FurloughedAgain
Cabin Heating & Air Tech.
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2002
- Posts
- 1,657
Sending the following letter to the editor at ALPA's rag. Doubt it'll ever see the light of day though.
January 21, 2004
Captain Woerth appeared to finally recognize (Fee for Departure, Again – Feb 04), that the fee for departure carriers and “portfolio concept” have created an environment in which ALPA carriers are underbidding other ALPA carriers and furthering the race to the bottom.
He spent an entire page defining the problem, but suggested no solutions. How could he? The association represents carriers on every possible side of the conflict!
ALPA represents the traditional “main-line” carriers who are only now scrambling recover the regional jet flying that they gave-away during better times. These so-called Jets-for-jobs programs force affiliate and wholly-owned carriers to participate and allow furloughed mainline pilots super-seniority at their carriers in clear violation of their PWA and in violation of ALPA’s own bylaws! Carriers that have refused Jets-For-Jobs have been threatened with downsizing and liquidation.
ALPA represents the wholly-owned “regional” airlines who are restricted from seeking flying other than that provided by their parent company. These pilots are fighting the pilots of their mainline partners who now are trying to take-back flying that was given to them years ago. They are also having their contracts and working conditions attacked by other ALPA (and Teamster) regionals who are aggressively bargaining in a bidding war for new and existing flying.
ALPA represents several fee-for-departure “regional” airlines that are providing their services to a variety of different mainline partners. They codeshare with two or more major airlines and, at least lately, are greedily accepting substandard contracts with the hopes that massive growth will result. Worse yet, ALPA has signed these agreements as a means of accomplishing its own political goals. (The elimination of Freedom Air, the approval of Jets-for-jobs, etc.)
So yes, Captain Woerth. We have a problem. The problem is that literally THOUSANDS of airline jobs are being outsourced to the lowest possible bidder. Major carriers have furloughed thousands while regional partners have enjoyed unprecedented growth. At the same time though, large jet carriers (such as Comair, Mesaba, and Air Wisconsin) who have stood up and tried to maintain a reasonable standard of living for so-called “regional” airline pilots are being attacked by even LOWER cost providers!
Why is this happening? ALPA dropped the ball. Every single airplane – from the Beech 1900 to the Airbus 330 -- flown under US Airways (or United, or American, or Delta) colors should be flown by pilots on that carrier’s seniority list. Unfortunately the association has chosen to give away “undesirable” flying and in doing so created a second-class group of pilots. ALPA created the whipsaw.
Captain Woerth said that the only way to halt the cycle is for every pilot group inside an “air transportation brand” to develop a common coordinated strategy to protect wages and share job security. How do you intend to do that Captain Woerth? Since the vast majority of the airlines of which you speak do not OWN any flying, but rather exist at the whim of their mainline partner it seems that the association has created a system by which there is no bargaining power at all for any carrier but the few major-airlines with scope language in their contract.
You are part of the problem, Captain Woerth but at least you have finally identified that a problem exists. Now what do you, and the association, intend to do to move down the road towards a solution?
Maybe it is time that we redefine “single transportation system” and bring back ALL of the flying under a single livery to a single seniority list. Anything less is the wasted effort of a dying union.
Respectfully,
XXXXXX
Furloughed US Airways
January 21, 2004
Captain Woerth appeared to finally recognize (Fee for Departure, Again – Feb 04), that the fee for departure carriers and “portfolio concept” have created an environment in which ALPA carriers are underbidding other ALPA carriers and furthering the race to the bottom.
He spent an entire page defining the problem, but suggested no solutions. How could he? The association represents carriers on every possible side of the conflict!
ALPA represents the traditional “main-line” carriers who are only now scrambling recover the regional jet flying that they gave-away during better times. These so-called Jets-for-jobs programs force affiliate and wholly-owned carriers to participate and allow furloughed mainline pilots super-seniority at their carriers in clear violation of their PWA and in violation of ALPA’s own bylaws! Carriers that have refused Jets-For-Jobs have been threatened with downsizing and liquidation.
ALPA represents the wholly-owned “regional” airlines who are restricted from seeking flying other than that provided by their parent company. These pilots are fighting the pilots of their mainline partners who now are trying to take-back flying that was given to them years ago. They are also having their contracts and working conditions attacked by other ALPA (and Teamster) regionals who are aggressively bargaining in a bidding war for new and existing flying.
ALPA represents several fee-for-departure “regional” airlines that are providing their services to a variety of different mainline partners. They codeshare with two or more major airlines and, at least lately, are greedily accepting substandard contracts with the hopes that massive growth will result. Worse yet, ALPA has signed these agreements as a means of accomplishing its own political goals. (The elimination of Freedom Air, the approval of Jets-for-jobs, etc.)
So yes, Captain Woerth. We have a problem. The problem is that literally THOUSANDS of airline jobs are being outsourced to the lowest possible bidder. Major carriers have furloughed thousands while regional partners have enjoyed unprecedented growth. At the same time though, large jet carriers (such as Comair, Mesaba, and Air Wisconsin) who have stood up and tried to maintain a reasonable standard of living for so-called “regional” airline pilots are being attacked by even LOWER cost providers!
Why is this happening? ALPA dropped the ball. Every single airplane – from the Beech 1900 to the Airbus 330 -- flown under US Airways (or United, or American, or Delta) colors should be flown by pilots on that carrier’s seniority list. Unfortunately the association has chosen to give away “undesirable” flying and in doing so created a second-class group of pilots. ALPA created the whipsaw.
Captain Woerth said that the only way to halt the cycle is for every pilot group inside an “air transportation brand” to develop a common coordinated strategy to protect wages and share job security. How do you intend to do that Captain Woerth? Since the vast majority of the airlines of which you speak do not OWN any flying, but rather exist at the whim of their mainline partner it seems that the association has created a system by which there is no bargaining power at all for any carrier but the few major-airlines with scope language in their contract.
You are part of the problem, Captain Woerth but at least you have finally identified that a problem exists. Now what do you, and the association, intend to do to move down the road towards a solution?
Maybe it is time that we redefine “single transportation system” and bring back ALL of the flying under a single livery to a single seniority list. Anything less is the wasted effort of a dying union.
Respectfully,
XXXXXX
Furloughed US Airways
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