US Pilots Labor Discussion

[nic4us]

No predictions tonight..but Delta using PHX to get to SWA makes more sense than even U and AMR merging. Delta is not done yet, and will not be satisfied at being number two in size. Besides that, they seem to really be a money making machine right now, even with mad dogs 🙂 Pretty ballsy to predict a big profit for 2012 in December of 11'.

As many (including this superhero) have said..don't assume the only "splitting" to be done is PHX from the East. But at least the East has some Scope and change of control language that is "maybe" enforceable. All the PHX base has is a bunch of language that always says.."at the Company's discretion"..or words to that effect.

RR

Seajay, although he underestimates the West's protections, the superhero gets it.

 

[nic4us]

RR incorrect statement. The west is not doing a quarter of the "east" flying. Think about it, do the math and get back to us.

When you taxi out or look around the terminal at CLT or PHL is every 4th plane west metal? Does your statement even make sense?

The 24% MYTH was created by the company in their defense of the TA-10 grievence. They lost, they are full of BS about the 24%, and they still owe me money, 3 years after the fact. The company violated the West provisions in the TA and moved West flying to the east to stem the amount of furloughs required on the east, and pass those furloughs onto West pilots. To add insult to injury, they then allowed junior pilots who were recalled from east furlough to West positions to then transfer back east and retain employment while furloughing West pilots senior to them.

When I look around the termianls in CLT or PHL, I think about the West pilots furloughed to save some junior east pilots job.

 

[jie7114]

Not to add logic and reason to this topic, but if you look at Delta and American's hubs it may give some credence to the idea of splitting the airline. Delta's only western hub is SLC. SLC is a city about the size of Charlotte. We know based on a city of that size that the O&D traffic is just not there. So a western hub like PHX with it's large population, even with the amount of leisure traffic it has, may be attractive for Delta. Also American has a hub in DFW and LAX, which would put PHX as the odd man out in that situation. Looking at the East, CLT and PHL makes no sense for Delta because of it's large, and growing presences in the New York Market, and Atlanta. While American does have a good size international presences at JFK, their domestic presence there is smaller and augmented by Jetblue. American has no presence in the South East to speak of, we all know that they have tried to make RDU and BNA work without success. I don't know that CLT is that much better than either of those cities, but it does have a much larger business community to draw from, and is ninth busiest hub airport in the country. Just my two sense on the subject, but it seems that if you were looking at a scenario where they were going to split the airline Delta buying our PHX hub would make a lot of sense, and the remaining airline would then merge with American.

 

[Zone5]

Not to add logic and reason to this topic, but if you look at Delta and American's hubs it may give some credence to the idea of splitting the airline. Delta's only western hub is SLC. SLC is a city about the size of Charlotte. We know based on a city of that size that the O&D traffic is just not there. So a western hub like PHX with it's large population, even with the amount of leisure traffic it has, may be attractive for Delta. Also American has a hub in DFW and LAX, which would put PHX as the odd man out in that situation. Looking at the East, CLT and PHL makes no sense for Delta because of it's large, and growing presences in the New York Market, and Atlanta. While American does have a good size international presences at JFK, their domestic presence there is smaller and augmented by Jetblue. American has no presence in the South East to speak of, we all know that they have tried to make RDU and BNA work without success. I don't know that CLT is that much better than either of those cities, but it does have a much larger business community to draw from, and is ninth busiest hub airport in the country. Just my two sense on the subject, but it seems that if you were looking at a scenario where they were going to split the airline Delta buying our PHX hub would make a lot of sense, and the remaining airline would then merge with American.

Works for me.

seajay

 

[BoeingBoy]

Works for me.

seajay

Sure, all you have to do is ignore the idea that PHL and JFK are far enough apart (94 miles as the crow flies) to not interfere with each other but PHX (370 miles from LAX and 868 miles from DFW) is too close to current hubs be useful to AA. You might as well say that PHL and CLT are too close together (449 miles) so US should eliminate one.... After all, PHX would replace SLC (507 miles away) in this fantasy...

And I thought pilots were supposed to see the big picture...

Jim

 

[jie7114]

Sure, all you have to do is ignore the idea that PHL and JFK are far enough apart (94 miles as the crow flies) to not interfere with each other but PHX (370 miles from LAX and 868 miles from DFW) is too close to current hubs be useful to AA. You might as well say that PHL and CLT are too close together (449 miles) so US should eliminate one.... After all, PHX would replace SLC (507 miles away) in this fantasy...

And I thought pilots were supposed to see the big picture...

Jim

I think you just made my point quite nicely, why would you want two hubs so close. It makes no sense. Are you really going to choose PHX in that situation over LAX, no. 370nm is nothing in the air, about 45mins, that's a lot of over lap. While I suppose that it could work for awhile, you would undoubtedly end up in a situation like we've just gone through with the last round of base realignment.You are correct that PHL and CLT are relatively close by this metric, but population and region dictate that these two hubs work well in their respective locations, the same goes for IAD and EWR.

PHX would give Delta a very large hub in the West, something they don't have in SLC, not that it's a bad hub, it just doesn't have the O&D traffic that you will gain with PHX because of the population. I'm not saying that this is going to happen I just think that it may be one possibility in this whole merger mess.

 

[Metroyet]

I see Scabford is now blaming ALPA for usapas total failure. Do these idiots ever learn anything? Btw, doh isn't "enshrined" in the C&BLs, its "entombed"

 

[Move2CLT]

I see Scabford is now blaming ALPA for usapas total failure. Do these idiots ever learn anything? Btw, doh isn't "enshrined" in the C&BLs, its "entombed"

Blaming ALPA was on my long list.

They're pretty damn predictable out east.

 

[Move2CLT]

LMAO!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yti-cfW_OlU&feature=youtu.be

 

[Reed Richards]

RR incorrect statement. The west is not doing a quarter of the "east" flying. Think about it, do the math and get back to us.

When you taxi out or look around the terminal at CLT or PHL is every 4th plane west metal? Does your statement even make sense?

I was actually referring to a number Doug threw out a way back. He was either wrong, or maybe I simply "heard it the way I wanted to." I think it was in the same session he said he had "accepted" some list. Tough guy to read even on a good day.

RR

 

[MUTATIS MUTANDIS]

Again, demonstrating a complete lack of situational awareness.

I will go ahead and give you the score in all these hypothetical potential breakups.


LCC basically has three major assets. Airplanes, realestate, and infrastructure. You, as a pilot for LCC, do not have any more or less of claim to any of these assets than any other LCC pilot. The fact that you are current on the 767 could be a benefit or a hinderance for you personally. The fact that you are based in PHL means nothing. You seem to have a fundamental misconception about how our company is structured. The east does not own anything..i.e. PHL, CLT, 767s etc. those all belong to LCC, as does PHX and the PHX based 320's and 757s. In any merger, aquisition, spinoff, you and I have next to zero protections other than being current on a particular airplane would likely mean offers to fly that airplane, wherever it ended up, long enough for our replacement to be trained.

Lets say Delta comes and makes an offer for all LCC, they want the A320's, 330's and 350 orders. They plan on closing PHX and CLT, and keeping PHL and DCA. Still like that 767 seat that is headed for the boneyard?

On top of all this, usapa just got parked by the NMB. The next step is released. Once released, your contract, your scope, the TA, all go into the self-help trashcan. Getting parked by the NMB is no big deal, getting Parkered while in self-help is a huge deal.

To sum, east scope is basically as worthless as West scope, a pilots current domicile has no bearing on corporate transactions, and usapa is still the most worthless union to ever disgrace organized labor.

http://ycharts.com/financials/LCC/balance_sheet/annual ?

 

[MUTATIS MUTANDIS]

You Know after watching that sophmoric video I wonder why, when the WEST BPR had a chance to take Gary Hummel out for distributing confidential info they didn't do it, had it been any other EASTIE they would have jumped right on it besides, I wonder why HUMMEL didn't offer up his laptop! Luv to see that investigation, oops forgot! not during the ELECTION! MM!

 

[USA320Pilot]

Message from Steve Bradford USAPA Vice Presidential Candidate: January 31, 2012

Or visit us at www.changeusapa.com

Fellow Pilots,

My name is Steve Bradford and I am running for the Office of USAPA Vice President. If you reflect back to this time four years ago I, along with a small core group of dedicated pilots, helped found USAPA. I also served as your first President for our inaugural year.

Pilots have often asked why I only served a one year term. Some have asked if perhaps there was a legal requirement for unions to hold elections after their initial year. That is not the case. I served as president for one year because it was a campaign promise. I also wanted to make sure that you, the line pilot, had the ability to change not only your bargaining representative but your leadership as well. I fulfilled that promise and decided not to run for a second term to allow our line pilots to have the chance to select their own leadership. It was my commitment that those with more union experience might be better suited to lead. That could not have been further from the truth. Our Union is now without honesty, openness, transparency and without these essential elements, we cannot prevail. Lacking these core ideals, any organization is destined to fail.

In three short years our union has become badly off track. A line pilot commented to me that, “we are not off track we are totally off the road, out in the middle of a field, and stuck up to the axel.” Sadly, I am in agreement with that statement.

USAPA is no longer the union you expected, it is not the union that I envisioned and it is not the union that you as a line pilot deserve. We are mired in failure and it is because of the current leadership and their political maneuverings that echo those of our past bargaining agent. The current leaderships’ tenure with that agent is where they received their political training. That was the place where skill at parliamentary games, obfuscation and delay was substituted for leadership. It was also the place where character assassination was rampant and where our current leaders learned to blame their failures on others.

I am running for USAPA Vice President because I believe that I have found someone better qualified than I to sit in the President’s chair and that person is Gary Hummel. Gary is a staunch pilot advocate and he supports Date of Hire as enshrined in our constitution. You may hear rumors to the contrary but I tell you that they are all political lies. I would not support anyone who did not hold this goal and centerpiece of our union ideals in the vanguard. I was steadfast in support of this concept from the start of our union and I have not deviated from it one bit. I support Gary Hummel and he supports Date of Hire. Why would I help create a union with Date of Hire as a centerpiece and then abandon that creed?

I am asking for your support and your vote to help USAPA pilots achieve their goals and aspirations. We deserve better from both our union and our company. As an example, we did not even challenge the company when we received a preliminary injunction in Federal Court in Charlotte. Why? Why would USAPA go through all that effort of a safety campaign and then not follow up and challenge the company in court? Our union stated that it would be too expensive, but in fact our union leadership and close supporters are afraid of legal discovery and depositions that would place them at risk. We actually have over $5 million dollars in the bank. We cannot control what the company does but we can control what our union does and we must start now.

We are getting nowhere with negotiations and about to get parked. There are no more negotiations scheduled after January 23, 2012. We have made no progress whatsoever. We are engaged in costly and futile litigation against the company in New York Federal Court to deny the company a venue for their preliminary injunction and to allege violations of status quo. But these violations are not supported by fact or law and your union leadership filed this lawsuit without any prior notice or consultation with the BPR. I do not consider a call 45 minutes prior to the actual filing after months of secret workings with a new law firm, to be adequate prior notice or consultation.
Help us give you back the union you and I envisioned. It is time to finish the work. It is time to bring back true independent and democratic Union principles and ideals to the US Airways pilots. You deserve it.

I ask for you support for Gary Hummel as the next USAPA President and Stephen Bradford as the next USAPA Vice President.

Thank You,

Stephen Bradford

NOTE: No Union funds may be used in an election campaign. We ask for your financial support, if you are so inclined. Please send you donations to Care of:

Captain Mark King, 197 Longuevue Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15228.

There is also a PayPal hyperlink on the ChangeUSAPA.com web site. Thank you

Resume: Stephen H. Bradford

Employment:

US Airways October 1986 to Present
Current position- Reserve Captain- DCA B737.
Type ratings - DC-9, B-737, FK-28, DA-20, A-320.

Forum Group, Inc. Corporate Pilot
January 1985 to October, 1986.
Aircraft Flown Falcon-20 and King F90

Tyson Foods Corporate Pilot (IBP division)
1981 to December, 1984
Aircraft Flown Falcon -10 and King Air A-100,

A&P Mechanic and FCC (GROL) - General Radio Operator License – (Avionics Technician)

Union experience:

USAPA Appeal Board Member - April 19, 2009 to present
First USAPA President - April 19, 2008 to April 18, 2009
Instrumental role in the organization of USAPA - Summer 2007 thru Spring 2008
Training Committee - 2003 to 2007

Education:

Masters Commercial Aviation - Delta State University – 2005.
Diploma- George Brown College- Electrical Engineering Technician-1997
30 Semester Hours 1994 thru 1996 – Electrical Engineering Technology – Allegheny Community College - 4.0 GPA- Phi Delta Theta Honor Society.
B.S. Aviation Western Michigan University 1978

 

[Move2CLT]

You Know after watching that sophmoric video I wonder why, when the WEST BPR had a chance to take Gary Hummel out for distributing confidential info they didn't do it, had it been any other EASTIE they would have jumped right on it besides, I wonder why HUMMEL didn't offer up his laptop! Luv to see that investigation, oops forgot! not during the ELECTION! MM!

MM calling something sophmoric!?!?!

Look at your past posts and then judge.

 

[Reed Richards]

You Know after watching that sophmoric video I wonder why, when the WEST BPR had a chance to take Gary Hummel out for distributing confidential info they didn't do it, had it been any other EASTIE they would have jumped right on it besides, I wonder why HUMMEL didn't offer up his laptop! Luv to see that investigation, oops forgot! not during the ELECTION! MM!

Typical, now get MeKee's hand out of your back and tell us how you really feel. Why is it the leadership (and leadership wanna be's) in CLT always feel the need to berate other Base reps for how they voted? They can all tell you the latest scuttlebutt on the CP popcorn makers, but only HALF bother to vote in their own Base election. "West BPR?" Really?

You don't need look at Gary's computer (at least he still HAS it), he was very up front and said he sent the PUBLIC info to as many people as he could.

And the BPR does not "take out" Officers. They need more than just a simple majority, and even then send it to the Members for a vote.

You are way less funny than that "sophomoric" video (you actually watched?)...quit being such a "tee shot in the shower" and at least have the decency to learn how your union works. Maybe then you might "last" on a Committee, or gosh forbid actually get elected to something. Maybe you just need a break..head on down to Tampa and visit with Randy...maybe the two of you can snorkel together and look for his laptop in the canal.

RR (I love election season..it brings out the best of me!)