A Message From Ceo Bruce Lakefield

[USA320Pilot]

See Comments

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[mwereplanes]

This from the end of an article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazzete:

Analysts warn that labor cuts alone are not enough to guarantee success for US Airways.

In its last bankruptcy, in 2002-03, US Airways also won $1 billion in concessions. But soon after reemerging, it said it had underestimated the threat from discount carriers such as JetBlue Airways and Southwest, which launched its Philadelphia service last year. Even with the cuts, its operating costs remained among the industry's highest, so it said it had no choice but to go back for more.

With that first bankruptcy and the troubles of the industry still fresh in their minds, some employees are still not convinced this is the last time US Airways will ask them to sacrifice pay and benefits for the good of the company -- even though some of the new contracts do reinstate wage increases and some benefits after the first two years.

What Lakefield says and what his crack management team does are now the sole focus of the success or failure of U. The employees have done their share (more than their share) and now the ball is in the management's court. Will they succeed? Crellin is still in charge of Ops. The most capable man in upper management, Jim Schear, is in charge of Safety and Compliance. To me, that is very telling. If Crellin doesn't resign or is not replaced then U is not likely to succeed. His lack of ability to run the airline efficiently is proven. PHL is his responsibility. Has been for years. If he can't fix that what can he do?

I've always said management is responsible for our plight. Now the world will see just how capable these brainstorms are. I hope you succeed. Many of my former workmates need it to succeed. But unless the operation is taken over by Jim Schear or someone as capable I hold little hope of success. Crellin is the main problem now. Al Crellin.

Good luck.
mr

 

[PITbull]

mwereplanes,

I agree.

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

What Lakefield says and what his crack management team does are now the sole focus of the success or failure of U.  The employees have done their share (more than their share) and now the ball is in the management's court. 

[post="241367"][/post]​

Well gee don't ya think that should have be the case all along even before the 1st round of concessions? Elementary sir and you missed it again.

I've always said management is responsible for our plight.  Now the world will see just how capable these brainstorms are. 

[post="241367"][/post]​

But you always said sure comeback for more the employees will try to say you from yourself. Um haven't you had enough seeing how capable Usairways is? Seeing is believing and they have not and most likely will never show anything but how to drive a company into the ground and eventual failure.

 

[speedbird86]

If Crellin doesn't resign or is not replaced then U is not likely to succeed. His lack of ability to run the airline efficiently is proven. PHL is his responsibility. Has been for years. If he can't fix that what can he do?

[post="241367"][/post]​

Go back to being a cop or fueler.

 

[USA320Pilot]

US Airways initially asked the employees for $850 million in concessions, but due to union stupidity the employees ended up giving about $1.1 billion in annual savings. Can you tell me the labor success in this effort?

The tragedy here is that the union’s forced to have this story played out in bankruptcy court, and lost, especially the IAM. If every union had the courage to play ball last summer we all would be much better off. There would be:

 Stronger customer confidence and less passengers booking away to other carriers, inceasing revenue.

 Better financial community and investor confidence.

 Much better contracts for all employees.

 Millions and millions of dollars not spent on bankruptcy fees.

 The 279 minimum fleet count, fragmentation, and CAR’s protections would still be in place.

 A much larger MDA and PSA operation, with RJ delivery’s still occurring providing greater mainline feed.

 No fire sale deal with GE causing the reduction of 25 mainline aircraft, which Bruce Lakefield told the ALPA MEC could occur last August in a meeting I attended.

 Improved liquidity to implement the Transformation Plan.

 Fuel hedges in place preventing a desperate move to raise cash. This move helped the company in the short-term, but will have medium-term negative financial effects.

 Keeping future Airbus options and not delaying the 29 aircraft firm order for A330s, A321s, and A320s by one-year until 2008.

 Common and restricted stock would likely remain in place.

What’s truly sad is that primarily ALPA’s RC4 and the IAM refused to confront reality head on, and every major union stuck their collective heads in the sand and brought the harsh judgment of the marketplace and bankruptcy court down on us.

In the end I believe IAM District Lodge representative Randy Canale has a better idea of what happened. Canale told Knight Ridder News, "I've learned more about bankruptcy law than I ever wanted to know," said Canale, who started handling baggage for United in Philadelphia when he was 19 and quickly rose through union ranks. "In bankruptcy, there is no negotiation. We call it collective begging, not collective bargaining.

"Our members don't understand it," he said. Typically, he said, "you used labor as your bargaining tool. If you weren't happy, you could withhold your labor" and strike.

Now, it's all about affecting the bankrupt company's tenuous relationship with the lenders keeping it afloat. Lenders want a committed and content workforce.

"You're telling the boss to go back to the lender and tell them to kiss off, because the workers aren't going to work for a contract like that."

But it is a form of brinkmanship, Canale said, because "what if they say, `see you later' and your airline liquidates? ... But you never see the lender at the bargaining table."

See Story

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

The tragedy here is that the union’s forced to have this story played out in bankruptcy court, and lost, especially the IAM.

[post="241383"][/post]​

Hold on didn't you just post a story on another topic supporting that ALPA lead the way and gave back more then anyone?

Which is it you can't have to both ways? Though you always try

 

[Smartest Loser]

320 wrote: US Airways initially asked the employees for $850 million in concessions, but due to union stupidity the employees ended up giving about $1.1 billion in annual savings.

SL: I just see it as USAirways not coming back in round 4 or 5 for 151 million dollars. Oh wait, they still could...!!

HOW MUCH MORE ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE..??

 

[USA320Pilot]

Usairways_vote_NO:

Usairways_vote_NO said: "Hold on didn't you just post a story on another topic supporting that ALPA lead the way and gave back more then anyone? Which is it you can't have to both ways? Though you always try."

USA320Pilot comments: With all due respect, can you show me where I said that?

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

Usairways_vote_NO:

Usairways_vote_NO said: "Hold on didn't you just post a story on another topic supporting that ALPA lead the way and gave back more then anyone? Which is it you can't have to both ways? Though you always try."

USA320Pilot comments: With all due respect, can you show me where I said that?

[post="241397"][/post]​

First off I do not and don't ever want due respect from the types of you or any best regards for that matter.

I didn't say you said it I said you posted a story supporting it. From my interpretation and conclusion that is what the story was saying. . Hows it feel to have a taste of your own medicine huh?

I conclude

... that means discussion closed right?

 

[justaumechanic]

Let me get this straight.. You saying the 279 fleet number would have remained if the unions has stepped up to the plate?

How do you arrive at that? The first thing the company wanted out of all of the union contracts was the min. fleet size.. That was #1 on the list. ALPA had no choice and neither did any other union.. So how do you figure that would have
stayed in?

I think you dream quite a bit.. The revenue picture is what is driving all of
this.. Has nothing to do with Min Fleet Size.. From this point to last year US Airways had no control over the revenue side of the picture with the exception of trying to increase it. Which of course they did not.

Unloading the fleet size was a priority of Lakefields.. Keep your eye on the
ball.

US Airways initially asked the employees for $850 million in concessions, but due to union stupidity the employees ended up giving about $1.1 billion in annual savings. Can you tell me the labor success in this effort?

The tragedy here is that the union’s forced to have this story played out in bankruptcy court, and lost, especially the IAM. If every union had the courage to play ball last summer we all would be much better off. There would be:

 Stronger customer confidence and less passengers booking away to other carriers, inceasing revenue.

 Better financial community and investor confidence.

 Much better contracts for all employees.

 Millions and millions of dollars not spent on bankruptcy fees.

 The 279 minimum fleet count, fragmentation, and CAR’s protections would still be in place.

 A much larger MDA and PSA operation, with RJ delivery’s still occurring providing greater mainline feed.

 No fire sale deal with GE causing the reduction of 25 mainline aircraft, which Bruce Lakefield told the ALPA MEC could occur last August in a meeting I attended.

 Improved liquidity to implement the Transformation Plan.

 Fuel hedges in place preventing a desperate move to raise cash. This move helped the company in the short-term, but will have medium-term negative financial effects.

 Keeping future Airbus options and not delaying the 29 aircraft firm order for A330s, A321s, and A320s by one-year until 2008.

 Common and restricted stock would likely remain in place.

What’s truly sad is that primarily ALPA’s RC4 and the IAM refused to confront reality head on, and every major union stuck their collective heads in the sand and brought the harsh judgment of the marketplace and bankruptcy court down on us.

In the end I believe IAM District Lodge representative Randy Canale has a better idea of what happened. Canale told Knight Ridder News, "I've learned more about bankruptcy law than I ever wanted to know," said Canale, who started handling baggage for United in Philadelphia when he was 19 and quickly rose through union ranks. "In bankruptcy, there is no negotiation. We call it collective begging, not collective bargaining.

"Our members don't understand it," he said. Typically, he said, "you used labor as your bargaining tool. If you weren't happy, you could withhold your labor" and strike.

Now, it's all about affecting the bankrupt company's tenuous relationship with the lenders keeping it afloat. Lenders want a committed and content workforce.

"You're telling the boss to go back to the lender and tell them to kiss off, because the workers aren't going to work for a contract like that."

But it is a form of brinkmanship, Canale said, because "what if they say, `see you later' and your airline liquidates? ... But you never see the lender at the bargaining table."

See Story

Regards,

USA320Pilot

[post="241383"][/post]​

 

[USA320Pilot]

If the ALPA MEC would have sent out the company's September 6 proposal for membership ratifcation, as requested by management, the 279 aircraft fleet count would have been in the new ALPA LOA. After the RC4 blocked the agreement from being sent out to the membership by a 4-8 "roll call" vote, the company's next proposal delivered on September 10 removed the 279 fleet count, fragmentation protections, and CAR's.

Then two days later the company filed for its formal reorganization.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

If the ALPA MEC would have sent out the company's September 6 proposal for membership ratifcation, as requested by management, the 279 aircraft fleet count would have been in the new ALPA LOA. After the RC4 blocked the agreement from being sent out to the membership by a 4-8 "roll call" vote, the company's next proposal delivered on September 10 removed the 279 fleet count, fragmentation protections, and CAR's.

Then two days later the company filed for its formal reorganization.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

[post="241427"][/post]​

Ok what is going on you just told us we can't look to past and here you go looking back. You are allowed to and we aren't?
Which is it? Or is it as usual as long as it fits your agenda its ok?

 

[Formatman]

"What Lakefield says and what his crack management team does ..."

Don't you mean "his management team ON crack?

 

[USA320Pilot]

Usairways_vote_NO:

I started this topic by simply posting comments by Bruce Lakefield and then the typical bitching and moaning started again. My point is simple: labor gave up more than the company's ask and even Randy Canale understands that labor had no, nada, zero leverage, but you sir, fail to understand the reality of the marketplace.

Truth hurts, doesn't it...

Regards,

USA320Pilot