The Alaska Pilots Podcast

First Joint Alaska/Hawaiian MEC Episode

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 

Tentative Agreement Reached on Contract Extension and Additional Annual Pay Increases

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

Transition Process Agreement Reached

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
Order an ALPA Pin
Order a Blue ALPA Lanyard by sending an email to the ALA office administrator.
 
 

MEC Officer Round Table

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
Please complete the survey using login password: vffd24
 
Reserve Preferencing Instructions

Voluntary Reduced Bid Options (VRBO) & PBS

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 

Transitions

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 
 

State of the Union, February 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.

Alaska Pilots Get Ready for PBS

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.
 

Merger: Process Discussion

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
 

State of the Union, November 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.