This is APA Communications Committee member First Officer Scott Shankland with the APA Information Hotline for Friday, March 6
MEMBERSHIP PREFERENCE SURVEY: Due to a surge in members taking the membership preference survey following the National Announcement Day meetings, the survey has been extended until midnight EDT on Tuesday, March 10. The survey remains accessible by clicking on the survey button on the members’ home page of alliedpilots.org. The online survey only takes 20-30 minutes to complete. If you haven’t already taken the survey, what are you waiting for? This is a great opportunity for every member to demonstrate their participation in achieving the most important contract of our careers. Go take the survey!
SPC TRACKING EXERCISES: The APA Strike Preparedness Committee is running tracking exercises to simulate and evaluate a variety of potential alternative self-help tactics. These exercises allow APA to develop and test the command, control and communications structure required to conduct self-help operations anywhere in the system. You can assist in preparations for this exercise by helping us get the word out to ensure 100 percent participation. Active tracking exercise information is available via the SPC tracking banner on the members' home page of alliedpilots.org.
Right now, tracking exercise “BURNT ORANGE” is ongoing through Monday, March 9. This is a Web-based only tracking exercise for ALL PILOTS IN ALL DOMICILES flying through March 9. All pilots are requested to establish contact with the Union by filling out the tracking form on the APA Web site before your first flight of each day through the 9th.
Next week, APA SPC will be running tracking exercise “Plum” for all BOS and LGA domicile pilots on Tuesday, March 10 through Wednesday, March 11. Participation in this exercise will require precise attention to detailed instructions. Day 1 of the exercise includes ALL BOS/LGA domicile pilots, whether flying or not. Day 2 involves only pilots flying in a specific bid status. Please pass the word to your fellow BOS/LGA pilots to check the APA Web site and participate in this exercise. The SPC exercise “Plum” instructions will be accessible from the Web site home page beginning on March 9. Remember, your participation in these exercises is essential to our success!
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: After a six-week break, negotiations between APA and AMR management resumed for three days this week in Annapolis, Maryland. Areas of discussion included commuter policy, satellite base flying, leaves of absence, medical and dental benefits, and retiree medical. Tentative agreements were reached on a new “up or out” policy and uniforms. Details will be posted to the apanegotiations.com Web site next week. An agreement in principle was also reached on intra-base TDYs.
The major issue of compensation remains unaddressed beyond our continued request for a pay proposal from management.
Since the new year began, negotiations have been on the blistering pace of six sessions in the first 65 days. The next three days of bargaining are scheduled for the very end of March.
That’s all we have for today. Remember, your participation is essential to your success in getting the contract you deserve! Thanks for checking this hotline.
