Greetings,

                                                We Can Make it Happen!!                                                   

By Melanie Seymour

MEC Communications Chairperson

Lined up on both sides of the street and carrying signs that read ‘We’re Takin’ It Back,’ over 300 uniformed Alaska Airline Pilots posed a formidable presence to those entering Seattle’s Boeing Museum of Flight on May 20^th. Joining them on the picket line in a show of support and solidarity were over 50 more uniformed employees composed of Alaska Flight Attendants, representatives from the other labor groups at Alaska as well as pilots from other carriers including Horizon, United, Delta, Continental, UPS and Fed Ex.  The occasion: A picket of the shareholders meeting to send the message to Alaska’s management and investors that our pilots are ready to strike if a contract cannot be negotiated.

For the past 16 months, the Airline Pilot Association’s (ALPA) negotiating committee has been meeting three days a week with management in somewhat of a negotiating holding pattern, burning a lot of fuel but not getting anywhere. Much has been discussed, but little accomplished.  Still on the table are the cornerstones of their contract: compensation, job security, retirement security and health benefits. Management appears to be utilizing a ‘Sophie’s Choice’ negotiating strategy, preserving one at the cost of the other. "[Management] has offered meager raises in exchange for increases to our cost for health care, reduction in retirement benefits for pilots hired subsequently and the ability to outsource our jobs," says Capt. Bill Shivers, Chairman of the Alaska ALPA MEC.  First Officer and ALPA Strategic Communications Chairman, Dave Campbell, adds, "The whole product right now as they’ve proposed is concessionary. We will strike if that’s necessary."

The hot button issue for the pilots is reclaiming the pay cuts that resulted from their May 2005 binding arbitration decision.  Arbitrator Kasher cut pilot rates of pay up to 35%.  The pilots want it back.

Some ALPA pilots took advantage of management’s invitation to attend the shareholders meeting and delivered their message directly to CEO Bill Ayer. In fact, the pilot’s negotiations issues dominated the question and answer session that followed Ayer’s presentation. One shareholder questioned Ayer, asking if there was any way the pilots could receive an incremental pay increase that would grow over time.

Bill Ayer’s response was, "We need to maintain the costs where they are. It doesn’t work to have costs go up, especially in an environment like this. I wish the reality were different, but we have to deal with reality." He optimistically added "We’re going to keep working. We’re committed to work with ALPA."

Captain Shivers dismisses this as just lip service, "Management has no intention of reaching an agreement without a fight."

While the "s" word will continue to be bandied about, it is a highly undesirable last resort. A strike impacts all of us. Upon seeing the traveling billboard asking, ‘Will Alaska Airlines Pilots Be Forced to Strike?’ a museum visitor approached a picketing pilot. Worried that her upcoming honeymoon plans, which involve flying on Alaska, would be ruined by a strike she asked him if a strike was imminent. He alleviated her fears by responding, "That’s why we’re here today. We’re hoping to resolve this before it gets to that point." A sentiment we’re all echoing.