Dec 2012 / Jan 2013 US Pilots Labor Discussion

[end_of_alpa]

How condescending of you. So only the no voters have actually read the whole 16 pages and understand it?

That the poor uneducated unwashed masses that are voting yes it is beyond them to make the proper decision (in your opinion) and vote no.

More fear and airplane envy. It is 26 "big" airplanes. Is that how you measure your self worth? How many seat your plane has? What did you guys be before Piedmont brought those "big" airplanes?

You must be so proud to fly "big" airplanes for commuter wages on LOA 93. Take a look and see how many of you actually get to fly the "big" airplanes and the MAJORITY of you get to watch with airplane envy as they taxi by. A MAJORITY will never fly the "big" airplane with or without a merge.

Dude it is the size of the paycheck not the number of seats that should be important to you and your family. WB flying pulling down the rest of the industry does not pay for college or retirement. Get over yourself.

How "condescending" of you to presume YOU know all about the MOU. This is a big part of the problem. It isn't so much about reading and understanding it, it's about reading it, understanding it, and KNOWING that there are more questions then answers.

I'm am not necessarily opposed to the MOU IF, IF, there was a lot LESS ambiguous and touchy-feely language involved, firstly and secondly, what EXACTLY the "LEGAL" signifigance the MOU or "Memorandum of UNDERSTANDING". If most do NOT understand it what good will it do anyone?

Look, you hate me and I get it. But how about answering the question: DO YOU UNDERSTAND IT?

 

[end_of_alpa]

BTW, any idea on when Profit sharing checks get cut??

 

[cleardirect]

In two to three years you will remember the A320 as a big plane.

Yep. Parker is going to turn the worlds largest airline into a small airplane airline. Because the 190 can generate much more revenue than an small plane.

Do the east guys really believe what you say? You guys must be the biggest scared rabbits in the industry. That is all I hear from east pilots FEAR! Grow a pair.

 

[nevergiveup]

When I attended the 1st Charlotte MOU Road Show to explain the MOU, we were distinctly told in the meeting several times that the MOU would not be voted on until after the AMR Board voted for the merger. In fact, it states that same thing in the MOU. At the time, I was confused as to why were voting now, but forgot that we were told we would not vote until after the AMR vote because there were other things that had priority.

That vote is scheduled for another 2 1/2 weeks at this time. So, I have to ask, why are we voting for this MOU now?

This letter explains it. The letter was signed in secret by Gary Hummel and the company and kept a secret until recently when it was given to the BPR and told to keep it confidential. When is Gary going to learn that there are people in USAPA that are furious at his secret dealings with the company and are going to give the pilots information they deserve to have?

My guess is the company wants the MOU voted on before the meeting so they can show the USC that we are happy with the MOU and the merger as it now stands.

Folks, we are being manipulated to the highest degree by the company through Gary Hummel, Steve Bradford and Rob Streble. This is like having Parker running our union! How the hell has this happened?

This MOU vote should be stopped today and the original time table should stand. We need to remove the people that have sold us out.

Recall now!

 

[end_of_alpa]

Just some final thoughts before the voting deadline regarding the MOU. It appears to me as if this MOU is a pile of JELLO. It is full of ambiguities, innuendos and has very little concrete in its foundatio. All it promises is a great view. Would you really build a house on a pile of JELLO just because it appears to have the best view? I would definitely recommend following the advice of any contract attorney and never accept the first offer!


The last time we did this with LOA 93, look what that got us. Now look at what APA did. They rejected their first offer under heavy pressure of having an 1113 bankruptcy contract imposed on them and they ended up with a much better contract! Guess what, our own flight attendants did the same, rejecting unsatisfactory offers, and even they have had better contract offers presented to them each time. Spirit did the same and stood in unity and behold; they got a better contract as well. So did North American. The list goes on and on. This merger will NOT go forward without having a contract negotiated with USAPA! APA showed us UCC’s bluff and now it’s up to us to realize and present our true worth. Do you really want to be working to fully fund APA’s terminated defined Pension Benefit Plan? Do you want to help them increase the value of their stock plan, estimated to be worth $100,000 per American pilot, while we get nothing in return?


This contract leaves open many uncertainties. If I understand it correctly, the New American would not be obligated to secure a single operating certificate! The company may very well decide to operate two separate divisions. We could end up getting the 190’s while the rest is slowly transferred to APA. This would be possible under two separate certificates. Don’t you question why APA locked in the Pacific flying and the Phoenix boys locked in the Hawaii flying and we have no lock in on our current European and Caribbean flying? Looks like it will be up to the company to divvy up this flight time as they see fit. Why is it that APA has pay protection in perpetuity but we’ve only locked in 24 months? Let’s see, if an APA boy gets furloughed he keeps his date of hire at American but if a US Air boy gets furloughed he gets an interview with American and placed at the bottom of their seniority list- 190 F/O’s beware!


This also clears up the grievance backlog all in the companies favor. This MOU is such a poorly constructed contract. Would you really buy this property?!!! We need to have a better, more fairly written contract! One with more specifics, protections and assurances! We also deserve a better compensation package. We need our house built on a much more solid, concrete foundation!

Please, carefully consider your vote. Do not be pressured by artificial time lines. American has gone back several times to the bankruptcy judge to delay this bankruptcy process; they’ll do it again. It is time for us to put forward the value each of us brings to the combined company. Sent this MOU back now, before it's too late!


USAirways pilots (EAST) about to prove AGAIN we are the weakest and dumbest group in the industry I'm afraid.

This is where our Government Affairs committee needs to get to Congress and explain to them the inequities of this merger and anti-trust could also be involved.

 

[Walmartgreeter]

End of Alpa said earlier: "That's when I'll be submitting my name back into membership. I fully expect to get a 6-5 approval for membership."

You will be approved 11-0 no matter what the makeup of the BPR. How do I know? They once accepted ME as a member, you have nothing to worry about.

I understand your reasons, but it's a shame you will not be casting vote on the MOU. It's a turning point for us all, no matter what the outcome.

Greeter

 

[Phoenix]

Yep. Parker is going to turn the worlds largest airline into a small airplane airline. Because the 190 can generate much more revenue than an small plane.

Do the east guys really believe what you say? You guys must be the biggest scared rabbits in the industry. That is all I hear from east pilots FEAR! Grow a pair.

I get it. It's obvious you feel a lot of resentment toward East pilots because of what has happened to your career expectations. The AWA USAir merger was supposed to form a new profitable company and you were supposed to share in the new profits (resently posting record profits!). Instead, it has cost you a lot of money and you have been powerless to prevent the diminishing reality you have experienced. We get it.

Vote yes and you will get what you have now, in spades. And so will the East, and that pleasure may suffice for you.

 

[Walmartgreeter]

BTW, any idea on when Profit sharing checks get cut??

I remember middle of March last two times.Greeter

 

[EastUS1]

You guys must be the biggest scared rabbits in the industry. That is all I hear from east pilots FEAR! Grow a pair.

It's too late for me! Save yourself! 😉

http://memegenerator.net/instance/33136107

 

[exB717Flyer]

USAirways pilots (EAST) about to prove AGAIN we are the weakest and dumbest group in the industry I'm afraid.

Naw, no further proof is required.

 

[traderjake]

Everyone has an opinion on how to vote, but I fear too many haven't read, much less understood, the MOU ( except for the pay rates--and even they are incorrect).

Most of us don't have as much free time as you do.

 

[luvthe9]

Paul DiOrio and Paul Music won the PHL BPR election and Buck Daugherty and John DuBarry are in a run off.

 

[end_of_alpa]

End of Alpa said earlier: "That's when I'll be submitting my name back into membership. I fully expect to get a 6-5 approval for membership."

You will be approved 11-0 no matter what the makeup of the BPR. How do I know? They once accepted ME as a member, you have nothing to worry about.

I understand your reasons, but it's a shame you will not be casting vote on the MOU. It's a turning point for us all, no matter what the outcome.

Greeter

I certainly wouldn't bet against your evaluation. I am prepared for either outcome, but in either case:
If it IS a NO vote, we need a better leadership team than Gary/Steve/Streble to help work with the other parties on tighter language. That I believe an amended MOU is readily doable in a short period of time IF the leadership were MORE inclusive.

If it IS a YES vote, we need a better leadership team than Gary/Steve/Streble to help work with the other parties on the MTA and JCBA. That I believe is readily doable IF the leadership were MORE inclusive.

In either case, HUMMEL/BRADFORD/STREBLE NEED TO GO.

 

[end_of_alpa]

Paul DiOrio and Paul Music won the PHL BPR election and Buck Daugherty and John DuBarry are in a run off.

What are the numbers?

 

[traderjake]

Merger Committee Update

During the NAC Road Shows on the MOU, many questions were asked concerning seniority issues and what effect the MOU has on the seniority process, including its effect on the Nicolau Award.
To be sure, USAPA Merger Counsel was consistent in his reply that the MOU is “neutral” with respect to the dispute over the Nicolau Award and has clearly stated that voting for the MOU will not cause the Nicolau Award to go into effect. Paragraph 10.h of the MOU explicitly provides that neither the MOU nor the JCBA “shall provide a basis for changing the seniority lists currently in effect at US Airways other than through the process set forth in this Paragraph 10” (the McCaskill-Bond process).
Also, paragraph 4 provides that the US Airways/American Airlines Merger Transition Agreement (which consists of the MOU and the 2012 CBA between APA and American) “shall fully displace and render a nullity any prior collective bargaining agreements applicable to US Airways pilots and any status quo arising thereunder.”
As we stated in the Merger Committee Update dated January 23, 2013, “What is currently agreed to in the MOU is that the Company will remain neutral with respect to the pilot seniority integration and neither the MOU nor the JCBA will be the basis for any change in the current two list system at US Airways. This item eliminates the argument that ratifying the MOU will somehow include the Nicolau Award.” West pilots should not vote in favor of the MOU because they believe it will revive the Nicolau Award, and the East pilots should not vote against it because they are concerned it will cause the Nicolau Award to be implemented.
Merger Counsel reminds us that no agreement can prevent any person from filing a lawsuit or grievance, but these and other provisions of the MOU clearly negate any claim that ratifying the MOU would provide a basis for implementing the Nicolau Award.
Please take the time to review the full text of the January 23rd Merger Committee Update that provides a short summary of current seniority issues and the upcoming process if a US Airways and American Airline merger becomes a reality. It can be found on the USAPA Web site under Committees>Merger>Committee Updates, or click here.
Thank you for staying accurately informed.
Fraternally,
Jess Pauley
Merger Committee Chairman