gettinbumped

Wait, was your profit sharing pay last year based on operating profit or net profit? I was under the impression that special charges were NOT used in the formula to keep the company from fudging the numbers

A320

Was there a link in here somewhere!

gettinbumped

I'm out flying, but I'll see if I can get the link to our profit sharing LOA later. I don't have access to CAL's though, so someone else will have to post that

CleCapt

I will be very surprised is my ACTUAL PS sharing check is considerably larger than last year. I will post the results on 2/15.

OK,

So my memory is not QUITE as accurate as I would like, but the premise of how PS was calculated last year still stands. Since PS was calculated differently last year AND as separate companies, and we are all lumped together this year, there were bound to be differences in the PS check. I don't remember this big of a fuss last year when L-ual received a larger 2010 PS check. I think it is safe to say that now ALL UAL pilots will be receiving the same % this year and calculated in the same manner.

Some may not like the source of the information.

From the latest CAL-ALPA posting... Feb 2011.

"We recognize, from public data available, that there are not only dissimilarities in the amount of total profit the carriers separately made, but also as to what 15% of such profit means to a UAL employee versus what 15% means to a CAL employee. For instance, United excludes the profit sharing expense from the calculation of profits. In other words United does not reduce income by the amount of the profit sharing payment; Continental on the other hand reduces the income by the amount of profit sharing expense before it calculates the payout. United also excludes charges for the “grant, exercise, or vesting of equity awards or options granted to employees” so if United grants equity to employees or management, the United profit sharing plan does not reduce the income for purposes of profit sharing payments".

I find it interesting that you (A320) don't comment on that fact that paying profit sharing to the Lcal pilot group does not affect the amount L-ual receive in any way. You probably feel ENTITLED to the profit sharing now earmarked for LCal, if we would not have been included.

My initial post was merely to inform the Lual side of the house what the Lcal side was told this time last year. Why some of you choose to lob stones over the wall is beyond me. There was no mention of entitlement or disrespect for the Ual side. While your opinion is yours to express, the way in which you choose to do so, says more about you as an individual than your group as a whole. I hope when as is said and done, and JS is nothing but a bad nightmare, Lual and Lcal can come together and make this a great place to work.

Please feel free to respond only to those sections of this post that you feel support an argument of your making.

A320

Let me set you straight. If everyone got 5.9% which meant I go the same as last year and you got 5.9% up from 3.9% this would not be an issue. However the fact is it isn't that way. There is more profit to be shared for the 2011 year so it should be equal or greater than last year.

CleCapt

A320, I'm not sure I need you to set me straight.

As indicated in my second post, profit sharing was calculated differently last year for L-Ual. So your 5.9% MAY be calculated differently this year. While I do agree that the total amount of profit sharing is larger this year than last, if you take all kinds of deductions, as was the case with Lcal last year, prior to distributing profit sharing, you may be getting 5.9% of a lower number than you think. If you don't contibute any of the PS to your 401k, then once you pay taxes, union dues etc, I am pretty sure the actual dollar amount on the check will be very similar to last year, for me. I guess we won't be sure until we get the check.

A320, I'm not here to set you straight, and I think your confrontational attitude of this and many of your posts only serves as a display of frustration the pilots on both sides are feeling. I have no problem with you expressing your opinion, but the attitude that comes across in your posts is more divisive than helpful.

A320

You seem to be confused. They are not OUR 70 seaters. I wish they were because our pilots would be flying them.

A320

[QUOTE=CleCapt;1125771]A320, I'm not sure I need you to set me straight.

As indicated in my second post, profit sharing was calculated differently last year for L-Ual. So your 5.9% MAY be calculated differently this year. While I do agree that the total amount of profit sharing is larger this year than last, if you take all kinds of deductions, as was the case with Lcal last year, prior to distributing profit sharing, you may be getting 5.9% of a lower number than you think. If you don't contibute any of the PS to your 401k, then once you pay taxes, union dues etc, I am pretty sure the actual dollar amount on the check will be very similar to last year, for me. I guess we won't be sure until we get the check.

A320

Ok first of all the announcement was hat it was 5%. Not 5.9 like last year. As for the amount of the breakdown of LCAL and LUAL profits being reported separately I have not seen. The perception is that there is the attitude from many on your side who think you are holding and are entitled to all the cards in this merger and that you would like us to sit back and have a hot cup of Shut The Hell Up. After the last 10 years I don't think that is likely to happen.

LeeMat

Fellow Council 12 pilots:

On January 27th the UAL MEC adjourned its first quarterly meeting under the administration of Master Chairman Jay Heppner.

Many United pilots attended this meeting and heard reports from the incoming MEC Officers, ALPA President Captain Lee Moak, NMB Director Ms. Linda Puchala, and ALPA Director of Representation Mr. Bruce York. During these reports the MEC asked Chairman Heppner questions in an effort to outline his administration and the goal of obtaining a JCBA. The MEC’s mission statement is to obtain an industry leading JCBA.

During President Moak’s, presentation many questions were asked that were pointed and specific to what he was going to do in an effort to obtain our well-deserved and grossly overdue contract. President Moak said that he would do “whatever it takes to get your JCBA.” He also stated, “all options are on the table.”

Via videoconference, the MEC engaged Ms. Puchala, and answered our questions, as well. She detailed the entire process of Section 6 negotiations leading up to declaring an impasse, self-help, and the process of a PEB (Presidential Emergency Board).

During the week, we received many MEC Committee briefings, and the MEC went into closed and off the record session to receive briefings from our Negotiating Committee, Merger Committee, Grievance Committee, and System Scheduling Committee. Chairman Heppner briefed the MEC on his recent meeting with Mr. Smisek.

Additionally, we were briefed that Captains Heppner and Pierce met with Senior management (Bonds and McKeen) and were promised that from here out a “decision maker” will be present at every negotiating session.

The Negotiating Committee met this week and, for a change, some progress was made. While notable progress was made on the scheduling provisions of the CBA there are still areas where we are substantially apart. We hope to see the company maintain their renewed enthusiasm in negotiations to close these differences and ultimately lead to a concluded JCBA.

The Negotiating Committee continues to meet with management on the issue of extending the T&PA.

On the issue of the CAL profit sharing, your MEC is prepared to file lawsuits and grievances in an effort to challenge possible recent violations to the T&PA, our CBA, and the RLA. The MEC hired outside counsel, independent of ALPA, to explore and implement all options available to us in an effort to ensure that the UAL pilots have not, and will not, be harmed.

While it is not appropriate for us to discuss any details regarding our strategic planning and legal options, what we can say is that the MEC has agreed on a strategic approach to address the profit sharing issue. Within that plan there is a tactical aspect that will be deliberate and calculated.

There were various resolutions from Council 12 and other councils providing direction to the MEC on this issue. We can report that all resolutions have been accepted and passed and provided direction where there wasn’t any and re-affirmed direction previously given.

Our goal of concluding an industry leading JCBA continues to be on the forefront of our work. The legal and business decisions requiring litigation will not be emotional. All options are on the table and the process is dynamic.

For now what you can expect is that on February 14, 2012, Jeffrey will hold a photo op with some scab or management pilot in uniform holding bags of money, with Jeffrey’s arm around him telling the world: “See what a wonderful company we are to work for! I am a great CEO that loves his employees! I am the benevolent dictator!” Smile, smile, flash, flash….”now get back to work before I fire you all!”

Many of you have read the announcement that employees will receive 5% of the gross earnings as profit sharing. Our CBA specifically states how our profit sharing is to be calculated and distributed to UAL pilots.
The MEC has directed our financial and legal advisors to conduct a thorough audit of the profit sharing distribution, from a corporate governance perspective as well as a financial perspective to ensure our rights under the UAL pilot CBA are being protected and enforced.

We are just as angry and frustrated at the actions of management that has brought harm to our pilots. Rest assured that your council officers are working diligently and arduously with the MEC and our counsel to reach the best possible conclusion to our grievances. We will not stop until we have exhausted all of our options for remedy.

The MEC Update from Friday January 27 addresses many topics such as Benefits, Training, Safety, R&I, over age 59 FAA Medicals, and others. Please review this update, as well. We continue to address payroll and benefits issues and ask that you continue to file PDRS reports.

We thank those Council 12 pilots that attended the MEC meeting this week, and we encourage you to attend future meetings. We also would like to invite all pilots from all councils to attend the MEC meetings. Our Chicago pilots are well organized on providing transportation and guiding any pilot from ORD OPS to the MEC meeting.

Thank you for your participation in your union’s business.

Fraternally and in Unity,