What's Wrong With This Merger?

[NYCDelta]

Wish u and your sister THE VERY BEST OF LUCK on the cancer, my dad is battling b cell lymphoma. God Bless you and your sister NYCDELTA "KEEP DELTA MY DELTA"

Thanks so much. She is a very positive person, and is handling this much better than I would. Good luck to your dad, too. These kinds of things put "stuff" into perspective, don't they?

I missed this part. Sorry to hear about this. There are a lot of long term cancer survivors out there. Several of them are in my family. Good luck to your sister.

Thanks. In a way, it's made me see life through a whole new "set of eyes". Things that were once important to me aren't and vice versa.
Happy Holidays!

 

[USA320Pilot]

L4P & Coachrowsey:

With all due respect, I disagree with your views. Airline merger's are complex and take time. The final three major items to be resolved for the integration to be complete are the IT/Reservation System crossover, the FAA single operating certificate approval, and combining labor contracts.

The first IT crossover was recently completed in BUF and went well. The full system crossover is scheduled for March, which will bring an end to this mamouth project.

US Airways continues to meet every FAA required benchmark for a combined operating certificate, which will be obtained before the end of Q2.

Last week US Airways obtained its second joint contract when the TWU-Dispatchers joined the CWA-CSA's with a new agreement. Moreover, other labor groups continue to make progress in these complex negotiations.

Finally, management has indicated they will not begin integrating Delta into US Airways until the US Airways-America West merger is complete, which will likely be this summer. Therefore, why worry about attempting another deal while this one is being completed?

LP4, as a disgruntled passenger with an "ax to grind" I believe "your opinion is worthless" snd irrelevant. You never have anything positive to say and you truly do not understand the business.

In my opinion, life is too short to be angry all the time and it might be in your best interest to look at the positive aspects of your journey through life.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

L4P & Coachrowsey:
LP4, as a disgruntled passenger with an "ax to grind" I believe "your opinion is worthless" snd irrelevant. You never have anything positive to say and you truly do not understand the business.

In my opinion, life is too short to be angry all the time and it might be in your best interest to look at the positive aspects of your journey through life.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

BoeingBoy:

Most people do not like personal insults or a lack of decorum, but there is a certain segment of airline employees that thrive and probably even enjoy that type of activity. These people try to discredit the sender because they do not like the message/messenger or they cannot take criticism because its' too painful, but they certainly can "dish it out". Every person has a different threshold level before they emotionally respond to the lack of decorum, me included, but that does not make it right.

It appears you will continue with that type of approach to try to discredit others and that is your choice, which I guess I understand because I believe you have a "message board split personality."

I'm not going to continue with "mud slinging", emotional comments, or to try and discredit the messenger. If you choose to do so, so be it.
Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[delldude]

L4P & Coachrowsey:

In my opinion, life is too short to be angry all the time and it might be in your best interest to look at the positive aspects of your journey through life.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

Hey dude...hows old Ralphie Cramden doing?

You put him away finally?

Honeymooners Cast
How Sweet It Is

Jackie Gleason/USA320PILOT as Ralph Kramden
Art Carney as Ed Norton
Audrey Meadows as Alice Kramden (1952-1961)
Joyce Randolph as Trixie Norton (1952-1961)

 

[hp_fa]

LP4, as a disgruntled passenger with an "ax to grind" I believe "your opinion is worthless" snd irrelevant. You never have anything positive to say and you truly do not understand the business.

In my opinion, life is too short to be angry all the time and it might be in your best interest to look at the positive aspects of your journey through life.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

Based on the above statement it appears that anyone who questions the opinions and statements (did I infer rantings) of USA320Pilot is disgruntled, mentally ill and headed for Dante's Inferno.

USA320Pilot's opinions seem to indicate he is sucking up to Travis Christ's methods of dealing with "disgruntled" customers.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Based on the above statement it appears that anyone who questions the opinions and statements (did I infer rantings) of USA320Pilot is disgruntled, mentally ill and headed for Dante's Inferno.

USA320Pilot's opinions seem to indicate he is sucking up to Travis Christ's methods of dealing with "disgruntled" customers.

I've never meet 320pilot, but the inpressions of a "suck up" is what I get from his posts.

 

[longing4piedmont]

L4P & Coachrowsey:

In my opinion, life is too short to be angry all the time and it might be in your best interest to look at the positive aspects of your journey through life.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

Unlike you who will bend over at the first words out of managements mouth, I believe in fighting for what I believe. This is one of them. Your constant posting of opinion as fact is at best childish and continues to show that you, much like doogie, can only be successful at someone else's expense. I will counter you at every post.

regards

l4pi

 

[bigbusdrvr]

I've never meet 320pilot, but the inpressions of a "suck up" is what I get from his posts.

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It seems to me 320pilot posts articles from the press from many different sources, then adds his take on them. Surly we cant all see things or read into things the same, however his spin on them is not entirely out in left field.

Nobody in this industry wants to believe its been changing right before our eyes. Sometimes you have to hear the inevitable from someone outside.

If you want to see where an industry is going just "Follow the Money" as they say. Wallstreet is not intimately involved with any bussiness, they finance all bussiness. This country revolves around wallstreet financed bussiness.

If the press reports what they hear from their contacts on wallstreet about what could happen, they probably arent to far offbase. They have been very wrong before, and will be again. however I think they are right more often than not, especially when they dont have nothing to gain except in getting the story right.

That being said, if 320pilot lets his desire to see USAIRways survive and thrive get into his spin, well we are only human and he is not a uninvolved party. I dont believe he spins the story to far to insinuate the unwanted demise of anyone else nor does he say he wants their widebody seat.

Read the press reports he posts yourself without the it cant happen here outlook and they tell a story you might not have heard before. Then you can make educated estimates where this industry is going, and where we're going with it.

The old saying "Dont shoot the messenger" comes to mind.

 

[700UW]

You have got to be kidding?

He posts in almost all his topics about DL being fragmented and broken up, he makes so much crap up.

He misreprents himself and the facts, just like he HELD a proxy vote and yet spins it as he was a union rep for the time, he has run twice for office LGA and has lost both times.

Apparently you don't know his past track record.

Lets see the UCT/ICT UAL done deal.

Then US to merge with NWA.

Funny niether has occured.

You really should ask some of the regulars about him.

He tries to threaten and scare people into his way of thinking.

 

[bigbusdrvr]

You have got to be kidding?

He posts in almost all his topics about DL being fragmented and broken up, he makes so much crap up.

He misreprents himself and the facts, just like he HELD a proxy vote and yet spins it as he was a union rep for the time, he has run twice for office LGA and has lost both times.

Apparently you don't know his past track record.

Lets see the UCT/ICT UAL done deal.

Then US to merge with NWA.

Funny niether has occured.

You really should ask some of the regulars about him.

He tries to threaten and scare people into his way of thinking.

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I thought UAL was so committed to the UAL/U deal that they agreed to a $50 million backout clause, which they eventually paid, when they changed their mind. Sounds to me like a bettin man wouldnt have to far offbase to assume the deal would go thru. you cant get them all right or Las Vegas would shut down.

I've seen a lot of people here say NW would be a better fit with USAIRways than Delta. I didnt read 320pilot say it was going to happen, but I could have missed that proclimation.

I think USAIRways was faced with fragmentation if they didnt satisfy Wallstreet and Shareholder expectations in order to exit bankruptcy. They did change the bankruptcy laws weeks after Delta and NW filed. I believe they would have the same expectations to satisfy Wallstreet, Shareholders,and Creditors. Im not a bankruptcy lawyer, just a reader of the possibilities.

I think people on this board that see 320pilots mention of fragmentation as a result of creditor disaproval as a threat are missing the point. The bankrupcy laws and crditors ability to get paid are whats threatining. Just my opinion.

Dont feel threatened by the chipster's spin, look to the man behind the curtain.....The Judge, he looks out for the law. And in this country the law looks out for the money......Creditors money......

Somewhere there is a retired "Little Ole Lady" who's relying on those creditors to get her a good return on her investment money. If the judge protects her, he's done his job.......

 

[700UW]

First of all he spins it to scare people and try to be a BOB like he is.

Funny go back and he loved Dave Siegel, and when Siegel threatened and then ALPA agreed to take his pensions, he hated Siegel and wanted to shut the company down, he carried on and on and on. Then he loved Siegel again, he cant even stick to his own convictions.

The Judge looks out for the Creditors first and foremost and then ensures the POR will work and let the company succede.

Let me educate you on his spin and threats.

From the July 26, 2002 Charlotte Observer:

UNIONS CAN SINK US AIRWAYS WITHOUT AGREEMENTS FROM ALL ITS UNIONS, AIRLINE'S FUTURE IS BLEAK

In recent days US Airways has made much progress toward ensuring that it will have a future. It has reached tentative contract restructuring agreements with its pilots, flight attendants and the Transport Workers
Union, which represents the dispatchers, simulator engineers and flight crew training instructors, and with subsidiary PSA Airlines' pilots and flight attendants.

The International Association of Machinists (IAM) unit representing mechanics is close to a deal, and the IAM Fleet Service negotiators are making good progress.

But that's not enough.

The Communication Workers of America (CWA), which represents customer service and reservation agents, remains far from agreement with the company.
US Airways is on the brink of court-ordered bankruptcy because its situation is "unsustainable." Failure to improve the situation will have devastating effects on employees, customers and companies that depend on US Airways.

The airline has received a "conditional" federal loan guarantee approval, but can't use those funds unless it gets restructuring agreements with all labor groups, in accordance with the business plan submitted to the Air
Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB).

Needed for loan guarantees

Major obstacles remain in the way of a voluntary restructuring.

US Airways may not be able to reach agreements with lenders without tentative agreements with the remaining unions. Unless it has those agreements the company wouldn't get final ATSB loan guarantee approval,
government sources believe.

How bad is the situation? The carrier continues to burn cash during what is historically the best-performing time of year. Ten months after Sept. 11, US Airways has not resolved its cost problems, the economy remains sluggish,
revenue is off 20 percent and low-cost competitors are aggressively attacking its market share. The industry has not recovered as expected.

Domestic fares are at 15-year lows. Shifts in buying patterns and travel options indicate airlines may never get the revenue per available seat mile they previously enjoyed.

Disturbing reports

US Airways needs restructuring agreements for either a voluntary restructuring or successful bankruptcy reorganization. If the company gets union concessions and qualifies for government financing, then if it's
forced into bankruptcy, it probably could get in and out of bankruptcy quickly.

What's disturbing are reports that the CWA leadership is misleading its members. Last Friday, company negotiators asked the union to meet, to try and resolve their differences. The union said its negotiators couldn't meet,
but its advisers would be available. However, I'm told that when management tried to schedule a meeting, they were told the advisers had other commitments. Meanwhile, the CWA issued a report telling its members the company met with the advisers last weekend - which management disputes.

Brinkmanship by any union could push the airline into bankruptcy. It's disappointing to see a relatively small group of employees risk the destruction of a viable company, with a devastating effect on 40,000 employees and their families.

No one can be sure what will happen in bankruptcy, but it's certain that if the company reorganizes and successfully comes out of bankruptcy, the labor groups that don't have tentative agreements with the company prior to bankruptcy will lose.

As in other union negotiations, the parties that reach savings targeted in the business plan will get a bankruptcy protection letter, which protects against even deeper salary and benefit cuts if the company enters
bankruptcy.

Some may face pay cuts

If the company files for bankruptcy, workers in labor groups without that bankruptcy protection letter may face deep cuts in pay and benefits, loss of unused sick and vacation time, slashed retirement benefits and a crash in
the value of common stock in 401(k) accounts. In addition, they'll work for a smaller airline that will hand out layoff notices at once with no severance pay, and will pay members of unprotected unions significantly less.

Each day the company moves nearer bankruptcy. New chief executive officer David Siegel has brought a breath of fresh air to management. US Airways' best chance to survive is for unions and creditors to bet on him and his
team. Employees wanting to keep their jobs must impress upon union rank-and-file employees the importance of ordering union leaders back to the bargaining table at once, to reach an agreement that is 85 percent of the
targeted concessions.

The choice is simple: Either all stakeholders move past their anger,frustration and denial to obtain and ratify restructuring agreements, or the carrier will almost certainly enter bankruptcy.

History has shown only two major airlines have successfully restructured in bankruptcy - not good odds for this company to continue operation.

XXXXXXX is a US Airways captain

And ALPA's Response:

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE

July 26, 2002

This is Roy Freundlich with US Airways an MEC update for Friday, July 26, with two new items:

Item 1. Today the Charlotte Observer published an anti-union editorial from one of our pilots, titled "Unions can Sink US Airways," that aggressively promotes management’s objectives on achieving concessions from other labor groups. The editorial goes so far as to suggest that the CWA union leadership, who represent customer service employees, is misleading their members on their negotiating activity, and implies that management’s side of a dispute is more accurate.

This editorial does not in any way represent ALPA’s position, understanding, or sentiment, on other unions and their sincere efforts to represent their members. ALPA has received no reports, nor would it assign any value to reports, that suggest that any union is misleading their membership. The pilot author of the editorial holds no union position in ALPA. The anti-union public statements from one of our pilot-ALPA members is regrettable.

We urge all pilots to contact their reps or the Comm Center for accurate updates on restructuring negotiations and the activity of other unions. We also request that all pilots refrain from promoting any management anti-union propaganda or chastise other employees in the media. There is little to be gained from such activity other than embarrassment for yourself, your fellow pilots, US Airways, and ALPA.

 

[hp_fa]

I agree with 700UW that you seem to be missing the perspective on how to evaluate USA320Pilot and his posts. In order to get a grasp of his modus operandi, you would need to go back and read about five years of his postings and his attacks on (or against) people or positions with whom he disagrees.

If I were in your position I would also come to your conclusion, based on the information you have to date. I'm just saying you need more information so that your view can evolve.

Observe one other thing and ask yourself one other question. Most of the folks on this board think very highly of BoeingBoy. There is a thread on the board about his recent retirement and even the moderators were chiming in with best wishes to him. BoeingBoy is very knowledgable, smart and argues his points with skill. Why is it then that USA320Pilot has such ill-will toward him, which he recently restated on these forums in a clear and unambiguous statement?

 

[bigbusdrvr]

Great Minds discuss concepts

Average Minds discuss events

Small Minds discuss people
Why make it personal? Our wayward pilot has an opinion, as does everyone else on here. Perhaps we should keep the discussion geared towards the events of the day and the concepts of tomorrow rather than the people?

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I'll second that!!

 

[SKY HIGH]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/o...wein,elise.html

back on topic.

U executive ELISE EBERWEIN response to Merger


only stating opinions

 

[hp_fa]

Great Minds discuss concepts

Average Minds discuss events

Small Minds discuss people
Why make it personal? Our wayward pilot has an opinion, as does everyone else on here. Perhaps we should keep the discussion geared towards the events of the day and the concepts of tomorrow rather than the people?

Point taken. Thank you, Bob.