Air Wisconsin pilots win!!

[BoilerUP]

Actually after this good news, I could almost care less over who wins...we as a pilot group won big today and that is all that matters.

GO ALPA!

 

[regionaltard]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that a lawsuit will probably be required to compel compliance with the arbitrator's award.

 

[ArcticFlier]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that a lawsuit will probably be required to compel compliance with the arbitrator's award.

Maybe.............but at least they have the backing of a whole bunch of people (lawyers) to help them out with that.

 

[veneratio]

great news....

 

[J32driver]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that a lawsuit will probably be required to compel compliance with the arbitrator's award.

My understanding is this was a "binding arbitration". The company has no choice but to comply with the finding. If they don't, they just open themselves up to even larger penalties.

The cheapest way out for them at this point is to just pay up and be done with it.

 

[Beechnut]

We'll see. This is far from over. Now comes the other Unions' filings and the Company saying they're going under. Then a "settlement" is reached between the Union and Company that may be something other than full back pay and interest, along with the '99 contract, pissing off a BUNCH of pilots.

Now at least I can see the tip of the iceberg.

S.

 

[JonnyKnoxville]

Congrats! This is wonderful news, you guys deserve it.

 

[flylike44]

first nc state beats unc-chapel hill...then duke loses at home to florida state...now this...what a great freaking weekend!

 

[greedypilot]

PRO: AWAC pilots get a kick ass contract, congrats guys!

CON: AWAC becomes even more expensive and still never wins an RFP. What happens in 8 years when the Airways contract runs out?

 

[Heavy_D_Driver]

That's ok. I would rather get paid adequately and not grow rather than whore my self out flying 70 and 90 seat jets at a 50 seat payscale. What happens in 8 years is what is going to happen irregardless of what pilot contract AWAC pilots are flying under. The Three Amigos have made it pretty clear that they don't want to deal with an expensive airline that has expensive airplanes and pilots. Ground handling is much more lucrative for the boys up in Appleton. My advice: enjoy the next 8 years unless attitudes dramatically change in ATW, and try to find a better flying gig in the interm period. (Then again, it wouldn't suprise me if The Three Amigos sold the airline here in the not too distant future.)

 

[AWACO]

Hmmmm, So when will they sell the company?

 

[captjim]

PRO: AWAC pilots get a kick ass contract, congrats guys!

CON: AWAC becomes even more expensive and still never wins an RFP. What happens in 8 years when the Airways contract runs out?

Pro: Many other "Regionals" will be able to build on their contracts with this one as the bar.

Con: None!

 

[PCL_128]

Great news. Congrats to the AWAC pilots. This is also really good news for the pilots at CMR, ASA, and PCL who are currently negotiating contracts. The pilots at MAG will be entering Section 6 this year also, and they need all the help they can get.

This is what your 1.95% does for you. Spread the word to your buddies at Skywest.

 

[Flyin2low]

Now AWAC will go into bankruptcy trying to pay out the retro pay.
Good Luck getting the money, even if you did win the arbitration. Remember that you didn't win, until the cash is in your hands

 

[avrodriver]

Now AWAC will go into bankruptcy trying to pay out the retro pay.

Unfortunately for our managment the only people that would believe this story are people that don't work for this company....as long as there's money to be made, which there is regardless of our contract, it's in our owners best interest to keep the money machine rollin till the US Airways contract is up. AWAC's profits do not go to shareholders, they go to our owners. The money they each bring in a year from this comany is worth alot more to them than what any individual pilot on the property makes. They pay out the money they "borrowed" and made a couple sweet bets with ( US Airways stock), and the money keeps flowin in for them.

Good Luck getting the money, even if you did win the arbitration. Remember that you didn't win, until the cash is in your hands

Look at me!! I can be Captain Obvious too.

I'd say we're just a little better off than if we lost the arbitration aren't we?

 

[JustaNumber]

Well just heard today that the arbitrator ruled IN FAVOR of the pilots and said the concessonary contract was unjust and shouldn't have been used by the fact AWAC didn't get the UAL fying.

Could someone please provide a quick synopsis of the story of how the AWAC contract was changed? Was it mutually agreed to, or imposed? Thanks for those of us who haven't been following from the beginning. Every pilot I've talked to today (myself included) didn't even know there was anything in arbitration!

This sounds very good for all of us. Congrats!

 

[superrav]

finally.....congrats. Someone send ur payrates over to Airlinepilotpay.com.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

Woot! Another sign that maybe times they are a changin'!

Congrats on the decision, guys and gals!

 

[Rottweiller]

Could someone please provide a quick synopsis of the story of how the AWAC contract was changed? Was it mutually agreed to, or imposed? Thanks for those of us who haven't been following from the beginning. Every pilot I've talked to today (myself included) didn't even know there was anything in arbitration!

This sounds very good for all of us. Congrats!

The short and quick version.

A couple of years ago when UAL where Chapter 11 they put everyones flying for them back up for bidding (some companies AWAC, ACA) had already signed new agreements, but now UAL wanted to cut them back. ACA said NO and went off on their own as Independance. AWAC pilots sat down with the company and and worked on a concessonary agreement BASED ON GETTING A UAL CONTRACT.

A few months later the company advised that AWAC had a contract with UAL for another 14 years of flying and so the concessonary contract went into effect in October 2004.

Then in 2005 UAL put out an RFP for AWAC flying stating to the courts that they couldn't reach an agreement with AWAC on flying and to terminate our contract with them. During this time AWAC management were being paid their original rate and the difference between that and the rate they had in 'theory' with UAL was put into an escrow account which AWAC owners got if no contract with UAL was signed. This was over $140 million (AWAC bought 14% USAir for $125 million).

The kicker was that the concessonary contract was written so it would only be effective on UAL flying so when we didn't get that the pilots (Union) asked for the old contract back. The company said NO you signed a new one, live with it. So off it went to court and the arbitrators. 1 1/2 years later the pilots get redemption.

Ever since AWAC owners profits have gone up clearing over $23 million a 1/4, they have pulled out over $300 million in USAir stocks and still own close to their original stake. Remember there are no share holders in AWAC just 6 owners who get to divy up the pot so they aren't hurting and won't be even after paying out or paying the old rates.

 

[Sandstorm]

Could someone please provide a quick synopsis of the story of how the AWAC contract was changed? Was it mutually agreed to, or imposed? Thanks for those of us who haven't been following from the beginning. Every pilot I've talked to today (myself included) didn't even know there was anything in arbitration!

Justa,

Not sure how you or anyone else on the property didnt know about the arbitration. That baffles me. Anyway....

Back in the day 2003 when UAL was in bankruptcy, they came to all the UEX carriers they had at the time (Skywest, ACA, AWAC) and asked all of us the rebid on the flying that we all already had. Additionally, they opened up the bidding process to basically every regional airline in existance. Long story short, the company told us that our costs were too high, and that in order to secure the UAL flying we needed to give paycuts. The union and ALPA attorney felt it was the best thing for us if we wanted to have jobs and wasnt going to be any better situation. The pilot group drank the Koolaid and agreed to concessions by a majority voting 324 YES 160 NO. The company then came back telling us good job, we have a 10 year contract with UAL. A couple months later they came back saying our contract with UAL was not an affirmed contract. As a result, the company stole our money and concessions, without ever securing the UAL flying. As a result, we filed a grievance and won.