AWA pilots union public web site article below.
US Airways management has successfully deflected the blame for this botched merger on two fronts.
First, they are attributing their inability to close out labor agreements on the current “pilot issue,†completely ignoring the fact that management made the decision purposely to drag out negotiations for more than two years, well after the seniority award despite the advice of everyone at ALPA. They even have yet to offer economics worth considering. Now, management is blaming the “pilot issue†for their inability to close out labor agreements with other work groups.
Here’s a brief history:
· Fall 2005: The notorious “Hemmenway Letter†kicks off negotiations, with a threat to both pilot groups that we will have to all work under LOA 93 if we cannot reach a “cost neutral†(read, “pay-cut for America West pilotsâ€) agreement with the company.
· Spring 2006: Company negotiators, at the direction of Parker, present the first of many concessionary proposals—a scheduling proposal that is based upon LOA 93 but with far less.
· Fall 2006: ALPA warns the company that dragging out negotiations may cause ratification difficulties if the seniority award is issued before there is a ratified TA.
· January 2007: The company publicly offers “the highest of the three†contracts in order to acquire Delta, yet nothing but concessionary proposals appear at the negotiating table. The company later loses its bid for Delta after Delta employees rally together to block Parker from making the same mistakes with their company that he is making at US Airways. Yet again, ALPA warns the company that dragging out negotiations may cause ratification difficulties if the seniority award is issued before there is a ratified TA.
· February 2007: The seniority integration arbitration concludes, and the company is again warned that the lack of a contract before the seniority award is issued may prevent contract ratification by one or both pilot groups.
· May 2007: The “Kirby Proposal†emerges, which offers America West pilots a three percent pay raise paid for by concessions in other areas of the America West contract. During presentation of the Kirby Proposal, US Airways President Scott Kirby mentions that pilot expectations are too high, despite the fact that it is he and other senior managers who set the expectation for all employees with their lavish post-merger compensation packages.
· Summer 2007: Kirby begins to insist that America West pilots mitigate the seniority award so that he can try to cram another sub-standard contract down our throats.
Second, management has taken credit for operational improvements that have more to do with seasonal capacity reduction than savvy operational management. It is very likely that once capacity ramps up again for the holiday season, we will see the worst performance figures so far this year.
Unfortunately, too many of our customers are asking themselves, "Do I really want to rely on US Airways to get me where I need to go this holiday season?"
Captain Tania Bziukiewicz
Communications Committee Chairman
AWA pilot union public web site
US Airways management has successfully deflected the blame for this botched merger on two fronts.
First, they are attributing their inability to close out labor agreements on the current “pilot issue,†completely ignoring the fact that management made the decision purposely to drag out negotiations for more than two years, well after the seniority award despite the advice of everyone at ALPA. They even have yet to offer economics worth considering. Now, management is blaming the “pilot issue†for their inability to close out labor agreements with other work groups.
Here’s a brief history:
· Fall 2005: The notorious “Hemmenway Letter†kicks off negotiations, with a threat to both pilot groups that we will have to all work under LOA 93 if we cannot reach a “cost neutral†(read, “pay-cut for America West pilotsâ€) agreement with the company.
· Spring 2006: Company negotiators, at the direction of Parker, present the first of many concessionary proposals—a scheduling proposal that is based upon LOA 93 but with far less.
· Fall 2006: ALPA warns the company that dragging out negotiations may cause ratification difficulties if the seniority award is issued before there is a ratified TA.
· January 2007: The company publicly offers “the highest of the three†contracts in order to acquire Delta, yet nothing but concessionary proposals appear at the negotiating table. The company later loses its bid for Delta after Delta employees rally together to block Parker from making the same mistakes with their company that he is making at US Airways. Yet again, ALPA warns the company that dragging out negotiations may cause ratification difficulties if the seniority award is issued before there is a ratified TA.
· February 2007: The seniority integration arbitration concludes, and the company is again warned that the lack of a contract before the seniority award is issued may prevent contract ratification by one or both pilot groups.
· May 2007: The “Kirby Proposal†emerges, which offers America West pilots a three percent pay raise paid for by concessions in other areas of the America West contract. During presentation of the Kirby Proposal, US Airways President Scott Kirby mentions that pilot expectations are too high, despite the fact that it is he and other senior managers who set the expectation for all employees with their lavish post-merger compensation packages.
· Summer 2007: Kirby begins to insist that America West pilots mitigate the seniority award so that he can try to cram another sub-standard contract down our throats.
Second, management has taken credit for operational improvements that have more to do with seasonal capacity reduction than savvy operational management. It is very likely that once capacity ramps up again for the holiday season, we will see the worst performance figures so far this year.
Unfortunately, too many of our customers are asking themselves, "Do I really want to rely on US Airways to get me where I need to go this holiday season?"
Captain Tania Bziukiewicz
Communications Committee Chairman
AWA pilot union public web site
