AAA ALPA Topic 8/31/07 - 9/06/07

[Junebug172]

That is too funny. Really, I would like a new thread just for these guys. The Junebug and USA320 show. They are the only two allowed to post. The rest of us can have fun watching.

I'm in!!!!!!

Will the chief allow another thread?

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Personally, I'd recommend changing that to "officers and members".......

Jim

It's only a rough draft proposal. Don't know how we will put this out yet. Because, you have to have a vote on the COnstitution and ByLaws. I am sure there will be many proposed changes by the membership before it becomes a final starting point. Like the U.S. Constitution our proposal is to make this a living document.

 

[BoeingBoy]

That would be a good show. I especially like this though:

.....but once a person is found unturthful they are always capable of being untruthful.

<snip>

.....because I have no use for people who lie.

Since he was caught fabricating "facts" to support his argument before, I think I'll just adopt his philosophy......

Jim

 

[BoeingBoy]

Like the U.S. Constitution our proposal is to make this a living document.

Just don't have a "Supreme Committee" to make the final decision........

Jim

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Just don't have a "Supreme Committee" to make the final decision........

Jim

Will pass that along. There are a lot of really good proposals coming in. I think it is going to be something good for all pilots. But like I said, you have to have some kind of starting point somewhere.

BTW. Would love to see you in GSO. Haven't been there in a long time since the 73 hardly goes there anymore. At least out of PHL anyway.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Haven't been there in a long time since the 73 hardly goes there anymore. At least out of PHL anyway.

Not out of anywhere - all US service @ GSO is Express. Quite a change from the old days......

Jim

 

[Tiger 1050]

That is too funny. Really, I would like a new thread just for these guys. The Junebug and USA320 show. They are the only two allowed to post. The rest of us can have fun watching.

I suppose one could think I was talking about Junebug. But the HH I refer to is a carbon-copy of USA320Pilot.

As far as Junebug and USA I say we make it a cage match!!!


Tiger

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Not out of anywhere - all US service @ GSO is Express. Quite a change from the old days......

Jim

Yes it is. We used to have 54(?) originator flights at one time. What a change.

 

[700UW]

Ok folks, here is what 320 is all about:

From the July 26, 2002 Charlotte Observer:

UNIONS CAN SINK US AIRWAYS WITHOUT AGREEMENTS FROM ALL ITS UNIONS, AIRLINE'S FUTURE IS BLEAK
In recent days US Airways has made much progress toward ensuring that it will have a future. It has reached tentative contract restructuring agreements with its pilots, flight attendants and the Transport Workers Union, which represents the dispatchers, simulator engineers and flight crew training instructors, and with subsidiary PSA Airlines' pilots and flight attendants.

The International Association of Machinists (IAM) unit representing mechanics is close to a deal, and the IAM Fleet Service negotiators are making good progress.

But that's not enough.

The Communication Workers of America (CWA), which represents customer service and reservation agents, remains far from agreement with the company. US Airways is on the brink of court-ordered bankruptcy because its situation is "unsustainable." Failure to improve the situation will have devastating
effects on employees, customers and companies that depend on US Airways.

The airline has received a "conditional" federal loan guarantee approval, but can't use those funds unless it gets restructuring agreements with all labor groups, in accordance with the business plan submitted to the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB).

Needed for loan guarantees

Major obstacles remain in the way of a voluntary restructuring.

US Airways may not be able to reach agreements with lenders without tentative agreements with the remaining unions. Unless it has those agreements the company wouldn't get final ATSB loan guarantee approval, government sources believe.

How bad is the situation? The carrier continues to burn cash during what is historically the best-performing time of year. Ten months after Sept. 11, US Airways has not resolved its cost problems, the economy remains sluggish, revenue is off 20 percent and low-cost competitors are aggressively
attacking its market share. The industry has not recovered as expected. Domestic fares are at 15-year lows. Shifts in buying patterns and travel options indicate airlines may never get the revenue per available seat mile they previously enjoyed.

Disturbing reports

US Airways needs restructuring agreements for either a voluntary restructuring or successful bankruptcy reorganization. If the company gets union concessions and qualifies for government financing, then if it's forced into bankruptcy, it probably could get in and out of bankruptcy quickly.

What's disturbing are reports that the CWA leadership is misleading its members. Last Friday, company negotiators asked the union to meet, to try and resolve their differences. The union said its negotiators couldn't meet, but its advisers would be available. However, I'm told that when management
tried to schedule a meeting, they were told the advisers had other commitments. Meanwhile, the CWA issued a report telling its members the company met with the advisers last weekend - which management disputes.

Brinkmanship by any union could push the airline into bankruptcy. It's disappointing to see a relatively small group of employees risk the destruction of a viable company, with a devastating effect on 40,000
employees and their families.

No one can be sure what will happen in bankruptcy, but it's certain that if the company reorganizes and successfully comes out of bankruptcy, the labor groups that don't have tentative agreements with the company prior to bankruptcy will lose.

As in other union negotiations, the parties that reach savings targeted in the business plan will get a bankruptcy protection letter, which protects against even deeper salary and benefit cuts if the company enters bankruptcy.

Some may face pay cuts

If the company files for bankruptcy, workers in labor groups without that bankruptcy protection letter may face deep cuts in pay and benefits, loss of unused sick and vacation time, slashed retirement benefits and a crash in the value of common stock in 401(k) accounts. In addition, they'll work for
a smaller airline that will hand out layoff notices at once with no severance pay, and will pay members of unprotected unions significantly less.

Each day the company moves nearer bankruptcy. New chief executive officer David Siegel has brought a breath of fresh air to management. US Airways' best chance to survive is for unions and creditors to bet on him and his team. Employees wanting to keep their jobs must impress upon union rank-and-file employees the importance of ordering union leaders back to the bargaining table at once, to reach an agreement that is 85 percent of the targeted concessions.

The choice is simple: Either all stakeholders move past their anger, frustration and denial to obtain and ratify restructuring agreements, or the carrier will almost certainly enter bankruptcy.

History has shown only two major airlines have successfully restructured in bankruptcy - not good odds for this company to continue operation.

Cxxx Mxxx a US Airways captain

And what ALPA said about him:

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE

July 26, 2002

This is Roy Freundlich with US Airways an MEC update for Friday, July 26, with two new items:
Item 1. Today the Charlotte Observer published an anti-union editorial from one of our pilots, titled "Unions can Sink US Airways," that aggressively promotes management’s objectives on achieving concessions from other labor groups. The editorial goes so far as to suggest that the CWA union leadership, who represent customer service employees, is misleading their members on their negotiating activity, and implies that management’s side of a dispute is more accurate.

This editorial does not in any way represent ALPA’s position, understanding, or sentiment, on other unions and their sincere efforts to represent their members. ALPA has received no reports, nor would it assign any value to reports, that suggest that any union is misleading their membership. The pilot author of the editorial holds no union position in ALPA. The anti-union public statements from one of our pilot-ALPA members is regrettable.

We urge all pilots to contact their reps or the Comm Center for accurate updates on restructuring negotiations and the activity of other unions. We also request that all pilots refrain from promoting any management anti-union propaganda or chastise other employees in the media. There is little to be gained from such activity other than embarrassment for yourself, your fellow pilots, US Airways, and ALPA.

 

[700UW]

The NLRB has NOTHING to do with Unionized Workers under the RLA.

That would be the NMB.

Don't let the facts get in your way!

 

[ClueByFour]

Garland is an ......well he's like the rest of the MEC members who think ALPA is the way to go. I only defended them because of the power play they were attempting. I thought everybody could see it for what it was worth. Failed once again. miserably. But their blunder is worth another card or two or three. Keep it up. Have to keep these guys in office floundering around til we get an election. Then how are they going to defend ALPA with their credibility? Or are they? Luckily, in the Bylaws being proposed is that all current ALPA officers are barred from USAPA office for a period of one year. I like that very much.

You guys really don't get it--that opens up the possibility for any MEC officer to DFR the USAPA very, very easily.

 

[Richard]

This one is closed. Please see the new threads.