I find two points in this thread interesting: It appears it's o.k. for some posters to comment on other unions, e.g. ALPA for example, but it's not o.k. for their union to receive a third-party comment. I find that somewhat hypocritical in a public forum. Moreover, everything I have said in this topic is true, such as potential ALPA contract changes, the AFA "me too" clause, the Bureau of Labor statistics, and the potential elimination of the Pittsburgh airport facilites and hub.
It's called reality -- just like when the Company reached an agreement with the ACAA to keep the Pittsburgh Airport on-site facilities for three years with a one-year exit clause. Why do you think they did that?
Nobody, I mean nobody at US Airways likes the reality of the situation.
Here's the reality of the situation and by the way, I'm now fully prepared to deal with a surviving or failing company.
I believe we all recognize that our airline world as we know it has changed, and Dr. Bronner told ALPA just that last week, which he will replay on Thursday for the AFA. US Airways lost in the marketplace and then entered a formal reorganization, allowing the company to try again. The airline did, the company emerged from bankruptcy, and the world changed faster than anybody could imagine with the dramatic LCC growth, and thus today we find our self in a similar position to August 2003, unless management and labor make some dramatic changes to our airline.
If we collectively make those changes, Bronner told ALPA he would join us in growing this carrier and sharing with the employees the rewards of its success.
Do I believe him? Absolutely. Why? Because all 12 of the MEC members, Hardliners and Moderates alike, all support a resolution for the Negotiating Committee to begin discussions with the company on the "Going Forward Plan". All 12, not 10, not 9, not 8, all 12.
However, if on the other hand, management and the unions are incapable of negotiating the required changes necessary to be competitive, Bronner indicated he shut the company down, sell assets to the companies who made offers to Morgan Stanley, pay off the loan guarantee, and if necessary, write-off his US Airways investment. Bronner emphatically told the MEC he will not invest any more money in US Airways until it becomes crystal clear what direction the unions will take, he will "not default on the ATSB loan and he will not slowly bleed to death."
Is Bronner believable? In my view, the answer is an unqualified "Yes." Furthermore, the MEC believes Bronner can be trusted to do exactly what he tells you that he's going to do.
As one MEC member said, "And as a result of his (Bronner's) credibility, the MEC passed a Resolution that we send in our Negotiating Committee (NC) to begin full negotiations with the company over the role that we will play in the "Plan Going Forward." Most telling, that Resolution passed unanimously."
Respectfully,
USA320Pilot