Found on the Internet............
DeWitt and Bill,
I attended the last day of the seniority representation arbitration at D.C., 10 days ago. Owens was seated at the USAPA table and Hummel was there, too. Its a safe bet that Owens wasnt there on his own nickel, as Dave Ciabattoni and I were. I am sure that Hummel and Owen, each have their reasons to hump this flawed deal. Hummel is still without a Medical and is looking to maximize the money he gets, (A330) pay while he exhausts his sick time. Owen has pride of ownership for the MOU-turd...not to mention the fact that he has shown himself to be an ineffective negotiator and a gigantic p***y, when it comes to holding out for a decent deal. James Ray would be well served to keep his head down...at least until APA decides why his name appears on a Continental SCAB list from 1983.... Yeah...Im pissed! These knuckleheads are no more unionists than are Parker and Kirby...they do what they want, (Hummel, Owens and James Ray) and they do it with our money!
Speaking selfishly, I personally would be better served with more money, right now. However, there are literally thousands of younger guys/ladies who will be here, long after I am gone. They deserve the very best pay and working conditions, not a cram down from Scott Kirby. We have always jumped at the first deal...to our lingering regret. Does anyone believe that Parker/Kirby keep sweetening the deal for any reason other than their belief that if we bite now, it will be on the cheap? Reserve callout times, A321 pay rates, Home Base Time, iron-clad scope language....the list of land mines goes on and on....dont sell yourselves, fellows....
In any case, these guys, (Owens, et al) - are allowed to have and to express their opinions; what they are not allowed to do is to use OUR dues money and the USAPA email list, for illegitimate and likely illegal purposes. To wit: USAPA has only one legitimate purpose left; to oversee the seniority integration process. USAPA is not our CBA, APA is. Kirby is just as bad; he has no business negotiating with the pilots directly and thats exactly what his letter of last week does. If the so-called, Business Committee (one guy and his puppet master) - wants to weigh in on negotiations, they must do so under the APA banner, or with their own money and using something other than the USAPA website. I was so, so very wrong to support Gary Hummel for president.....I humbly apologize to my fellow USAirways pilots and USAPA believers.
It is a vain hope, but if anyone is authority at APA reads this: I assert that Owens, Ray and Hummel, with this action, during the heat of negotiations, have earned expulsion from APA for materially undermining negotiations for 15,000 pilots.
Fraternally,
Woody Menear