US Pilots Labor Discussion

[USA320Pilot]

Seniority Matters -- Unless You Are Senior!

Update for May 13, 2011: Seniority Matters -- Unless You Are Senior! If you are senior and the whole "Seniority Matters" campaign seems like just another element of "The Big Lie", you might be interested to read this update and the content available via the embedded links. If something about USAPA smells funny and you are wondering why the"Association" doesn't seem that interested in the issues of the top two thirds of the East Seniority list, it might have something to do with the fact that the overwhelming majority of USAPA 'volunteers' are very junior. Are they looking out for you? Will they ever?

Did you know that all three members of the three man "Negotiating Team"
have three interesting things in common: 1) They have never negotiated anything, 2) They were all previously furloughed, and 3) they are very junior on whatever list you choose.

Love those pretty lanyards - "Nothing Says Good Union Pilot like an elegant piece of yellow ribbon".

See Story

 

[fodase]

If Mike or Randy called Eric or David and said "Enough of this ####, let's get it done", I'll bet these west reps and AOL leaders would step up.

The Nic-or-nothing dead enders are like the DOH-or-nothing dead enders.

Circumnavigate.

Nope, all it takes is one west pilot to not like the deal and stop it. I refer you to jetamerica vs alaska where one pilot challenged the seniority list after it was implemented and won.

 

[Piedmont1984]

Ask your pal Luv. He's the one that brought it up - "Must have been drinking some of that moonshine out back of the trailer!!! " It does seem that he's familiar with both.

So let me ask you 1984, since it's obvious BS doesn't have a clue. Can you explain why Glass & co will top load the contract with the goodies BS mentioned when it's going to have DOH and the west will have been spun off so east will have won (according to BS)?

Jim

Jim

Although I am not of the Jewish persuasion, I may have too much Tevia in me.

"On the other hand" I have no idea if Black Swan is Jewish, but there is no Tevia in Black Swan. He is definitely not on the fence. His idealogy is unwavering and his words reflect his ideology.

Fodase

I'm just looking to improve the odds. I don't expect 100% odds.

 

[fodase]

Fodase

I'm just looking to improve the odds. I don't expect 100% odds.

Well I for one believe the odds are 0%, I can assure you the west has suffered major damage from the east's actions and that is a huge motivator out here to make sure you live up tp your agreements.

 

[CV580ETOPS]

Many labor groups during periods of protracted negotiations have resorted to "work to rule" tactics to one extent or another. And work to rule almost always invokes safety as a primary rationale. ALPA was doing the same thing on this property prior to the change in union representation. The steady communiques that fell under the title of W.A.R. items were very similar to USAPA's safety and operational updates today.

But there are some significant differences. ALPA did not target corporate officers in such a public and aggressive manner, publicly ridiculing Paul Morrell and calling for his termination is a case in point. Raising concern within the public realm about the safety of our operation, is this really necassary? Is it accurate? The professional and experienced flight crews on this property see to it that our operation is eminently safe. Any suggestion to the contrary is a disservice to them. This tactic is being pursued while the company achieves high scores on their safety audit as well as its participation in the SMS program - a significant safety achievment. Consequently, the public sees an incongruent picture.

A few more examples. Writing up discrepancies when and where they occur should be the norm. This is something the company and the FAA would not question. Exposure to aerosylized oil fumes, or TCP's, is a bona fide safety issue which deserves the attention it is getting. OTOH, L1 door closure should be evaluated by the captain on a case by case basis. Lets just say those of us who have had the "pleasure" of operating in and out of PHL in years past have spent long periods of time while coming or going with doors closed, well within the gate ramp area, surrounded by equipment and personnel, waiting....and waiting... for a push back crew, a jetway driver, a marshaller, or a clearance to push due to taxiway congestion.

I am fully committed to supporting a safety culture at all times. I have lost track of the times I have sacrificed on time performance in the interest of safety. But - do you want to keep your pilots in the green and reduce their stress? Urging them to pick a fight at every single opportunity and in every imaginable circumstance is not the way to do it.

USAPA is treading a fine line here. A loud voice can become shrill and ultimately ineffectual when over used.

Just sayin.

How come you don't have the balz to post this on cactuspilot.com ?

cv

 

[oscarjazz]

US Airway’s Pilots Sign 3 Year Accord

By The Captain, Staff Reporter, SafetyFirst online



Phoenix, AZ June 26th, 2011



Yesterday, US Airway’s and the US Airline Pilots Association announced that they had reached a new 3 year collective bargaining agreement covering the approximately 5,000 pilots of US Airways. In a press release, Mike Cleary, President of the pilots’ union said that “this long overdue agreement will bring the hardworking US Airways pilots up to industry standard with their peers at other carriers. We now look forward to working with management to return our carrier to the top of the industry in on-time and reliability”. US Airways pilots have long complained that their management has taken advantage of them for years, keeping them at substandard wages and work rules compared to their peers at other carriers as a result of their bankruptcy filings that ended over 6 years ago. The new agreement will end what they have dubbed “bankruptcy wages and work rules” assuming that it is ratified by the union’s membership as expected.



The announcement of an agreement seemingly came overnight, after literally years of negotiations that both parties had described as “non-productive” at best with each side accusing the other of being the road-block to a final agreement. In recent weeks, the frustration felt by the pilots over the slow pace of negotiations appears to have negatively affected the daily operations of the carrier to the point where passengers are “booking away” from the airline potentially costing the carrier hundreds of millions in future revenue. After a stellar performance in 2010 and again in the first half of 2011, when US Airway’s led the industry in on-time and completion factor the carrier recently plummeted to dead-last in on-time, flight completions and customer complaints. Last week US Airways emailed a letter to its frequent flyers apologizing for its recent poor performance while promising to fix the problems in the coming weeks. Whatever the cause of the operational melt-down, industry insiders say now that an agreement has been signed they expect that US Airways will again soon lead the industry in several performance related categories such as on-time. This can’t come soon enough for the carrier who has recently been hit with sky high fuel prices and can ill-afford a continuing significant drop in revenue as well.



The agreement still must pass a membership ratification vote by the rank and file that will occur in mid July, but off the record comments by members of US Airways management as well as union insiders suggests the vote is more of a formality at this point. The tentative agreement was recommended for ratification by the pilots’ union Board of Pilot Representatives by a vote of 9-2. The 2 dissenting votes were cast by former America West pilots who now serve on the pilots governing Board and voted against ratification in protest of the inclusion in the agreement of a seniority list that recognizes a pilots years of service with the company and has been a source of litigation by a minority group of former America West pilots. The two dissenting votes are considered to be inconsequential to the outcome of the ratification process.



(Does this intrigue you? Then forward it to your peers and get Onboard!)



The Captain

This just in. In a related story, live monkeys were seen flying out of Mike Cleary's butt at the press conference. Film at eleven.

 

[BoeingBoy]

His idealogy is unwavering and his words reflect his ideology.

And like too many with such strong ideology, he attacks those who disagree since in his mind there's nothing to discuss - he's right and it shouldn't be questioned. Those that disagree with him are beneath contempt and a blight on the earth.

Jim

 

[Metroyet]

If Mike or Randy called Eric or David and said "Enough of this ####, let's get it done", I'll bet these west reps and AOL leaders would step up.

The Nic-or-nothing dead enders are like the DOH-or-nothing dead enders.

Circumnavigate.

Seriously? You STILL don't understand how all of this works? AOL is not empowered what so ever to negotiate a settlement. They have NEVER had such authority. One union. That's it. It's nic or nothing because that's what the real men of genius carved into stone in the back of their pickle ball van. If that's the "dead Ender" so goes any hope of ever realizing contractual improvements. Honestly, I can't believe this kind of stuff still needs to be explained.

 

[luvn737s]

If Mike or Randy called Eric or David and said "Enough of this ####, let's get it done", I'll bet these west reps and AOL leaders would step up.

The Nic-or-nothing dead enders are like the DOH-or-nothing dead enders.

Circumnavigate.

Yeah and Hitler had a fantastic fudge receipe.

Cleary has demonstrated his character on every possible occasion and the interaction you fantasize would be wholly out of character, much like Hitler's delicious fudge.

ALL the east must mobilize and recall Cleary. For some reason, some west posters get a masochistic pleasure out of watching Cleary dig this pilot group an ever-deepening negotiating hole and spending vast amounts of money to sue themselves. "Cleary's the best thing the west could hope for" I don't get it. I work too hard for my money to allow that little urine-ant to piss it away. I guess I'm alone on that one.

If I were to run against Cleary in a recall, a major plank in my platform would be a hard dollar limit on legal fees. The BPR would be forced to pick and choose which battles it wanted to pursue in court.

 

[fodase]

The mob works by a simple business plan, they create a problem then offer to broker a solution to the problem they caused in the first place. U easties are nothing but a bunch of spineless scabs. Scabs that got lucky by simply having the majority, but like every morally corrupt organization in the history of the earth, the clock and karma is ticking for you pieces of Shiite

 

[Pi brat]

And like too many with such strong ideology, he attacks those who disagree since in his mind there's nothing to discuss - he's right and it shouldn't be questioned. Those that disagree with him are beneath contempt and a blight on the earth.

Jim

Man, who else does that sound like? B)

 

[Piedmont1984]

How come you don't have the balz to post this on cactuspilot.com ?

cv

Uh - maybe because my "target audience" is east pilots, and there are only 3 or 4 easties that frequent the sand box But hey, feel free, you have my permission.

Of course then we would know your identity - since the subject is balz.

 

[Piedmont1984]

... U easties are nothing but a bunch of spineless scabs. Scabs that got lucky by simply having the majority, but like every morally corrupt organization in the history of the earth, the clock and karma is ticking for you pieces of Shiite

Damn, for a minute there I thought you had put aside your playground taunts and came in to have an adult conversation.

Well I know you are - but what am I?

Someone close the windows.

 

[USA320Pilot]

Error

 

[Piedmont1984]

Seriously? You STILL don't understand how all of this works? AOL is not empowered what so ever to negotiate a settlement. They have NEVER had such authority. One union. That's it. It's nic or nothing because that's what the real men of genius carved into stone in the back of their pickle ball van. If that's the "dead Ender" so goes any hope of ever realizing contractual improvements. Honestly, I can't believe this kind of stuff still needs to be explained.

The BPR can give any ad hoc committee the authority they deem necessary. Furthermore, I'm more interested in tacit approval from PHX, not a negotiated settlement per se.

A solution which tips the silent majority in the west to give their support to the NAC and withdraw their support for a DFR. That's good enough for government work.

Anyway, forget about it. It's obvious that this group has not yet had enough of this fun.

And I used to wonder, what sort of primitive mentality allowed the endless, mindless mutual slaughter that went on for so long in the trenches of Europe during WWI.

Eureka!