Is USAirways hostile takeover Of AA for Real?

[wings396]

Really, tell us more......
Were you going to finance the deal?

 

[N288AA]

I don't believe the wheels have fell off, nothing can even happen untill sect. 1113 is completed.

 

[A320 Driver]

I did. Told the US Airways f/a leadership to make sure the scope stays, and the "me too".

"Me too" is a double edge sword. It can work for you or against you. For the pilot group, it adds the additional burden of having to negotiate for the Flight Attendants as well as themselves.

Driver...

 

[700UW]

Not true, the me-too's AA had was for all groups, if any group had a reduced bogey number it would apply to all.

And no the pilots dont face an additional burden negotiating for anyone except themselves.

Point in case the AFA at US reached a T/A without the pilots having any where near a new CBA.

 

[jimntx]

And, AFAIK we (the f/as) do not have a Me Too clause in our contract. We do not co-pair; so, scheduling differently from the pilots is the norm, not the exception. I just flew a 3-day where we had a different cockpit on every leg!

 

[PITbull]

I have firsthand experience with Doug Parker and US Airways’ false promises and destructive managerial style. He claims in a note to employees that a merger with American is not an immediate priority, but at the same time, he is planning events with American’s unions in DC on July 18. And let’s not forget, he struck labor deals with three of American’s main unions in the spring.

American appears to be making progress restructuring, and Doug Parker has expressed his respect for the bankruptcy process and has claimed there is no urgency to merge, yet a merger must have been a priority a few months ago or else he wouldn’t have approached the unions in the first place. So now, several months later, we’re supposed to believe a merger isn’t all that important to Parker and US Airways anymore.

I think Parker may have something up his sleeve...he usually does. Back in 2005, Parker led us to believe that Pittsburgh would remain an important part of US Airways’ future, but soon after the merger we saw drastic service cuts , base closures and heavy job losses. Considering it’s been seven years since the merger, I bet America West and US Airways pilots thought seniority issues would have been resolved by now too,uuh, not the case. Parker has other things on his mind such as negotiating contracts with employees that don’t even work for him yet.

A word to the wise... particularly the labor leaders who are running around the country with their suitor: with Parker, what you see is not always what you get. What he says needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Parker’s actions have already exposed his intention to merge with US Airways, and he will pursue it the first chance he gets. Before you throw your support behind this man and his grandiose plans for market domination, do your homework and educate yourself on his history and the 2005 America West – US Airways merger.

 

[signals]

It's tough talking to the US cheerleaders that are out in full force, and the AA people that are in a blinded-by-hate and still in denial. What everyone forgets is that the BK judge has the final say, and unlessParker has the judge on his payroll, it's another pipedream. Also, it has been talked about in other forums, that other airlines are watching and may intervene with Parker's dream of creating the worst airline on earth.

 

[wings396]

Please get over the PIT deal already. You do realize that many other stations throughout the system were closed or outsourced as well. Dating back to the late 80's, the mentality that the Airline revolves around PIT lingers on. From what I can recall, nobody in PIT gave a ratts arse what many others around the system were going thru, until they got whacked.

 

[PITbull]

Please get over the PIT deal already. You do realize that many other stations throughout the system were closed or outsourced as well. Dating back to the late 80's, the mentality that the Airline revolves around PIT lingers on. From what I can recall, nobody in PIT gave a ratts arse what many others around the system were going thru, until they got whacked.

Wings,
I remember your posting exchanges back in those days...

What I gleam from your above post is that no one gives "a ratts arse", period. Parker and gang closed not just stations, but bases after the BK that ALL of labor financed to KEEP their jobs. What YOU should comprehend from the PAST is just what you are saying in your post "UNTIL YOU GET WHACKED".

No words better said than that, indeed.

 

[WorldTraveler]

It is highly important to remember that US has dismantled major parts of its network and now argues that it cannot effectively compete with larger network carriers. PIT is just one example. US' pulldown in NYC is the most recent example. Did it not cross US mgmt's mind that these were strategically important parts of US' network that needed to exist if US was to compete against larger carriers?

What assurance is there that US' current mgmt team recognizes the long-term strategic value of the assets that AA and US operate and will do what is necessary to compete long-term in those markets?
Did it also not cross US' mgmt's mind that the PIT facility might have been very expensive but w/o it, there was no way for US to have an effective presence in the midwest?
Did it not cross US mgmt's mind that if UA - or any other carrier - chose to merge w/ someone else, the likelihood that those carriers would continue to find a place in their strategies for US would be minimal?
.
It's one thing to close a hub - there were too many of them for most carriers - and reduce your presence in key strategic markets but when you leave huge gaping holes in your network that remain unfilled today and which can only be replaced by mergers which you may or may not succeed at winning, then you have to wonder about the strategic planning that is necessary to ensure that US and its employees have a viable long-term future.

 

[wings396]

Wings,
I remember your posting exchanges back in those days...

What I gleam from your above post is that no one gives "a ratts arse", period. Parker and gang closed not just stations, but bases after the BK that ALL of labor financed to KEEP their jobs. What YOU should comprehend from the PAST is just what you are saying in your post "UNTIL YOU GET WHACKED".

No words better said than that, indeed.

Are you forgetting that both BK's took place before Parker, and many stations were lost under Siegel as well as the pulldown of PIT?
Once all of the RJ's started to show up, stations were lost and PIT started shrinking.
I along with many others, have been outsourced, furloughed, displaced, and relocated, so it really can't get any worse at this point. Many bases were also closed under the old ccy regime.

 

[PITbull]

It is highly important to remember that US has dismantled major parts of its network and now argues that it cannot effectively compete with larger network carriers. PIT is just one example. US' pulldown in NYC is the most recent example. Did it not cross US mgmt's mind that these were strategically important parts of US' network that needed to exist if US was to compete against larger carriers?

What assurance is there that US' current mgmt team recognizes the long-term strategic value of the assets that AA and US operate and will do what is necessary to compete long-term in those markets?
Did it also not cross US' mgmt's mind that the PIT facility might have been very expensive but w/o it, there was no way for US to have an effective presence in the midwest?
Did it not cross US mgmt's mind that if UA - or any other carrier - chose to merge w/ someone else, the likelihood that those carriers would continue to find a place in their strategies for US would be minimal?
.
It's one thing to close a hub - there were too many of them for most carriers - and reduce your presence in key strategic markets but when you leave huge gaping holes in your network that remain unfilled today and which can only be replaced by mergers which you may or may not succeed at winning, then you have to wonder about the strategic planning that is necessary to ensure that US and its employees have a viable long-term future.

I believe you just summed it up pretty well, and better than anyone else on these boards.

You are so very right. Its one thing to close a hub; its quite another matter when it is a key strategic part of the carrier's network.

Again, stupid is as stupid still does.

Best case scenerio for any future merger is get rid of the present management at US Airways.

 

[PITbull]

Are you forgetting that both BK's took place before Parker, and many stations were lost under Siegel as well as the pulldown of PIT?
Once all of the RJ's started to show up, stations were lost and PIT started shrinking.
I along with many others, have been outsourced, furloughed, displaced, and relocated, so it really can't get any worse at this point. Many bases were also closed under the old ccy regime.

I'm talking post 9/11, Dave Sieg3l was gone in 2003. His departure was the only way that the pilots would come back to the table for BK II. After the emergence from BK II, Jan 2005, the merger talks were on there way with America West. During both BK however, no words were ever mentioned regarding America West, or any merger possiblility while in BK. However, the wheels were already in motion, and Parker was the takeover CEO. Yea, I sure remember very clearly. He was running the show with HIS team. Downsizing and shrinking the East coast operation was the "theme". PIT was the first base closure, 2006 (Parker and boys), LGA, BOS, 2010 announcement...

Keep in mind, I had a front row seat to all of it...I would know.

 

[N288AA]

I have firsthand experience with Doug Parker and US Airways’ false promises and destructive managerial style. He claims in a note to employees that a merger with American is not an immediate priority, but at the same time, he is planning events with American’s unions in DC on July 18. And let’s not forget, he struck labor deals with three of American’s main unions in the spring.

American appears to be making progress restructuring, and Doug Parker has expressed his respect for the bankruptcy process and has claimed there is no urgency to merge, yet a merger must have been a priority a few months ago or else he wouldn’t have approached the unions in the first place. So now, several months later, we’re supposed to believe a merger isn’t all that important to Parker and US Airways anymore.

I think Parker may have something up his sleeve...he usually does. Back in 2005, Parker led us to believe that Pittsburgh would remain an important part of US Airways’ future, but soon after the merger we saw drastic service cuts , base closures and heavy job losses. Considering it’s been seven years since the merger, I bet America West and US Airways pilots thought seniority issues would have been resolved by now too,uuh, not the case. Parker has other things on his mind such as negotiating contracts with employees that don’t even work for him yet.

A word to the wise... particularly the labor leaders who are running around the country with their suitor: with Parker, what you see is not always what you get. What he says needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Parker’s actions have already exposed his intention to merge with US Airways, and he will pursue it the first chance he gets. Before you throw your support behind this man and his grandiose plans for market domination, do your homework and educate yourself on his history and the 2005 America West – US Airways merger.

You don't even want AA to be the aquiring carrier....Trans Carribbean....TWA....AirCal....Reno...there is nothing left to mention of these carriers. Every airline AA has aquired has been completelt dismantled!

 

[wings396]

I'm talking post 9/11, Dave Sieg3l was gone in 2003. His departure was the only way that the pilots would come back to the table for BK II. After the emergence from BK II, Jan 2005, the merger talks were on there way with America West. During both BK however, no words were ever mentioned regarding America West, or any merger possiblility while in BK. However, the wheels were already in motion, and Parker was the takeover CEO. Yea, I sure remember very clearly. He was running the show with HIS team. Downsizing and shrinking the East coast operation was the "theme". PIT was the first base closure, 2006 (Parker and boys), LGA, BOS, 2010 announcement...

Keep in mind, I had a front row seat to all of it...I would know.

Not intending to go back and forth, but please tell me when the initial pullback of PIT began? My point is that the wheels were already in motion to downsize and/or de-hub PIT years before HP and Parker were in the picture. I'm not out to dispute that Parker make the final cuts to PIT, but just want to state that he was doing nothing more that finishing a job that had already been started by past management. Going back to the planned merger with UA, I think that most of us knew that PIT wouldn't survive with ORD in the picture. I'm not happy that any stations or hubs were ever closed, but some were destin to happen. Following the PI/US merger in 1989, we all knew that the DAY hub wasn't going to last very long being close to PIT, and as soon as the buildup of PHL began, BWI's days were also numbered.