LavMan:
O.k., I understand your thought on a second cut.
We have all had our share of cuts, but ALPA can make the claim then that many of our pilots have sustained even further cuts than announced by the company.
For example, Captains displaced to First Officer received a 33 percent cut, plus the 26 to 33 percent July 2002 W-2 cut, plus the 8 percent January 1 W-2 cut, and the retirement givebacks.
Blockholders who went to reserve saw their pay hours reduced from 85 to 76 or 72 hours per month, which represents another 10 to 15 percent cut, on top of the cuts listed above.
Another cut was obtained with the Airbus overrides lost and pilots being downgraded to lower paying pieces of equipment.
One challenge for MSP employees and ALPA is that we cannot work overtime for extra hours/pay, whereas every other employee can obtain additional gross pay, if desired.
But, you're right with your two cuts; however, for ALPA it can be argued the majority of the pilots took five or even six W-2 cuts that all reduced the company's pension obligation.
I supported each of htese cuts as well as the pilots taking a higher percentage of cuts to help the airline survive, but I believe it is unfair to single out the pilots to be the only employees, including FSA and CSA, to have their pension terminated.
Reuters said today "US Airways pilots have already agreed to annual pay work rule and retirement concessions totaling $646 million," said Capt. Bill Pollock, a senior union official. By asking the court to approve termination of the plan, Pollock said, "U.S. Airways is attempting to force pilots to bear an unacceptable and unjust burden."
Some pilots would suffer a reduction in their retirement income of as much as 75 percent, the union says.
What's even more irritating is that federal law requires that airline pilots retire from flying at 60, which prevents a pilot from obtaining the PBGC age 65 maximum of $44,000 per year.
However, an age 65 PBGC award would be available for every other US Airways employee, but not the pilots.
Chip