The Resistance
11th Jan 2001, 02:38
Thought most of us would find this interesting. I hope that most of us who can read and understand are able to realise the truth in what is happening to the pilot workforce in the US. Through UNITY and PERSEVERENCE, the pilots of nearly all the major airlines in the US are now on industry leading pay, benefits and lifestyles. I trust that the next time one of you is contemplating helping out on a G-day, extending duty hours, or working in the office, you will also consider just how truly foolish and short-sighted you are being. The ONLY hope we have to further our career working conditions is if we push this management to the wall, NOW! Read on.....
PILOTS HOTLINE MESSAGE
> January 10, 2001
>
> Hello. Thanks for calling the pilot hotline.
>
> You've probably heard by now the big announcement about the deals we're
> making to pick up most of the assets of TWA and a whole lot of assets out
> of the proposed United/USAirways merger. These transactions mean that
> American is going to grow dramatically, and that means some TREMENDOUS NEW FLYING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN PILOTS.
>
> This is a pretty exciting day for us and for the entire industry.
>
> Later today, we'll be putting a good bit of detailed information on the
> aapilots web site - including the briefing that we'll be making to the
> APA, which you'll be able to click through on your own. So, I won't go
> into all the details here. Your Chiefs have been fully briefed, too, so
> feel free to drop in and ask 'em questions.
>
> Let me highlight some of the ways that Don Carty put these deals together
> in a way to protect our pilots while closing what otherwise would have
> been an insurmountable competitive gap between American and the combined
> United/USAirways - the kind of gap that would have really hurt us and our
> company.
>
> In acquiring TWA, we're getting an enormous infusion of new aircraft - and
> I do mean new, since TWA now has the youngest fleet in the industry. We'll
> be getting up to 190 aircraft, including approximately 25 Boeing 757s, 10
> Boeing 767s,100 MD-80s, 30 DC-9s and 15 Boeing 717s. We'll also be
> acquiring a pilot workforce of about 2,300 from TWA.
>
> We are acquiring 86 aircraft from USAirways- 34 B-757s, 12 MD-80s and
> 40 F-100s - and we'll be offering jobs to enough USAirways pilots to fly
> about 40% of those planes. United's quoting a number of about 1,100
> pilots that would come over - we expect the actual number would be less
> than half of that. The deal calls for us to talk with APA about using
> about 500 USAir captains and first officers to fly USAir's 757's - the
> other 600 would be integrated into our seniority list by agreement between
> ALPA and APA.
>
> In any event, you can see we're acquiring a whole lot more cockpit seats
> than we are folks to fill them, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO IMMEDIATE CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. With some of the assets that we acquire or lease in
> this deal, we plan to operate half of USAir's current East Coast Shuttle,
> with United operating the other half. We've structured our investment in
> DC Air so that the wet lease F-100 flying will be done by AA pilots on AA
> equipment, not by United, as was originally planned. That also protects
> AA jobs.
>
> Assuming the regulators and the bankruptcy court approve these deals, we'
> ll get a lot of terrific stuff - about 300 new jets, great slots at
> LaGuardia, JFK, a whole slew of new gates in Boston and LaGuardia and
> Washington Reagan National, a lot of new flying in the Northeast,
> including half of the USAirways Shuttle operation, and more feed to our
> transcons. Of course, this means we can get a lot bigger a whole lot
> faster than we could have through internal growth.
>
> These deals create a TON OF NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE AIRLINE,
> and result in a much more competitive American Airlines.
>
> Taken all together, these transactions will keep us roughly the same size
> as the combined United/USAirways - which means we won't be at risk of
> losing a lot of our lucrative corporate travel business to them.
>
> Of course, there are a lot of integration issues that we will need to iron
> out with the APA and some seniority issues that the respective unions will
> need to resolve - but in doing so, I hope we keep in mind that these deals
> are a BIG WIN FOR OUR PILOTS, as I'm sure you will conclude for yourself
> as you get more familiar with the details.
>
> Let me encourage you to keep an open mind. Don Carty's made it clear time
> and again that his objective is treat ALL OF AMERICANS PILOTS FAIRLY. He
> has repeatedly underscored his mission to grow the airline in ways that
> benefit our employees, our customers and our shareholders - something he's
> demonstrated time and again. HE HAS COMMITED TO DELIVERY OF A NEW CONTRACT THAT WILL LEAVE THE AA PILOT FORCE AS THE BEST PAID IN THE INDUSTRY, WITH BENEFITS AND LIFESTYLE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WILL MAKE US THE ENVY OF THE US AVIATION FRATERNITY.
>
> The industry is changing. The announcement of a United/US Airways merger
> was a watershed event that meant things would never be the same again. It
> became increasingly clear that, in order to get that merger approved,
> United would have to divest a whole lot of assets - and by taking the
> approach we have in these deals, we have ensured that those assets will be
> flying for us, not against us. And, believe me, one of our competitors
> would snap them up if we didn't, and we would have been dramatically
> weaker as a result.
>
> I can appreciate some of the feelings this kind of change can generate.
> The Reno experience although initially controversial, resulted in American
> having perhaps the strongest position it has ever had on the West Coast,
> which has strengthened our entire airline network. It has been a home run
> for our customers; our shareholders have seen big benefits; and it has
> been a BIG WIN FOR OUR PILOTS. I am confident that these deals are going
> to be a big win, too.
>
> Read the package on the web site.e-mail me or talk to your Chief if you
> have questions. This is a big deal for our company, and I'll make it a
> priority to keep you informed. REMEMBER, WE WILL BE THE HIGHEST PAID PILOTS IN THE INDUSTRY, AND IT IS THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS AS A UNITED GROUP OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OF STRUGGLE THAT WILL RESULT IN THIS JUSTIFIED REWARD. Fly safe.
[This message has been edited by The Resistance (edited 10 January 2001).]
PILOTS HOTLINE MESSAGE
> January 10, 2001
>
> Hello. Thanks for calling the pilot hotline.
>
> You've probably heard by now the big announcement about the deals we're
> making to pick up most of the assets of TWA and a whole lot of assets out
> of the proposed United/USAirways merger. These transactions mean that
> American is going to grow dramatically, and that means some TREMENDOUS NEW FLYING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN PILOTS.
>
> This is a pretty exciting day for us and for the entire industry.
>
> Later today, we'll be putting a good bit of detailed information on the
> aapilots web site - including the briefing that we'll be making to the
> APA, which you'll be able to click through on your own. So, I won't go
> into all the details here. Your Chiefs have been fully briefed, too, so
> feel free to drop in and ask 'em questions.
>
> Let me highlight some of the ways that Don Carty put these deals together
> in a way to protect our pilots while closing what otherwise would have
> been an insurmountable competitive gap between American and the combined
> United/USAirways - the kind of gap that would have really hurt us and our
> company.
>
> In acquiring TWA, we're getting an enormous infusion of new aircraft - and
> I do mean new, since TWA now has the youngest fleet in the industry. We'll
> be getting up to 190 aircraft, including approximately 25 Boeing 757s, 10
> Boeing 767s,100 MD-80s, 30 DC-9s and 15 Boeing 717s. We'll also be
> acquiring a pilot workforce of about 2,300 from TWA.
>
> We are acquiring 86 aircraft from USAirways- 34 B-757s, 12 MD-80s and
> 40 F-100s - and we'll be offering jobs to enough USAirways pilots to fly
> about 40% of those planes. United's quoting a number of about 1,100
> pilots that would come over - we expect the actual number would be less
> than half of that. The deal calls for us to talk with APA about using
> about 500 USAir captains and first officers to fly USAir's 757's - the
> other 600 would be integrated into our seniority list by agreement between
> ALPA and APA.
>
> In any event, you can see we're acquiring a whole lot more cockpit seats
> than we are folks to fill them, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO IMMEDIATE CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. With some of the assets that we acquire or lease in
> this deal, we plan to operate half of USAir's current East Coast Shuttle,
> with United operating the other half. We've structured our investment in
> DC Air so that the wet lease F-100 flying will be done by AA pilots on AA
> equipment, not by United, as was originally planned. That also protects
> AA jobs.
>
> Assuming the regulators and the bankruptcy court approve these deals, we'
> ll get a lot of terrific stuff - about 300 new jets, great slots at
> LaGuardia, JFK, a whole slew of new gates in Boston and LaGuardia and
> Washington Reagan National, a lot of new flying in the Northeast,
> including half of the USAirways Shuttle operation, and more feed to our
> transcons. Of course, this means we can get a lot bigger a whole lot
> faster than we could have through internal growth.
>
> These deals create a TON OF NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE AIRLINE,
> and result in a much more competitive American Airlines.
>
> Taken all together, these transactions will keep us roughly the same size
> as the combined United/USAirways - which means we won't be at risk of
> losing a lot of our lucrative corporate travel business to them.
>
> Of course, there are a lot of integration issues that we will need to iron
> out with the APA and some seniority issues that the respective unions will
> need to resolve - but in doing so, I hope we keep in mind that these deals
> are a BIG WIN FOR OUR PILOTS, as I'm sure you will conclude for yourself
> as you get more familiar with the details.
>
> Let me encourage you to keep an open mind. Don Carty's made it clear time
> and again that his objective is treat ALL OF AMERICANS PILOTS FAIRLY. He
> has repeatedly underscored his mission to grow the airline in ways that
> benefit our employees, our customers and our shareholders - something he's
> demonstrated time and again. HE HAS COMMITED TO DELIVERY OF A NEW CONTRACT THAT WILL LEAVE THE AA PILOT FORCE AS THE BEST PAID IN THE INDUSTRY, WITH BENEFITS AND LIFESTYLE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WILL MAKE US THE ENVY OF THE US AVIATION FRATERNITY.
>
> The industry is changing. The announcement of a United/US Airways merger
> was a watershed event that meant things would never be the same again. It
> became increasingly clear that, in order to get that merger approved,
> United would have to divest a whole lot of assets - and by taking the
> approach we have in these deals, we have ensured that those assets will be
> flying for us, not against us. And, believe me, one of our competitors
> would snap them up if we didn't, and we would have been dramatically
> weaker as a result.
>
> I can appreciate some of the feelings this kind of change can generate.
> The Reno experience although initially controversial, resulted in American
> having perhaps the strongest position it has ever had on the West Coast,
> which has strengthened our entire airline network. It has been a home run
> for our customers; our shareholders have seen big benefits; and it has
> been a BIG WIN FOR OUR PILOTS. I am confident that these deals are going
> to be a big win, too.
>
> Read the package on the web site.e-mail me or talk to your Chief if you
> have questions. This is a big deal for our company, and I'll make it a
> priority to keep you informed. REMEMBER, WE WILL BE THE HIGHEST PAID PILOTS IN THE INDUSTRY, AND IT IS THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS AS A UNITED GROUP OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OF STRUGGLE THAT WILL RESULT IN THIS JUSTIFIED REWARD. Fly safe.
[This message has been edited by The Resistance (edited 10 January 2001).]