west pilots wake up
AAA had the darling of the legacy carrier’s pension fund. Period!
When the plan was terminated the stock market in 12 months came back 25%. Conservatively the pension probably could have been frozen for 5 to 7 yrs and be 75 to 100% funded.
The Bush administration put the strangle hold on the pilot facilitating the companies wish and every other company to say: if you want the ATSB monies you give us a 7% loan payment.
What government loan is 7%?
After all they caused 911, every wonder why you could lock the cockpit but some schlock could open it with a Boeing Key? A key that all pilots, f/a, mechanics, cleaners have.
The same key Airways gave us that is the Boeing key, would in fact open any Boeing made.
That is EAL, PAA, NWA, UAL, DAL, etc etc etc etc.
And say it’s an old a/c as well. B727, all the fleets.
We had no security in America.
These points were brought up from time to time with our safety reps but nothing ever changed through the FAA, our Government.
Also remember you could carry a box cutter. (That’s how they cut the throats of the f/a and pilots).
So....the point here is. US Airways most profitable Hub DCA were closed. We made 50 cents on every dollar of revenue.
USA closed BAL during this time too? Why? It was the fastest growing airport because the DCA passengers had to travel too; Wolf sold 19 gates for 4 million. Why? Wolf was on a merge at all cost.
The government requiring a 7% loan fee was just what the airline wanted, we can't afford that loan we have obligations to our employees, and Snow job states, "we don't care about your pensions". They could have blended it in but we got the full brunt of their actions.
ALPO could have frozen the pension too (like nwa). And Lets not forget about a pension that was the darling of the legacy carriers.
The enemy has always been management.
If you look into the history of merger changes in language of ALPO it took place as a result of UAL's influence in the union changing doh to:
1. Time in service
2. Has to be fair and equitable for both parties
3. There can be no windfall for any one party
4. Must consider time in service
5. If furloughed you get first right of interview (later changed by active junior pilots on our seniority list 1995 as a result of being threatened with furlough with a bought n paid for no furlough clause).
UAL wrote this language because they were actively attempting a planned merger 1994 era.
Remember when UAL was in merger talks yr 2000 with USAir, there pilots forced the company to reopen contracts, basically a work stoppage, and voted themselves a 30% pay raise. Why? So they could gain from this in the merger language. Career expectations.
Lets not forget the most important thing here, I read on winkapedia that US Airways formed a group called "barbell acquisition group". This was formed with venture capital money and part of US Air Group. This was given to America West Holdings and this is how America West purchased US Airways Group.
Thus with their own money.
So is this the correct way to do business.
I'll answer that after pointing out that management came to each labor group asking their blessing on a merger.
Not an acquisition.
A merger not a "your lucky we saved you"!
What is important to realize is Gerry Glass and company have trashed our contract by whip sawing our groups; they’ve made our lives miserable. The fact remains competent aviators that left US Airways to work in the sandbox made enormous sacrifices to leave a company that has acted unprofessional and malicious.
ALPO has facilitated the enemy's wishes.
If you can understand in a business where labor makes up the day to day business operation as we do. You have to have a merger.
Streamlining businesses to efficiency or more profitability is the buzz word today and back in yr 2000 ual usa merger had a 4% overlap.
But ALPO did our careers a great disservice.
Unlike the AMA which only allows a certain amount of doctors our profession and especially company has diluted the waters with inexperience.
The fact remains, fireman, atc controllers live very well in their retirements but our "profession" has been reduced to a fighting ground amongst ourselves.
However you want to call it, it makes perfect business sense for AMW group to purchase US Airways group with the money Barbell acquisition Group (part of US Air group).
We were already in Chapt 11 once already and were heading there again before AMW.
What is very displeasing to me and other pilots in this profession is to hear the Nicalau award.
I live under the trump shuttle merger.
What he did for our groups does not hold merit of the award.
He did not abide by the four levels of merger protocol. (look above).
We are labor.
Management is evil and as actions speak greater than words our profession has been trashed even further by the Bush administration.
Remember when the NWA f/a's went through the NRLB 30 cooling off and wanted to strike, only to be told they couldn't.
There telling management they can't financially live on the contract terms.
But the Bush administration says you can't strike.
They are nothing but indentured servants!
We lost our pension, our lifetime medical, Nicolau doesn't follow merger language and under a union that we pay 2% of our gross income to.
We've had pilots on furlough for over 12 years. How can that equate to union representation?
We have over 386 small jets outsourcing our jobs as a result of ALPO.
Wake up West pilots!
Management will trash your "career expectations" and force LOA 93 on your careers very soon.
Why continue the rant and rave of a lottery ticket that was issued out of fraud and deception.
We have the tools to fence, and work together as one or we can deal with the un-pleasant future of your jobs detracting and pay undermined with whip sawing of the two groups.
Look at Atlas Air and Polar.
Every time one would go into contract negotiations they would state the other side is not making money and then switch flying to the other side.
It’s unfortunate they did not come together as one and deal with management.
Their evil ones.
If we don't get together on this one, this opportunity, we will have more disparity and quite possibly the inability to ensure our own future in the next merger with UAL or whom ever.
I encourage each and every one of you to swallow what ever pride you have and realize what’s at stake.
We are not here for a grab of your seats.
I request that you do the same and man your committees under USAPA.
After all DOH is the fairest method, and fences as well. It’s our birthdates.
We proved that with the Barbell acquisition we can live another day. Irregardless of who's money? Ask yourself, why ALPO didn’t educate our groups on this acquisition. I don't think Nicolau ever considered that into his equation, it was never mentioned.
Why was that kept as secret amongst our leaders?
It is however being mentioned on the hub at present as voiced by Kirby. "the other side did present a document that showed they had provided the money to be purchased with".
My observation is that ALPO has become a smoke screen for management.
The only thing more chilling is the ATA and their BS; sometimes I think their two in the same.
You have the ability to shape USAPA and protect your careers.
Get on with it and let’s shape OUR future. After all the future is very scary at present, doesn't matter if you’re in aviation or not.
I look forward to the day that we can share time together without apprehension of prejudice.
Regards
stringbender