Emotions on the MEC erupted Tuesday when CLT Chairman Bill McKee brought a motion to recall Negotiating Committee Chairman Donn Butkovic. During the debate, it became clear that a majority of the MEC members did not support a recall. Although a senatorial majority of the MEC members spoke against a recall, the roll call vote would have given the recall supporters a majority. (If a single representative calls out "roll call" after a vote, it is possible for the (4) PIT and CLT representatives alone to override the remaining (11) other members of the MEC.)
MEC members supporting the recall were repeatedly asked to show cause for the action. No specific reasons were given. Several questions by MEC members were responded to with "no comment".
MEC members arguing against recall questioned the logic behind removing ALPA's key negotiator immediately prior to the next round of SJ negotiations, which are contractually mandated by the Interim Small Jet Agreement to begin in only a few days. Some MEC members felt that the pilot group's opinion on this issue should have been solicited. LGA Chairman Bob Nolan challenged CLT Chairman McKee and others on whether the pilot group would support such a non-constructive agenda:
"To proffer this resolution without the conviction that 6000 pilots want this to happen greatly concerns me. If we are going to represent the will of the pilots, it is imperative that we understand what that will is.... Due to the shear tonnage of the votes you hold and the magnitude of this issue, I will ask the maker [of the recall motion]... will you go on record as to the will of the Captains in CLT concerning the recall of Captain Butkovic."
The question did not receive an answer.
As tensions escalated, a large part of the MEC's discussion on this issue moved to the hallways as MEC members from both sides of the issue attempted to find a mutually acceptable arrangement. Negotiating Committee Chairman Donn Butkovic had previously indicated a desire to reduce his ALPA workload by the year's end. As a result, the MEC was able to reach a consensus. Captain Kelly Ison was appointed as Interim Chairman and Captain Butkovic will remain as a member until the regularly scheduled 4th quarter MEC meeting. This arrangement was formalized by simple majority with 12 "for" 2 "against" and 1 "abstain".
Very little constructive work was accomplished at this meeting and tensions between MEC members are running high. The MEC has scheduled themselves to meet again next week in order to discuss how the negotiating committee will be charged to deal with the small jet issue. Each day of a special MEC meeting can run in excess of $30,000 dollars.
There seems to be some discontent building among the AFA rank and file over their new contract. Leaflets have been circulated in some domiciles which are targeting certain issues such as the inflationary effects on pay and contract changes in long term disability. This information does not appear to have been generated by official AFA sources.
| US Airways | 85 hours (or a limited number of 75 hours positions at the election of the pilot) cap may increase to 90 during flex months which are limited in number by domicile and equipment |
| American | 75 hours; Company may (1) increase any equipment, base or division to 78 hours or, (2) raise cap to 80 hours under the condition that overtime pay is at time and one-half and that the minimum guarantee is increased accordingly; cap flexibility in (1) and (2) above is not allowed if pilots are on furlough, and cannot cause a furlough |
| Delta | 75-80 hours at company option - may be equipment specific, international flex 75-82 and domestic may flex up to 82 hours as required by training |
| Northwest | Variable monthly maximums from 75-81 hours (can flex up to 84 hours no more than 4 times per year) |
| United | 81 hours domestic; 83 hours actual at pilot option unless pilots are on furlough |