I wrote this in a different thread but it seemed to fit here so I copied it over
Freight Dog said:
Surplus,
My opinion is that this whole gig is a threatening move by JO, and it may cause some heartburn, but somehow I don't think he'll get away with it.
I agree that the creation of Freedom is very threatening to Mesa pilots. That is the case whenever one corporation owns more than one airline, a condition that has almost always existed at Mesa. Freedom is not a concept that is "new" to the MAG property. While it does dilute the bargaining power of the Mesa pilot, Mesa pilots do have full access to the jobs at Freedom if they choose to accept them on the Company's terms. At least Ornstein hasn't yet asked them to give half of the jobs to pilots from another airline. In the current industry environment, it might be worth a little creative thinking.
Because of this long history of multiple airlines under the MAG umbrella (which I hope but doubt Mesa pilots will be able to eliminate), I frankly find ALPA's sudden fervor against Freedom to be highly hypocritical. Let's not ignore several relevant facts.
Mesa Air Group has a contract to conduct certain flying for America West. That contract includes the use of 50, 70 and 90 seat jets. The 50-seaters are currently flown by Mesa pilots. MAG was prevented from placing the 70 and 90 seaters on the Mesa certificate by a provision of the USAirways pilot contract which prevented MAG from operating any jet with more than 50-seats (even under contract with a totally unrelated and different airline) while it had a contract with USAir Group.
If USAG had not collapsed financially, MAG would have had to cancel its contract with USAG in order to operate those aircraft. In that circumstance, the Mesa pilots would not have any access to those aircraft. ALPA expressed no concern while that was the case. Ornstein moved to create Freedom as a means of avoiding the USAirways Scope, not the Mesa pilots. They were merely a fringe benefit. ALPA created garbage at USAG that has now created more garbage at MAG.
ALPA never objected to the alter ego airlines of ALG/PDT/PSA on the USAir Group property and fostered their continuation in that status. ALPA does not object to the alter ego subsidiaries of Comair and ASA on the Delta property and has overtly acted to keep them in that status. ALPA has raised no objections to the alter ego called COEX nor to Express1(Pinnacle). ALPA does not object to the alter ego status of American Eagle on the AMR property. ALPA has had no problem creating a fourth alter ego now called Mid Atlantic Airways on the USAir Group property.
What then is the sudden reason for raising the hue and cry against Freedom? Do you really expect me to believe that it is ALPA's devotion to the welfare of Mesa pilots? I'm not that naive.
What's JO gonna do when AWA gets their scope? I mean, it ties into RJDC argument, and that's why I don't support RJDC. Abolishing scope clauses would open doors to other "Freedom Airlines's" which is what I am opposed to.
You've more or less answered the true ALPA motivation with your first sentence.
That is precisely why ALPA has this special interest in preventing the creation of Freedom. It has nothing whatever to do with Mesa pilots and everything to do with AWA pilots. The Mesa pilots are simply being used as pawns.
ALPA has failed miserably in its long, misguided and concerted effort to block, then limit, the 50-seat regional jet. Now the focus is simply changing to an identical effort to block the 70 and 90 seat RJ's.
I have nothing at all against AWA pilots and would like to see them get a good contract, but when you ask me "what is JO going to do when AWA gets their scope" you make me grin from ear to ear. I must ask you, what is ALPA going to do when the AWA
doesn't get their scope?
If AWA pilots want Scope that says there will be no subcontracting of any AWA flying and all jets operated by, for or in the service of AWA will be flown by pilots on the AWA list, I could and would happily support them in that effort.
That is the purpose of Scope and would be completely legitimate.
[Note: If ALPA is really concerned about alter egos, then it would be fighting to negotiate Scope that prevents them. It has done so at most majors, but has never tried and usually resists efforts to do so at "regionals". If Mesa had Scope, Freedom would not be possible. Given the current Mesa contract there is nothing at all that its creation violates in the Mesa contract. ALPA is now trying to prevent after the fact, what it failed to prevent before the fact.]
However, I do not and will not support them (AWA) in any effort that attempts to limit or control the number or type of aircraft that may be operated by Mesa Air Group or any other airline.
That is predatory scope and completely illegitimate. I believe it is illegal and should be prohibited by the courts.
Neither will I ever support them in any attempt to place any AWA pilots into the cockpits of Mesa airplanes by any means other than the normal hiring process at Mesa. Any attempt similar to the J4J coercion at USAirGroup would be equally anathema to me at AWA or anywhere else.
That is a gross injustice that forces the abrogation of seniority and should never happen. The union should be crucified for doing it and the courts should overturn it.
Mesa pilots unfortunately find themselves in the middle and victims of the mess. On one side they have an anti-union CEO who will definitely use Freedom as a lever against them whenever he can. On the other side they are represented by a labor union that has clearly demonstrated elswhere that it has far more intrest in preventing regional pilots anywhere from flying 70 or 90 seat regional jets (whether alter egos or not) and supporting the predatory interests of mainline pilots who, not statisfied with what they have also want what others have, than it does in protecting the rights or interests of the Mesa pilots.
ALPA is taking advantage of the opportunity to use the PR advantages of "defending Mesa pilots", to achieve its very different objectives. If ALPA should achieve what it wants at America West, it will abandon the Mesa pilots to whatever befalls them just as it has every other regional pilot group.
What ever "side" of this mess you choose to take is up to you and I have no ill will towards you, but I do wish that you and other regional pilots would stop believing in ALPA fairy tales and become more aware of the reality of what is happening, no matter how disgusting it may be.
Regards to you!
Surplus1