With Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines attaining Single Operating Certificate (SOC) status at the end of October, the two airlines are now a single carrier from the FAA’s perspective. To discuss how this marks an important transition for our pilot groups, Alaska MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Hawaiian MEC Chair Larry Payne sit down to offer their perspective on the state of the merger and what comes next with respect to our joint contract negotiations and the evolution of the airline. They also discuss recent hiring trends, route announcements, and important changes to our contract language that will come into effect later this year. Ala.Alpa.Org Alahal.Alpa.Org

In this episode, Communication Chair Kyle Johnson sits down with MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Executive Admin Drew Coyle. This is a summer update highlighting important issues such as block in times, September ALV, hiring/growth, and jumpseat priority. Other merger related issues are also discussed; a brief negotiations update and a reiteration of the SLI process and timeline. Alahal.alpa.org   Ala.alpa.org  Textcaster Signup/Changes  SFV hotline number: 833-303-5667 

In this episode, our Alaska and Hawaiian MEC Chairs, Will McQuillen and Larry Payne, sat down to provide their thoughts on the recent announcements about the Seattle 787 base and the future aircraft orders. The discussion also touched on the status of JCBA negotiations and what pilots can expect moving forward.  https://ala.alpa.org/  

In this episode, Communication Chair Kyle Johnson sits down with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Executive Admin Drew Coyle, and Negotiating Committee Chair David Wilhelm. A mid-year State of the Union is the focus for this podcast. There are discussions about the latest Joint/MEC meeting that took place on May 19-21, which leads into topics including JCBA updates, Seniority List Integration processes, hiring and future outlooks. The Surf to Summit tour just launched, which is also talked about in this episode, highlighting the importance of unity as this merger moves forward.    https://ala.alpa.org/ https://alahal.alpa.org/  

In this episode, our Alaska and Hawaiian MEC Chairs, Will McQuillen and Larry Payne, as well as our Joint Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs, David Wilhelm and Doug Grant, all sat down to provide an update on the status of our Alaska-Hawaiian merger and the state of our Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) negotiations. Through the episode, we covered several topics, including the union’s actions during the last six months to prepare for negotiations, the importance of unity, current perspective on negotiations, and what happens once a Tentative Agreement is reached.    Alaska Hawaiian Joint Website

In this episode, Communications Chair Kyle Johnson sits down with MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, Executive Admin Drew Coyle, and Negotiation Chair David Wilhelm to discuss topics such as JCBA, SLI, and Company milestones. Also discussed, an overview of an agreement on premium pay reserve blocks (OTRPBs) and the timeline for their implementation.     Alaska and Hawaiian Merger Website OTRPB  Merger Committee Update    

In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell discusses updates about the merger between Alaska Airlines and  Hawaiian Airlines with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Vice Chair Garin Tentschert, Secretary Scott Rubin, and Treasurer Dan Richards. Also discussed are the issues revolving around the recent company standing bid and allocation of flying. Merger Committee Update November 18, 2024  MERGER FLIGHT PLAN Alaska and Hawaiian Merger Site

With the merger transaction between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines now final, the separate pilot groups from each carrier will continue the process of combining into one. A significant part of that includes negotiating a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) under which the new combined pilot group will work. The Master Executive Councils (MECs) of each pilot group, as part of the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), have elected six pilots (three from each airline) to negotiate with Alaska Airlines on their behalf. This episode introduces the Negotiating Committee Chairs from each MEC—Alaska MEC Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm and Hawaiian MEC Negotiating Chair Doug Grant. The hosts, Alaska MEC Communications Chair David Campbell and Hawaiian MEC Communications Chair Mike Davis, discuss with Captains Wilhelm and Grant the process of negotiating a JCBA, the importance of working together as a new single unified pilot group, and what the pilots may expect in the next few months, including contract education and pilot input via survey and polling.  ALA HAL JOINT MERGER WEBSITE

In this episode, Co-hosts Alaska Communications Chair David Campbell and Hawaiian Communications Chair Mike Davis interview Alaska MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Hawaiian MEC Chair Larry Payne. Captains McQuillen and Payne discuss the vision they share for the collective future of a combined pilot group and the critical importance of pilot unity, engagement, and feedback in upcoming contract negotiations.  In addition to the episode’s audio content, please watch the video linked below to hear more from the two Union Chairs and other pilots from each carrier.   VIDEO   JOINT MEC WEBSITE 

A Tentative Agreement (TA) has been reached between the Alaska Master Executive Council and Alaska Airlines which will soon be up for a ratification vote by the Alaska Airlines pilots. This TA would extend the current contract’s amendable date by 16 months while providing two additional annual pay increases. In this episode Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell discusses the details of this TA with MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm.  Full Language Tentative Agreement

On July 25, a negotiated Transition Process Agreement (TPA) was unanimously ratified by the Master Executive Councils of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell discusses the details of that agreement with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, ALA Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm, and Executive Administrator Drew Coyle. Also discussed is the recent agreement made between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines management and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on a 10-day extension to the timeline for antitrust review. This agreement extends the deadline to August 15, 2024.     Full Language TPA MEC Chair's Message 123.45: TPA Reached Order an ALPA Pin Order a Blue ALPA Lanyard by sending an email to the ALA office administrator.    

In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell speaks with Chair Will McQuillen, Vice Chair Garin Tentschert, Secretary Scott Rubin and Executive Administrator Drew Coyle about the MEC’s work over the last several weeks including scheduling, merger progress, rumor control, and other ongoing projects.   IFALPA Global Pilot Survey Please complete the survey using login password: vffd24   Reserve Preferencing Instructions

In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell speaks with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Scheduling Chair Chandler Blair, and Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm about the recent Letter of Agreement 24-04 which will create the option to bid for a reduced bid credit value. These bid options will be awarded based on seniority. Also discussed, are data and trends on the first two cycles of bidding using PBS.  LOA 24-04 VRBO 

March has marked several significant transitions for the Alaska pilots and their elected leaders. This episode covers some of those important changes. The implementation of Contract 2022 will be complete in May when pilots begin working under the first monthly schedules built using preferential bidding. MEC officer terms started on March 1. Perhaps the biggest transition facing pilots is the merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. In this episode, each of these topics will be discussed.  Included in these show notes are a table and flowchart of the monthly PBS bidding timeline. If they don’t show on the device you are using, scroll down and select “Episode Website” to view.       PBS BIDDING TIMELINEAll Times Seattle Local  1st 0900 - 7th 1200 NavBlue Bidding Open  7th 1200 - 11th 1600 Trading closed for Last 10 Days of Month  11th by 1600 Awards Published in Crew Access  11th 1700 - 13th 1500 Secondary Reserve Bidding Open  13th by 2100 Secondary Reserve Bid Award   14th at 0900 Trading for BBH Open  16 at 0900 Trading for Reserves Open     Letter to CEO Mr. Minicucci  Request to Negotiate Transition and Process Agreement   

This episode includes conversations among Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell, MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Negotiating Chair David Wilhelm, Scheduling Chair and MEC Secretary-Elect Scott Rubin, and Strategic Planning Chair Brad Beachler. McQuillen gives some details of the recent MEC and Joint MEC meetings that occurred in January. Wilhelm explains the Incentive Line (IL) LOA (24-01) including the provision suspending reserves’ ability to pick up flying on their days off while the LOA is in use as well the replacement of LOA 22-06 with LOA 24-02 which enhances reserves’ ability to pick up work on days off when the IL LOA is not in effect. Rubin discusses preferential bidding which will start on April 1 for the May bid period and explains where to find training materials. Finally, Beachler discusses upcoming unity events.  For answers to questions about the new reserve system, please listen to episode 61, TA 6: Reserves.

Preferential bidding will go live on April 1 for the May bid period. Now is the time for Alaska pilots to become familiar with the new system so that they may achieve the best possible outcome in the bid award. A great number of resources have been created to facilitate this learning including three rounds of mock-bidding beginning on Monday, February 12. In this episode, Scheduling Committee Chair Captain Scott Rubin and other members of the Joint Preferential Bidding System Working Group (JPWG) including  Captains Ben Brooks, John Owens, and Jake Woods explain how and where to find these training materials and discuss the details of the final implementation timeline. Pilots may find additional support by using one of the contact methods below. Send a DART – Use the PBS topic Call the PBS Hotline 833-252-7271 – Rings all ALPA members of the PWG. If no answer leave a message for a callback. For company support, e-mail Pilot_PBS_Support@Alaskaair.com (search PBS and it will pop up) Additional information on PBS is available on prior Podcast Episode #58 PBS and Trip Construction.  

On December 3, Alaska Airlines announced an agreement with Hawaiian Airlines to merge. Pending regulatory approval, this announcement begins a long process that will conclude with a merged pilot group working under a single Collective Bargaining Agreement. In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair Capt. David Campbell discusses the steps required before a merger will be complete as it relates to pilots. Broadly, these steps include negotiating a Transition Process Agreement and a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement, merging the pilot Seniority Lists, and finally merging the respective Master Executive Councils into what will become the new governing body of the merged pilot group. Campbell is joined by MEC Chair Capt. Will McQuillen, MEC Executive Administrator Drew Coyle, and Alaska Merger Committee Chair Capt. Greg Wertz.    Pilots of either carrier may submit questions via the DART system.     DART.alpa.org  

Following the third Quarter MEC Meeting, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell speaks with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, MEC Executive Administrator Drew Coyle, and Scheduling Committee Chair Scott Rubin about the state of the union. Some topics discussed are basing, contract implementation progress, and staffing.

The Alaska Master Executive Council oversees more than 40 pilot support committees, which are run by dedicated pilot volunteers (overseen by elected leaders) working daily for their peer union members, who are Alaska pilots. Much of their work goes unnoticed, but today we are shining some light to show what these committees do. Our ongoing goal is to periodically spotlight the incredible work our dedicated volunteers do on behalf of our pilots, as we've done in the past. Join host Strategic Communications Chairman David Campbell as he speaks with MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, Professional Standards Committee Chairman Scott Hathaway, Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI) Committee Chairman Mario James, and DEBI Vice Chair Jenn Taylor as they speak more on these committees’ work.  For an earlier episode highlighting other committees working within the umbrella of Pilot Assistance, including HIMS, Aeromedical, CIRP, and Professional Standards, click on the link below.  CALL ALPA FIRST 

In the recently negotiated contract, higher pay rates and additional employer contributions to defined contribution (DC) plans were secured. As a result, these benefits will cause more pilots to exceed annual IRS limits on amounts that may be contributed to the PISP 401(k). Company contributions to 401(k) exceeding these limits spills into pilots’ paychecks, thereby limiting potential tax-deferred and dues free retirement savings. The Alaska Pilots’ Retirement and Insurance (R&I) Committee, professional ALPA staff and other subject matter experts have researched multiple tax-advantaged avenues to address the spill issue. Join host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell as he discusses this issue and the solutions being worked on with MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, R&I Committee Chairman Shane Wrobel, R&I Committee member Jerry Traphagen, and ALPA Benefits Specialist Phil Borgman.  Alaska pilots may find additional information, including an animated video, FAQs, dates for upcoming coffee sits, and more by clicking here.