US Pilots Labor Discussion

[luvn737s]

I think the next 321 to be delivered out east is the Pacemaker Snowball's Chance

 

[luvn737s]

A vote for Ferguson/Koontz is a vote to capitulate on the Nic before Judge Silver has even answered the legal question before her court.

No, the pilots will vote on a contract that contains the Nic. That will be the only vote to "capitulate".

Voting for Ferguson/Koontz merely says we want to try a new tack and strive towards unity in the pilot group. If folks hate them, or they do something illegal they can be recalled if sufficient support is garnered.

The east acts like they have never voted on leadership before, and from what passes for leadership at USAPA (and ALPA before), I'd say they haven't.

 

[USA320Pilot]

Unbiased Facts' Update (How To Negotiate Scope): February 16, 2012

Dear Subscriber,

Update for February 16, 2012

Quick Fact #227: According to the NAC’s QRG US Airways has not provided a Scope response to the union. Why would Grievance Committee
Chairwoman Tracy Parella tell the PHL pilots a distorted version of the truth concerning Scope protection negotiations?

Since the Scope provisions were the last items negotiated in the AFA tentative agreement and are historically closeout items in pilot negotiations, isn’t this more evidence that the Kirby Proposal was merely an opener, and not a final offer as many within USAPA try to portray it?

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[high*flyer]

Just followed the link to the Ferguson/Knootz campaign video: really, is this the best the west has to offer, they look like Penn & Teller in cheap suits. Can't wait to see more, after I stop laughing...

 

[Move2CLT]

Just followed the link to the Ferguson/Knootz campaign video: really, is this the best the west has to offer, they look like Penn & Teller in cheap suits. Can't wait to see more, after I stop laughing...

Because your easties have been doing much better?

How's that LOA93 working for you? The injunction?

All in care of the east.

You may be laughing, but deep down you know it's at yourself.

 

[fodase]

Just followed the link to the Ferguson/Knootz campaign video: really, is this the best the west has to offer, they look like Penn & Teller in cheap suits. Can't wait to see more, after I stop laughing...

“It’s what they do, not what they say!”

Remember that slogan?  It was USAPA’s calling card as they tried to convince the US Airways pilots that switching unions was the best way to avoid the seniority arbitration.
Almost five years ago, in 2007, several US Airways East pilots founded the US Airline Pilots Association in order to avoid implementation of the Nicolau Award.
Once in office, the various “Founding Fathers” managed to disagree with each other on just about anything and everything, except on intentionally refusing to properly represent the Phoenix-based pilots.  As time went on, we watched as this new union sank into an abyss when these once-unified East pilots turned on each other in a way never witnessed before in the history of Organized Labor: Physical confrontations between Officers which required intervention by Charlotte law enforcement, secret meetings and allegations of more secret meetings to discuss the secret meetings, eavesdropping through hotel walls, a National Officer romantically involved with the hired help, anonymous emails, and various unsecured websites publishing supposedly “confidential” email exchanges between Officers and Representatives.  One faction unilaterally deciding to start an ill-advised job action, including well-documented instances of physical and emotional intimidation of US Airways pilots who were not “on board” with this illegal activity.  There’s more, but the entire list is both too long and too embarrassing to publish in full here.
As a result of this soap opera, and nearly four years after USAPA becoming our Collective Bargaining Agent in 2008, the possibility of either a new contract or a Date-of-Hire seniority list is further away then ever.  But now, the same people that brought you USAPA, (and who have spend the last four years trying to advance their own agenda at the expense of the wellbeing of this pilot group), are trying to convince you that they will finally be able to accomplish the goals that have so far eluded them- all that is required is for you to give them three more years!
In the various campaign emails we hear lofty promises of “working together”, “reaching across political divides” and “representing all the US Airways pilots,” even as the candidates continue to blame everybody else for what went wrong over the last four years.  If that candidate is not based in Phoenix, then they need only to look in the mirror to find the real culprit for our collective failure to achieve. That’s a fact.
“It’s what they do, not what they say!”

We have one candidate, and self-proclaimed “USAPA founder,” who is referring to working together with other US Airways pilots as “an unholy Alliance.”   This is the same candidate whose lengthy Domicile updates are so full of vitriol, that they featured prominently in two separate Federal Courts during both the Company’s Injunction hearing and the Company’s Request for Declaratory Judgment.
We have another candidate and principal USAPA founder who, when he last held office, instigated a vicious and frivolous lawsuit against West pilots, only to resign his position early in order to avoid having to testify in the Addington trial.  And what is his recipe for moving forward?  Bringing back the legal counsel who authored and filed the RICO lawsuit (and whom you can also thank for USAPA’s illegal – and failed – “Date-of-Hire Objective” in the first place).
We have another candidate (and self-proclaimed USAPA founder) who boasts about traveling to “ALL the bases” to speak to the pilots, leaving out the fact that he did not bother traveling to the biggest crew base in our system, Phoenix.
These same candidates are sending out campaign emails which contain ringing endorsements from a variety of people.  But, when you take a closer look at these endorsements, you will see that they just happen to come from other “USAPA founders” who have worked with these candidates in various positions during the last four years and who are largely responsible for getting us into the mess we are today.  It’s like getting an “Upstanding Citizen” recommendation from Charlie Sheen.
If these candidates are really interested in reforming USAPA for the benefit of the pilot group as a whole, how is it that their endorsements mostly come from the same tired list of names we’ve seen for the last few years, under both ALPA and USAPA?  How are you going to make things better when the people supporting you are the people that got us where we are today?
“It’s what they do, not what they say!”

Only one candidate during this election has traveled across the Mississippi to visit another crew base: Jeff Koontz.  Furthermore, Eric Ferguson has spent many days in the service of US Airways pilots while in Charlotte or Washington DC over the last three years.   As Jeff has also participated in several USAPA BPR meetings, many pilots from the East coast have come to know them both through their USAPA work.
This week, Jeff spent several hours in Charlotte, by himself, listening to East pilots’ concerns and answering questions.  He has plans to visit PHL and DCA next week (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday AM and PM respectively).  This is something that no other candidate has done during this, (or the last) National Officer election.
Only three candidates can boast support from all the various demographics in the US Airways pilot group: Ferguson, Koontz and Holmes.
Here are a few of the letters of support we received over the last week, as well as some posts made by US Airways pilots on the only secure web board (“The Hangar” – http://cp.cactuspilots.us/forum.php) where ALL US Airways pilots can communicate with each other in an open, respectful forum without hiding behind screen names.
Considering the intimidation efforts directed by some towards those East pilots who did not support the illegal slowdown, we decided to de-identify these men and women:
Hi Eric,

I am a CLT 330 pilot who along with many others is fed up with USAPA and their dysfunctional organization. I am voting for you and Jeff. I would like to know who you recommend for the appeals board?

Good luck on the election and I hope you and others can bring some action for USAPA and move things forward.

CLT CA

Jeff,

I just wanted to let you know that I voted for yourself and Eric in the election for president and vice – president of USAPA. I mentioned to Eric in a message I sent to him that I wish him as I now wish for you the best of luck in the election and trying to change the minds of many of the east pilots. I hope you have better luck in this area than I have had the past 4 years. Let us hope this time is a new beginning of unity for our entire pilot group.

PHL CA

I just voted for Ferguson, Koontz, Holmes, Wright, Iranpour, O’Neil, & Vasin

Regards,

DCA CA

+1

CLT FO

Absolutely I am supporting Eric for President. Unapologetically supporting him. I see him as the only way forward out of this mess. I’ve been working tirelessly to convince everyone I know here that he is the best candidate to move forward.

CLT FO – Third Lister

You guys got my vote yesterday. Thanks Eric for everything you have done. Churchill was right. “Never have so many owed so much to so few.” Thanks again. He also said to never enter negotiations with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.

PHX CA

You got my vote, Eric. Thanks and good luck.

PHX CA

Can a leopard change it spots?  Can the people who spent the last four years fighting each other over the most insignificant of details put their egos aside and lead us out of this mess, get us a joint contract, prepare for a possible merger and properly represent the interests of all the US Airways pilots?
In our opinion, the answer is a resounding “NO!”  There is only one way out of the mess we find ourselves in and only Ferguson, Koontz and Holmes are dedicated and capable enough to lead us down that path.
Vote Ferguson, Koontz and Holmes. Your career depends on it!!
CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!!!

 
Remember: If you change any of your votes, even if you haven’t voted for that position prior, you must change them all. As it resets all positions, you must recast all votes. The only votes that counts are the ones recorded when the Polls close on February 23 at 1400 EST.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Just followed the link to the Ferguson/Knootz campaign video: really, is this the best the west has to offer, they look like Penn & Teller in cheap suits. Can't wait to see more, after I stop laughing...

If I was a pilot and I felt they represented my best interests I wouldn't care if they wore bathrobes in the Video. Substance not style or you'll get the Pilot version of Obama, an Empty Suit.

 

[KTM300]

Because your easties have been doing much better?

How's that LOA93 working for you? The injunction?

All in care of the east.

You may be laughing, but deep down you know it's at yourself.

If I may reply...

With all kidding aside, LOA 93 stinks, but we are making it work the best we can.

And as far as the injunction is concerned, It really is a non event. If you want to make it into something, you are wasting your time.

What you have to understand is that I would much rather live with what I currently have(Airbus Capt currently holding a secondary line, and living in base), as opposed to accept a contract that could alter that, which as your name implies,depending who your are, could change that.


I am not a big fan of Cleary or USAPA, but your buddies, fergie and koontz, have an uphill battle trying to win over east guys like me for that reason alone.


Oh and one last thing, I do laugh alot, sometimes even at myself, its good therapy!

 

[Move2CLT]

They don't have to win you over. They've got the third listers a all they need is a few of your friends.

Amazing too that you admit to making the best of a bankruptcy contract. You've really set your bar high.

 

[high*flyer]

The funny part is not what they wore....

 

[Pi brat]

Unbiased Facts' Update (How To Negotiate Scope): February 16, 2012

Hey USA. I got an email from a friend that listed your vote from PA. Did I miss it on here? I think I saw you back one candidate, but not the rest. Will you be putting out recommendations?

 

[Pi brat]

deleted

 

[Pi brat]

“It’s what they do, not what they say!”

Fodase, who wrote this? I really don't think it was you. There are more than 3 sentences and not a "clown" in the whole letter.

The hangar? Really? Are there this many east pilots still on there?

 

[traderjake]

After hearing things like this I cannot understand a single east pilot voting for this guy.

Because they don't want to retire on LOA 93 wages.

 

[fodase]

Fodase, who wrote this? I really don't think it was you. There are more than 3 sentences and not a "clown" in the whole letter.

The hangar? Really? Are there this many east pilots still on there?

Silly clown, who cares who wrote it if it's true?

(happy now? lol)