The Alaska Pilots Podcast

On February 3, the Alaska pilots conducted an informational picket at an event in New York City where the COO and EVP Constance Von Muehlen of Alaska Airlines was speaking. In this episode host Communications Chairman David Campbell is joined by MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, MEC Secretary Garin Tentschert, and Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committee (SPSC) Chairman Ronan O’Donoghue. They discus...

In this episode Podcast Host, Strategic Communications Chairman David Campbell discusses the Railway Labor Act (RLA), including what it means to be in mediated negotiations and the process of being released before engaging in a legal strike. ALPA’s Senior Advisor and Chief Negotiator Bruce York, along with Senior Labor Relations Counsel Zach Henige join this episode to discuss what to expect durin...

This episode discusses how management’s failure to address recurring weather issues affect pilots, the eroding culture at Alaska Airlines, and the Company’s inconsistent COVID-19 policies that are outside of industry best-practices. Additionally, the history and details of Severe Irregular Operations (SIO) is explained. For Alaska Pilots, references to contractual and LOA language addressing SIO m...

This episode discusses how management’s failure to address recurring weather issues affect pilots, the eroding culture at Alaska Airlines, and the Company’s inconsistent COVID-19 policies that are outside of industry best-practices. Additionally, the history and details of Severe Irregular Operations (SIO) is explained. For Alaska Pilots, references to contractual and LOA language addressing SIO m...

This episode reflects on some of the accomplishments of the Alaska Airlines pilot group, which include efforts on trying to secure a market-based contract and comments from MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, MEC Vice Chairman Joe Youngerman, SPSC Chairman Ronan O'Donoghue and SPSC Vice Chairman Drew Coyle on the state of the industry and the path the MEC is taking to safeguard the pilot group's future.

Hear from union leadership about the final MEC meeting of 2021, an update on ALPA’s Do the Right Thing campaign, polling results, and what’s next in the national mediation process.   Upcoming Coffee Sits If you will be passing through SeaTac, please join MEC members in the North Concourse: Sunday, November 21, 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Coffee & Pizza Monday, November 22, 8:00 a.m. – 1100 a.m. Coffee &...

ALPA’s Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, launched an aggressive campaign to inform the public that negotiations between the pilots and the company have stalled. While Alaska Airlines’ management repeats its core value – to “Do the Right Thing” – it fails to live up to it by rejecting the pilots’ desire to bring their contract into parity with industry peers. Hear the pilots’ union leadersh...

After three days in private mediation with Alaska Airlines, the talks ended on September 20, 2021. ALPA’s negotiating team had suggested private mediation—employing the assistance of a private mediator who is a nationally-known labor relations expert well versed in the airline industry to explore whether any efficient pathways to a comprehensive agreement existed. ALPA proposed this process to exp...

Contract negotiations between the @AlaskaPilots and @AlaskaAir are not progressing at a pace consistent with the market-based changes that the pilots are seeking. The pilots’ union has recommended (and Alaska Airlines management has agreed) to hire a third-party facilitator for limited mediated discussions. This episode discusses why the pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) made this decision, w...

Pilots Hold Fast to their Bargaining Expectations In this episode, MEC Chairman Will McQuillen and Negotiating Committee Chairman Chris Gruner discuss with host Communications Chairman David Campbell the commitment ALPA leadership has in maintaining and pressing for the contract improvement priorities identified by Alaska pilots. Those goals are clear, consistent, long overdue, and are driving the...

This episode recaps some of the significant events over the last month, in particular the latest developments at the negotiating table, the latest MEC efforts related to the San Francisco base, the West Coast Cookout Tour and more.    If you haven’t had a chance to watch the MEC’s video concerning Scope, you may watch it here . Upcoming dates and locations for the West Coast Cookout Tour may be vi...

Job security is an important part of any career. Scope language in modern pilot collective bargaining agreements is designed to protect current flying, provide opportunities for growth of a pilot group, and prepare for unexpected events. In this episode, we shed more light on this issue as it relates to Alaska Airlines pilots. Follow the link below to watch the video referenced in this episode whi...

Unity and solidarity empower the Alaska MEC’s Negotiating Committee to achieve the pilots’ priorities in the next contract. Solidarity is built through trust and transparent dialogue between elected union leaders and the pilots they represent—a task complicated during COVID-19 restrictions. Listen now to the innovative ways the MEC will overcome this obstacle to be on the road connecting with its...

Alaska pilots are negotiating improvements to their Collective Bargaining Agreement. Hear from ALPA leaders and ALPA’s Lead Economic and Financial Strategist Liz Spear about why now is the time for our Company to agree to long overdue improvements. Details of the union’s work may also be found in the MEC’s Strategic Planning Executive Summary which is also discussed in this episode. Part of that s...

Join host Communications Chairman David Campbell as he speaks with MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, Negotiating Chairman Chairman Chris Gruner, and Strategic Planning Chairman Ronan O’Donoghue about some of the issues facing Alaska Airlines pilots such as vaccinations, what the union knows about the Company’s basing plans—particularly in San Francisco, the MEC’s work to update its Strategic Plan, and...

As we turn the page to 2021, now is the time for the Alaska Pilots to continue the work of negotiating improvements to their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In this episode, host Captain David Campbell speaks with Master Executive Council (MEC) officers—Captain Will McQuillen, Captain Joe Youngerman, Captain Scott Mokos and Captain Garin Tentschert. Most of their discussion will reference a...

Learn more about your union’s resources and how ALPA may assist you if holiday stress is impacting you or your family. ALPA has a number of committees whose purpose is to provide direct assistance to pilots. These have been organized under the umbrella of Pilot Peer Support (PPS) and consist of HIMS, Professional Standards, CIRP, and Aeromedical. In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chai...

MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, Negotiating Committee Chairman Chris Gruner, and Strategic Planning Chairman Ronan O’Donoghue discuss closing out year 2020 and what is facing the pilot group in the near future with host Communications Chairman David Campbell. Topics include the recent EIL recalls, the removal of vacation open time, vaccines, and grievances.   FAQ For Pilots Returning From EIL.  

Shortly before the pilots’ contractual provision to trade vacation days was to begin, in a process known as open time vacation trading, Vice President of Flight Operations announced to the pilot-union leaders that he intended to remove available days from the open time availability—a step never taken in the past. Despite objections from ALPA (the union representing Alaska Airlines pilots) manageme...

October 1 was a significant day for the pilot group at Alaska Airlines; it marked a turning point of sorts. Join host Captain David Campbell as he discusses this with MEC Chairman Captain Will McQuillen, and what this means for negotiations with Negotiating Chairman Chris Gruner. Also covered in the episode is the desire management had to turn off important rules used to generate pilot’s flying sc...

Listen as Captains McQuillen, Campbell, O’Donoghue, Swoveland, and First Officer Gruner discuss the recently concluded quarterly MEC meeting. Topics include the direction given to the Negotiating Committee, an update to the Strategic Plan, what we have learned from Alaska Airlines management regarding basing, and other topics.   Become an ALPA committee volunteer— click here .

This episode covers the bid award results of the recent Position Bid 2020-11a. Expect a subsequent episode in the next day or so which will recap the recently concluded quarterly MEC meeting.

UPDATE: The initial upload of this episode included overlapping audio tracks. If you are experiencing that issue, refresh your podcast app and that should upload the correct version. If not, you may need to delete this episode and re-download it.    In this episode Host Captain David Campbell and others discuss what is different and what is the same about how management will award Bid 2020-11a, ho...

A short preview of the episode we are working on about position bid 2020-11a.

This episode answers some questions about the awarding of the EIL, REIL, ELOA, and EO, what pilots who were awarded one may expect, and what the MEC is working on next.   A Scheduling Committee document is mentioned in this episode that may help pilots understand their contractual rights when a trip is canceled. Click, Control Your Life by Understanding 25.T,U, and V . More questions may be answer...