So Jetz, heres your opening, how many furloughs do you think there will be with this new TA? BTW. Hopefully we can do the same to mitigate ALL our furloughs, and yes, including "Save Dave."
The word from within is that they hope it will cut the announced 950 reduction almost in half, down to around 500 or so. (Dare I say it again... 500-700 involuntary furloughs?) Still far too many. But far fewer than the 1200-1500 (or even as high as 1760) that some predicted.
Just to review, UA announced the parking of 30 737-500's earlier in the year, and then recently announced that it added the remaining 64 737-300's and 6 747-400's (70 more airplanes) for a total of 100 total airplanes. Then UA finally announced it would reduce the active pilot work force by 950 positions, after months of keeping that information confidential, even from the employees and ALPA.
ALPA immediately went to work on approaching the company to reveal their manpower plan, and to discuss options on mitigating involuntary furloughs. Early last week it seemed like there was still little movement on those issues and it was described as "meager." By Friday your above message was posted and a TA with substantial mitigating language was reached.
As an additional point of fact, this TA was reached with no concessions from the pilot group. In fact as of May 1st there was a raise of 2.5%. Keep in mind that ALPA's stance, as well as mine and many on the property is that even 500 involuntary furloughs is too many, and even a paltry 2.5% raise is substandard. However it is a step in the right direction.
I do want to touch on the fact that when I mentioned my predictions originally, there were those who attacked me, rather than hoped for the best. If ours is an example of how to reduce the pain, it could be used as a template for any other group facing similar downsizing pain. But some will only see the glass as half full, and always go negative given the chance.
IMO any union, ALPA, APA, SWAPA, or even USAPA is only as good as it's local volunteers, and not a predetermined product of the national structure. I have said this before and it is worth repeating. I do not credit ALPA National for any benefits I enjoy due to my union, nor do I blame National for the shortcomings. Our union (any union) is a tool to be used by the MEC and LEC's to negotiate and at times demand what we deserve from our employers. It is the hard work of these UA volunteers, my fellow pilots that I trust. It is our unity that empowers them to forward our agenda as a whole. If they were corrupt or self serving or did not have the support and participation of the line pilots, they would fail to protect our interests regardless of the name on the letterhead.
Once again they have done their best in a difficult situation, and have earned my support and trust. And I am confident they will continue to move our group in the right direction. I hope that someday USAirways pilots will find the common ground, unity, leadership and support they need to improve their destiny and move the profession forward.
so that may 'splain my liking for softer bugs. Actually the slugs around my house usually get champagne........if I'm out of Bass. Horrors! 
