The Alaska Pilots Podcast

The Power of Picketing

On February 3, the Alaska pilots conducted an informational picket at an event in New York City where the COO and EVP Constance Von Muehlen of Alaska Airlines was speaking. In this episode host Communications Chairman David Campbell is joined by MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, MEC Secretary Garin Tentschert, and Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committee (SPSC) Chairman Ronan O’Donoghue. They discuss their experiences at that event as well as upcoming mediated negotiations sessions, the next picketing event coming up on April 1, and other SPSC events.

 

Links of interest:

Video of Constance Von Muehlen Walking the Picket Line

The Railway Labor Act Flow Chart

Informational Picketing Leaflet, New York City

Family Outreach and Negotiations Education Committee (FONE)

Mediation Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA)

In this episode Podcast Host, Strategic Communications Chairman David Campbell discusses the Railway Labor Act (RLA), including what it means to be in mediated negotiations and the process of being released before engaging in a legal strike. ALPA’s Senior Advisor and Chief Negotiator Bruce York, along with Senior Labor Relations Counsel Zach Henige join this episode to discuss what to expect during RLA mediation and what tactics are available to us to advance the pilots’ goals. Bruce York has been negotiating airline contracts for more than 40 years and shares his experience regarding ways management teams have in the past attempted to stymie the work of ALPA. Also on this episode are MEC Chairman Will McQuillen and Negotiating Chairman Chris Gruner.

 

This week the pilots’ Negotiating Committee, including Chris Gruner, began negotiations in the presence of a mediator, Mike Tosi, assigned by the National Mediation Board. Pilots may recall, the company stated it was filing for mediation with the intention of moving negotiations to a conclusion. Alaska pilots may read the committee’s update detailing the results of these three days of mediated negotiations.

 

The Alaska Airlines pilots have been negotiating with their company for nearly three years in attempts to bring the contract more in line with their industry peers. On January 19, 2022 the parties met to conduct the first mediated session with the assistance of a national mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board (NMB).

 

RLA Flow Chart

Company Failures Over Holiday Weather Impacts Pilots

This episode discusses how management’s failure to address recurring weather issues affect pilots, the eroding culture at Alaska Airlines, and the Company’s inconsistent COVID-19 policies that are outside of industry best-practices. Additionally, the history and details of Severe Irregular Operations (SIO) is explained. For Alaska Pilots, references to contractual and LOA language addressing SIO may be found in the MEC Update of December 26. In addition to MEC Chairman Will McQuillen and MEC Vice Chairman Joe Youngerman, Communications Chairman David Campbell welcomes Contract Compliance Chairman Mike (Rino) Reinmuth and Scheduling Committee Chairman Scott Rubin.

 

For Alaska Pilots:

Contract Compliance Phone Number: (888) 767-2228

Company Failures Over Holiday Weather Impacts Pilots

This episode discusses how management’s failure to address recurring weather issues affect pilots, the eroding culture at Alaska Airlines, and the Company’s inconsistent COVID-19 policies that are outside of industry best-practices. Additionally, the history and details of Severe Irregular Operations (SIO) is explained. For Alaska Pilots, references to contractual and LOA language addressing SIO may be found in the MEC Update of December 26. In addition to MEC Chairman Will McQuillen and MEC Vice Chairman Joe Youngerman, Communications Chairman David Campbell welcomes Contract Compliance Chairman Mike (Rino) Reinmuth and Scheduling Committee Chairman Scott Rubin.

 

For Alaska Pilots:

Contract Compliance Phone Number: (888) 767-2228

The Year in Review and What’s Ahead

This episode reflects on some of the accomplishments of the Alaska Airlines pilot group, which include efforts on trying to secure a market-based contract and comments from MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, MEC Vice Chairman Joe Youngerman, SPSC Chairman Ronan O'Donoghue and SPSC Vice Chairman Drew Coyle on the state of the industry and the path the MEC is taking to safeguard the pilot group's future.

November MEC Meeting Recap and More

Hear from union leadership about the final MEC meeting of 2021, an update on ALPA’s Do the Right Thing campaign, polling results, and what’s next in the national mediation process.

 

Upcoming Coffee Sits

If you will be passing through SeaTac, please join MEC members in the North Concourse:

• Sunday, November 21, 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Coffee & Pizza
• Monday, November 22, 8:00 a.m. – 1100 a.m. Coffee & PastriesTuesday,
• November 23, 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Pastries

Remember, the holidays may be a time of increased stress for some. If you need any assistance, call ALPA first. Pilot Peer Support volunteers are standing by 24/7 at (309) 777-ALPA or (309) 777-2572.

Alaska Air Group, INC. SEC Form 10-Q

Portions quoted in this episode may be found under Item 5 on page 48 and the highlighted section beginning after page 50.

Alaska Airlines: Do the Right Thing-Value Your Pilots

ALPA’s Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, launched an aggressive campaign to inform the public that negotiations between the pilots and the company have stalled. While Alaska Airlines’ management repeats its core value – to “Do the Right Thing” – it fails to live up to it by rejecting the pilots’ desire to bring their contract into parity with industry peers. Hear the pilots’ union leadership correct the company’s narrative. You can also help show support for the Alaska pilots by following them on social media.

AlaskaPilots.org

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

LinkedIn

 

 

Private Mediated Negotiations End

After three days in private mediation with Alaska Airlines, the talks ended on September 20, 2021. ALPA’s negotiating team had suggested private mediation—employing the assistance of a private mediator who is a nationally-known labor relations expert well versed in the airline industry to explore whether any efficient pathways to a comprehensive agreement existed. ALPA proposed this process to explore every avenue to address contract goals consistently voiced by Alaska pilots, but unfortunately the Company’s positions did not reflect the commitment required to move negotiations constructively forward. The pilots’ union has been clear that substantial improvements to both job security and work rules are essential; pilots have serious concerns over both of these contract areas, and these sections are clearly deficient when compared to other pilot contracts in the industry. These areas have been addressed by management teams at peer airlines where they have agreed to significant improvements over what the Alaska pilots currently have.

MEC Proposes Limited Private Mediation

Contract negotiations between the @AlaskaPilots and @AlaskaAir are not progressing at a pace consistent with the market-based changes that the pilots are seeking. The pilots’ union has recommended (and Alaska Airlines management has agreed) to hire a third-party facilitator for limited mediated discussions. This episode discusses why the pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) made this decision, what it expects to achieve during these talks, and other work in progress to achieve the priorities in negotiations the pilots have identified.

 

Listeners may be interested in documents mentioned in this episode including the Comprehensive Contract Opener and a video about the MEC’s work to stop company furloughs at Alaska Airlines with the support of the Alaska Pilots. Video Link.

 

Alaska MEC leadership will be on the road hosting more pilot and family events as part of   West Coast Cookout Tour as it continues in Southern California on August 26, and heads to Mesa, AZ August 30, and Las Vegas NV September 1. Click here for details.

Pilots Hold Fast to their Bargaining Expectations

Pilots Hold Fast to their Bargaining Expectations

In this episode, MEC Chairman Will McQuillen and Negotiating Committee Chairman Chris Gruner discuss with host Communications Chairman David Campbell the commitment ALPA leadership has in maintaining and pressing for the contract improvement priorities identified by Alaska pilots. Those goals are clear, consistent, long overdue, and are driving the efforts of the Negotiating Committee.

 

San Francisco Crew Base

Given that Alaska Airlines has been vague on whether they would maintain a pilot domicile in San Francisco, ALPA conducted its own research on the viability of keeping a crew base in that city. Also in the episode, Chairman McQuillen reveals what ALPA discovered.