DCA will hold a local council meeting on Monday, February 28 at 1300 at the Days Inn Crystal City. Members of the Negotiating Committee will be present to discuss the Shuttle Amalgamation Agreement and how it will coexist with arbitrator Nicolau's seniority integration award. These are complicated subjects and this meeting will provide an opportunity for you to get valuable information on how bidding will be effected by the Nicolau Award and the Shuttle Amalgamation Agreements. Your pay can be effected by when and how you bid. Attendance is highly recommended.
All Shuttle pilots are invited to attend. The Shuttle and US Airways pilot groups will be formally integrated on the day following this council meeting. Also, the local council will vote in a long list of newly hired pilots who have completed one year of service. This is an excellent opportunity to attend and welcome all of our new council members.
The MEC has voted to send the Interim Small Jet Agreement ("mini-deal") to the membership, with a recommendation that the US Airways pilots cast a vote in-favor of ratification. Roadshows are planned for all domiciles.
There was considerable discussion over the new minimum block hour commitments which can be found in the Interim Small Jet Agreement ("mini-deal").
The agreement guarantees an increase of 61,862 aircraft block hours to the minimum commitment over the next three years.
How do you measure what this change to the minimum commitment means in terms of jobs? Here is a method of calculating explained in six steps:
The Interim Small Jet Agreement ("mini-deal") snapshots the actual level of flying during 1999 and sets this as the new baseline minimum level. Of course, staffing variables such as training, sick and trip pairing efficiency are also factors in determining the actual numbers of pilots needed.
Much like a no-furlough clause, the minimum block hour commitment protects pilot jobs at US Airways. It can still have the effect of creating jobs, but the primary reason for this language is to insure that mainline flying hours are not transferred from the mainline to the RJ.
More on this agreement in a later update.
The AFA addressed the MEC this week. Many items in the AFA contract remain open. This will have to be a busy 30 days for both negotiating committees if an agreement is going to be reached before the strike / lock-out deadline.