Bronner Tells Usa Today Bankruptcy Could Occur

[PITbull]

But wait USA320....
First you need to "rape" the employees, then implement the plan. On many points of this plan, there isn't a damn thing stopping this company from putting them into effect. Most of us seem to think that a BK judge won't be so tolerant of the companys antics in the next round. They won't be willing to cut 25% from there pay and screw the retired mgrs. out of Health Benefits, like they are asking of the CWA.

I'm all for making a profit, but certain costs/plans should be implemented BEFORE asking any employee to sacrifice {again} I do understand your just trying to keep what you have, but this plan is flawed from the start with the asking of concessions from a group who has bent over backwards to get to this point {labor}

Tell you what, you take the first blow to your CBA and we will see how it goes from there..

[post="167456"][/post]​

Bingo Brother!

 

[usfliboi]

Rape? What do you call it when the doors shut and no one has a job? Blame it alll on management and nobody else right? Please.

 

[Smartest Loser]

I agree...It would seem you try all of those things first. Then if your still short come ask the employees for some idea's.

Its kinda like bringing the huge fire truck to get the cat out of the tree...

OVERKILL.

 

[ClueByFour]

Writing an Op-Ed or Opinion-Editorial column is a form of free speech, which is permitted in this country, just like posting on this forum.

I do not remember ever issueing a press release ALPA disavowing the author.

Actually, it was a Code-A-Phone:

From http://cf.alpa.org/aaapilots/MEC-Updates/2...ode-a-phone.htm

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.

Bolding is mine. I thought it would be apropos.

700UW, you should stop your panicking because unless something changes, your union will likely get to face the judge and then try to explain why you deserve certain pay and benefits for a twice failed company. After all ,you believe the "pain" will not be so bad, right?

[post="167379"][/post]​

I think I finally understand why all of this (the type of behavior mentioned in the ALPA Code-A-Phone) has been promogulated and continues to be: in this particular instance, the IAM will happily face the judge and if the collective does not like what it hears, will shut the airline down.

For the IAM-M members, that's not really a problem, since that level of income is attainable in fair supply outside the airline industry.

ALPA members, however, would have a very, very hard time replicating the same level of income absent US. Ergo, beat the drum on all the other unions in hopes of capitulation (even if capitulation is not the optimal solution for members of the other unions individually or collectively).

As for the bankruptcy threat, I just booked another 5-10k/dollars worth of free US travel, and shifted about $2k paid travel in the next month to other carriers, specifically because of Bronner's mouth. Nothing like trying to hasten the process, eh?

 

[700UW]

ClueByFour,

You are awesome, if our paths ever cross I will buy you a beer.

 

[Rico]

Sigh <_<

Look, all the empty rhetoric on here is GETTING SO OLD.

ALPA is close to hammering out a deal with the company, we all know it. "Give now to get later" type of package.

Once they are onboard, the rest of the unions really do not matter. Absolutley the company would love to hammer out a deal with any other work group close enough to the terms the company wants, that is obvious (much easier).

But as long as they have the pilots onboard, then that placates the money men, and the creditors concerns. And if you know a thing about Bankruptcy, that it is all that matters.

The ATSB, RSA, GE, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier, all they want is their money, and as long as the pilots are onboard they know there is a better chance they will see the returns they expect.

So...?

Well, it comes down to this for the rest of you, you merely have to decide if you want to relocate at your own cost later this year, or push your representitives to agree to concessions in return for your workplace remaining where it is.

That is it, all the rest of the talk on here is just fluff. The company needs a certain cost target, and it will obtain it by either keeping things where they are with concessions, or moving to "start over" at new localities, and obtaining a few changes to the working agreements in court systemwide. Thats it...

All the company has to do is placate the creditors and the financiers to win the approval of their plan from a BK judge. And I have posted before, IMHO that everything that is going on right now (and into bankruptcy) is WITH the prior approval of the ATSB, RSA, GE, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier... It is obvious.

So with the Pilots onboard, all the company has to do is make a resonable case in court, that the changes they demand are in line with the "rest" of the industry (re: America West and jetBlue). Productivity improvements are easy to get, afterall public perception of union efforts to "work less' tneds to be unsympathetic at best.

So enough already with the sarcasm, the taunts, the endless and illogical defiance and denial. Reality is that this is going to happen. You only have now to decide if you want your workplace to remain, cause otherwise IT IS moving.

Either from PIT or INT, or moving from Mainline to "Mainline-Express", or from Airways Fleet Service or bag handling to an outsourced service company or by the airport themselves. But the staus quo will no longer exist no matter what, period.

It is your choice, you know it, and that is it. If you think you have a better shot at a new workplace, more power to you,. If not, then you simply have to decide if the job you have now is worth moving for, or if it is worth giving up enough to save. That's it. Nothing fancy, just a choice you and you alone have.

If not, then it was nice working with you. Please do not hold all of this against US Airways in the future when you are selecting a air carrier to provide for your transportation needs.

 

[cavalier]

Rape? What do you call it when the doors shut and no one has a job? Blame it alll on management and nobody else right? Please.

[post="167543"][/post]​

What do you call a man who will let others walk all over him to the point of disrespect leaving him nothing but disgraced and looked down upon with distain from individuals who have heart and spirit refusing to lower themselves down into the sewers of corrupt corporate America’s brownie club? Such individuals don’t deserve to be called men. So usfliboi, just what name do you pin on this pathetic animal? Hmmm

 

[blueoceans]

Ignoring the self-serving metahpors, they're called men (even when they don't fit to your personal, philosophical style.)

 

[RowUnderDCA]

hey, I just added another member to my ignore feature.....it's fun.

 

[billyboy1967]

Management's Transformation Plan has actions designed to increase revenue and lower unit costs. 20 points of the new business plan are:

1. Increased aircraft utilization from an averge of 10.0 to 11.5 hours per day. This will improve productivity of employees, aircraft, and facilities, both in the air and the ground. This is the single largest cost reduction item and is only possible with new labor accords.

2. More point-to-point flying with the increased utuilzation and major point-to-point schedule changes to occur after the slow winter season, probably around President's Day holiday to take advantage of the busy travel season thereafter. New non-stop service to be flown to key business and leisure markets from key East Coast focus cities, which can support O&D traffic with higher yields and load factors.

The top ten U.S. domestic O&D markets in regard to revenue are New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, and Houston. Interestingly, Philadelphia is number twelve, Charlotte is number fifteen, and Pittsburgh is number sixteen.

In addition, the company plans on operating flights from US Airways key Northeast cities to all key leisure markets with Low Cost Carrier (LCC) type aircraft turn times and utilization.

3. Increased Caribbean, European, and Latin American expansion. The plan envisions expanding European and Caribbean service, with potential new transatlantic routes from Philadelphia to Star Alliance hubs of Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Oslo & Copenhagen (SAS Scandinavian Airlines), and Birmingham (BMI). Note - BMI’s main operational base is London’s Heathrow airport.

New Caribbean/Latin American destination, which could include service to Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Carracus, Bogota, and Liberia, Costa Rica.

New Charlotte-Barbados service. In addition, US Airways will increase nonstop Boston-Aruba service in November 2004, and add a second nonstop Saturday flight between Charlotte and St. Thomas in December 2004.

4. Increased code share opportunities. New code share service to the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Sweden, and beyond.

5. Entered into a wide-ranging cargo agreement with Lufthansa in July 2004, through which Lufthansa will assume cargo capacity marketing and freight handling for US Airways' flights from Europe to the U.S. As part of the agreement, the carriers will combine operations at all European locations and in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, further enhancing the carriers’ synergies and cost efficiencies at those locations.

6. Hub re-focus and the transition of Pittsburgh to a focus city. Rolling the Philadelphia hub, adding two banks to the Charlotte hub, and reducing relatively high cost Pittsburgh hub operations and then re-positioning aircraft to other opportunities. This will lead to improved employee productivity and less misconnected passengers, lost bags, and flight delays.

7. Near completion on Philadelphia International Airport baggage handling improvement project, including redesign of the baggage system for terminals B & C and international baggage recheck. Completion of the full project is expected by the end of the summer.

8. Lower, simpler fares with GoFares program. With a less complex fare structure, Reservations talk time goes down and productivity increases. The Sales Department will have fewer complex contracts to manage, resulting in lower selling costs. Fewer customer complaints for Consumer Affairs to handle.

9. Consolidate the flight crew training centers from McCormack, Carnot, and the Pittsburgh simulator center to the Charlotte Flight Training Center effective November 1. This will create economies of scale, reduce lease expense, and increase productivity.

10. Sell excess facilites such as excess Pittsburgh flight training equipment, two simulators (B737 & A320), and Orlando Reservations facility.

11. Complete planning and then implement Star Alliance joint purchasing program to reduce acquisition costs.

12. Continue with Star Alliance partner facility and handling integration to reduce costs.

13. IT improvements. New web site to be introduced shortly, more Kiosks, boarding pass readers, and increased use of the internet to boost online sales from 10 to 20%. Scanners will be available at 18 airports in the U.S. US Airways anticipates adding more than 100 self-service kiosks by the end of the year for easier check-in. This will help reduce distribtion costs.

14. With advertising driving more consumers to usairways.com, the amount of fees the company pays to CRS systems will drop.

15. Installing an EMB-170 and CRJ-200/700 simulator in Charlotte to reduce contract training expense.

16. Online paperwork and automation through the hub to reduce unit costs.

17. Increased Embraer Division and other RJ growth to bring more feed and revenue to the company. Potential ALPA relief in managing the pilot staffing requirements for the EMB division over the next four months, since the Company plans to aggressively add new EMB-170 aircraft to the EMB division of US Airways.

18. Merging Piedmont and Allegheny to lower unit costs.

19. Bombardier and US Airways reached an agreement to extend the delivery schedule of its regional jets order by a year, which will lower near-term capital expenditures. In addition, the agreement permitted the company to upgrade an order for 23 50-seat CRJ200 jets into 70-seat and 90-seat (with ALPA scope relief) versions of the aircraft. The revised mix calls for the delivery of 37 CRJ200 and 48 CRJ700 or CRJ900 jets, Bombardier said. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by March 2006, instead of April 2005.

20. High density B757 seat configuration reducing First Class from 24 to 8 seats ad re-focusing these aircraft to operate in high density, low yeild leisure markets. The new configuration will boost revenue.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

[post="167450"][/post]​

 

[Harry Callahan]

Rape? What do you call it when the doors shut and no one has a job? Blame it alll on management and nobody else right? Please.

[post="167543"][/post]​

See you on the street lol

 

[cavalier]

Ignoring the self-serving metahpors, they're called men (even when they don't fit to your personal, philosophical style.)

[post="167591"][/post]​

===================================================
No, they are called U employees who are stupid and deserve what management decides their life will be, whether that's good or bad doesn't matter because these kind of people lack the understanding of just what is good or bad for them and therefore U becomes their task master.

Anyone who just accepts what’s being shoved down their throat is in need of counseling, anyone who thinks U management is good and has their best interest in mind is in need of counseling, anyone who feels this entire mess is ok and whatever U management does MUST be right, not only needs counseling but is also suffering denial; therefore a lot of posters on here need some very serious counseling.

Go ahead and hit the ignore my posts button, regardless, U management will continue to walk up one side and down the other of the individuals who simply let it happen.

Poor Helpless Souls

 

[whlinder]

3. Increased Caribbean, European, and Latin American expansion. The plan envisions expanding European and Caribbean service, with potential new transatlantic routes from Philadelphia to Star Alliance hubs of Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Oslo & Copenhagen (SAS Scandinavian Airlines), and Birmingham (BMI). Note - BMI’s main operational base is London’s Heathrow airport.

[post="167450"][/post]​

Question: Would it be better to add transatlantic flights to Star hubs or to major European cities that currently do not have Star Transatlantic service?

I mean WAW, VIE, OSL and CPH already have Transatlantic flights between Star hubs; other than a PHL nonstop and perhaps a handful of cities where the connection is reduced to one change instead of 2, what is the benefit other than additional capacity?

Perhaps it would be more beneficial to US and Star for US to link cities like GVA, MXP, BCN and BMI nonstop to PHL. As of now those cities have no transatlantic Star flights (that I can think of, maybe AC has some?), requiring a European to connection to get to North America. US could greatly increase the number of cities reachable from those major European points with only 1 stop by serving them.

Just thought I would through that out there.

 

[usfliboi]

You know Cav, some people see their lives as a glass of water. Half empty or half full? Some people take control of their destiny, ie you hate the company? why not make life better for you and for your family? Get a higher paying job somewhere else, where respect is obvious and given to everyone thats earned it. My point? You control your destiny, not me , not this company. All the hatred, bitterness, and name calling doesnt do anyone any good, mainly you. Your doing what you blame Us Management for doing. Your looking to survive, anyway , anyhow, anytime. Youre making choices that you have to make based on emotion, and reality, so are the powers that be. You blast management for being skum who betray their employees, and are greedy , yet you do the same by your Concession stand is closed view. You and 51% of the of Iam or other unions who vote not to talk, are no better than our management. You are basically taking 49% of those who are willing to risk, take futher cuts, and live a different life with this company out of their control. So the next time you preach, please think of others, maybe it will make you see , you just might have it made, and just dont know it!

 

[700UW]

You fail to grasp the union has given back twice all ready, three times for the pilots.

The company has violated the agreements with most of its unions and by doing that there is no trust of management. Management has declared war against its own employees who keep this company going.

And the history of the airline business will tell you that you cannot make a company profitable out of the employee's wallets.

You have to generate revenue, have leadership and vision, something that no executive at US has. All they know is how to try and turn a profit of the employees backs.

$1.2 billion per year for almost two years from the employees and 20,000 less of them. $500 million spent last year on the purchase of RJs and $232,000,000 paid to Mesa to fly 50 of them just for last year.