Parker says no requirements to have seperate contracts?

[PITbull]

TJ,

His statements speak loud and clear. You are too addicted to the Kool-aide, my friend.

Can you explain why your CEO saw fit to hire Ford and Harrison anti-union, anti-labor, consultants? Have you questioned why Jerry G. has been asked to stay on and has been hired as a consultant? Why can't your West managment handle the employees and the negotiations?

Trust him? It would be like asking the East to trust old U managment all over again.

 

[Charlie_Tuna]

Personally I have never believed in blanket raises based on situations which can rapidly change

Do you believe in blanket cuts based on situations which can rapidly change instead of raising prices or using other ways to gain or save revenue?

Old management did and used BK to enforce it. You can only expect nonmanagement employees who put up with more pain and gave more money then anyone to want to cash in least it will forever be too late.

 

[ClueByFour]

You can work it out. You have to pick what is most important and go from that.

They probably don't.

If the HP pilots hold the line, the inevitable outcome is the company attempting to unilaterally impose one contract or the other, at which point you can almost guarantee a strike vote (and yes, Virginia, a judge will hold this one a major dispute).

Unless, of course, the GAG from the East has it's way--in which case the combined pilot group will do everything necessary to keep Pollack and those within a few hundred numbers of him in a left seat. Including flying it for free.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

No nimrod in their right mind can say to employees you guys on this side of the room get this contract; and you guys on that side of the room get this other contract, and we'll all live happily ever after. WTF is he smoking? It would be the biggest cluster F* of all time to do this. "Doogie" don't do it man. Do the right thing, pay people the wages they deserve.

Eye

 

[JAFA]

specifically because he has hired anti-labor consultants Ford and Harrison,

I hate to break it to you, but US (original, east coast, east side, what is the accepted term for the old Crystal Palace run original US??) has employed Ford & Harrison for many years.

 

[pilot]

What Parker has stated here gives you an insight into what is going on in Tempe in the meetings with Glass and the boys. They are going to attempt to divide these two pilot groups, just Glass did in the East, and then fly the jets with two pay scales dodging the transition contract at every opportunity.

They are already doing it.

And unless these our pilots collectively stand up to this nonsense they will succeed. Glass will attempt to take the AWA pilot group to the U level in all aspects of the contract. If he cannot we will remain separate. DP just said so. Read what he said!

Southwest can pay their guys SUBSTANTIALLY more than either the U or AWA pilots and make money. Pilot costs are not too high here and DP knows it. He is attempting to keep them as low as he can and subsidize high fuel and low fares on our backs. ALL our backs. Thats the game plan.

FYI: The fuel conservation efforts of the pilot group saved almost the exact amount of money in 2005 that was paid to the executives in bonus and parachute payments. Thats not a rumor, that is a fact. Open your eyes folks. We saved this company and they are reaping the rewards.

pilot

 

[delldude]

Dougie is not what you on the West think he is. He is not a seasoned CEO and his lack of experience with labor and employees is evident, specifically because he has hired anti-labor consultants Ford and Harrison, Jerry Glass and co.

His concern is focused on the stock price for himself and the stakeholders along with his key execs...and that's about it.

He's your "run of the mill" young Corporate exec type that has no regard for labor other than to ensure you show up for work and make them rich. He's already spinning the rethorhic. He may just run the labor operation separately. This will not be morale building, but rather create divisive employee groups.

There will be no balance, and this is why I don't see this company succeeding long term.

oh no...someone with intellect and reason dares to

blaspheme the chosen one?

I hate to break it to you, but US (original, east coast, east side, what is the accepted term for the old Crystal Palace run original US??) has employed Ford & Harrison for many years.

Yes and their good deeds on the east have made the authors

of the West Side Story sit up and take note.....

 

[UWCactus]

I'm not drinking the kool aid, but you have to give Dougie credit for being up front about their position on contract negotiations.

I agree that there is virtually no way you can combine the two pilot contracts and flight attendant contracts and not increase the cost of labor without somebody giving in. For HP, this is probably more concessionary than US East at this point in the game.

I think if both work groups think they can go to the table ask for substantial increases and keep all elements of flexibility, they are mistaken. Balance it out with give and take and consider higher levels of profit sharing.

 

[N924PS]

What Parker has stated here gives you an insight into what is going on in Tempe in the meetings with Glass and the boys. They are going to attempt to divide these two pilot groups, just Glass did in the East, and then fly the jets with two pay scales dodging the transition contract at every opportunity.

They are already doing it.

And unless these our pilots collectively stand up to this nonsense they will succeed. Glass will attempt to take the AWA pilot group to the U level in all aspects of the contract. If he cannot we will remain separate. DP just said so. Read what he said!

Southwest can pay their guys SUBSTANTIALLY more than either the U or AWA pilots and make money. Pilot costs are not too high here and DP knows it. He is attempting to keep them as low as he can and subsidize high fuel and low fares on our backs. ALL our backs. Thats the game plan.

FYI: The fuel conservation efforts of the pilot group saved almost the exact amount of money in 2005 that was paid to the executives in bonus and parachute payments. Thats not a rumor, that is a fact. Open your eyes folks. We saved this company and they are reaping the rewards.

pilot

This is EXACTLY what is happening.

Glass will continue to whipsaw one group against the other. Many Cactus pilots already feel they have been slighted by not having a bid on the 3 ETOPS 757's just coming into Transatlantic operations.

The "true colors" of Doug Parker will be evident as this scenario unfolds over the next year or so. One would like to believe he really is the next best thing since Herb Kelleher, but the jury is still out.

One thing for sure, whatever CBA is struck, it better have an enhancement for the Reserve pilots a U East. The current contract is beyond unlivavble. And most of those living under it have been on the property for at least 18 years.

Just one more thing to thank the 57% YES voters for.

 

[PITbull]

I'm not drinking the kool aid, but you have to give Dougie credit for being up front about their position on contract negotiations.

I agree that there is virtually no way you can combine the two pilot contracts and flight attendant contracts and not increase the cost of labor without somebody giving in. For HP, this is probably more concessionary than US East at this point in the game.

I think if both work groups think they can go to the table ask for substantial increases and keep all elements of flexibility, they are mistaken. Balance it out with give and take and consider higher levels of profit sharing.

UW,

Yes, its very honorable when someone states before hand they are going to screw you over...that's really nice. It does give you a chance to take a deep breath...

Balance? What balance? Have you looked at the East agreement? West will get NO increases probably until the EAST agreement becomes amendable...2012. guess the new thinking is that there will never be an increase in labor costs, ever...you have already resigned yourselves to that. What a shame. If you don't expect it, it won't ever happen. I'm amazed how they got some folks on the West to think not to expect any increase to their labor group. But the execs increases and bonuses MUST be expected...

You do know that the Execs were given bonsues and stock options? Did you get stock options awarded? Know why you didn't? Know why you won't?

Welcome to the poor side of town...

 

[Crzipilot]

In line what PitBull is saying. Didn't a certain "AL" get a nice 50-80k increase to bring his salary up to par with his contemporaries within the industry??? So why should that not be the same thought going forward for labor?? I don't think Anyone is asking for SWA or Industry leading wages, but at least a little bump in that direction. Look at the pay scale disparity between US/UW with the rest of the industry.....for example...

TOS CAP FO

US 125 85
AW 138 91 Airbus/Group II

US 144 98 757/767
AW 138 91

AA 157 106 MD80
AA 169 115 757

CO 144 98 Small Narrow Body 737/-300-500-700
CO 163 111 757

UA 131 90 Airbus
UA 152 102 757

Airtran 153 79
SWA 190 126
JetBlue 139 76
Frontier 157 94
Spirit 138 71
Air Wisc 113
Repubpic 109
Mesa 100
Midwest 148 97
Alaska 154 97
Sun Country 137 83
USA300 133 77

 

[SoftLanding]

Lets for a minute look at Parker & Glass & Co.

Who are they working for? What is their job in negotiations? Answer: BOD; Get as much from employees as possible.

Stop being so blue-eyed (naive) about our management. They are just doing their job. We should be happy/proud that they are trying to cut cost, and with Jerry Glass and his team, expect the worst as far as our contract is concerned.

Legally the US Airways pilots have a contract for several more years. But because of a merger, ALPA merger policy and time-line rules.

Next time the Joint Neg Comm (JNC) meet with the company, and there is no progress, they should walk out, and tell them "see you after Labor Day", or something similar.

Remember, Parker is looking for roughly $600 Millions in synergies from combining these airlines, do you people really believe he's going to keep us separate? Not a chance in hell...

When the time comes, remember to fly SAFE, a little extra fuel won't hurt either...Remember to write up problems in the logbook ASAP, then call dispatch to advise. If you are in BGI, or CDG, or similar, well, you're just following the FOM.

We have to look at Parker, Glass & Co as the enemy for the time being, at least until this merger is consumated. After that, if you want to be their friends, go right ahead.

Just don't be so naive to believe that they are going to "give" us anything. We will have to fight for it...

A little fight will be good, surly put some pressure on the stock, even better...

Am not so sure the US Airways pilots have had enough yet, though!


Softlanding

 

[FWAAA]

No surprise at all that the management is looking to lower the wages of work groups that are higher at one of the airlines than the other airline instead of raising the pay of the lower-paid groups. I posted as much a year ago or so when the "merger" was announced.

And that was before oil hit (and generally stayed at) $70/bbl.

Seriously, if you think management is gonna roll over and increase the pay of West employees where East is paid more, you're day-dreaming. The execs are obviously gonna try to lower pay in every instance where East makes more (or in those rare cases where West makes more, if there are any).

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

 

[Seatacus]

His concern is focused on the stock price for himself and the stakeholders along with his key execs...and that's about it.

This I also believe is Doug's main motivation. Didn't Wolfe did the same thing?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

ALL unionized employees need to stand up on this one. If they succeed with the pilots - you and your group are next. "Doogie" needs to get real here. In one fell swoop, he could kill the whole thing. Doing the right thing is merging the best of both contracts. What "Doogie" is proposing is a lose-lose situation and, quite frankly, if you guys don't take a stand (and a big one) you get what you deserve. Not to be mean, but its time everyone stopped being a doormat in this company.

Eye