Episodes
Friday Sep 24, 2021
Private Mediated Negotiations End
Friday Sep 24, 2021
Friday Sep 24, 2021
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.
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
MEC Proposes Limited Private Mediation
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
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.
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
Pilots Hold Fast to their Bargaining Expectations
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
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.
Saturday Jun 12, 2021
State of the Union, June 2021
Saturday Jun 12, 2021
Saturday Jun 12, 2021
This episode recaps some of the significant events over the last month, in particular the latest developments at the negotiating table, the latest MEC efforts related to the San Francisco base, the West Coast Cookout Tour and more.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch the MEC’s video concerning Scope, you may watch it here.
Upcoming dates and locations for the West Coast Cookout Tour may be viewed here. Keep checking back as more dates will be added.
Friday May 21, 2021
SCOPE: Protect, Provide, Prepare
Friday May 21, 2021
Friday May 21, 2021
Job security is an important part of any career. Scope language in modern pilot collective bargaining agreements is designed to protect current flying, provide opportunities for growth of a pilot group, and prepare for unexpected events. In this episode, we shed more light on this issue as it relates to Alaska Airlines pilots. Follow the link below to watch the video referenced in this episode which the Alaska MEC released recently.
Sunday May 02, 2021
Look for the MEC in a City Near You
Sunday May 02, 2021
Sunday May 02, 2021
Unity and solidarity empower the Alaska MEC’s Negotiating Committee to achieve the pilots’ priorities in the next contract. Solidarity is built through trust and transparent dialogue between elected union leaders and the pilots they represent—a task complicated during COVID-19 restrictions. Listen now to the innovative ways the MEC will overcome this obstacle to be on the road connecting with its pilots.
Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Alaska MEC’s Strategic Plan
Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Alaska pilots are negotiating improvements to their Collective Bargaining Agreement. Hear from ALPA leaders and ALPA’s Lead Economic and Financial Strategist Liz Spear about why now is the time for our Company to agree to long overdue improvements. Details of the union’s work may also be found in the MEC’s Strategic Planning Executive Summary which is also discussed in this episode. Part of that summary includes the MEC’s perspectives on the recent changes to executive management at Alaska Airlines. The MEC recently updated and released its Strategic Plan to the Alaska Airlines pilots.
To read the Strategic Plan Executive Summary, Alaska Airline pilots may logon to the AlaskaPilots.org website and click on the Strategic Plan link.
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Leading the Puck
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Join host Communications Chairman David Campbell as he speaks with MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, Negotiating Chairman Chairman Chris Gruner, and Strategic Planning Chairman Ronan O’Donoghue about some of the issues facing Alaska Airlines pilots such as vaccinations, what the union knows about the Company’s basing plans—particularly in San Francisco, the MEC’s work to update its Strategic Plan, and negotiations.
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Facing Forward: 2021
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Friday Jan 01, 2021
As we turn the page to 2021, now is the time for the Alaska Pilots to continue the work of negotiating improvements to their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In this episode, host Captain David Campbell speaks with Master Executive Council (MEC) officers—Captain Will McQuillen, Captain Joe Youngerman, Captain Scott Mokos and Captain Garin Tentschert. Most of their discussion will reference and add more detail to a four-minute video message released last week. We recommend you watch that video—linked below—before listening to this episode.
Terms and references in this episode that may be unfamiliar to some listeners:
Canoll: Captain Tim Canoll served as the Air Line Pilots Association International’s president from 2015- 2019.
CBA: Collective Bargaining Agreement.
SME: Subject Matter Expert. These are pilots who are committee volunteers and have special skills, knowledge, and experience who help support the Alaska MEC. While these pilots volunteer their time on behalf of, and to improve the lives and safety of their fellow pilots, their work almost always creates an ancillary benefit to the company. Some examples include adding an important level of safety, cost savings, and ensuring flight operations processes run smoothly. The company receives these benefits at minimal, and in many cases, no cost.
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Learn more about your union’s resources and how ALPA may assist you if holiday stress is impacting you or your family. ALPA has a number of committees whose purpose is to provide direct assistance to pilots. These have been organized under the umbrella of Pilot Peer Support (PPS) and consist of HIMS, Professional Standards, CIRP, and Aeromedical. In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chairman David Campbell speaks with chairmen from each of these committees. Learn how you, or your flying partner, may be assisted by them and the value of calling ALPA first.
Helpful Links:
Pilot Peer Support Call (309) 777-2572; (309) PPS-ALPA