CLT Domicile Update: December 15, 2011
Extreme Makeover-Home Addition
This week we had the opportunity to volunteer 2 afternoons at the Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Lincolnton, North Carolina. The project began on Monday morning with a complete tear down of an existing 2000 sq./foot home followed by a resurrection of an 8 bedroom almost 6000 sq./foot that will be completed the following Saturday, a 6 day project. As of December 15 the house was under roof, dry walled, bricked, sided, landscaped, and granite counter tops and cabinets were going in when we left at 1700. The project fell behind schedule initially by almost 18 hours, but the day we were there at 1800 hours was within 3 hours of planned schedule.
The most amazing thing to watch was how nearly 3000 selfless volunteers could shoulder up in a confined working space and coordinate under one general contractor to attain a common goal. The majority of these volunteers were unknown to each other but all came prepared with a common purpose and a will to attain a common goal. Each sub-contractor put their skillsets and efforts towards the project rather standing around bickering and sniping with the project manager on who got to do what or the best way to get the work done. They pulled together under the direction of one supervisor to complete the mission. Teamwork in the highest degree as you watched carpenters, roofers, masons, plumbers, electricians, HVAC specialists, landscape professionals work hand in hand with the assistance of 100s of unskilled volunteers that constantly swept the site clean of building debris, dirt, delivering material, provided food and drink as they shouldered together for one common cause.
As spectators watched in amazement at this ballet before them an epiphany came over me. How these 3,000 volunteers unknown and separate tradesmen working multiple shifts 24 hours a day could set a goal and methodically proceed to accomplishment without fighting over who is in charge.
Our union is involved in a similar project as we attempt to rebuild our professional status from the ashes of a bankruptcy contract with a common goal of a joint industry standard contract. The difference between our project and the one described above: several subsets of our pilots would rather dabble in dirty politics rather than focus on the goals of the group. As they snipe, accuse, and attempt to politically sabotage their elected leaders, they essentially have lost their focus. As they induce distractions and political infighting, they are putting the goals of our pilots at extreme risk. We understand and expect this from a subset of our PHX pilots as they have made it known since the inception of USAPA that their agenda was to destroy their new union for their single goal of a Nicolau Seniority list. What we do not understand, is the divisions that are occurring in the officer and certain East BPR ranks that are beginning to polarize the rank and file, causing uncertainty and distractions for all. In our opinion it seems clear that the EVP has enlisted the help of the DCA Reps, one PHL Rep, and the PHX BPR Representatives to continually attack the President and Vice President. They are assisted by the former ALPA Council 41 reps and their "Compass Correction" e-mail lists to attempt to generate spin as they try to persuade the pilots to overthrow your leadership; distracting our focus on the goals that we all have established. They would rather focus their negative energy on our own rather than providing the teamwork necessary to attack the real obstacle in attaining an Industry Standard contract: Doug Parker and Team Tempe.
As these men play their political games, we are all at risk at losing ground and possibly the game unless we can convince these political snipers to knock it off and refocus our energy and resources on the real project and issues of this union. The way we see it, we either all begin to work together or we will fail, which in our mind is not an option. As we attempt to navigate through this politically charged quagmire do not forget the recent office move fiasco, the Contract Hotline fiasco, the current e-mail fiasco, and for more than a week, we had no USAPA Communications Chairman or Vice Chairman nor do we currently have a P4P Chairman or P4P Vice Chairman, all due to these continuing behaviors of the EVP, DCA, PHX and one PHL Vice Chair. Our only question to all involved, exactly how do any of these issues deliver us to our goal? By attacking the project foreman, the leadership you elected, they are in fact attacking the project and harming the pilots we serve. We can only do so much as the democratic process is in play allowing the current DCA/PHX voting block to control the agenda, preventing us from remaining on task. While these politicians fight over Lee Seham's allegations of fake emails (while continuing to refuse to submit to an audit of his invoicing), committee chairman appointments, officer sleeping arrangements, and essentially waste resources with their distractions rather than focusing on Parker and his management team that is more than willing to keep us all in bankruptcy era wages. We need your help in making this stop!! Those committed to this political infighting to accomplish their selfish goals are, in our opinion, doing so at the expense of your best interests, and until they hear from the pilots that elected them, they will continue their efforts to covertly undermine the President and sabotage the efforts of those working to accomplish the real goals of this union.
LOA 93 - The Draft Decision
We are all disappointed with the news of the arbitrator's Daft Decision regarding the LOA 93 grievance. You know that Management is overjoyed as they intend to continue to keep you and your family under bankruptcy wages for an extended period of time. While Doug Parker and Scott Kirby intentionally continue to fail to recognize your sacrifices, they could not care less about the constant distractions introduced into the cockpits of US Airways flights due to their behaviors. They pretend not to understand that a serious incident or accident is a likely result of the stress, distractions, and deplorable employee relations that they create daily. As long as their bonus dollars keep rolling in, these potential human risks are acceptable to them in the bonus award game.
The most disturbing result is this news allows upper flight department managers that assisted in this outcome to continue to work against the line pilot for the same sacred bonus dollars. As they turn their backs on the pilots they were hired with and now oversee, they assist the carpet baggers to continue the abuse of this pilot group. Their behaviors, which push this pilot group to their limits of stress and financial hardships for seven long years (2 beyond the amendable date) appear to not be enough for these former pilots. What will it take for them to finally step up to the plate and protect those that they manage rather than carry the water for those that abuse us? We are not holding our breath and neither should you.
The Grievance Committee reported to the BPR in open session on December 8, 2011 at 1600 that "we did not prevail". Tracy Parrella read to the BPR the exact update that was provided to the pilots within minutes of our notification. We have not learned any more details than those that were reported to you in the Grievance Committee update, due to the fact that we are awaiting an executive session with arbitrator Kasher, who is currently unavailable due to illness. Like you, we have numerous questions; the System Board was scheduled to be held December 13, 2011 but was postponed until Mr. Kasher is released by his doctors to return to work. We have been told that until the System Board meets to discuss the draft decision, this never-ending grievance process is on hold once again as we must wait for this process to run its course.
Contrary to web board rhetoric, all the participants that worked on this Grievance on your behalf worked hard and diligently in the preparation and presentation of this case. This draft decision does not reflect on any individual that worked the endless hours and days it took to prepare which was carefully deliberated by our legal team with all our witnesses. The plan of action was well thought out and until we all can read the final draft of this decision, none of us know the reasoning or logic behind the arbitrator's decision. We implore you not to be tempted to blame any one person or persons for this draft result other than those in Management that chose to orchestrate a case to disregard what we believe is clear contractual language describing a temporary concession. Those who are, or were, once in our ranks that are working against all US Airways line pilots' best interests of returning to industry working conditions and pay for their own benefit, should never be forgotten.
We must regroup and move forward and once we have the results of the executive session with a final draft decision - it will be published in full. We not allow this added distraction to interfere with our focus to detail and urge each of you to monitor and support each other and always remain in the green.
The Big Question?? AA Bankruptcy what it means to us?
The rumors had been rampant for months and on November 29th those rumors turned to fact as American Airlines filed for Chapter 11 (reorganization) bankruptcy. For as many months we have also heard the rumors of an American Airlines/US Airways merger as a result with every scenario under the sun of possible outcome. It is no secret that Doug Parker has been an outspoken proponent of industry consolidation and he has made no secret of his interest in a merger partner. A merger would mean more money in his pocket, the key as we see it is how to do we make his goals fit our needs. In one word: SCOPE!!
At this time we have no information or communications from Management related to any future merger plans, but your Representatives believe it is prudent to be prepared. Many months ago the BPR authorized an expenditure for a very thorough legal review of the Change Of Control provisions in Section 1 of the East contract. The details of this analysis are confidential, but we can share with you that the East operation is very well protected in the event of any change of control. Notwithstanding Parker's comments to the contrary, it appears almost impossible for Management to merge with another carrier without triggering these provisions.
There is no doubt that Doug has done his own analysis and understands the provision as this issue has been the topic of several discussions at recent and previous Crew News videos. In recent developments this topic has surfaced during recent mediated negotiations. Be prepared for the old "woe is me" poor boy act when Doug and Scott attempt to blame your contract and USAPA from preventing a merger. They have had plenty of opportunity and time to work with us on this issue we will not let them steal your contractual rights.
One of the only things that Gerry Glass failed to plunder in LOA 93 is our Section 1 Change Of Control provision. As currently written in the East contract, the change of control of US Airways allows for the recapturing of the parity plus 1% raises of our 1998 agreement. What we can tell you is due to separate operations, the West Contract has limited protections. It is clear that if Doug wants or needs a merger, he will have to come to the East pilots due to our contract or simply revert us back to the pay rates we negotiated when narrowbody Captains made about $230.00/ hour and F/Os made about $156.00. Make no mistake about it, rather than pay us we can count on him attempting to either attempt to steal it from us, attempt to negotiate it away for nothing, or attempt to shadily maneuver a deal without tripping the provisions, that is a given.
What your CLT Reps want you to know is that in the event of a merger we will be veraciously protecting your interests and your contract regarding your scope protections. We have experienced the last minute rush in the last United/US Airways deal where Doug and Scott called President Cleary and Vice President Mowery to a late night meeting in PHX to discuss this very topic (proof that they understand how strong the contractual language is). We want you to know that we will not be rushed and will not fall into the same scenario. We all know that if there is a pending deal with AMR, it is in process today and Doug needs to plan accordingly and allow all parties plenty of time to react. We will not cave in or sign on to a woefully inadequate Transition Agreement as occurred in the recent past. Most importantly: if an agreement is in fact reached, you all will vote on the product; it will be your decision!! We all realize that Management has created a monumental mess on our property. They have disregarded our input, abused us, treated us as redheaded step children as they attempt to instill as much pain and suffering on our pilots all while they attempt to control your expectations. Never forget that we have all suffered undue stress, great financial and emotional harm as they have deliberately kept you and your families in bankruptcy wages and work rules. One day they will need to fix their mess if they want our cooperation with a potential merger. In the eyes of your Charlotte Representatives they best be prepared to not only notify us early but also be prepared to sign on the dotted line of a completed industry standard contract with a date of hire solution, as stipulated in the Constitution & Bylaws, for all of our pilots.
Out of Base Drug Testing
We have been receiving many calls regarding out of base drug and alcohol testing. These tests are in fact required by the FAA and Drug Testing administers as part of the random selection process of all flight crews. The complaints being generated appear to be occurring mostly in the PHL Domicile on through or overnight pairings of our CLT crews. Be aware that when you pull into your gate in PHL and you see more than one person standing on the jet way (just as in CLT) that person may be looking for a crew member who has been randomly selected. To prevent missing your hotel transportation, immediately determine if any of your crew is being screened and if so have them proceed directly to the Drug testing facility.
We recently conducted a conference call with Captain Brain Newhart (CLT Assistant Chief Pilot), and Ms. Jenifer Tonge, (Senior Manager, Medical Management Services) who manages the Drug and Alcohol program with the specific topic of late notification of our crews at the gate at their overnight stations in the middle of their trip pairings. Many of our pilots have received delayed notifications and were notified after that usual first stop upon gate arrival (the normal arrival flow of securing and checking the forward lavatory). This has been causing delays or missed hotel vans (especially in PHL) due to extended time required for the replenishing of fluids and subsequent retest of the plumbing. Ms. Tonge is working with us to prevent any inconvenience to your crew in a proactive manner with the PHL staff. We ask that you all be aware that random testing can occur in any sequence of your trip pairing and be observant of the usual visual cues that a random test may be conducted upon arrival.
While on this topic remember that if selected for a random test you must remain in the facility until the test is complete. You must comply with the administrator's briefing and instructions and if you have any concerns regarding the administration or an event during your test that raises your concerns, first and foremost. . . complete the test as directed! Once completed contact Aidan Head, US Airways Designated Employer Representative (DER) 24x7 at (623) 229-1280; email aidan.head@usairways.com or jennifer.tonge@usairways.com (480) 693-1280 with your concerns.
Industry Contract. . . Seniority. . . political nonsense. . . and Officer Elections
These seemingly unrelated matters should, in our minds, be totally unrelated and certainly have no bearing on our ability to attain our prescribed goals. Your CLT Representatives committed to the industry contract and seniority issues as directed by our membership and we are confident that these two issues are the ones that a majority of our pilots are concerned with, above all others. As we keep that in mind we are also mindful that division and polarization of our pilots leads to only one thing: Doug wins!! Please be mindful that we are entering the national officer election cycle and as we attempt to maintain our focus on the goals of our union others are in full political spin up as they prepare for these elections.
We have read many versions of what is occurring within your union. We recommend you stay informed from multiple sources to help you digest the current dysfunctional behaviors. Read the recent PHL Domicile Chairman's letter, the Billy Glynn letters, and for a real eye opener, the latest Sand Castle video bragging of the new USAPA powerhouse voting block to help the Leonidas cause.
Unfortunately, we are beginning to see a waste of your union's time and resources as certain BPR members and officers attempt to create crises and then play the normal political games of vilification and finger pointing as they delay important actions and attempt to distract us from the efforts that will move us all forward. The same players that delivered the office move, hotline staffing, and now the Lee Seham alleged email fiascos are in effect delivering to Doug Parker, his negotiators, and the Leonidas Army exactly what they all want: division in our ranks that make our goals more distant at best and unattainable at worst. When these selfish political acts jeopardize the group we must step up and inform all that we choose not to participate. Regretfully though, due to the recent 6 to 5 vote against those of us that attempt to remain on course with the pressing issues of an industry standard contract with a date of hire seniority solution (as described in the USAPA Constitution and Bylaws), we find ourselves stuck in the "Political Pig Sty". One thing we understand that when you attempt to wrestle a pig three things are going to occur:
Everyone is going to get dirty!
The Pig is going to love it!
Our goals will not be attained due to the distraction
So as we watch our pilots begin to lose faith in their union (rightfully so), our real adversaries smugly watch us turn on ourselves, precisely as they hoped, and are more than happy to toss an occasional can of gas on this fire, your CLT Representatives fully understand that unless we find a way to stop this madness and focus on the real project, we will eventually all lose.
We want to be clear, we are not privy to the planning, phone calls, or behind the scenes political scheming as we see them for the first time on the floor of the BPR or read about them in the "Compass Correction" from the former ALPA Council 41 mailing list. It becomes very clear to us, that as these political games unfold the votes are planned in advance and 6 (2-DCA, 1-PHL, 3-PHX) are aligned with the EVP in an attempt to take control of your union. We believe this political nonsense has reached the point that it is causing collateral damage to your goals of getting a contract and resolving the seniority issue.
In the current situation we are only sitting participants attempting to maneuver through the established political mine field. Attempting to apply logic where none exists as we are being outvoted 6 to 5 operating in the minority, thus preventing us from maintaining the proper BPR focus. It is apparent that a seemingly unlikely alliance comprising of groups with very differing long term goals on one hand (seniority integration) are now voting as a block with their newly established personal political goals unrelated to your wants and needs. The best we can figure is that they are making a play for the Presidency of the union without the foresight as to the collateral damage that will occur to all of us, East and West.
As an example of this alliance just last week on the 13th, this block wasted 2 hours or better of a conference call to ultimately veto the appointment of the new Communications Committee Chairman, Vice Chairman, P4P Chairman and P4P Vice Chairman, leaving these positions unstaffed. Let us say that again so that it sinks in - for no other reason than political gamesmanship, this new political block of the Board has left a critical union committee unstaffed. The nonsense part of this political game playing comes into play not because of questions of competency of the appointees but due only to their loyalty to the cause for which you elected USAPA to begin with. And this was done with a total disregard for the consequences of their actions. All these boys care about is taking control of the union, at all costs! Dangerous indeed, and if that's not frustrating enough they made no effort to communicate their intent to the President or with your CLT Reps prior to the conference call.
To make this clear the USAPA President has the sole Constitutional authority to appoint committee members (the BPR must approve). The practical effect of their "no" vote was to fire the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Communications, and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of P4P, with no plan for filling these now vacant positions. Remember the Hotline fiasco with Steve Myers? Same strategy with the similar result that took two conference calls and a waste of countless BPR hours and resources to eventually fix. As of the writing of this update, your Communications Committee is without a Chairman or Vice Chairman and your P4P has no Committee Chairman or Vice Chairman. These examples are purposefully manufactured distractions from our goals in an effort to discredit the President and Vice President that you elected, in an effort to get them out of the way for the upcoming elections. In our opinion this behavior is unacceptable and serves no purpose towards attaining the goals you want: protected seniority; more money; more time off; and some professional dignity.
Our purpose in writing this segment is to keep you fully informed. It is not our intent to further polarize, divide, or distract our pilots from the goals you have established but let you know the political antics in play. As we have seen time after time, when the political playground is taken over by a chosen few that are attempting to discredit and undermine the President of our union, your goals take a back seat to their agenda. We saw this before at ALPA and now as the usual players from the Compass Correction crowd, apparently have enlisted the EVP, DCA, one PHL Vice Chairman and are joined by PHX. Together they create the political battle ground as the rest of us become spectators and watch our real adversaries of Leonidas and Team Tempe Management push us further from our goals and back toward their goals of Nicolau and bankruptcy wages. This will continue until the line pilots raise up and let their voices be heard.
Final Thoughts
No one said starting a new union would be easy. As your Representatives we have committed ourselves to try to avoid the politics that are currently bogging down this union. As we move forward we will stay committed to maintaining our focus on the real adversaries of our pilots who we define as those that are committed to preventing us from attaining our goals. History has proven that internal strife only serves one master; in our case that is Management that is intent on keeping us the lowest paid pilots in the industry. We have many selfish players in our ranks that are determined on pressing their own personal agendas at all cost, regardless of how their actions affect their fellow pilots. Their behavior creates the polarization and division in our ranks that clearly introduces failure as possible outcome. Your Charlotte Reps remain committed to the established goals you defined for this union and we recognize that failure to maintain that focus will only feed the dysfunction delivered by the selfish few that are attempting to undermine your union.
Watching the Extreme Makeover Home Edition project house being torn down to the dirt and then regenerated into a bigger, better place this week was an eye-opener. This project, directed by a single project manager and 3000 volunteers brought home some insights. We know that we can win this war and we can reach our goals, but it will take a commitment from each and every one of us. (We appreciate that you are reading this update, but are you committed to doing what it takes to get us to our goals?) This means acting with unity. The US Airways pilots' cause is righteous and we have the talent that can and will prevail. What we lack is that total commitment to unity as demonstrated by certain segments of our pilot group noted in their web board postings and anti-union political behaviors. These obstructers appear committed to creating distractions as they demonize the volunteers that are attempting to improve all of our plight. We must silence their behaviors by ignoring them as we move to the completion phase of our project.
At the Extreme Makeover building site the red hard hats were skilled labor, the green hard hats were general labor, and the man in the brown hat - the supervisor, their President and General. All that General needed to succeed was a core group of few Lieutenants and a large army of volunteers with a common purpose and a defined goal. No one questioned his judgment and when he gave direction, his orders were followed. We have all the makings of building our house at US Airways; what we need is to somehow find the commitment, unity, and resolve to get us there. We have to learn how to disregard the naysayers and toss the mutineers into the water to prevent the working army from being distracted from the project.
Finding a way to get all US Airways pilots on the same team striving for the same goals is the only way we can generate the energy to achieve an industry standard contract. Management clearly demonstrated to us what they fear most; it is our unity. This was proven by their reaction to the Safety First lanyards as they changed Company policy and introduced heavy-handed discipline to enforce their flawed directives as they attempt to prevent the pilots from displaying unity to our passengers, fellow workers and, most importantly, to them. By attempting to stifle our show of unity, they are in fact showing their fear of a united pilot group. We must exploit that fear to win are industry standard contract.
Stay informed, stay committed to the cause. We understand that the feeling of helplessness and desperation induced by others is tough to overcome. We must however overcome the despair and push through the disappointments, because losing is not an option. Those that get in the way have to be educated or we must remove the obstruction. We do not have the energy or time to watch the back of our leadership, we must all protect those, whoever they are, that are willing to take us to the goal line. It is the final product, not the involved personalities, which is the end of the project. Those that offer resistance or distraction must either start pulling together or get the **** out of the way as 3000 US Airways pilot volunteers have to build a house, and we have a limited time to get-er-done.
The Holiday Season is for enjoying your family and friends. We ask that you also remember those hostages that were wrongfully terminated as nothing more than a show of force. It is our responsibly to meet or exceed all US Airways safety standards, protecting all who are counting on your judgment, experience, and Captain's Authority to bring them home to their families this Christmas. Thank you all for your professionalism and diligence in flying safely while you keep it in the green; never forget to look after your wingman. Your leadership is here for you in spite of the dirty politics we are resisting; we all want that industry contract worse now than ever before and we need each and every one of you committed to the project.
Merry Christmas to you all, it is our turn, our time. Together let's make it happen!!
