHX Vice-Chairman
Roger Velez
PHX Vice-Chairman
Mark Burdick
Former NAC Member
Dear Phoenix Pilots,
Events prior to and at this week's BPR meeting in Charlotte have led to the resignation of our single West negotiator from the Negotiating Advisory Committee. It has long been the position of all current and former West representatives that we are, and have been underrepresented at the negotiating table since the very day that USAPA took over as the collective bargaining agent for all US Airways pilots. This is not to find any fault whatsoever with the performance of our single West negotiator, Captain Mark Burdick. Mark has always been helpful, readily available, and receptive to the concerns of your PHX representatives and our constituents.
It is worth noting, once again, that all the other members of the NAC spoke against the request to add an additional West member to their committee, and that all other members of the BPR voted against a resolution designed to accommodate the clear intent of the Transition Agreement that both the former AWA pilots, and the former US Airways pilots were supposed to be equally represented at the table during negotiations for a joint agreement. The resolution that was defeated contained this language within its preamble:
The Transition Agreement Section IX-C states that America West will pay the flight pay loss for three West Negotiating Committee Members. This was done to match what was in the East Contract and to provide an equal number of Negotiators from each side to ensure fair representation throughout the Negotiating process. This section further states that the Company will provide an eighty-four (84) hour monthly flight pay loss credit to the West MEC to be used at their discretion.
Needless to say your West representatives, as well as Captain Burdick, are dismayed and alarmed at the failure of all other members of the board and the NAC to comprehend the need for additional resources and representation for the former AWA pilots on this critical committee at this most crucial time in the negotiating process. Captain Burdick has decided that, going forward during the NMB mediation process, his involvement without the assistance and support of an additional West pilot in the process would be futile. Your PHX representatives agree with Mark’s decision. The rest of the BPR is apparently satisfied with the progress of negotiations over the last two-plus years, as it has determined that the exact composition of that committee required no additions or alterations. We, of course, find this incomprehensible and the overt resistance to the addition of another West negotiator is puzzling.
Nonetheless, the decision has been made, and we recommend that no West pilot accept an appointment to the Negotiating Advisory Committee alone. There is positively no reason to allow oneself to be the single point of accountability to the former AWA pilots on this committee. Our East counterparts on the Board and on the NAC clearly believe that they have the situation under complete control and do not desire or see the possible benefit of additional input from any former AWA pilot.
Sincerely,
David Braid
PHX Chairman
Eric Ferguson
PHX Vice-Chairman
Roger Velez
PHX Vice-Chairman
Mark Burdick
Former NAC Member