One last thing you may want to consider before voting yes and denying rejecting the opportunity to even bring our story before the Judge, read this;
http://www.abiworld.org/committees/newsletters/pensionsbenefits/vol2num3/Decisions.html
"Judge Gropper’s decision makes clear that it is the terms of the last tentative agreement or if there is none, the debtor’s last proposal, that the debtor may impose."
Cherry picking again? I posted this on another topic but you really should discuss with Ms. Levine before you post old info.
First the problem with basing your opinion on articles and law that is five years old is cherry picking and you need to use more current information. Since the Northwest case by Bankruptcy Judge Gropper, other cases have come down, most importantly a District Court decision which is the higher court which reviews Bankruptcy Court decisions. Again,in the Frontier Airlines case in 2009 the Court ruled that “Under the regime established by Section 1113 proposals and supporting proposals made by a party after the rejection hearing has begun may not form the basis for concluding whether the 1113 standard has been satisfied except, perhaps, where the parties expressly agree they may be considered.” The Company’s ask was made before the rejection hearing began; the proposals which became the LBO were made after the hearing began. There was no agreement to consider the LBO and, in fact, AA said its proposals were without prejudice to its position in the Bankrupcty Court. The LBO is not even admissible to decide what level of concessions the Company under 1113 if our contract is rejected. You can spin it whatever way you want, but a later case from a higher court is obviously the controlling authority. Several people who were present in court told me that Judge Lane specifically mentioned Frontier Airlines as the controlling case, but if you want to assume they are liars until proven otherwise, I will post the transcript when it becomes available. In the meantime, if the LBO is rejected and, as is almost inevitable, the contracts of all three unions are then rejected by the Court we will see which one of us is right. But, it doesn’t matter, because if the prehearing “ask” is imposed rather than the LBO, you will blame the TWU for that too.
And from the fighting union...AMFA!
Agreed But FAR From Happy About It -- AMFA Ratifies Tentative Agreement with UAL
Backs Against The Wall?
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) tells ANN that its members working at United Airlines ratified the tentative contract agreement with the company through electronic balloting. Details will be forthcoming.
According to AMFA National Director O.V. Delle-Femine,
"Our members accepted this agreement through democratic voting. Our choice was to consent to concessions from the company or risk even worse terms imposed by the bankruptcy judge, who has shown a proclivity to agree to company demands. The bankruptcy laws, the court system and federal agencies like the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation are strongly biased in favor of the large airline corporations. Thanks to Congress, these laws show little concern for average workers."
AMFA's craft union represents aircraft maintenance technicians and related support personnel at Alaska Airlines, ATA, Horizon Airlines, Independence Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.