AUG/SEPT 2012 US Pilots Labor Discussion

[767jetz]

If you're gonna be handing out kudos, at least hand them to the people that actually got you the raises - the UA and DL ALPA pilots...

Jim

Thanks for the recognition, Jim.

And you're welcome to the rest of the you!

Quite a mess your former co-workers have created for themselves.

 

[Move2CLT]

Someone's excellent point of view.

[background=transparent]I have just spent 4 full days at union meetings this week, one CLT and 3 BPR. I felt compelled to show up and stay from start to finish. My observation is the MOU, in its' present form, is substandard and an insult to this pilot group. There are many holes in this MOU, the company has the power to do almost anything in their favor, and possibly leaving us in worse shape than we are right now. I urge everyone not to get caught up in the pay rates, this is what the company wants. After 7 years of deplorable working conditions, LOA93, no parity with the West, plus the missing 3% everyone is still wondering about, this company basically bribes us with a $10,000 signing bonus. This shows the disrespect management has for this pilot group, what a slap in the face. [/background]


[background=transparent]Believe me when I say there is much more to gain from this management. AMR has turned down 2 offers and are voting whether to strike. One turn down, got them an offer of 13.5% ownership of the new AMR. That pilot group has earned my respect with their unity and backbone, we, as a group, need to show them we have the same backbone and unity. We would be insane to accept the first offer the company and our legal staff are trying to convince us to take. We are a profitable airline looking to merge with a bankrupt airline. This merger is going to happen, being proactive and showing unity, will benefit us in the long run. [/background]


[background=transparent]The BPR showed their resolve with a "Disapprove" vote. Do whatever you can to attend an upcoming road show. After listening and asking questions, I believe a NO vote is the best thing to do. This will send a message to management that we will not be intimidated any more, and that this pilot group has had enough of being treated as a second class citizen.[/background]

Nothing but ####.

You easties make me laugh thinking Parker owes you anything.

This merger is going to happen whether you like it or not and with no leverage you'll get no more than what the MOU has now.

So cry all you want about your past, it doesn't matter. You can either go into this merger with an MOU or not.

Those are your only choices.

 

[Move2CLT]

If DUI wants my vote for his merger he can't have more concessions from me.

He is the one arguing the synergies will be worth more than a billion dollars. If he is telling the truth then he doesn't need any concessions, unless of course he gets to that number because of the new concessions he is asking for.

No more concessions from me.

Then the merger continues without you and Doug continues to sleep well at night.

 

[Move2CLT]

Not "Wolfe". It's "Wolf". Mr. Stephen Wolf. He gave us parity plus 1%. DUI wants to have our our scope, CoC, min fleet and LPP's now, and promises to discuss parity in three years. No. No. No.

No. No. No?

Bye. Bye. Bye.

 

[Res Judicata]

Then the merger continues without you and Doug continues to sleep well at night.

Isn't it hysterical every time these delusional Eastholes think they're holding the trump card only to find out all they hold is their own impotent d&@$s? I'm drinking nothing but bottled water east of the Mississippi, there's something in the ground water out there. Yeah, they're going to deny Parker the merger....HA! LOL!

 

[traderjake]

I don't think Doug wants your vote.

I think we wants to keep you on LOA 93 as long as possible.

I think "he" wants to keep you on LOA 93 as long as possible.

 

[EastCheats]

Thanks for the recognition, Jim.

And you're welcome to the rest of the you!

Quite a mess your former co-workers have created for themselves.

Tell me about it, Jetz. You could have had them first. Thanks a lot.

 

[Phoenix]

Apparently character education never made the cut. Judge Silver may offer tutoring. If you find a judge that wants to indulge you by listening to you babble on about an internal union dispute, have at it. Just because you haven't in 5 years doesn't mean you ought to give up.

Or does it?

Why do you suppose your childish union was incapable of generating a decent MOU? Further, why didn't Cleary get the same audience with Parker?

Don't get too attached to COC. 70% of the folks involved in this transaction could care less about it.

On the one hand, there is little more repugnant than a plaintiff that spews pejoritive epithets at a former defendant, even after the plaintiff fails to so much as secure the right to be in the court room much less secure any proof of guilt or damages.

On the other hand, the repeated obsesive cackling is humorous, in a droning clown sort of way.

 

[jetjok1]

Is the MOU perfect? No, of course not. But, our options are to accept the MOU as a bridge Transition Agreement to a JCBA or remain on LOA 93/C2004.

MOU Benefits:

• US Airways will bargain with USAPA and APA versus just APA to convert MOU/Term Sheet our new contract.
• US Airways will recognize USAPA as a CBA agent, exchange confidential/new contract information, reimburse USAPA for its expenses versus the union having to pay for its own expenses, and will provide our union information related to the merger as requested by USAPA.
• Dramatic pay increases and equal pay from Day 1, which will also increase retirement benefits.
• Improved aspects of Scope with Furlough and pay protection.
• Protect Hawaii and Shuttle flying.
• Proportional reductions.
• Reduce the time from DAL/UAL pay parity by 50% from 6 to 3 years for total cockpit costs for Compensation (pay rates, premiums, profit sharing, and per diem), Vacation, Retirement, and Health & Welfare.
• For West pilots 3-year bridge for STD coverage.
• Sick balance 1,000 hours. Pilots with over 1,000 hours retain the balance. Pilots will not accrue additional sick leave over 1,000 hours but can use the annual accrual or sick occurrences and sell sick leave back to the company.
• Improved E-190 Pay.
• Negotiations for a new contract begin on JCBA 4 year anniversary.
• Fleet protections: Establish two baselines with one for US and one for AA, total scheduled flying in a 12-month period proceeding the effective date with a widebody and narrowbody baseline. US ratio window for US mainline fleet is 5% or about 18 total East & West aircraft and 10% for widebody aircraft or about 3 or 4 aircraft. (I believe the downside risk of 18 total airplanes with pilots retirements would have minimal staffing problems).
• Minimum block hour protection.
• US & AA E-190 ratio split after 30th aircraft (20 already in US Airways' inventory).
• Eliminate Star Alliance, UAL and CAL code sharing and replace it with JetBlue, Hawaiian, Alasks, and Oneworld code sharing - The NAC said, "this is the holy grail of the merger."
• $40 million lump sum payment.

MOU Givebacks:

• Waive COC.
• LPPs
• Transition Agreement language on minimum fleet count and daily utilization.

Comments:

1. COC - If the merger dies East pilots keep the COC. If merger proceeds who needs the COC? We will work for the largest airline in the world offering career job security, have significant MOU/JCBA/Pay Parity economic benefits; therefore, the COC will no longer be needed.

2. LPPs - According to USAPA, "LPP Section 3 and 13 provide for the fair and equitable seniority integration and a specific time table for final and binding arbitration. However, unlike previous mergers, a merger with American would be governed by the McCaskill-Bond Amendment. In 2007, U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond secured a provision to the Senate’s omnibus spending bill that guarantees airline employees not already covered by some other arrangement (such as the Air Line Pilots Association Merger Policy) a process for integrating seniority. McCaskill-Bond incorporates sections 3 and 13 of the Allegheny-Mohawk Labor Protective Provisions which require 'integration of seniority lists in a fair and equitable manner' either through the agreement of the parties or, absent agreement, through binding impartial arbitration."

Therefore, LPPs are no longer an issue because they have been incorporated into McCaskill-Bond; therefore, we now have to comply with federal law and LPPs should be taken off of the table. They exist in McCaskill-Bond.

3. Transition Agreement language on minimum fleet count and daily utilization - This section is being adjusted with other scope protections including pay protection, a no furlough clause, minimum block hours and other fleet protections as described above.

In conclusion, the bottom line is this. All four NAC members, every USAPA legal adviser, and every USAPA financial adviser recommend we vote for this deal and that there will be no other MOU (could be minor changes negotiated next week on Force Majeure and the 17 pilots on furlough from the West).

And, according to USAPA "Pat Szymanski and Gary Hummel reaffirmed (based on a conversation between President Hummel and US Airways President Scott Kirby), that the Company had no intention of changing the provisions in paragraph 7 of the MOU concerning mainline, wide body, shuttle and Hawaii flying protections. Additionally Pat Szymanski reported that the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) AMR sent to US Airways to protect sensitive AMR financial and other information included a prohibition against US Airways negotiating with APA over terms and conditions that apply to a potential merger, and that once US Airways signed the NDA it could be barred from further negotiations with APA and USAPA concerning the merger until the NDA expired."

Why? I believe the UCC will not permit any meaningful improvements to the MOU or they will vote for AMR's standalone plan.

Therefore, my decision is simple. Do we want the benefits of the MOU/merger and a front row seat at the JCBA table now or do we want to remain with LOA 93/C2004 as our contract for an indefinite period, which could be a long period of time? Thus, I will vote for the MOU TA and take the advice of the NAC and every USAPA financial and legal adviser.

Those 3 givebacks outweigh the benefits 100 fold over

 

[nic4us]

On the one hand, there is little more repugnant than a plaintiff that spews pejoritive epithets at a former defendant, even after the plaintiff fails to so much as secure the right to be in the court room much less secure any proof of guilt or damages.

On the other hand, the repeated obsesive cackling is humorous, in a droning clown sort of way.

WTF are you even talking about???


Did one of the usapa scabs say something to a West rep who was a former RICO defendant?

I ask, because that was the only case dismissed WITH PREJUDICE, (although Cleary's NYC case got tossed quickly, I doubt you are talking about those plaintiffs), in which the plaintiff had no business even being in the courtroom.


PS. ...it is spelled pejorative...with an A... Mrs. ellipsis...

 

[nic4us]

On the one hand, there is little more repugnant than a plaintiff that spews pejoritive epithets at a former defendant, even after the plaintiff fails to so much as secure the right to be in the court room much less secure any proof of guilt or damages.

On the other hand, the repeated obsesive cackling is humorous, in a droning clown sort of way.

I got another one...

There is little more repugnant than a one time pilot hero taking the stand to give false testimony about conversations with his daughter, that were fabricated to abet a scab union.

 

[Move2CLT]

Those 3 givebacks outweigh the benefits 100 fold over

Ya? So now what? Turn down the MOU and let APA do the talking for us?

 

[Phoenix]

.. usapa scabs

I got another one...
... a scab union.

Yes. Exactly my point. But I am optimistic you won't be able stop with just "another one."

 

[traderjake]

Sure, spell "Wolf" incorrectly all you want, but if you are going to claim to be more informed than the average pilot..

PS. ...it is spelled pejorative...with an A... Mrs. ellipsis...

I wish I could pile on but I just misspelled "he".

 

[Beancounter]

Ya? So now what? Turn down the MOU and let APA do the talking for us?

I have a baaad feeling that's exactly what they're going to do. It appears that the only way to get the east pilots off of LOA93 is by dragging them away as they're clinging to it, kicking and screaming, ie APA takes over. Oh well, guess there is nothing to do but kick back and enjoy 2004 for a few more years. By the way, why do you want to move to Davidson?

Bean