Pinnacle, Mesaba, Colgan MECs Meet, Develop Joint Negotiating Strategy for Merged Contract

Transcription

1 September 17, 2010 Volume 1 Issue 2 Pinnacle, Mesaba, Colgan MECs Meet, Develop Joint Negotiating Strategy for Merged Contract PReaffirm Strong Commitment to Unified Approach to Merger Process Pilot leaders from Colgan, Mesaba, and Pinnacle the three airlines owned by Pinnacle Airlines Corp. held their first joint meeting in Minneapolis this week and emerged with a strategy to take full advantage of the fast-track negotiations that the parties have contemplated in a nearly completed Process Agreement. At this week s meeting, 31 MEC status representatives and officers from the three pilot groups, the members of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), and ALPA advisors came together to formally authorize negotiations and to provide direction to the JNC. The committee has already begun work on the new joint collective bargaining agreement to achieve important contract gains for the pilots. MEC representatives were briefed on ALPA Merger Policy and heard case studies on mergers that worked, like Delta and Northwest, and cautionary tales about those that didn t, the most recent case being US Airways. As always, ALPA leaders stressed unity, fairness, and strong leadership as the keys to successfully joining the three pilot groups. I know any of us could get into a cockpit together and fly safely can we do the same in the cockpit of our union hall? challenged ALPA President John Prater. Find your strengths, work in solidarity, and show the industry how unified you are, and that will produce value for your pilots. Over the two days, pilot leaders demonstrated their solidarity with their strong support for the JNC s strategic plan moving forward. After hearing the negotiating team s comprehensive presentation that included a proposed negotiating timeline, a review of the benefits of Table of Contents Pinnacle, Mesaba, Colgan Pilot MECs Meet, Develop Joint Negotiating Strategy for Merged Contract... 1 Pinnacle Corp. Pilots Begin Negotiations on Joint Contract... 2 Demographics... 4 Joint Contract Negotiations Timeline... 5

2 a joint collective bargaining agreement and the goals for negotiations, and an overview of contract sections that have already been TA d and sections that will be opened next, MEC reps were polled on their top bargaining priorities, and they expressed strong consensus regardless of their airline of origin. They reinforced their commitment to a unified approach by endorsing a joint communications plan for the merger process that was presented by the joint communications team. The next step is for the three MECs to ratify the Protocol Agreement that governs how the three MECs will collaborate under ALPA Merger Policy to integrate the respective seniority lists and the Process Agreement with management that sets the ground rules for how the JNC will work with management on negotiating a joint contract. MEC leaders expect that those documents will be completed shortly. While these pilots have plenty of work that lies ahead of them with a fast-tracked timeline, the Mesaba, Pinnacle, and Colgan leaders left the meeting optimistic about the window of opportunity they have to make contract gains for the group. It starts now, and it starts here we re working together to become one group, said Pinnacle Negotiating Chairman Paul Hallin. Pinnacle Corp. Pilots Begin Negotiations on Joint Contract The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for the Pinnacle, Mesaba, and Colgan pilot groups has begun to work on a new, joint contract that will provide stability for Pinnacle Corp. and worthwhile gains for all pilots flying for the airline subsidiaries. At the helm of the JNC are the Negotiating Committee chairmen from the three pilot groups. They are Capt. Kristofer Pierson (Mesaba), Capt. Paul Hallin (Pinnacle), and Capt. Barry Nomann (Colgan). Capt. Pierson, a CRJ-900 captain for Mesaba based in MSP, was hired in He has spent the last 10 years as an active member of ALPA, serving terms as Council 107 secretarytreasurer, first officer rep, MEC secretarytreasurer, Negotiating Committee member, Grievance Committee chairman, and PBS Committee member, among other roles in the MSA ALPA office. His first volunteer position was assisting the Negotiating Committee with a research project while he was still on probation. Capt. Pierson has experience as an MEC member during Section 6 negotiations, was a negotiator and MEC officer during Mesaba s bankruptcy restructuring, and negotiated extensive contract language to aid the implementation of PBS at Mesaba. He resides in Lakeville, MN, with his wife and two children. 2

3 Capt. Hallin, a CRJ-200 captain for Pinnacle based in MSP, was hired in He began his service to his fellow pilots on Pinnacle s Contract Compliance Committee, serving in that role since 2004, including time as chairman for two years. Capt. Hallin was selected to chair the Negotiating Committee in the fall of 2009 and has been working on the renegotiation of a Pinnacle TA since that time. He lives in St. Paul, MN, with his wife and daughter. Capt. Nomann, an SF-340 captain for Colgan based in IAH, was hired in Capt. Nomann was a part of the drive to organize ALPA at Colgan and has been instrumental in the formation of the new union structure for the Colgan pilot group. In addition to Negotiating Committee chairman, he served as the captain rep for Council 158 in IAH and also worked with the CIRP and Jumpseat Committees. He and his team have spent the last two years preparing and negotiating for a first contract and now are focused on the joint contract with PCL and MSA. Originally from the Midwest, he resides in Chandler, AZ. The JNC also includes several other pilot negotiators from the three groups: F/O Nate Hillard from Colgan, F/O Eric Meenk and Capt. Mark Brozost from Mesaba, and F/O Eric Smith from Pinnacle. Rounding out the team are ALPA Contract Administrators Jane Schraft, Jeff Loesel, and Lauren Ottosen, and Representation Department Assistant Director Jim Wilson and Manager Andrew Shostack. We are confident that our joint committee will be able to achieve an industry-leading contract for all 2,869 pilots flying under the Pinnacle Corp. umbrella a contract that will recognize the contributions our pilots have made and will make in providing stability, performance, and safety during the merger and transition of these airlines, said Capt. Pierson. Drawing on the strengths of our pilot groups and our respective CBAs, every pilot stands to gain, and Pinnacle Corp. stands to realize the synergies and profitability that will be yielded from a contract that provides the best compensation, benefits, and work rules for fee-for-departure pilots. Capt. Hallin added, This opportunity to secure a joint collective bargaining agreement is the most promising path to bring to a close the Pinnacle pilots six long years of negotiations. Much of the past negotiations revolved around job protection provisions that arose due to our concern that the holding company would grow other subsidiaries at our expense. This deal would eliminate that threat and bring to fruition many of the improvements the pilots deserve. By unifying with Mesaba and Colgan, this joint contract will bring our pilot groups together under a state-of-the-art working agreement that affirms the sacrifice the Pinnacle pilots have made after not seeing a pay raise in six years. The Colgan pilots have been working without the benefit of a collective bargaining agreement since the beginning of the airline, said Capt. Nomann. Now we can look forward to the benefits of representation, a fair wage for our work, rest and duty limitations, and scheduling rules that provide not only quality of life, but also an environment that promotes safety. We have already developed a good relationship with our Pinnacle brothers and sisters, and we look forward to working with the Mesaba pilots toward our shared goals. Joint negotiations began last week and will continue until a tentative agreement is reached. The JNC and Pinnacle Corp. have agreed on the goal of recommending a new joint contract for pilot ratification by the holidays. 3

4 Demographics by Airline Pinnacle 1,225 Mesaba 1,133 Colgan 492 Demographics by Aircraft CR9 169 CR2 1,056 CR9 510 CR2 357 Saab 349 Q Saab 325 *Data as of August 1,

5 Joint Contract Negotiations Timeline 5