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Workers Must Be Protected Throughout Implementation of the CARES Act Yesterday, ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin regarding the distribution of federal credit instruments under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The government is offering unprecedented funds to U.S. airlines. While individual airlines make the decision to apply for federal aid based on guidance provided by the U.S. Treasury Department, ALPA expects that virtually all airlines will avail themselves of at least some elements of the grants, loan guarantees, and loans that have been offered. ALPA played a major role in ensuring that conditions were put in place to have this aid flow directly to workers, forestall furloughs, protect labor rights, and prevent corporate stock buybacks. In the letter, Capt. DePete expressed ALPA’s priorities: “We believe very strongly that the Treasury should use its authority to maximize airline employment, protect collective bargaining rights of employees, and protect hardworking Americans.” He went on to detail certain sections of the CARES Act that require clarification to ensure that workers’ rights are protected.
Coronavirus Resources for Flight Crews
ALPA continues to update the Coronavirus Resources for Flight Crews page with information regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including policy updates from the U.S. and Canadian governments, resources for active and furloughed members, and health precautions. The page is also available in the ALPA mobile app. Download the app today and ensure that push notifications are enabled to get breaking news updates from your union. Read the latest COVID-19 updates from ALPA’s president and first vice president.
Jumpseating: More Critical Than Ever The ability to jumpseat has reached critical mass for ALPA pilots forced to contend with drastically reduced airline flight capacity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A large portion of ALPA members are commuters, making it vital that pilots have jumpseat access to ensure baseline operation levels are maintained while this crisis continues. The Aviation Jumpseat group is working closely with individual MECs to help pilots affected by furloughs and, in some cases, the cessation of operations. The group is providing resources to MEC Jumpseat Committees to encourage extending jumpseat agreement privileges (cabin seat only) to those affected crewmembers. Any extensions would likely be temporary and would vary based on the individual operator. To facilitate jumpseat access on other carriers, the Aviation Jumpseat group reminds ALPA members that all airline jumpseat policies are now available in the ALPA mobile app. Within the Jumpseat Information section of the app, MEC-specific blocks provide auto-populated, up-to-date information to help you plan your commute and other jumpseat travel needs. This recent enhancement is an ALPA presidential priority and an important planning tool for pilots tasked with flying during these difficult times. Aviation Jumpseat is a component of the ALPA Air Safety Organization. For questions about jumpseat-privilege extensions at your airline, please contact your MEC Jumpseat Committee. Please feel free to submit any jumpseat-related comments to JumpseatFeedback@alpa.org. FAA Acts to Keep Airman Medical Certificates Valid Through June 30, 2020 The FAA has issued an enforcement policy for expired airman certificates that applies to domestic operations and a separate exemption that applies to international operations. Both of these actions, the policy letter and the exemption, also apply to special-issuance medical certificates. Last week, the FAA issued the Enforcement Policy for Expired Airman Medical Certificates, which states that the FAA will not take enforcement action against a pilot flightcrew member or flight engineer operating with an expired medical certificate for domestic operations. This policy is effective March 31, 2020, through June 30, 2020, and applies only to domestic airline operations. Then on Monday, March 30, the FAA issued an exemption for pilots conducting international operations with respect to medical certificates. This exemption is applicable to medical certificates that expire between March 31, 2020, and May 31, 2020. Based on the exemption, medical certificates for these pilots are extended to be valid until June 30, 2020. This exemption is only applicable to international operations. Key points for the international exemption:
If you have any questions regarding the status of your medical, please contact your airline. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Access this policy and other relevant information for crewmembers any time from our coronavirus information hub. Security Council Welcomes New Vice Chair Last week, ALPA Security Council chair Capt. Eric Herman (SCA) announced the appointment of F/O Kaela Harnett (ATI) as the new Security Council vice chair, filling a long-standing vacancy. F/O Harnett assumes the position while keeping her current role as the MEC Security Committee chair for Air Transport International (ATI), which she has held since 2019. In that role, she has worked to resolve KCM issues experienced by ATI pilots, keep ATI pilots informed of Persian Gulf airspace issues hindered by military conflict and active areas of operation, and is developing a security committee/corporate security reporting structure (which to this point has been nonexistent). In recent months, she has been assisting Herman and National Security chair Capt. Wolfgang Koch in finding a commercial security reporting service to provide ALPA pilots with real-time global security incident and threat reports. During the spring Security Council meeting held last Wednesday via video conference, Capt. Herman welcomed F/O Harnett into her new role, and his sentiments were unanimously echoed by all council members in attendance. FedEx Crew Nominated for Airmanship Award, Showcases Teamwork On March 31, Capt. Steve Jangelis (DAL), ALPA Aviation Safety chair, submitted the nomination of Capt. William McReynolds (FDX), F/O Blake Waldo (FDX), and Capt. Art Moye (FDX) for the Lieutenant General Harold L. George Civilian Airmanship Award, sponsored by the Order of Daedalians. On approach to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines in other-than-ideal circumstances, Capt. McReynolds and the crew executed their duties flawlessly. The ALPA pilots worked as a team to effectively communicate with the company and air traffic control throughout the event—always ensuring that safety was at the forefront of their decision making. “This crew is richly deserving of this year’s award,” said Jangelis in the nomination letter. “Events like this showcase to the traveling public not just the skill of our pilots but also the vital importance of placing consummate professionals on the flight deck who are ready to take care of their passengers, no matter what. These pilots are the embodiment of caring, creative, compassionate leaders. We should all be proud.” |
| Pilot Groups |
ALPA Says Goodbye to Trans States Airlines
On April 1, ALPA said a fond farewell to Trans States Airlines. Founded in 1982 as Resort Air with the call sign “Waterski,” the airline’s pilots joined ALPA in 1994. With pilot bases in Chicago, Denver, Raleigh/Durham, and St. Louis, the 603 active pilots transported 3.5 million passengers annually in Embraer 145s under the United Express livery. They provided service to more than 80 cities in North America on 240 daily flights before the shutdown was announced in early March.
In a farewell message to the TSA pilots today, Capt. Nathan Caron, MEC chairman, said, “I know we can all smile in the face of this hardship knowing that we did the absolute best job that we could possibly do,” and quoted Thomas Paine, “‘The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph . . . I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.’”
Trans States Airlines—1982 to April 1, 2020—Clear Skies and Tailwinds, Waterskiers
Sky Regional Pilots Ratify First ALPA Contract
This week, Sky Regional Airlines pilots ratified their first collective agreement. The six-day vote process resulted in overwhelming support from the nearly 300 pilots flying under the Air Canada Express brand, many of whom face certain furlough in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
“While we started bargaining during some of the best times our industry has seen, we finished in what is arguably the worst time in aviation history,” said the Sky Regional MEC in a communication to the pilot group. “We feel that speaks volumes to what the [Negotiating] committee was able to achieve given the challenges facing our world today.”
The SKV Collective Agreement No. 1 went into effect Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
Morningstar Pilots: “It’s Time” to Vote ALPA
Starting today, April 3, Morningstar pilots will participate in the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) secret-ballot election for ALPA representation. The voting process gives the 80-plus Morningstar pilots the opportunity to send a strong message that its pilot group chooses to belong to ALPA, a union dedicated solely to the interests of professional airline pilots. The electronic vote ends on Monday, April 13.
ALPA filed an overwhelming majority of membership cards with the CIRB on February 21 to request this election. A special thanks goes out to the Morningstar Organizing Committee volunteers and pilot representatives, who assisted in collecting the cards in an exceptionally short period of time.
Morningstar Air Express is based in Edmonton, Alb., and operates scheduled all-cargo services coast-to-coast within Canada on behalf of FedEx Canada. The carrier operates a fleet of Boeing 757s, Cessna 208 Caravans, and an ATR 72 and maintains pilot bases in Montreal, Que.; Toronto, Ont.; Vancouver, B.C.; and Winnipeg, Man.
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| Industry News |
Aviation and Labor Concerns Well Addressed in U.S. COVID-19 Stimulus Package
From the moment that COVID-19 economic relief was considered, ALPA was clear: Any relief package must put frontline aviation workers first to keep airplanes flying and our economy moving.
ALPA has been actively engaged in discussions of the bill, and the final legislation—the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act—will help stabilize the airline industry and protect frontline aviation workers.
The bill, now signed by the U.S. Congress and the president, reserves $61 billion for the airline industry, with much of it targeted for airline employees and their families.
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Canadian Labour Congress Addresses Airline Crisis with Federal Government
On Monday, the Canadian government announced a 75 percent wage subsidy for small, medium, and large businesses. Details are scarce, but we know that to qualify a business must show a revenue decline of at least 30 percent due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The subsidy will have a cap limit of $58,700/year or $847/week, backdated to March 15, 2020.
ALPA staff are working to gather the information as quickly as possible for analysis of how this policy will impact our members.
Regarding an aviation industry–specific assistance package, ALPA Canada president Capt. Tim Perry joined fellow representatives from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) on a call this past Saturday to speak directly with Canada’s Ministers of Finance and Transportation. During the meeting, ALPA Canada reiterated concerns for the health and safety of aviation industry workers and ALPA’s priorities, including the need for any airline assistance package made available to operators to focus on the frontline employees. Also emphasized was the importance of making sure incoming flight- and duty-time regulations must continue to be implemented, and that the labour code, including incoming changes, must be upheld.
As a group, representatives of the CLC also made several other recommendations.
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| ALPA International |
Know Your Contract: Five Questions to Search Today
While both the U.S. and Canadian governments build a process to provide much-needed financial assistance to the airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to be ready in case these funds do not come fast enough, or airlines opt not to avail themselves of such benefits.
Now’s the time to review your pilot contract, particularly the furlough/layoff, pay, and benefits sections. Read the important information you receive from your local council, your MEC, and ALPA about any newly negotiated letters of agreement or memorandum of understanding pertaining to COVID-19 and learn how they impact you.
Every ALPA member should look up these five contract questions today:
- What is your sick call policy?
- What does the furlough/layoff section of your contract include?
- What are the rules governing downgrade or displacement? o If a furlough/layoff occurs, your contract will spell out your group health and welfare benefits, recall rights, and any other benefits you’re eligible for; once those stop, you’ll need to rely on your own savings and state/provincial benefits.
- What is the process for recall back to work if you are furloughed/laid off?
- What happens if you are called to active military duty during this period?
If you have any additional questions, raise them with your ALPA rep. Find your contract on your MEC’s website and download the ALPA app for the latest COVID-19 updates.
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Make the Most of Your Membership: Download the ALPA App
In our continuing efforts to better serve ALPA members and provide access to our latest communications, recent enhancements to the ALPA app include a notification center to view all current and past push notifications, jumpseat policies, and the coronavirus resources center.
If you aren't using the ALPA app, download it today for quick access to all of your union's resources, including:
- ALPA breaking news updates
- Access to your membership card
- Known Crewmember
- Jumpseat information
- ALPA’s Worldwide Accident/Serious Incident Hotline (the “orange card”)
- Pilot Peer Support
- Documents from ALPA, your MEC, and your LEC
- Coronavirus resources for flight crews
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Tax Day Is Now July 15: Tips from ALPA
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The IRS has extended the deadline for federal income tax filing from April 15 to July 15, 2020.
When you are ready to prepare your 2019 return, ALPA’s tax experts have compiled all the information you need to file your annual tax return as an employee who is always on business travel.
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ICYMI: Additional Member Resources
Last week’s FastRead includes updates on several important membership tools and resources:
- Checklist for Pilots Facing Uncertain Times
- Assistance Programs Available Through Union Plus
- ALPA Critical Illness Insurance Coverage for COVID-19
- Update Your ALPA Contact Information
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| News on the Net |
- Airlines pivot from passengers to cargo amid coronavirus crisis (LA Times)
- United repatriation flights bring 4,500 Americans home amid coronavirus outbreak (Points Guy)
- U.S. regional carriers ask govt to prioritize them when awarding payroll grants (Reuters)
ALPA
represents more than 63,000 pilots at 35 airlines in the
United States and Canada. |
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