The Master Executive Council (MEC) is canceling the Open Time Tentative Agreement 2019. Voting will be discontinued as soon as AFA Membership Services at the International Office has an opportunity to pull down the ballot.
Why?
AFA representatives and management have been collaborating on the development of “user stories” in preparation for the programming of new trading rules into Crew Access if the TA were to pass. This ‘pre-work’ was being done in order to get a head start on implementation. User stories guide the programmers by describing the various trading scenarios and expected behavior of the system.
During a review of proposed user stories, a dispute arose regarding which trips count towards the Daily Count and therefore the closing of Open Time. The parties were very close to settling the dispute by agreeing to AFA’s position. However, management was also requiring that Jeppesen take another look at the implementation timeline before management would agree to resolve the dispute.
The implementation timeline reassessment is estimated to take several weeks, which would definitely not be completed until well after the ballot closing date of May 31. Although the MEC could choose to extend the balloting period, Department of Labor rules do not allow a vote to be changed once the ballot is cast. In light of the fact that two major issues are technically unresolved while the ballot is live (which trips count towards the closing of days and the implementation timeline), the MEC strongly believes it is in the best interest of the Membership to pull the TA and voted unanimously to do so.
What’s next?
The MEC, the Negotiating Committee and management will meet to discuss next steps as soon as possible. Stay tuned for further developments.
In Solidarity
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee
Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Attorney/Negotiator Kimberley Chaput