The Alaska Pilots Podcast
Alaska MEC Podcast. Discussions and interviews with ALPA leaders and committee chairs about issues effecting airline pilots.
Episodes
4 days ago
First Joint Alaska/Hawaiian MEC Episode
4 days ago
4 days ago
In this episode, Co-hosts Alaska Communications Chair David Campbell and Hawaiian Communications Chair Mike Davis interview Alaska MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Hawaiian MEC Chair Larry Payne. Captains McQuillen and Payne discuss the vision they share for the collective future of a combined pilot group and the critical importance of pilot unity, engagement, and feedback in upcoming contract negotiations.
In addition to the episode’s audio content, please watch the video linked below to hear more from the two Union Chairs and other pilots from each carrier.
VIDEO
JOINT MEC WEBSITE
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
A Tentative Agreement (TA) has been reached between the Alaska Master Executive Council and Alaska Airlines which will soon be up for a ratification vote by the Alaska Airlines pilots. This TA would extend the current contract’s amendable date by 16 months while providing two additional annual pay increases. In this episode Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell discusses the details of this TA with MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm.
Full Language Tentative Agreement
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Transition Process Agreement Reached
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
On July 25, a negotiated Transition Process Agreement (TPA) was unanimously ratified by the Master Executive Councils of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell discusses the details of that agreement with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, ALA Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm, and Executive Administrator Drew Coyle. Also discussed is the recent agreement made between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines management and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on a 10-day extension to the timeline for antitrust review. This agreement extends the deadline to August 15, 2024.
Full Language TPA
MEC Chair's Message
123.45: TPA Reached
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Sunday Jun 23, 2024
MEC Officer Round Table
Sunday Jun 23, 2024
Sunday Jun 23, 2024
In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell speaks with Chair Will McQuillen, Vice Chair Garin Tentschert, Secretary Scott Rubin and Executive Administrator Drew Coyle about the MEC’s work over the last several weeks including scheduling, merger progress, rumor control, and other ongoing projects.
IFALPA Global Pilot Survey
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Reserve Preferencing Instructions
Friday May 10, 2024
Voluntary Reduced Bid Options (VRBO) & PBS
Friday May 10, 2024
Friday May 10, 2024
In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell speaks with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Scheduling Chair Chandler Blair, and Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm about the recent Letter of Agreement 24-04 which will create the option to bid for a reduced bid credit value. These bid options will be awarded based on seniority. Also discussed, are data and trends on the first two cycles of bidding using PBS.
LOA 24-04 VRBO
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Transitions
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Monday Apr 01, 2024
March has marked several significant transitions for the Alaska pilots and their elected leaders. This episode covers some of those important changes. The implementation of Contract 2022 will be complete in May when pilots begin working under the first monthly schedules built using preferential bidding. MEC officer terms started on March 1. Perhaps the biggest transition facing pilots is the merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. In this episode, each of these topics will be discussed.
Included in these show notes are a table and flowchart of the monthly PBS bidding timeline. If they don’t show on the device you are using, scroll down and select “Episode Website” to view.
PBS BIDDING TIMELINEAll Times Seattle Local
1st 0900 - 7th 1200
NavBlue Bidding Open
7th 1200 - 11th 1600
Trading closed for Last 10 Days of Month
11th by 1600
Awards Published in Crew Access
11th 1700 - 13th 1500
Secondary Reserve Bidding Open
13th by 2100
Secondary Reserve Bid Award
14th at 0900
Trading for BBH Open
16 at 0900
Trading for Reserves Open
Letter to CEO Mr. Minicucci
Request to Negotiate Transition and Process Agreement
Friday Feb 02, 2024
State of the Union, February 2024
Friday Feb 02, 2024
Friday Feb 02, 2024
This episode includes conversations among Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell, MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm, Scheduling Chair and MEC Secretary-Elect Scott Rubin, and Strategic Planning Chair Brad Beachler. McQuillen gives some details of the recent MEC and Joint MEC meetings that occurred in January. Wilhelm explains the Incentive Line (IL) LOA (24-01) including the provision suspending reserves’ ability to pick up flying on their days off while the LOA is in use as well the replacement of LOA 22-06 with LOA 24-02 which enhances reserves’ ability to pick up work on days off when the IL LOA is not in effect. Rubin discusses preferential bidding which will start on April 1 for the May bid period and explains where to find training materials. Finally, Beachler discusses upcoming unity events.
For answers to questions about the new reserve system, please listen to episode 61, TA 6: Reserves.
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Alaska Pilots Get Ready for PBS
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Preferential bidding will go live on April 1 for the May bid period. Now is the time for Alaska pilots to become familiar with the new system so that they may achieve the best possible outcome in the bid award. A great number of resources have been created to facilitate this learning including three rounds of mock-bidding beginning on Monday, February 12. In this episode, Scheduling Committee Chair Captain Scott Rubin and other members of the Joint Preferential Bidding System Working Group (JPWG) including Captains Ben Brooks, John Owens, and Jake Woods explain how and where to find these training materials and discuss the details of the final implementation timeline. Pilots may find additional support by using one of the contact methods below.
Send a DART – Use the PBS topic
Call the PBS Hotline 833-252-7271 – Rings all ALPA members of the PWG. If no answer leave a message for a callback.
For company support, e-mail Pilot_PBS_Support@Alaskaair.com (search PBS and it will pop up)
Additional information on PBS is available on prior Podcast Episode #58 PBS and Trip Construction.
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Merger: Process Discussion
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
On December 3, Alaska Airlines announced an agreement with Hawaiian Airlines to merge. Pending regulatory approval, this announcement begins a long process that will conclude with a merged pilot group working under a single Collective Bargaining Agreement. In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair Capt. David Campbell discusses the steps required before a merger will be complete as it relates to pilots. Broadly, these steps include negotiating a Transition Process Agreement and a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement, merging the pilot Seniority Lists, and finally merging the respective Master Executive Councils into what will become the new governing body of the merged pilot group. Campbell is joined by MEC Chair Capt. Will McQuillen, MEC Executive Administrator Drew Coyle, and Alaska Merger Committee Chair Capt. Greg Wertz.
Pilots of either carrier may submit questions via the DART system.
DART.alpa.org
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
State of the Union, November 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Following the third Quarter MEC Meeting, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell speaks with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, MEC Executive Administrator Drew Coyle, and Scheduling Committee Chair Scott Rubin about the state of the union. Some topics discussed are basing, contract implementation progress, and staffing.