Us Air To Reduce Iam-fsa Positions

[ClueByFour]

Just one more point...

If the company files for bankruptcy, the airline could reject the CLT maintenance facility too. Then the airline could seek to outsource all heavy maintenance and/or move all heavy maintenace functions to an undesirable location. Obviously, the company can do this in PIT, if they desire and CLT could be next.

If the company tries to do such a thing, the IAM-M will walk off, which will cause all US flight operations to cease. This will kill the company in short order.

I don't think you want the mechanics to take 1113 to it's conclusion, since it will mean the loss of all jobs at the airline. Something to think about.

This "cross hairs" stuff is an interesting diversion, but the company cannot fly without mechanics, cannot replace them all overnight, and cannot survive a strike inside or outside of chapter 11.

It's worth noting that negotiating with the company in good faith is a fools errand: for those who were happily clutching any "S1113 letters" or the like I give you two items:

1. The ALPA pension.
2. The airbus situation.

Just a note: sources within a major vendor to US (who make a rather critical part found on damn near every airbus US flies) have indicated that as of August 1, the company (US) will only be able to purchase said product on Net 0 terms (payment before shipment). This indicates that while certain unions on the property may be willing to dance with US in Chapter 11 again, their suppliers are not.

 

[ELP_WN_Psgr]

Dear USA320Pilot:

Just as a casual observer with no dawg in this fight:

At some point in time even the most risk oriented investors will stop throwing good money after bad.

Had management done something with the previous rounds of concessions, besides walk away with a tidy little nest egg in their pocket.....had business conditions changed since the last bankruptcy so that all it would take is a little extra oomph to get over a hump in the road...you might see some people willing to toss a little more money in the till to keep this puppy going out of another round of BK.

Instead, what we've all witnessed is management squander all sorts of opportunities......waste a heckuva lot of time demanding concessions when they should have been restructuring the airline, top to bottom, to eliminate the inefficiencies inherent. Even if employees were paid nothing to work at USAirways, the ASM cost would be less than competitive.

You could be right. PT Barnum said there was a sucker born every minute and the old adage "a fool and his money are soon parted" has a certain amount of truth. Still, business conditions have not changed significantly since the last bankruptcy. Actually, they have gotten better. We are coming out of the Clinton-and-Sept 11th induced recession and the economy is started to perk along again. Airline traffic is up, which would ordinarily bode well for airlines.

The industry had changed way before Sept 11th, though. The industry has been in a state of transformation since 1978. Only blind (visually challenged?) management could fail to see what lay ahead.

So, I don't think any amount of trying to circumvent contracts via a bankruptcy will succeed. Rather than toss money in an endless toilet, creditors are gonna want to see this thing carved up like a succulent golden brown Thanksgiving turkey. The international routes are worth something, the LaGuardia and DCA facilities will generate some money, and the shuttle is not without value.

Instead of banging a shoe on the conference room table and demanding concessions a la Nikita Kruschev, your big dogs ought to have been spending less time on the golf course and more time with a legal pad figuring out where the planes could be flown and a profit made. They should have been playing with schedules which would allow more flights to be flown, which would increase utilization and decrease the ASM cost, which would allow them to implement something on the order of Gofares everyplace. Come on, man, who do they think they are kidding. The ads say "we listened to our customers who wanted lower fares." Like the folks in PHL want lower fares but the floks in PIT & CLT don't? Like the folks flying on routes competitive with WN want lower fares but if it so happens you are needing to fly on a route where they aren't...yet....may God have mercy on your soul? Even the not-quite-the- sharpest pencil in the box can see through that.

Had something resembling GoFares been in place a year ago there might be no need to demand concessions. The funny thing is.....if done properly.....a reasonably priced walkup & advance purchase fare can increase overall revenue. How many $954 RTs do you think USAirways really sells between Buffalo & Philadelphia? Let me clue you in....it's less than 1/7th the number of folks that buy $200 RTs between Dallas and Lubbock. Lubbock! You ever been to Lubbock? It's might not be the end of the earth, but you can see it form there.

I have no idea what's gonna happen with USAirways. But from outside the closed executive boardroom doors, I would venture to guess the next BK will be the last BK and I don't mean Burger King.

 

[USA320Pilot]

Overhaul could be sub-contracted during the job action and line maintenance could be provided by those mechanics desiring to work at the airline, contractors, and replacement workers. In regard to IAM-M Utility cleaning, this could be immediately outsourced during the job action.

Do I like these thoughts? Absolutely not, but I understand it has been discussed, just like closing the PIT maintenance facility, and could become part of the new business plan if the IAM refuses to enter into formal negotiations and the company files for bankruptcy.

Again, it’s up to an union on whether or not they want to negotiate, but as Bruce Lakefield has repeatedly said, no single union will cause the company to go out of business.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

Apparently you have no idea on the requirements to get a SIDA badge, fingerprints background checks.

And you can't instantly farm out anything, there is logistics and FAA mandated training to anyone working on an airplane for a carrier who has never worked that carriers plane before.

Once again you are proven wrong. It is like taking candy from a baby.

So keep trying

 

[to much time to quit]

Overhaul could be sub-contracted during the job action and line maintenance could be provided by those mechanics desiring to work at the airline, contractors, and replacement workers.

Please no sugar coating, the proper term for these employees are SCABS, plain and simple, just like yous guys in 92. :down:

 

[USA320Pilot]

Current employees and current line maintenance contractors have SIDA badges and replacement workers can obtain this training in about two hours. Training is conducted weekly at all of US Airways' largest airports where maintenance is based.

Heavy maintenance could be done off-site with current contractors, similar in scope to the A320 overhaul, without a hiccup.

US Airways has offered to negotiate with the IAM and like with the A320 overhaul issue, the company has publicly said "the company is willing to work with the IAM to explore ways to bring future Airbus heavy maintenance work in-house (See Story), but the IAM has refused to negotiate.

Therefore, the company is seeking to:

Eliminate all Utility
Eliminate all Stock Clerks
Lay off thousands of mechanics and go down to 800 mechanics.
Eliminate GSE
Eliminate Plant Mtc
Eliminate Heavy Mtc
Eliminate Component shops

Why? Due to the IAM's position to not participate in the new business plan, however, Bruce Lakefield continues to tell employees, "no single union will cause US Airways to go out of business."

Do I like this issue and fight between the company and the IAM? No, I do not, but it's the IAM's position up to this point to not participate in the new business plan and in exchange the company has indicated to implement more incremental pain on the IAM. Can I stop the pain and do I like it? No sir yee... but it's happening.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

You just don't get it do you?

Why are you so concerned with the IAM?

And you can post a 1,000 links to what the company said, their credibility is non-existant, guess the termination of your pension still did not open your eyes.

There is no pain, you will be on the unemployment line with the rest of the employees.

You just fail to realize this place is doomed.

 

[700UW]

Man o Man, you really better check on things before you post it.

There is not training every week where ever maintenance is located.

All maintenance training is done in CLT now. Once in a while the IAM Represented Maintenance Instructors do field training.

There are not an abundance of mechanics at airports where US Flies, for example in CLT there is only ONE maintenance vendor and they have like three mechanics, please explain to me how three mechanics are gonna handle several hundred flights a day.

And any General Familarization course on any US Airways Planes is One week minimum, then per FAA and US Airways MPP you have to have OJT on the actual airplane before you are allowed to touch it.

There are not an abundance of cleaners at the airports US flies into that can just jump in and take over.

Like I said you can just go out and get a SIDA badge, it can take Several months.

Like I said you have no idea, it took months of planning and logistics and training for US to set up HMV at ST MAE@BFM.

There is no reason to negotiate something that is all ready in your contract.

With each post you show your ignorance more and more, and I suggest maybe you stick to flying an airplane instead of butting your nose in IAM business where it does not belong and it is obvious you have no idea of what maintenance and SIDA issues entail.

But please keep posting, I enjoy showing the whole board you have no idea of what you are talking about.

 

[USA320Pilot]

In an article titled may "Airline (US Airways) find silver lining", the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review rhetorically asked yesterday, "Are US Airways' fortunes taking a turn for the better?" (See Story)

"By Tuesday, the company will be negotiating wage and benefits concessions with three of its unions. Also on that day, its earnings report may show that it broke even financially for the three months ended June 30," the newspaper said.

The periodical continued, the only major union still boycotting talks is the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents 5,000 mechanics and 4,500 baggage handlers.

An IAM spokesman said earlier this week that the union has not changed its position and will not reopen its contract.

"We're willing to meet anywhere, anytime'' with IAM representatives, Castelveter said. "It's their call.''

Lakefield recently told Pennsylvania officials that he would like to preserve the company's 1,700 maintenance jobs at Pittsburgh International Airport. It remains unclear whether IAM's refusal to negotiate will affect that commitment.

However, the union has taken a position to encourage US Airways to:

Eliminate all Utility
Eliminate all Stock Clerks
Lay off thousands of mechanics and go down to 800 mechanics.
Eliminate GSE
Eliminate Plant Mtc
Eliminate Heavy Mtc
Eliminate Component shops

In conclusion, each union has the right to not enter into new business plan negotiations, just like the company has the right to seek to eliminate the positions listed above. Do I like this? No, I do not. In fact, I simply posted a link to important and troubling news to start this topic and I had no intention of being "so concerned with the IAM" this morning.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

Got anything new? You have posted this a million times all ready.

And by the way, the elimination of mtc was in the transformation plan before the IAM told them no we won't open our contract.

So keep trying, maybe if you post it enough you will believe your false information.

And you believe Lakefield? He supported and approved of all of Dave's moves, including the termination of your pension after Dave told you vote for the concessions to save your pension.

Keep trying though!

Guess this man was right!

 

[USA320Pilot]

LGA based ground employees can obtain a SIDA badge after attending training, taking a test, and then completing the required paperwork and badging. It takes a couple of hours and the course is offered every week on Wednesday’s at the Port Authority of NY & NJ training room.

It’s a relatively painless process. Regardless, current employees who elect to work with the company and current contractors with companies like Hudson General and Signature Air already have completed SIDA requirements.

Regardless, if it comes to a job action, the company could prepare for this in advance to staff line maintenance functions and schedule heavy maintenance to be done with contractors, and obtain court approval for this action with a pre-packaged bankruptcy motion.

Thus, the question really is if the IAM is giving management the option to make the IAM irrelevant?

Maybe so. Do I like it? No, but I am just an outside observer.

Every union has the option of whether or not they want to be part of the new business plan and in the case of the IAM, they may be helping the company:

Eliminate all Utility
Eliminate all Stock Clerks
Lay off thousands of mechanics and go down to 800 mechanics.
Eliminate GSE
Eliminate Plant Mtc
Eliminate Heavy Mtc
Eliminate Component shops

I believe everybody on this message board realizes US Airways must reduce its unit costs, just like every legacy airline. Furthermore, the company does not believe the IAM’s proposal to cut costs will provide a $80 to $100 million savings, thus the IAM may be forcing the company to implement incremental pain to eliminate the positions indicated above.

However, as I have said before, it’s up to the IAM on whether or not they want to participate. "We're willing to meet anywhere, anytime'' with IAM representatives, US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said. "It's their call.'' (See Story)

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[UAL_TECH]

ALPA, AFA, & CWA are negotiating a new contract and S.1113/S.1114 language.

Didn't you have one of these letters on the last BK?
And what good did it do you then?
Do you believe that these letters will save you from future concessions now?

Management does not have to be efficient as long as they can come back to the 'Labor Pool'.

JMHO,
UT

 

[700UW]

Wrong, you in order to obtain a SIDA badge you have to undergo finger printing and a background check, so try again the TSA does not allow immediate badge to be issued unless you have had the background check and finger printing completed with the results back. Maybe the TSA needs to be informed of LGA breaking the security regulations? Oh, wait, let me consider the source

Why don't you post something new and original and truthful.

I have proved you wrong in every rebuttal I have posted and you still operete by your usual MO, ignore a post when you are proven wrong.

But please keep it up, I do enjoy showing the whole board that you are wrong as usual!

 

[sentrido]

F!@#$ the company. DONT UNDERESTIMATE THE EMOTIONAL EFFECT THE AIRBUS ISSUE HAS ON PEOPLE. NEGOTIATING WITH THOSE A@# HO@#$ WOULD BE LIKE BUYING SOME GUY WHO RAPED YOUR MOTHER A BEER.

 

[USA320Pilot]

All heavy maintenance could be outsourced with a "strike of the pen" and the Charlotte heavy maintenance facility could be closed too, just like Pittsburgh.

Then the company could line up contractors and complete the SIDA badging in short order. To suggest this is a long and tedious and difficult process is wrong.

Again, if it comes to a job action, the company could prepare for this in advance to staff line maintenance functions and schedule heavy maintenance to be done with contractors, and obtain court approval for this action with a pre-packaged bankruptcy motion.

Thus, the question really is if the IAM is giving management the option to make the IAM irrelevant?

Therefore, are the IAM and their “naysayerâ€￾ helping the company to:

Eliminate all Utility
Eliminate all Stock Clerks
Lay off thousands of mechanics and go down to 800 mechanics.
Eliminate GSE
Eliminate Plant Mtc
Eliminate Heavy Mtc
Eliminate Component shops

Maybe so. Do I like it? "No Siree", but today the company placed more pain on the IAM by reducing IAM-FSA positions, while the union continues to “pound its chestâ€￾ as it sees more members lose their jobs.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot