For those of you who know me, please jump to the next topic.... and for those of you who don't, please keep reading.
I am really not sure how many "Chips" work for USAirways, but the "Chip" who supports this site WWW.CHIPSPLACE.COM is DCA based Chip Mayer. I fly the Airbus, and I am a Captain in DCA. I served as an ALPA representative in DCA for six terms and continue, in a limited capacity, with some ALPA service. I flew the DC9 from 1982 until recently.
[Click Here to see my mug shot future reference. By-the-way, the picture on the home page at WWW.CHIPSPLACE.COM is my deceased father Buzz Mayer, and the picture was taken in a Capital Airlines Viscount during the early 1950's.]
My reason for posting this information is because there are one or two other "Chips" at USAirways who contribute to the ALPA forum and other Internet news groups, and I frequently get mistaken as one of them.
Depending on actions taken by the MEC this week, the first parity award could increase the pay of the USAirways pilots by approximately 17% (16.99% to 17.01%). The pilot Contract gives ALPA the right to decide between
"....an across-the-board increase in hourly rates and/or changes to work rules which, if fully implemented, will increase costs so as to achieve Parity Plus 1%." [reference: Contract LOA #47]
Sources at the meeting today are saying that some members of the MEC are considering the possibility of something different than an "across-the-board" increase.
The MEC does have the authority to direct the Negotiating Committee to bargain contract changes with Management; however, the MEC policy manual requires significant changes to the contractual agreement to be ratified by the pilot group. It would require 2/3 of the MEC to change the policy manual and conduct a ratification without a balloting of the pilot group.
Check here for more as the MEC meeting continues this week.
The pilot members of ALPA's Parity Review Committee were Capt. Donn Butkovic and F/O Paul DiOrio. They were assisted by several other pilots and ALPA staff members. Donn and Paul worked hard to prepare the data for the parity review hearings and present ALPA's arguments before Labor Arbitrator Anthony Sinicropi and two Neutral Experts. The hearings were held on March 27, 28 and 29 in Washington DC. When you see Donn and Paul on the line, give them a thumbs up.
Forum messages indicate that the UAL MEC has "stood down" their Merger Committee. (Apparently, they don't want to continue to spend assesment money while a merger is questionable.) At least one MEC member at USAirways has suggested that the USAirways MEC should do the same. The issue may be discussed at this week's meeting.