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

[FlightChic]

I'm proud of the East pilots for coming together, taking a stand, working hard, and achieving victory. Yes, there will be hurdles to jump over but they have made it this far and they will continue to fight for justice. How can anybody possibly think causing someone to lose all that seniority is OK? It is unethical and immoral. And why did anybody think they would take that lying down? It really shouldn't be a surprise to ALPA, West pilots, or anybody else that they are fighting this battle to win back what they have worked for all these years else since only a selfish moron would think that bumping someone out of many years of seniority is fair, moral, and ethical. My three year old nephew could figure that one out. It's not a difficult concept, really. Let's not rain on their parade with Debbie Downer remarks about them losing their seniority when we merge with another carrier. First of all, we don't know that we are merging with another carrier. Second of all, they will continue to fight this battle and I'm sure other labor groups will be right by their side. Besides, we've been hearing merger rumors ever since I was hired and the one with UA didn't happen. While we did merge with America West and we could possibly merge with another airline, it would be silly for our pilots to not stand up for themselves over what a few "experts" speculate will happen or out of fear of merging with another airline. Fear gets you absolutely nowhere and to assume something will happen only makes an a$$ out of u an me. Our East pilots who voted for USAPA did the right thing and their victory speaks volumes. As for those people who say that they should have remained ALPA in case we merge with another airline with ALPA for their pilot's union, please explain to me that logic. Isn't America West ALPA? And how did that seniority integration work out? That's right! It didn't. One side was screwed out of their seniority. I still can't believe some of you think taking someone's seniority is right. :down:
Justice will prevail.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Now that US Airways has "blazed the trail", I wonder what airline will be next to boot ALPA? If they're smart, they ALL will!

It's what they get for calling themselves a "national union" without national policies, like , for instance, a merger policy.

Except for Shrub and the Pope, after fours days in a veritable news blackout (known as Europe,) it was great to come home to the great news that USAPA won. Congrats to all those who did such effective and time consuming work all the while still flying their full blocks of time.

As for the next group to bolt the ALPA mother ship, after Delta decided to purchase Northwest (the Europe edition of the USA Today mentioned it,) I'll bet the NWA pilots will have enough ballots into the NMB before Labor Day. They better. They are about to start hearing the harangue from ATL about "how we saved you" and "if it wasn;t for Delta you wouldn't have jobs." And NW pilots cannot afford to let some other senile arbitrator used Nicolau's precedent with ALPA merger policy. The best shot NW pilots have is to be an independent union and take advantage of the new federal law regarding airline seniority intgegrations. But, they better hurry their little butts off before the NMB declares the group a single bargaining unit. It that happens, the NWA pilots are toast because there is not the numbers disparity between the Delta pilots and NW pilots groups. (There is the seniority disparity, though.)

Probably the first call at USAPA HQ tomorrow will be from a NW pilot.

 

[EastUS]

... Fear gets you absolutely nowhere"

That's always been my experience in life ..a thousand times over

 

[b737fo]

I still can't believe some of you think taking someone's seniority is right. :down:
Justice will prevail.

I still can't believe that you think a person who did not even have a job at US Airways at the time of merger should jump ahead of so many employees who were working for the airline.

 

[nycbusdriver]

and so did yours. Now the 12 million in dues is going to be shouldered by 3500 east pilots. I'm guessing you won't get more than 5% of the west to pay a dime. Good luck with that...

That's really OK. See, only members in good standing get to vote on the new contract. We will take care of you. Promise.

 

[Career Reserve]

Great job to all those who helped get rid of ALPO, take the night off and celebrate, Thanks to ALPO national for making this possible for us and our course our own MEC.

Wow!
I applaud all of you for a fight well fought!
I am so Proud of you!!!

 

[EastUS]

I still can't believe ....

Then don't. Your beliefs have the value only attendant to your participation.........or lack thereof. Feel free to drop the Koolaide pitcher , as it will serve no one anything fresh, "new", and tasty...or; keep it if it makes you happy...it's really of zero concern.

 

[Elevation]

Justice will prevail.

At least you made one valid point.

 

[b737fo]

That's really OK. See, only members in good standing get to vote on the new contract. We will take care of you. Promise.

Since when do you need a vote from the West anyway? You all have proved you have the numbers to vote what ever is in your interests anyway. Don't let a pesky 1600 out here stop you from looking out for numero uno.

On another note, rumor running around that ASAP and FOQA are currently not in effect until the FAA, the company, and the USAPS sign a new agreement. Can anyone sort out the facts on that one?

The pitcher gets dropped when Seham, your president Bradford et. al. deliver on the promise to reorder the list. Until then we are stuck with red not purple.

 

[OldGuyinPA]

Congrats East Pilots...

What happens if USAir is bought and the new airline has ALPA pilots. What will happen ?? How will that shake out ??

DOH...Pretty simple

 

[Piedmont1984]

Since when do you need a vote from the West anyway? You all have proved you have the numbers to vote what ever is in your interests anyway. Don't let a pesky 1600 out here stop you from looking out for numero uno.

On another note, rumor running around that ASAP and FOQA are currently not in effect until the FAA, the company, and the USAPS sign a new agreement. Can anyone sort out the facts on that one?

The pitcher gets dropped when Seham, your president Bradford et. al. deliver on the promise to reorder the list. Until then we are stuck with red not purple.

An LOA with the new CBA is required to reactivate the program, delay should be minimal.

 

[b737fo]

Congrats East Pilots...

What happens if USAir is bought and the new airline has ALPA pilots. What will happen ?? How will that shake out ??

DOH...Pretty simple

Actually a new vote for union representation which will likely be in favor of the bigger group (You can count on at least 1600 ALPA votes from this property) and also "binding" arbitration to determine seniority. DOH? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[767jetz]

"There has been much speculation on how this will play out." Yes indeed..and; yours has been 100% wrong..

Really? Gee, I thought I said all along that even if USAPA wins the election, the fight won't be over. Where did I ever say that ALPA was a 100% shoe in. In fact I think it is you who was wrong. I always said it would be close. And it was. You were the one claiming it would be a blow out... and it wasn't. I even congratulated the East on their success. Jeeez... Lighten up!

Look, what's done is done. The West was prepared all along for this possibility. No one ever claimed that ALPA could not be voted off the USAirways property. Obviously the West and their supporters would have preferred a different outcome. But do you expect them to just roll over and submit to your will now, just because USAPA won the election? Not likely. They just move on to plan B. Don't think they will make it easy for you to steal what they brought to the merger. You know, it is possible that in the end you may end up as predicted, with a weaker union, the Nicolau award, relative seniority with some adjustments for attrition, and all of USAPA's financial assets dried up from law suits. Not an enviable position. And before you start making false assertions again, notice I said "POSSIBLE."

Boy, you are a bitter guy. Even when you get something you want. Maybe all the emotion is because I touched on some truth? Maybe you really won't be happy until you impose DOH on someone, and you realize that achieving that is still a far off dream with many hurdles and may not mateialize as you hope it will? Go ahead and insult or attack me if it makes you feel better. Anything is possible. As I keep trying to impress upon you, you certainly are not the sole keeper of the moral high ground. There is still a long road ahead to victory for either side.

Good luck to you all.

 

[Career Reserve]

I still can't believe that you think a person who did not even have a job at US Airways at the time of merger should jump ahead of so many employees who were working for the airline.

they had a job, they just weren't active.
Their 18-20 years of active service has to count for something!

This was the only time it didn't.

 

[b737fo]

they had a job, they just weren't active.

What job?

They were not employees of US Airways. The were former employees with rights of recall to once again become employed by US Airways at the time their services would be needed.