Response to USAPA ad in USA Today

[N924PS]

Allow me to translate.

First Paragraph.

By now some of you may have seen an advertisement in today’s USA Today paid for by our pilots’ union, USAPA. As you know, USAPA has been embroiled in an intra-union seniority dispute for several years that could have easily been resolved if US Airways had put people ahead of Profits, Short terms financial performance ahead of long term economic stability, Had Doug Parker exhibited actual leadership instead of DUI convictions I would be writing this letter. and is also working to negotiate a joint contract. Those efforts have been severely complicated and delayed by their inability to resolve the seniority dispute, and because of this dispute, USAPA has embarked upon a smear campaign that in reality is all about contract negotiations, not safety. We don't have to provide facts to support our allegations of a smear campaign, because we're the smartest guys in the room ! Ask us we'll tell you. After all we have the stunning track record of a convict CEO, a President who is rumored to have engaged in inappropriate conduct, the largest Maintenance fine in FAA history, a Christams Meltdown, Reservations Migration Failure, so it's pretty clear cut we have a ton of credibility Today’s move is simply the latest in a series of misguided efforts to put pressure on the Company as part of those negotiations, and while we are disappointed that USAPA has chosen to use safety as a negotiating tactic, I can tell you unequivocally the union’s claims are outlandish, false and a disservice to the 32,000 hard-working employees of US Airways. BTW when we say a "Disservice" we mean not spouting the party line that everything is rosey except for those evil pilots

All of those you disparage in your post are laughing all the way to the bank on the backs of USAirways employees, particularly the pilots and flight attendants. They will continue to do so for some time, since there will be no imminent solution to the Section22 seniority list issue with the pilots. Make light of them if you wish, but they are a whole lot richer than you or I.

In light of what happened in Norway yesterday, I find your avatar especially offensive, if not revolting.

 

[PullUp]

... Sorta like an anti-ice valve that fails in the middle of the summer. don't need those right? Good to go, it's summer time, it's hot out....there isn't any ice around here. take the airplane, go ahead.......take it.....

Ha! I had ice twice last week!
Yes.In July.

 

[N924PS]

My only hope for Captain Wells is I hope she actually voted for USAPA.

Captain Wells is very active in USAPA, serving as a volunteer on two committees.

 

[700UW]

As if it matters Relax there is no "list."
If it existed it is hand written and the first 2 pages are iam members.

The only group within the company that had showed any support during the iam week long strike were the flight attendants.
During the picket we were shown many middle fingers by ramp workers and pilots.
The other iam locals in our city never offered support. (but they did give our stewart the phone # for unemployment)

At least some F/A's stopped to talk and ask how we were holding up.
Coffee and rolls were brought by F/A's, ex PATCO, GREYHOUND workers.
But not a pilot not a ramp agent. They even yelled at us how they were doing our jobs.
Pushing a/c, applying mel's.

But in life what goes around comes around.
Ramp agents start out at 1980 wage rates and little if any benefits today.
And UAV'S are the future.

LL 1725 was the only IAM local in Charlotte, there was local 108 in Concord, and we didnt reach out for any support from any other unions except who were on US Property, as the strike only lasted five days.

 

[Res Judicata]

Captain Wells is very active in USAPA, serving as a volunteer on two committees.

That explains her hysterical, hare brained rant on the p.a.. I wouldn't want my 30 year career to end in such humiliating embarrassment....to each her own I guess.

 

[700UW]

Your speculating, there is no conformation she did anything that was a rant on the PA.

 

[Res Judicata]

Your speculating, there is no conformation she did anything that was a rant on the PA.

Au contraire'

 

[ContUNITEus]

Evidence please of what she did... besides why hasn't US Airways clarified it as to why they escorted her out. If she went on a rant, then she went on a rant. It is good enough a reason to be escorted out if it happened... I'll accept the explanation if US Airways execs provide it as a reason. But again, it is the lack of information and this need-to-conceal something that irks me about the executives.

They are a bunch of corrupt ones.... Trust me.... I can confirm this based on my own current interaction with them. Something big needs to happen so that Parker, Kirby and the whole list of executives get booted out. They are all protecting each others' backs. It is evident with every scandal that has recently happened and that continues to happen.

BTW... I like how afa66 posted this on their website

http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4042/c/663/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=45503

AFA Statement Regarding Captain’s Authority as the Pilot in Command

"US Airways Flight Attendants are trained in and follow the chain of command on each and every flight we fly. The ultimate authority onboard our aircraft lies with the Captain (the pilot in command) of each flight. Our flight attendants respect and support the authority of the Captain and his or her determination with respect to the safe operation of the flight in which he or she is in command."

It's like saying... "YOUR SMEAR CAMPAIGN, MR. ISOM, WILL NOT GET US TO DISRESPECT THE CAPTAINS FINAL AUTHORITY... NICE TRY THOUGH!!!

 

[Phoenix]

Evidence please of what she did... ..

This alleged tantrum is like the president's birth certificate.

The important evidence of what she did is whether or not she was within her authority to require a certain level of maintenance under the circumstances before accepting the release for flight. The company's response to THAT is what is at issue. Did/Does the company acknowledge her authority (and have a judgement concerning her exercise of it in this case) or does the company want to steer clear of that conversation and start another one?

 

[crazystnic]

she is listed with a line for SEP ....

 

[icehead]

They also replaced a control board on the APU, it wasnt just a battery change.

It doesnt take seven hours to change two A/C batteries.

I spoke with two A330 Captains and they said the static inverter was faulty and that it was replaced. Do you know if this is true. I don't. When management fosters and promotes division the truth is usually a the first casualty. Imagine if Captain Wells did not accept the aircraft because she genuinely thought it would compromise safety. Wow what a concept....

 

[SparrowHawk]

I spoke with two A330 Captains and they said the static inverter was faulty and that it was replaced. Do you know if this is true. I don't. When management fosters and promotes division the truth is usually a the first casualty. Imagine if Captain Wells did not accept the aircraft because she genuinely thought it would compromise safety. Wow what a concept....

Which is why I made the point that if it's so safe let DougWeiser and Scotch hop on board to reassure the customers. If they have all this confidence then they along with Isom would relish to the chance to discredit USAPA yet to date all we hear is Crickets

 

[tadjr]

Imagine if Captain Wells did not accept the aircraft because she genuinely thought it would compromise safety. Wow what a concept....

Here's where the problem lies. If the issues that have caused the "safety" delays were all serious issues and not questionable "the carpet has a thread pull and someone might trip on it, we need it replaced", "oh, I have a hangnail and dont know if I'm able to grasp the controls" type of delays, cancellations, then no one would question ANYTHING at all. Its all the game playing, get something fixed, find something else, wait until the flights boarded and you got your food before you bother to mention you need maintenance from something you found on the walkaround 30 mins ago, time out, etc issues that are making everyone question every issue now. If the true issue was ONLY a safety concern and USAPA was serious about SAFETY, then they should have made this ONLY a SAFETY issue and not a lets delay the flights for anything and everything we can just because we can issue.

 

[767one]

Here's where the problem lies. If the issues that have caused the "safety" delays were all serious issues and not questionable "the carpet has a thread pull and someone might trip on it, we need it replaced", "oh, I have a hangnail and dont know if I'm able to grasp the controls" type of delays, cancellations, then no one would question ANYTHING at all. Its all the game playing, get something fixed, find something else, wait until the flights boarded and you got your food before you bother to mention you need maintenance from something you found on the walkaround 30 mins ago, time out, etc issues that are making everyone question every issue now. If the true issue was ONLY a safety concern and USAPA was serious about SAFETY, then they should have made this ONLY a SAFETY issue and not a lets delay the flights for anything and everything we can just because we can issue.

I think more than likely someone else is dropping the ball. For instance earlier this month we had a termporary mel leaving DUB. 95 min. before departure we asked for a faxed copy of the mel. After repeated calls we finally got the mel ......20 min. after departure time. Same month in PHL 65 min. before departure flight attendand advised us of a broken passenger seat with sharp metal. Called mtc freq....nobody there, called ops told them, sent an acars message, repeated several more times....mtc showed up 5 min. before departure.....late. Same month leave PHL for PHX get message on acars to slow down...too early. 300 miles from PHX slowed down more and given numerous vectors...land in PHX and wait for gate 45 min. late again. Same month leaving PHX after door closure mtc has agent reopen door and they expain to us that a cap is missing from the lav service panel. Servicing was done after preflight so no indication to us.....late again!


As for when a mtc issue is found we perform certain flows based on time to departure and based on these flows some things will not be notice until the before start flow is performed and after the nav. systems are aligned. What may appear to you to be a late call to mtc is no more than a pilot doing his/her job as trained.

As for your last sentence that says it all!......lets have safety as long as it doesn't delay a flight......sometimes that is just not possible.


Regards,


Bob

 

[cleardirect]

Do you east guys really think that US Airways is an unsafe airline?

I would like an honest answer.