Those Who Fail To Change...

[USA320Pilot]

I know you have seen this quote before, but I believe it is relevant to US Airways', and its employees current situation.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

- Charles Darwin

We have seen this quote before and Dave Siegel even spoke of it because Darwin's comments are true.

Respectfully,

USA320pilot

 

[funguy2]

Yes, but Darwin's theory was specifically related to slow, steady minor changes over time, not changing in the face of destruction... Kind of like Southwest, which developed from point-to-point, morphing to a hybrid hub-spoke + point-to-point, then morphed from smaller under-used airports to major airports... etc. Not like US Airways, an airline which is currently rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Darwinism may be coming to US Airways, but it began working its magic around 1990 (when horrid post-merger decisions became final), not in 2002 when Seigel uttered the phrase.

 

[MarkMyWords]

USA320 -

While I agree with the above quote, can't the same be said for the company as a whole and not just applied to the employees?

How many years have we talked on here about how to improve the airlines productivity and utilization rates to no avail. There has been no real change in how we operate out PHL hub, except to add additional flying. They haven't depeaked the hub, improved a/c utilization rates, employee productivity, etc.

Any idea why? It has been over a year since 'it was being looked at". Even DL sees the benefits of rolling a major hub, and will be making ATL a rolling hub by Feb. Yet we still struggle along with only minor changes here and there.

When is the company REALLY going to look at changing their broken business model. When will we see real and speciifc schedule changes that address productivity and utilization? Announcing a FLL mini-hub and Go-fares seem more like competetive responses versus real structural changes to the fundimentals of the airline.

 

[unit4clt]

All change is not growth; as is all movement is not forward.
Ellen Glasgow


There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.
Winston Churchill

 

[USA320Pilot]

Mark:

I agree with your post and there have been some changes, but not near enough. The challenge is that now that we are in bankruptcy the creditor's committee may not allow the Transformation Plan (TP) to move forward.

Union leaders were warned about this issue and elected to ignore the threat. For example, the RJ financiers said that if the TP was not implemented by September 30 we would lose RJ financing, a key restructuring component that would provide more incremental revenue and feed.

What happened?

Every union ignored this threat and now we are likely going to see a smaller mainline fleet plan and deeper employee cuts with less connecting traffic/feed.

The changes required to transform the airline required increases in labor productivity first. Every union leadership failed t oembrace the change and now the employees are going to take even deeper cuts due to failed leadership.

The investment community and financiers have not signaled their willingness to help US Airways. They are likely waiting for labor issues to be resolved before helping our company and once the labor picture is clear, only then can the company begin to rebuild itself.

This is a critical week in every employee’s future and it will likely determine whether or not the company is flying later this year.

Separately, US Airways senior vice president of corporate development and lead negotiator Bruce Ashby is meeting with the ALPA Negotiating Committee and ALPA National staff this morning. According to Jack Stephen, "It is ALPA's goal to have the Negotiating Committee negotiate a comprehensive, consensual agreement that covers short-term and long-term relief without the need for 1113(e) interim relief or long-term 1113 relief."

There is the likelihood that the MEC will be brought into session as early as Wednesday to discuss a TA and membership ratification.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[us0004us]

none of us is as dumb as all of us.


anonymous

 

[MarkMyWords]

USA320 -

I don't disagree with you that there is enough blame for both sides of the table, but the company had 18 months since we emerged from bankruptcy to work on productivity and utilization issues. I guess my next question to you would be:

What specifically, in your current ALPA contract, impeeds the company from scheduling it's airplanes more productively? What items are in ANY contract that prohiibts the airline from rolling the PHL hub?

So far, the only thing that I have come up with is head count. If you make the airplanes and crews more productive, without forcing them to work more hours a month, then you have to recall people.

While I realize that the RJ financing has dried up, and the EXPRESS fleet growth has stopped, exactly how does that prohibit us from utilizing the assets that we have more productively? Since we are not getting any more airplanes of any type, wouldn't it stand to reason that you would want to make the most of the assets that you have. If you have the ability to reduce ground time, increase flying, improve your utilization rate and generate additional revenue, then why wouldn't you do it?

I realize that this is all a part of the 700 million in "other" cost savings that the company is looking at, but no one has proven to me that there is anything in the current contracts that stops US from realizing productivity gains. If we were making the most out of the assets that we have (employees and airplanes included), and there were positive steps being taken to change the fundamentals of the airline, then I don't thikn people would be as bullistic about opening their contracts as they are now.......of course I could be wrong......there will always be people that will never want to open up a contract no matter what. Right PitBull? B)

 

[funguy2]

Union leaders were warned about this issue and elected to ignore the threat. For example, the RJ financiers said that if the TP was not implemented by September 30 we would lose RJ financing, a key TP component of the restructuring to provide more incremental revenue and feed.

What happened?

Every union ignored this threat and now we are likely going to see a smaller mainline fleet plan and deeper employee cuts.

[post="185090"][/post]​

USA320Pilot:

What you fail to see through your blind rhetoric, is that this is not something that began 2 years ago. This is something that began almost 15 years ago when US Airways, then USAir, was unable to change to withstand a fight (or even mount a reasonable defense) when LUV invaded California. A solution was not found in time to save the Piedmont business in Florida, or the BWI hub. Here we are in BK with a direct assult on the PHL hub, and an indirect attack on LGA (jetBlue at JFK) and DCA (LUV at BWI, and IAir at IAD), and yet no solution has been found. In otherwords, this company has failed to adapt (or evolve, if you will) over the last 15 years, not over the last two years.

Your Darwinism example is good, however, your focus is too narrow.

You are right, every union failed to embrace the changes in the past 3 months. However, they all failed to embrace the changes in the last 15 years as well. The "real" price of airline travel has fallen in 15 years (adjusted for inflation), more efficient competitors evolved during that time, and US Airways costs continued to increase.

And to be fair, this did not happen only at US Airways. I remember a UAL ALPA president saying something like, We don't want to kill the golden goose, just strangle it so that it can barely live.

Employee sacrifice will not save this airline. A new business plan will. Thus far, we have still seen very little of anything new... All I see is a plan to shrink, not a plan to move into profitable markets.

 

[USA320Pilot]

Mark & Funguy:

Mark asked: "What specifically, in your current ALPA contract, impeeds the company from scheduling it's airplanes more productively? What items are in ANY contract that prohiibts the airline from rolling the PHL hub?"

USA320Pilot comments: Nothing, but that is not the issue. US Airways labor contracts and multiple fleet types have created much of the problem. People seem to think it’s so easy to increase aircraft and flight crew productivity, but it’s not.

The company must match capacity with demand, route aircraft so they’re in position for scheduled maintenance, ensure pilots do not violate FAR’s, maintain pilot and flight attendant contractual requirements, etc. Then couple this with hub inefficiencies and the problem only gets worse and is no simple problem to solve.

With today’s work rules, the company does not have enough pilots to meet the current schedule never mind fly more, but with the proposal to go to JetBlue productivity, I believe this problem will rectified and we can see greatly improved utilization (especially if we go to 150 mainline aircraft flying strictly point-to-point in key East Coast markets)..

ALPA has been complaining about this for years and now the Flight Department is in charge of trip construction and thus productivity. Captain Ed Bular, vice president of flight operations, has turned over this function to ALPA and Washington Captain Chip Mayer is now running the trip contruction show. Labor has complained about this issue for years and now ALPA is directly responsible for the scheduling. It will be interesting to see what happens i the future.

In regard to Philadelphia, Frank Cortez has left the company and has been replaced by the former Northwest Airlines Detroit Station Manager. Expect more new on this later.

Funguy2 said: "Employee sacrifice will not save this airline. A new business plan will."

USA320Pilot comments: Agreed. Employee sacrifice will not save the airline, but without it employees can kill the airline. Do I like the fact that every employee is being asked to work at LCC rates? No, of course not, but it's the marketplace that is demanding change. Furthermore, without this change US Airways will fail. The company proposed a new business plan to labor that required employee participation to be successful. Furthermore, ALPA's advisors believe the plan has merit and is the best that can be expected under difficult challenges.

Time is short and this plan must be fully and quickly implemented or there will be no need to debate these issues. The TP will work, but needs labor participation first before the plan can be implemented. Thus, when would now be good time for labor to limit their cuts and reach new CBA's?

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[RowUnderDCA]

Mark-

How much would training cost if U were to increase aircraft utilization before getting productivity enhancements. Wouldn't that mean that pilots would move up, only to then move back down?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

I know you have seen this quote before, but I believe it is relevant to US Airways', and its employees current situation.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

- Charles Darwin

We have seen this quote before and Dave Siegel even spoke of it because Darwin's comments are true.

Respectfully,

USA320pilot

[post="185076"][/post]​

Ah, but 'Chuck Darwin' also spoke these fine words. Perhaps, you missed it:

"As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities." - Charles Darwin (From Life and Letters)

 

[USA320Pilot]

Many posters are quick to blame management and always point out flaws in other people, but refuse to acknowledge the fundamental changes affecting the industry.

For example, the industry saw weak revenue in August and September due to hurricane disruptions, thunderstorms, LCC expansion, and relentless Internet booking discounting.

Costs continue to rise with excessive government taxation, new TSA security expenses, and crippling fuel prices, now near $50 a barrel for oil.

Fuel increases alone will add $6 billion in industry expenses this year, roughly the estimated loss. Therefore, I believe it’s safe to say that if fuel had remained at previous year US Airways would have been profitable.

Does management have any control over these issues? No, of course not.

In a September 19 letter to all pilots ALPA MEC chairman Bill Pollock said, “US Airways president and CEO Bruce Lakefield has been upfront and forthright about US Airways’ plans for a possible bankruptcy filing. There have not been any surprises from him, and his integrity still governs his relationship with his employees.

Listed in the company’s motion are charts that were presented to each labor group’s leaders. Every labor group new of the consequences of not obtaining new consensual restructuring agreements prior to the “judicial restructuringâ€. In fact, ALPA’s advisors briefed the MEC in “open session†that the pilots could obtain a deal at 8o to 85% of the ask prior to the filing, 100% of the ask at the filing, and more of a cut in bankruptcy.

Why? The company’s revenue will go down in bankruptcy due to “booking awayâ€, which is now expected at $100 million, and increased costs associated with doing bankruptcy business such as huge consultant fees. Moreover, for the year could be $300 million higher than expected, and passenger revenue is expected to shrink by $450 million because of increased competition from low-cost rivals such as Southwest Airlines, US Airways said in court documents.

In my opinion, union leaders have failed and their actions will result in much deeper employee cuts than necessary. If this upsets you then I suggest you voice your complaint with your union leader, who has placed you and the company in a bad position. In fact, ALPA Charlotte First Officer Rep Lance Svendsen told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the RC$ "have misled this pilot group using e-mails, phone calls, resolutions and council letters. ... Their reckless and careless agenda ... has already cost this pilot group millions of dollars in lost income and benefits.''

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[EyeInTheSky]

God we're beathing a dead horse....again. USA320Pilot, we don't have Alzheimers so stop repeating the same old garbage.

 

[WestCoastGuy]

Oh man, can you imagine be married, or having to listening to those ramblings contantly? He's in his own little "warped" world, thinking everyone else has some vague degree of interest in his babbling.

 

[madders]

We seem to be stuck in the past and we all have ideas to make the company efficient ..lord knows I have tried relaying my ideas to management ...

But like I have said before until we are able to put aside the contempt for management nothing will change..

We all like to take about the mismanagement of past CEO's and I want to emphasize past , that is they are not here anymore..

We need to say "let by gones be by gones " turn a new leaf and truly come together as one to make this company prosperous.

Time is not our friend...and I am not crazy about paycuts and I hate having to do it...but I also realise that without the paycuts the company will fail.

Now some of us wanted the Judge to decide and he will decide soon..
whatever he decides .... take it and move on......