ALPA/USAPA/Pilot Labor Thread for the week 4/12-4/19

[EastUS]

Gentle nudge back on topic folks.......

point taken. 20 hours and counting down...then; we all have to earnestly start working on this mess.

 

[YVINTERN]

No thats "Oh Captain my Captain"

Walt Whitman Indeed.

 

[Phoenix]

Sadly the whole fiasco did occur with the pilots plotting. It will all come out, trust me.

Later,
Eye

We want to hear the CVR! Maybe we could have Leslie Nielsen (Airplane, the movie) do a re-enactment.

Note to self. My face may not miss the absence of my nose nearly as much as I would.

 

[Phoenix]

FA calls someone....

When plane lands in ONT station manager greets the flight and tells everyone to stay onboard...

I have a lot of respect for FAs. They have been around the system awhile and know how to stop the BS. I watched one deliver a TSA agent to a heap O trouble. The TSA agent was out of line and wouldn't back down at a security point. The FA pulled out her cell phone and hit a speed dial and was passing along the TSA agents name and the circumstances to a supervisor watch dog hotline thingy. The TSA agent suddenly started to act like a little puppy dog but it was too late.

 

[luvthe9]

I can't wait to read this board tommorrow night

 

[DesertFA66]

What time will we know the results of this election?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

What time will we know the results of this election?

I heard 2 PM EST. But, that may be wrong. Good luck to all.

Later,
Eye

 

[AAA73Pilot]

ALPA then has the balls to call FA at home and harass her for her side of the story. FA told them they have her written letter of the account and that is sufficient. FA says ALPA can consider her a "hostile witness" against the pilots.

How utterly stupid! People are going to lose their job over this.

This isn't the wild west anymore people. Stuff like this should make all of you mad. Whatever happens tomorrow there is never an excuse for this type of bullcrap ever happening.

Later,
Eye

Met the FA in CLT today. A very interesting story indeed. The term "Hostile witness" is an understatement. I think she's looking for Judge Roy Bean to preside. Too bad for those guys.

It was stupid. What did it prove? Absolutely nothing.

So very true. Good points.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

I heard 2 PM EST. But, that may be wrong. Good luck to all.

Later,
Eye

Polls close at 2. The results will likely come out around 2:30. A new day is looming for all USAirways pilots

 

[FlightChic]

Polls close at 2. The results will likely come out around 2:30. A new day is looming for all USAirways pilots

So what's going to happen after the announcement? Will there possibly be cancellations if it doesn't go a certain way?

 

[AAA73Pilot]

So what's going to happen after the announcement? Will there possibly be cancellations if it doesn't go a certain way?

What will happen? Short term? Your guess is as good as mine. Life will go on. I suspect a DFR suit will be filed against ALPA and the CLT reps over the recall issue. Long term? Who knows.

 

[AAA73Pilot]

Hey, did that $#@& supporter ever make it to ont?

Yes. I will say one thing, you are consistent. Mis-guided, but consistent. click click

 

[CaptBud330]

What time will the results be posted on US Aviation on Thursday?

 

[AAA73Pilot]

FYI:

Fellow Pilots,

If you have still not voted, we felt it would be useful to review a summary of the issues which may help you arrive at a decision. We'd like to thank you for taking the time to research the information necessary in order to make an informed decision on which union can best represent your needs. The following Election Summary will touch on the issues that our pilots have shown the most interest in and in most cases will outline both USAPA’s and ALPA’s positions on the issues.

Our goal here is for all US Airways pilots to have a clear understanding of USAPA’s position on the issues and how we differ from ALPA’s position. The thrust of ALPA’s election campaign has been to cast doubt and fear. Conversely, USAPA leadership is confident that the US Airways pilots are fully competent to guide themselves into the future, and that together, we will join the other successful independent labor unions in the piloting profession.

In addition to this Election Summary, we have developed an “Election Hotline.†If you have any questions or concerns regarding USAPA positions and/or your vote in the election, please call USAPA’s Election Hotline at 1-877-678-7272 x 706, and speak directly to a USAPA official. As always, we appreciate your efforts in making an informed decision.

The Election Summary will start with CONTRACT ISSUES:

How can USAPA negotiate a much needed improved contract sooner than ALPA? Simply stated USAPA removes the seniority integration impediment to the process of negotiating the much needed pay raise and contractual quality of life improvements, and USAPA does it on two important related fronts.

First – By replacing the two deadlocked MECs with one BPR (Board of Pilot Reps), the leadership impediment is dissolved.
Second – By replacing an East/West dual pilot ratification process, doomed to failure on one side or the other, with a single combined East/West pilot group ratification process.
After the NMB election, when USAPA inherits the current contracts and the right to negotiate with the company on behalf of the US Airways pilots, USAPA will have a team of professional negotiators in place who will have a pilot negotiating advisory committee available to assist them.

In contrast, ALPA’s plan for a contract can take years, if it happens at all, and hinges on both East and West pilots agreeing on seniority integration. When considering Section 6 negotiations, our current contract under LOA 93 is not amendable to January 1, 2010, and ALPA National, as our bargaining agent, would have to approve Section 6 negotiations. Any actions taken by the US Airways MEC towards section 6 negotiations is apparently in direct conflict with ALPA Nationals stated goal of a joint contract which will implement the Nicolau Award.

We only ask that you look at what ALPA does, not what they say. ALPA has had 31 months to achieve contract improvements, yet has not even managed pay parity. In fact, it was ALPA who sided with the West MEC and denied the US Airways pilots any funds to achieve pay parity. They went even further by prohibiting ALPA National’s extensive Communications Department and other National resources, from supporting the US Airways pilot’s efforts towards pay parity.

Now, on to seniority issues

USAPA’s constitution calls for a Date of Hire seniority list with conditions and restrictions to protect a pilot’s career expectations.

It was USAPA’s independent labor law firm that stated it best, “The goal of utilizing DOH as the lodestar for seniority integration can not be characterized as a mean-spirited desire to ‘juggle’ the seniority list. Rather, it is a return to a core labor union value to which the largest airline unions continue to adhere…..â€

Upon certification of USAPA, the Nicolau Award is rendered moot. It doesn’t have to be fixed, changed, renegotiated, or modified as it is no longer relevant to the US Airways pilots. Negotiations will then take place within the Board of Pilot Reps (BPR) who will start with a DOH list, and then develop conditions and restrictions to protect all pilot’s pre-merged career expectations, with an emphasis on protections for the West pilots.

USAPA has no issue with durability as the integration methodology is part of the Constitution, and like other large airline unions other than ALPA, USAPA’s Constitution plainly spells out integration methodology.

Concerning future mergers, what will exist is a DOH seniority list with a contract that includes the provisions that future merges will be governed by Allegheny-Mohawk protections. There has been much said about Allegheny-Mohawk provisions, but simply stated they have led to many DOH seniority integrations, US Airways dispatchers being the latest example.

On to Safety Issues

USAPA’s Safety Committee is staffed with US Airways pilots who have years of professional safety experience, and who understand all the resources available to them. There is also a Safety/Incident /Accident - Emergency Notification System in place starting on Day One.

The USAPA Safety Committee has garnered the full support of the Safety Committees of the Allied Pilots Association, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, and the UPS Pilots Association. Those organizations have pledged to provide us with any assets, training, or technical expertise they possess as we transition and build the USAPA Safety structure utilizing the numerous safety experts we have here at our airline. USAPA also has the option to join the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA). Their purpose is to address safety, security, legislative and regulatory issues affecting the professional flight deck crew member on matters of common interest to the individual member unions such as APA, SWA, UPS, and others covering over 22,000 pilots.

On Membership Services Issues

USAPA has an Aeromedical Plan administered by Harvey Watt and Company. With 57 years of experience in this field, Harvey Watt and Company has offered premium insurance services long before ALPA.

On insurance issues, for those holding ALPA Life, AD&D or LOL insurance, you are guaranteed issue into USAPA's products, no physical, no underwriting, no exceptions.

As for LTD, a change in union representation has no effect on your LTD benefits.

USAPA has announced LTD, Military and Retired pilot liaisons who will among other helpful activities, will represent their respective group's needs and concerns before the Board of Pilot Reps.

Lastly, and Very Important, Single Carrier Representation vs. Multi Carrier Representation

First and foremost, USAPA is accountable only to the US Airways pilots. Let us again look at what ALPA does, and not at what they say.

ALPA has put forward a tremendous effort in this NMB election in order to retain the representational rights of the US Airways pilots. The glaring question is where was this effort when we spearheaded bankruptcy post 9/11? Where was this effort when we spearheaded pension terminations? Imagine what might have happened if ALPA expended the effort and resources towards the US Airways pilots in their time of need, as they are doing in this NMB election.

On another related topic, US Airways ALPA pilot’s full time attorneys and staff in Pittsburgh report directly to ALPA National in Washington. Has this provided the representation that the US Airways pilots needed in the past? More importantly, is this the type of representation we need in the future?

In contrast, USAPA’s full and undivided attention will be on the US Airways pilots and will serve only their interest. USAPA is US Airways pilots working for US Airways pilots, determining their own needs. USAPA is confident that the US Airways pilots are fully competent to guide themselves into the future, and that together, we will join the other successful independent labor unions in the piloting profession.

In Closing

We hope that this summary assists you in organizing your thoughts concerning the NMB election. USAPA only asks that you make an informed decision based on your experience. As stated above, if you have any questions or concerns regarding USAPA positions and/or your vote in the NMB election, please call the USAPA Election Hotline.

Capt. Bud. Results should be out around 2:30.

 

[CaptBud330]

Best of luck USAPA!!! Hope it's good news tomorrow.