Gillegan is 100% correct. Just to add to what he said, the MEC did not allow the pilots to vote on ANY of the concessionary votes during the 911 bankruptcy period. The first vote gave us a 43% pay cut, the next changed the reserve rules, I think but am not sure that there was one regarding medical insurance and finally the pension termination. We were not allowed to vote on any of these!
And then in pure ALPA bull***t, instead of taking his 43% paycut, our MEC chairman (name removed) was given a job by (name removed) to a non elected executive for ALPA with a raise over his original salary. The man has no guts but he does have HUGE balls!
cerbus, 3000 a month X 5000 pilots is 15 million a month X 12 months is 180 million a year. 1.7 billion at 5%interest compounded over 40 years is 11.97 billion. The 1.7 billion will run out in about year. Obviously there are not 5000pilots collecting now but the 1.7 will run out in about year 22. We are now in year 5. That means the taxpayer will start to foot the bill in 17 more years.
We did want to ride out the storm and the MEC knew this. That is why they did not put this out to a vote. I am the last person to "protect" usair. It was a crap company then and even more now. But you are making a huge mistake if you think the pilots were to blame. The blame lies with the MEC, the courts and the justice department of the Bush administration.
I am not sure what actions you think we should own up to. The fact that some of us are here means we quit there! Is that owning up enough for you? Some of us thought U was going out of business, and some thought they could not work any longer at such a currupt company. Adding the absolute corruption of ALPA and it is even worse. We voted with our feet.
330 man