Huh?
Let me see if I got this right. Give up protections with the CIC, which Hemenway clearly needs. Give up scope for your very own beloved. So we can get united's money and make them money?
Please clarify.
One thing is guaranteed freedom and can't be denied. We vote this contract in and none of us will see United pay and benefits for the next decade. I think you seen this play out before when PHX voted in their last contract. What were you guys thinking? No wonder why the west is in this horrible shape. Didn't you realize that NO airline would want to open your contract up in a merger? And what makes you think United is any different? Do you think Canale will share those United profits with you?
Even after your contract was up in 2005, US AIRWAYS had no intention of negotiating your contract away since it was the cheapest contract they ever saw and you all voted your voice away and can't do anything about it unless the east votes your way. PHX has been reduced to meeting in the middle of the ramp because management doesn't have to listen to you. I dont' want that to be all of us if this contract passes. Management won't have to deal with us for the next decade and we will continue to fall backwards in industry pay and benefits.
This will be America West ramp Part 2 and we would end up being used as leverage against United much like PHX is being used as leverage against us. Leverage in the sense that Hemenway knows you guys are so hungry in PHX that you'll go for crumbs. He can count on you and part of that plays in to his calculations of shoving this at us. I think he was wrong though and played it too close since LAS and other west cities have been bitten once in 2001 and have learned.
Now, except for the names and a few other changes, you're asking the east to make the same mistake you guys made back then where you DID NOT HAVE A VOICE until US AIRWAYS needed the east CIC due to this merger?
I may be wrong but I am not convinced that even LAS agrees with you on this, let alone PHL and CLT.
regards,
Tim Nelson
IAM Local Chairman, 1487, Chicago