MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE #2 - May 19, 2007

[USA320Pilot]

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE #2 - May 19, 2007

This is Arnie Gentile with a second US Airways MEC update for Saturday, May 19th, with one new item.

We have now posted and emailed to all our pilots an “Executive Council Event Information Flyerâ€, including a “Just Say No†document which we asked all our pilots to make copies for distribution. Obviously, time is critical, we need your help now.

The following was item one of the first Code-a-Phone message for the day released shortly after mid night:

There is no question that the May 21st Executive Council meeting will have a major impact on our pilots careers. The question is: ‘is your seniority important.’ The seriousness of this upcoming meeting can not be overstated and to that end, there simply is every reason for all US Airways Pilots to attend the meeting and support their Merger Committee. There are staggering, irrecoverable effects of such issues as retirements and attrition, stagnation, lost earnings and income, and windfalls, all at our expense, which is in direct violation of ALPA merger policy. We can ill afford to be spectators in the final demise of our careers. The leadership of ALPA, who want to “Take it Back,†needs to see the faces that belong to the US Airways story.

To assist in transportation on Monday, we will have buses making multiple runs from both IAD and DCA airports, starting 10:00am from IAD and 9:30am from DCA to the ALPA Herndon Offices located at; 535 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon, VA, 20170. Also, Council 41 has arranged for buses from PHL to Herndon with a departure time of 9:30 am and all pilots system-wide are invited to use this transportation.

We have published a link to www.united.com for the purpose of flying into IAD, and also a link to www.amtrack.com for train information into Union Station. Other convenient links are posted to Map quest, The Metro Airport Authority, and car rentals.

The “Executive Council Event Information Flyerâ€, which was emailed and posted in ‘What’s New,’ contains all the details and specific information for the event.

W.A.R. Item 516

FAA AIM, Chapter 8, 8-1-1, Fitness for flight

Paragraph F2, Most pilots do not leave stress “on the ground.†Therefore, when more than usual difficulties are being experienced, a pilot should consider delaying flight until these difficulties are satisfactorily resolved.

Please remember we still have 1,469 pilots on furlough, 276 pilots have been recalled and on May 14th, the most junior seniority number was 4,437 with a seniority date of October 25, 1999.

As always, look out for each other, keep your families first, fly safe and thanks for listening.

USA320Pilot comments: It is my understanding the US Airways MEC's comment of "just say no" means decertify ALPA, elect another union (probably the Teamsters), never agree to a joint contract, go to Section VI negotiations some time in 2010, not support an AWA strike if their Section VI negotiations go that far in four to five years, and then after 7 or 8 years with a lot of East Coast attrition and international growth see what happens.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[ClueByFour]

You realize that your commuters better find online rides or plan on walking to work if they do all that, right? Particularly the part about not supporting a West job action.

 

[givenup]

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE #2 - May 19, 2007

This is Arnie Gentile with a second US Airways MEC update for Saturday, May 19th, with one new item.

We have now posted and emailed to all our pilots an “Executive Council Event Information Flyerâ€, including a “Just Say No†document which we asked all our pilots to make copies for distribution. Obviously, time is critical, we need your help now.

The following was item one of the first Code-a-Phone message for the day released shortly after mid night:

There is no question that the May 21st Executive Council meeting will have a major impact on our pilots careers. The question is: ‘is your seniority important.’ The seriousness of this upcoming meeting can not be overstated and to that end, there simply is every reason for all US Airways Pilots to attend the meeting and support their Merger Committee. There are staggering, irrecoverable effects of such issues as retirements and attrition, stagnation, lost earnings and income, and windfalls, all at our expense, which is in direct violation of ALPA merger policy. We can ill afford to be spectators in the final demise of our careers. The leadership of ALPA, who want to “Take it Back,†needs to see the faces that belong to the US Airways story.

To assist in transportation on Monday, we will have buses making multiple runs from both IAD and DCA airports, starting 10:00am from IAD and 9:30am from DCA to the ALPA Herndon Offices located at; 535 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon, VA, 20170. Also, Council 41 has arranged for buses from PHL to Herndon with a departure time of 9:30 am and all pilots system-wide are invited to use this transportation.

We have published a link to www.united.com for the purpose of flying into IAD, and also a link to www.amtrack.com for train information into Union Station. Other convenient links are posted to Map quest, The Metro Airport Authority, and car rentals.

The “Executive Council Event Information Flyerâ€, which was emailed and posted in ‘What’s New,’ contains all the details and specific information for the event.

W.A.R. Item 516

FAA AIM, Chapter 8, 8-1-1, Fitness for flight

Paragraph F2, Most pilots do not leave stress “on the ground.†Therefore, when more than usual difficulties are being experienced, a pilot should consider delaying flight until these difficulties are satisfactorily resolved.

Please remember we still have 1,469 pilots on furlough, 276 pilots have been recalled and on May 14th, the most junior seniority number was 4,437 with a seniority date of October 25, 1999.

As always, look out for each other, keep your families first, fly safe and thanks for listening.

USA320Pilot comments: It is my understanding the US Airways MEC's comment of "just say no" means decertify ALPA, elect another union (probably the Teamsters), never agree to a joint contract, go to Section VI negotiations some time in 2010, not support an AWA strike if their Section VI negotiations go that far in four to five years, and then after 7 or 8 years with a lot of East Coast attrition and international growth see what happens.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

USA320Pilot, I think it would be well served if you let the US Airways MEC explain what they mean by "just say no".

In my 38 years at Piedmont/USAirways the MEC served me well,not always with the end result I hoped for, but they did serve.

retired, but still working

 

[b737fo]

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE #2 - May 19, 2007


USA320Pilot comments: It is my understanding the US Airways MEC's comment of "just say no" means decertify ALPA, elect another union (probably the Teamsters), never agree to a joint contract, go to Section VI negotiations some time in 2010, not support an AWA strike if their Section VI negotiations go that far in four to five years, and then after 7 or 8 years with a lot of East Coast attrition and international growth see what happens.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

Well you guys can do what you think is right to help your crisis but make sure you put some thought into not supporting a fellow pilot union if an AWA strike were to ever come about. I don't believe you would find a lot of sympathy from the other pilot groups out there in such an event.

 

[700UW]

I guess he cant comprehend that changing unions does not change nor stop the arbitration from being implemented.

Binding arbitration is binding.

He has been told this a 100 times yet still posts his rhetoric.

 

[givenup]

Well you guys can do what you think is right to help your crisis but make sure you put some thought into not supporting a fellow pilot union if an AWA strike were to ever come about. I don't believe you would find a lot of sympathy from the other pilot groups out there in such an event.

How many AWA pilots went to Australia to become "replacement" pilots a few years ago?

 

[Walmartgreeter]

700, you need to get someone who cares what you think to get you a copy of the Pilot's Transistion Agreement. This list, indeed, might forever stand. It is only one part of the checkoffs required to actually merge the airlines, and for it to have any meaning.

Greeter.

You realize that your commuters better find online rides or plan on walking to work if they do all that, right? Particularly the part about not supporting a West job action.

Of course. And with the career advancement they would obtain without the theft of seniority, they will be able to afford to buy tickets.

As to scabbing, AWA is not the only carrier to have worry, although they have a well documented history of said scabbing already, aye Mate! If this hidious list is allowed to stand via Alpa National this week, EVERY carrier in that union will have concern. I started my career, day one, on the UAL picket line. I will finish it crossing any carrier who steals my DOH.

There.. Many think it. I said it.

Greeter.

 

[Phoenix]

You realize that your commuters better find online rides or plan on walking to work if they do all that, right? Particularly the part about not supporting a West job action.

You do realize 320 doesn't have a clue what the MEC's intentions really are? B)

 

[Walmartgreeter]

You do realize 320 doesn't have a clue what the MEC's intentions really are? B)

Actually..he does.


Greeter.

 

[ClueByFour]

Actually..he does.
Greeter.

*shrug* That's a shame. Because if what he is writing represents the planning of the East MEC, it's going to make for yet another round of feeding the vocal pilot population what they want to hear and subsequently producing results that are absolutely horrid for the entire East pilot group, which would be a shame.

The "DOH or bust" group's influence resulted in the Nicolau award. Has the East MEC not learned anything? Negative reinforcement is not a difficult concept to grasp.....

I have never before (with one or two exceptions) wondered if a flight on US Airways (east) that I was on might not be in the most professional and sane of hands. I've had more time to wonder that in the past 10 days than in the prior 10 years.

Enjoy Herndon. Northern Virginia is as good a place for a letdown as any other.

 

[prechilill]

If this hidious list is allowed to stand via Alpa National this week

ALPA national has no influence regarding this issue, it was passed to an arbitrator through mutual agreement by the AAA and AWA pilots. Tomorrow, Prater etal. will listen to the AAA guys explode for 30 minutes and then give them a smile, perhaps a pat on the back and finish with a giant shoulder shrug and say "our hands are tied, sorry guys". And that will be the end of it.

 

[PITbull]

*shrug* That's a shame. Because if what he is writing represents the planning of the East MEC, it's going to make for yet another round of feeding the vocal pilot population what they want to hear and subsequently producing results that are absolutely horrid for the entire East pilot group, which would be a shame.

The "DOH or bust" group's influence resulted in the Nicolau award. Has the East MEC not learned anything? Negative reinforcement is not a difficult concept to grasp.....

I have never before (with one or two exceptions) wondered if a flight on US Airways (east) that I was on might not be in the most professional and sane of hands. I've had more time to wonder that in the past 10 days than in the prior 10 years.

It's a shame you feel that way.

I'm no longer employed at U. But after 25 years of service,flying all over the country, my opinion, the pilots at U are THE greatest pilots in the world.

The strong retorhic is part of strategy. You should know that after all the years you have been posting on this board, the hard-line approach is that. If you think for a second that a pilot at U would hinder the safety of a flight in any manner, and injure himself, crew and pax, you are seriously wrong with that kind thinking.

 

[ClueByFour]

I'm no longer employed at U. But after 25 years of service,flying all over the country, my opinion, the pilots at U are THE greatest pilots in the world.

The strong retorhic is part of strategy. You should know that after all the years you have been posting on this board, the hard-line approach is that. If you think for a second that a pilot at U would hinder the safety of a flight in any manner, and injure himself, crew and pax, you are seriously wrong with that kind thinking.

What, exactly, do you think the rhetoric will accomplish? Showing up in bulk at ALPA National is not only "for show," but it's moot. If it were not, the talk of decertification would not have started. Not only that, look at how far the hardline approach has gotten the East group to date--they give hardline, I give you Nicolau.

I am disturbed, frankly, by the number of East pilots who actually believe any of this flustering about really matters a damn. It's 10 years of LOA 93 or a combined contract. Those are the choices, neither of which will change by decertifying ALPA.

As for the safety of flight issue, I'm not the one putting out WAR reports quoting rhetoric about "fitness of flight." That is the purview of your former colleagues. If such stress is really an issue as a result of an issue of the East pilot's group own making, I think it's time to cast a serious eye on that fitness.....

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

But after 25 years of service,flying all over the country,

Just curious, but were all 25 years as an F/A?
Thanks.

 

[b737fo]

As to scabbing, AWA is not the only carrier to have worry, although they have a well documented history of said scabbing already, aye Mate! If this hidious list is allowed to stand via Alpa National this week, EVERY carrier in that union will have concern. I started my career, day one, on the UAL picket line. I will finish it crossing any carrier who steals my DOH.

There.. Many think it. I said it.

Greeter.

Well if that is the opinion of the majority of East pilots (which I do not believe is true) then I hope you guys go your seperate way and we stay as two different divisions working under the same certificate. That would be the less ideal situation but the fact you would cross an ALPA picket line does not match well with the union standards that I believe in.