Alaska Airlines

Centralized Operations
July 15, 2008

In June 2007, GC Nan Otto visited the SEA Operations location for an entire shift and sat with a Operations Agent while she performed her duties. The noise, confusion, and lack of response from the field employees (Ramp) made it impossible for this agent to complete her tasks error-free. GC Otto then visited the ANC, JNU, FAI and many remote stations to observe the weight and balance procedures.

Upon completion of these visits, correspondence was sent to ASA vice presidents explaining what GC Otto observed. A meeting was then held with Bill Ayer to discuss our concerns. To make sure the Union's presentation was flawless, District 143 took the SEA Operations trainer to the meeting. A subsequent meeting with the Operations trainer was held one-on-one with VP Jeff Butler. General Chairs Otto and Fay were also in attendance.

Jeff Butler evaluated District 143's concerns and complaints and then took GCs Otto and Fay to meetings with the FAA. This was one year ago.

It now appears that the Company is finally getting ready to centralize its Operations function in the fall of this year. From July 2007 to July 2008, the Company held many meetings with the Operations employees in either the "lean" or "zoom" format. The general chairs were not included. Only recently, with the announcement of a centralized Operations concept, have Operations agents begun to speak up about their concerns.

During the week of June 26, 2008, the Company implied that the IAM has been part of this project team. Not true! As a result of District 143's protest to this inference, a meeting was held on July 11 in SEA between Company representatives and GCs Fay and Otto.

There is nothing prohibiting the Company from closing or moving a bid location per Article 10.F. of the current IAM/ASA COPS agreement. District 143 is committed to the welfare and well-being of our members during this transition. The Company has committed to following the contractual provisions involved in this move.

The brain-storming meetings between Operations employees and the Company may be inappropriate if the local IAM representative is unaware the meetings are taking place. If you are an Operations agent, please advise local IAM representatives or your general chair if such meetings are taking place. We are too far along to a centralized Operations location to undermine the integrity of the labor agreement or the parties from District 143 or the Company who are meeting together to accomplish this move.

The next meeting will take place August 4-6, 2008 in SEA. We will continue to keep you updated.

COPS Field Service

To date, the Company has not responded to the letter of agreement regarding field service language for the COPS members. District 143 is aware that our members work field trips on a routine basis. Members should not complete these trips without the language to govern your pay, working conditions and insurance. By wholesaling yourselves, you undercut yourselves. Why are you less important as it pertains to contractual provisions than the RSSA members?

Cooperative Management Assist Program

District 143 recently sent a letter to Alaska Airlines VP/Employee Services, Dennis Hamel, stating that in accordance with the provisions of the Cooperative Management Assist Program Letters of Agreement (COPS LOA #11/RSSA LOA #13), District 143 is exercising its contractual right to cancel the Cooperative Management Assist Program in its entirety for all applicable collective bargaining agreements with the IAM.

“Just as I stated in my letter to Mr. Hamel, I believe, as do other District 143 officers, that these letters of agreement are more of a want versus a need,” stated PDGC Gordon, “especially since Alaska Airlines management has neglected their responsibilities as outlined within the language of these agreements, self-evidenced by recent emails sent by Darryl Walker, ASA Senior Attorney. Mr. Walker’s emails are reminiscent of a bye gone era, and absolutely will not be tolerated by this organization under my watch, or the membership thereof .“ PDGC Gordon went on to state, “In order for us to have a Cooperative Management Assist Program, the very first thing that we need is a commitment of respect towards our organization and most importantly, towards our membership.”