Ballot Info Reminder & Roadshow Q&A Videos

/by

Fellow Pilots,

This is a reminder that voting on the Tentative Agreement is now open and will
close Friday, July 31, at 15:00 PT. Results will be announced
shortly after voting closes.

All members in good standing should have received both an email and a text
message from MRGVote containing their unique PIN and a link to
the voting website. The email was sent from
Admin@MRGVote.com,
and the text message was sent from 203-285-6573.

If you have not yet voted, we encourage you to review the available information
and cast your ballot before the deadline. The Road Show presentation,
recordings of all three Question and Answer sessions, and all other Tentative
Agreement resources are available at
www.apa2118.org/TA2026.

Members who did not receive their ballot or need assistance voting should visit
www.MRGBallot.com
or call 877-324-7655. Any issue that cannot be resolved
through the voting vendor should be directed to
duescoordinator@apa2118.org
or Greg Harris at
gharris@apa2118.org.

Once a vote is cast, it is final and cannot be changed.

Fraternally,

APA Teamsters Local 2118

Professional Standards Committee Update – NATCA Memo

/by

Fellow Pilots,

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between your IBT 2118 Professional Standards Committee and the NATCA (National Air Traffic Controllers Association) Professional Standards Committee.

This collaboration is intended to provide a constructive, peer-to-peer pathway for addressing pilot–controller interpersonal issues outside of any formal or regulatory process.

As line pilots, we work with a wide range of air traffic controllers every day, often in high workload and time-critical environments. The vast majority of these interactions are professional and effective. However, when communication breaks down or professionalism is called into question, this partnership gives us a direct and confidential way to address those concerns.

The NATCA Professional Standards Committee consists of more than 400 volunteer controllers working in towers, TRACONs, and centers across the United States. This broad representation allows for meaningful, peer-level engagement regardless of where an issue occurs.

If you experience an issue with ATC that you believe warrants follow-up, you can contact our Professional Standards Committee. We will coordinate directly with the NATCA Professional Standards team. There is no FAA involvement, no formal reporting, and no enforcement component. Only trained union volunteers working together to promote professionalism and improve working relationships.

How This Can Work 

Unprofessional Communication 

You are operating in a busy environment and receive responses from a controller that come across as dismissive or unnecessarily sharp. The interaction adds stress during a critical phase of flight.

Rather than escalating or ignoring it, you contact Professional Standards. We coordinate with NATCA PS, and the concern is addressed confidentially with the controller to promote awareness and professionalism.

Communication Breakdown 

During a reroute or complex clearance, communication becomes strained and unproductive between you and ATC. Frustration builds on both sides.

Professional Standards can help review the situation from both perspectives. NATCA PS can follow up with the controller, while also providing insight that may help improve pilot-side communication.

Perceived Targeting or Inconsistency 

You feel your flight is being handled differently than others in similar circumstances, whether in sequencing, tone, or responsiveness. Professional Standards can facilitate a neutral review with NATCA PS to better understand what occurred and address any concerns in a constructive, non-punitive manner.

Opportunity for Improvement 

You notice recurring challenges in pilot–controller interactions, such as phraseology or expectations that create confusion. This process allows both groups to address trends early and collaboratively, before they become larger issues.

Moving Forward

This partnership reflects a shared commitment between pilots and controllers to maintain a professional, respectful, and safe operating environment. When issues arise, direct peer engagement is often the most effective way to resolve them.

If you believe an interaction you have had could benefit from this process, we encourage you to reach out to your IBT 2118 Professional Standards Committee. We are here as a resource for you.

Fraternally,

Your Professional Standards Committee
ProStandards@apa2118.org

Jumpseat Committee Update – Alaska/Hawaiian

/by

Fellow Pilots,

Your Jumpseat Committee has been notified by the Alaska/Hawaiian Jumpseat Committee that, effective immediately, an embargo has been placed on all international jumpseat travel on former Hawaiian Airlines routes. This action is due to recurring IT issues related to the collection of applicable taxes as Alaska continues integrating flights previously operated by Hawaiian Airlines.

The embargo applies to international flights currently operated by B787, A330, and A321 aircraft on former Hawaiian routes.

Flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland are not affected by this embargo.

At this time, Alaska has indicated a tentative target date of August 3 for resolution; however, they emphasized that this date is subject to change. They have also advised that they have received no information indicating that ZED travel is affected by this embargo.

Fraternally,

Your Jumpseat Committee
jumpseat@apa2118.org

Updated LTD Information

/by
Fellow Pilots,

We would like to provide an important update regarding the Company-paid Long-Term Disability benefit contained in the Tentative Agreement.

On Thursday afternoon, the Company informed the Union that Mercer has received at least two quotes through the LTD Request for Proposal (RFP) process. An RFP is the formal process through which insurers submit proposed coverage terms and pricing.

The TA requires the Company to implement the LTD plan by January 1, 2027, unless “no proposals are received…” The receipt of multiple quotes substantially addresses that concern and demonstrates that the RFP process is producing options for implementation. Importantly, the cost to the Company of the LTD benefit is not a basis upon which the Company may delay implementation. The relevant question under the TA is whether proposals are received, not whether the Company is satisfied with their cost.

Simply put, the possibility that LTD would not be implemented because no insurer was willing to provide coverage is now minimal. Pilots should have substantial confidence that the new Company-paid LTD benefit will be implemented by January 1, 2027, as required by the Tentative Agreement.
Fraternally,

APA Teamsters Local 2118

Tentative Agreement Materials Now Available

/by
Fellow Pilots,

We are pleased to announce that the Tentative Agreement website and associated resources are now live and available for your review. The website can be found at apa2118.org/TA2026. If you have difficulties logging into your APA account, please reset your password. If you cannot reset your password, please email admin@apa2118.org for assistance.

The website contains the Tentative Agreement document, and other resources intended to help you review and understand the proposed changes such as an Executive Summary and Contract Comparison Calculator. Additional educational materials will be posted as they become available.

The website also includes the ratification timeline, the virtual roadshow schedule, registration for virtual roadshow sessions, and the ability to submit questions in advance of each session.

We believe the interactive Contract Comparison Calculator will be an invaluable resource to help pilots understand the impact of their vote. We encourage every pilot to utilize this resource. A thorough demonstration of the Calculator will be provided during the roadshow by a member of the panel.

We encourage every pilot to take the time to carefully review these materials before attending a roadshow or casting a vote. Your Negotiating Committee is committed to ensuring every pilot has the information and resources necessary to make an informed decision.

On behalf of the entire Negotiating Committee, thank you for your continued support, professionalism, and solidarity throughout this process. Your patience and unity have been instrumental in bringing us to this point, and we appreciate the trust you have placed in us.
Visit apa2118.org/ta2026
Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

General Membership Meeting – June 10, 2026

/by

Negotiating Committee Update – July 1, 2026

/by
Fellow Pilots,

On Friday, June 26, your Negotiating Committee met with the Company to address the remaining language necessary to transition from the Agreement in Principle (AIP) to a Tentative Agreement (TA). Discussions focused on the final implementation details, including the 5-hour pay credit provision, improvements to Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits, and the associated revisions required to incorporate those changes into the current CBA.

Additionally, we discussed the Retention Bonus Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), including continued accrual of the retention bonus should the TA not be ratified. The Company provided written confirmation that the retention bonus remains in effect without change unless and until a TA is ratified. The proposed TA also includes negotiated improvements to the MOU, which will be released as part of the complete TA package.

On Tuesday, June 30, the Union Negotiating Committee returned the latest language pass to the Company. At this stage, only a small number of items remain outstanding. Those items have now been identified and addressed by both parties, and we are scheduled to meet with the Company tomorrow to resolve the remaining issues and work to finalize the TA language.

Work has also been underway to develop a comprehensive suite of educational resources to accompany the Tentative Agreement. Those materials are nearing completion and will be released when the TA is presented to the pilot group. In the meantime, the General Membership Meeting (GMM) video and a condensed, interactive Q&A are now available online. The Q&A allows you to select a question and jump directly to the corresponding segment of the GMM video, making it easier to find the information most relevant to you.

*Any recording, reproduction, distribution or posting of this audio or video, in whole or part, in any manner, including video, audio or written form, in any forum, is strictly prohibited by the Union. If there is a conflict between information contained in this audio/video and the tentative agreement, the terms of the tentative agreement control for all purposes.

As always, thank you for your continued support and engagement throughout this process.
Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

Watch the General Membership Meeting from June 10, 2026

Negotiating Committee Update – June 23

/by

Fellow Pilots,

Yesterday, June 22, your Negotiating Committee met with the Company to continue finalizing the contract language necessary to transition from the Agreement in Principle (AIP) to a Tentative Agreement (TA).

On Thursday and Friday of last week, the Negotiating Committee provided the Company with updated drafts on the remaining open issues associated with the TA documents. When we met on Monday, the Company indicated its agreement on multiple TA language provisions drafted by the Union and continues to review other items.

The Company confirmed that retention bonus payments will be subject to a 22% tax withholding. The parties also discussed the procedures that will apply in the unfortunate event a pilot passed or passes away before receiving payment, including the process for payments to an estate or next of kin.

The parties reviewed the PBS LOA and discussed a number of questions involving various scheduling examples, including provisions related to trip trading and administrative application of the proposed language.

We also reviewed administrative examples involving the 5-hour pay credit provisions, tail-end deadhead compensation, and the interaction between the 5-hour pay credit and removal or cancellation pay. Multiple examples were discussed to help ensure a common understanding of how these provisions would operate in practice. We are in the process of finalizing these examples to ensure you are paid transparently and correctly.

The parties also continued discussions regarding the benefit plan documents and reviewed various implementation-related provisions associated with those programs.

As we have previously discussed, transitioning from an AIP to a TA requires careful review and thoughtful consideration of the negotiated language. Your Committee remains committed to ensuring that this process is completed thoroughly and accurately as we finalize the TA.

Overall, the parties made additional progress yesterday. The mediator attended the meeting and is available to assist the parties with finalizing language as necessary. We are in the process of scheduling another meeting for Thursday or Friday this week and will continue working toward completing the remaining TA documents. We will provide a more detailed communication following that meeting.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement throughout this process.
Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

Negotiating Committee Update – June 18

/by
Fellow Pilots,

We want to provide clarification regarding several items related to our most recent communication:

  1. The payout of the retention bonus is contingent upon ratification of the Tentative Agreement (TA). Therefore, ratification of the TA will be required for the retention bonus to be paid on October 1, 2026.
  2. If you resign or quit prior to the ratification of the TA, you will not be eligible for payment of the retention bonus.
  3. Note that if you submit your resignation notice to the Company with a resignation date the occurs after ratification of the TA, the Company retains the right under Section 25. U. of the current CBA to accelerate your resignation date to an earlier date thereby causing you to become ineligible for payment of your retention bonus. Any pilot considering resignation from the Company should factor this into his or her decision as it may result in the loss of your retention bonus.
  4. The retention bonus accrual period ends on June 30, 2026. Any retention bonus earned will be based on accruals through that date, subject to ratification of the Tentative Agreement.
  5. The negotiated retroactive pay applies only to the pay rates contained in the TA and will be retroactive to July 1, 2026. For example, if ratification were to occur later in July, the new pay rates would still be applied retroactively to July 1, 2026.

The Section 25.U. language in the current CBA is below:

U. Resignations

  1. A Pilot resigning his employment with the Company shall provide written notice to the Chief Pilot specifying the last date that he shall be available for Duty (his resignation date).
  2. The Company shall deem his resignation effective on the date that the Pilot specifies in his resignation notice (i.e., the “Effective Date of Resignation”) unless, the Company chooses to accelerate the Pilot’s stated resignation date and the Pilot has given a minimum of two (2) weeks’ notice, the Pilot shall be paid in accordance with Section 3, Compensation, for the difference between his stated resignation date and his actual resignation date.
  3. A Pilot resigning his employment with the Company shall receive his accrued Vacation pursuant to this Agreement. Unless provided for otherwise in this Agreement, all Company-provided medical benefits shall continue through the last date of the Month in which the Pilot’s resignation occurs.
Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

Negotiating Committee Update – June 17

/by

Fellow Pilots,

On June 15, 2026, your Negotiating Committee met with the Company to receive and review management’s response to the Union’s June 3, 2026 draft Tentative Agreement (TA) documents, which included the Bridge Agreement, PBS LOA, Section 15 Scheduling language that takes effect upon implementation of NavBlue, Retention Bonus administrative provisions, and the Me-Too LOA. We also discussed LTD and 401(k) Plan terms, as well as the anticipated timeline for receiving the final Plan documents. The Union is currently reviewing the Company’s responses and preparing additional feedback. We are scheduled to meet with Company negotiators again on June 22 to continue finalizing the TA.

While the number of remaining items requiring resolution is relatively small, the ratification process will not be completed by June 30. As a reminder, the original timeline communicated to the pilot group anticipated ratification in early August. Progress in our first meeting was faster than expected and created an opportunity to potentially accelerate that timeline. However, it is critical that the final agreement be thoroughly reviewed and drafted to ensure the language is clear, enforceable, and accurately reflects the terms agreed to in principle. Our remaining work is limited in nature and focused primarily on finalizing contract language, implementation guidance, supporting documentation, and review of the final Plan materials necessary for an informed ratification vote.

It is essential that the Tentative Agreement be written in a clear and easy-to-follow manner, with agreed-upon applications, administrative guidance, and practical examples that allow every pilot to understand how critical sections of the agreement are intended to function operationally. Particular attention is being given to areas that have historically resulted in differing interpretations or disputes. Our goal is to ensure pilots not only understand what the contract says, but also how it is intended to be applied in day-to-day operations.

Equally important, pilots must be provided sufficient time to thoroughly review the Tentative Agreement, the associated educational materials, and have their questions answered before casting an informed vote. As fellow pilots, we share the desire to complete this process as quickly as possible. At the same time, transitioning from an AIP to final contract language requires careful drafting and review to ensure the final agreement contains the protections, improvements, clarity, and enforceability this pilot group deserves. Our focus remains on getting this agreement done right.

We also want to remind the pilot group that even though the ratification vote will occur after June 30, the new pay rates will be retroactive to July 1. Pilots will receive the full value of the July 1 pay rate increase regardless of when the ratification vote occurs. Additionally, the Retention Bonus payout date remains October 1, 2026, and is not impacted by the timing of the ratification process.

Below is a chart that shows the status of our work on the TA. We will continue to update the chart and provide timely communications as progress is made.

Thank you for your continued professionalism, patience, and support throughout this process.
Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee & Executive Board