Alpa....Pathetic

[Catbird]

Hello, this is the Allegheny MEC code a phone for January 27, 2004.
Late yesterday afternoon at the Company’s attorneys offices in Washington DC, MEC Chairman Rick O’Leary, accompanied by Vice Chairman Pat Flannery and an ALPA attorney, was given a final draft of a take it or leave it letter of agreement, that embodied the company’s merger related demands of January 14th. It was suggested that he approve it, and he declined, citing the fact that the MEC had instructed him to get clarification on issues related to the proposed merger. Rick was informed that if he did not approve the document that US Airways would issue a press release the next day, announcing the asset transfer of Allegheny to Piedmont. Rick repeated his obligation to the MEC, and informed the company’s attorney that he would be traveling to Harrisburg for a special MEC meeting, which was held today.

Prior to today’s meeting, Rick received a call from ALPA President Capt. Duane Woerth, informing him that he had learned from sources in the financial industry during the course of his pension lobbying effort last night on capitol hill, that if Allegheny didn’t accept the terms of the merger agreement, that Airways would make good their threat. In addition, he said that time was of the essence, as US Airways was going to make a final decision soon. Rick asked Capt. Woerth if due to the fact that there was less than 24 hours notice for the meeting, would it even be possible to vote on the issue. Woerth replied that he felt he could work that circumstance out with ALPA’s legal staff.

On the way to today’s meeting, Rick received a call from Keith Houk and Mike Scrobola. Mr. Houk informed him that the deadline had passed, and asked him if the MEC had made a decision. Rick informed him that he was traveling to the MEC meeting, to report to the MEC, and discuss the matter further. Following some discussion, Houk repeated his view that the MEC had missed the company-imposed deadline.

The meeting began at approximately 10:35 with discussion about the document itself, its construction, and each individual MEC members view on how it would affect us. ALPA Resource Coordinator Matt Kernan called and advised us that an unnamed source of his high in the ranks of US Airways, informed him that the MEC had until just 12 noon to make a decision. Noon came and went, and the discussion continued, with each MEC member making his final comments. Capt. Woerth called at 1:40, and again expressed what he perceived to be a sense of urgency that if the MEC were to decide to accept the LOA, it had better do it soon. Matt Kernan, who was also on the call, advised the MEC that there was a new deadline which was just 20 minutes away.

At approximately 1:50, a motion was put on the floor, which would require pilot ratification for the LOA. The majority initially approved the motion, but a motion to decide the matter by roll call vote was made, and the motion was defeated. The MEC members who’s combined votes represented those who defeated the motion were: Capt. Ernie Holtslander from Council 95, Capt. Andy Brixner from Council 91, and First Officer Andy Fogg, also from Council 91.

At 1:55, Matt Kernan called again, and informed the MEC that according to his unnamed source, it had only 4 minutes to make a decision. Matt was advised that the MEC was currently involved in bringing the LOA issue to the floor, and that he would be informed of the outcome as soon as it was known. Next, a motion was put on the floor to accept the LOA as it was written. The majority initially rejected the motion, but a motion to decide the matter by roll call vote was made, and the motion was defeated. The MEC members who’s combined votes represented those who defeated the motion were: Capt. Ernie Holtslander from Council 95, Capt. Andy Brixner from Council 91, and First Officer Andy Fogg, also from Council 91.

Following the vote, and acting on the MEC’s behalf, Rick O’Leary called Matt Kernan so that he could relay the vote’s outcome to his unnamed source at US Airways, and then proceeded to sign each page of the document, and fax it to the Company.

In the coming weeks, our Merger committee will be in contact with their counterparts at Piedmont, to discuss seniority list integration and related issues.

That’s all for this Allegheny MEC update.


Pathetic.......

 

[storminpilot]

I am not sure what you want ALPA to do in this situation? This is survival at USAirways Group.

 

[Dash8]

I am not sure what you want ALPA to do in this situation? This is survival at USAirways Group.

how about try to help their constituents from being railroaded into essentially giving away all their rights of their cba?
instead of possibly colluding with mgmt to abrogate one of the better contracts in the regionals and 'punish' the most vocal opponent of the j4j program. It had nothing to do with 'survival'.

 

[TWA Dude]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, what would anyone expect from Woerth? It sent shivers down my spine to hear some of the same words that he spoke to the TWA MEC when we were fighting for our survival.

Don't ever find yourself in the underdog position. ALPA National only protects the strong.

Dude

 

[J32driver]

ALPA National only protects the strong.

Dude [/B]

How about... ALPA National only protects the big legacy carriers.

 

[Ted Striker]

It has nothing to do with ALPA, it has to do that USAir is a sinking ship and they are using you guys as pawns. There is only so much that Herndon can do for you. I feel bad, I know it sucks...but I think the anger is misdirected.

 

[crj579]

It has everything to do with Dang Worthless and his method to keep the "peasants" in check. Advice to regionals MEC's - only look out for your pilots. ALPA national is not looking out for you!!!

 

[Swaayze]

News flash: ALPA worked exactly as it is set up to in this case. I applaud your MEC Chairman for standing his ground and taking it to the MEC. Regardless of your view on the outcome, this was decided at the local level, with legitimate actions on the part of your elected reps.

As a furloughed U pilot I especially liked the part where (intially at least) a MEC actually let a Siegel "deadline" expire without a giveback vote.

Now, does this mean you're in a better position? Time will tell.


Good Luck

 

[TWA Dude]

It has nothing to do with ALPA, it has to do that USAir is a sinking ship and they are using you guys as pawns.

I think you're going to the other extreme. Why is Woerth calling the Allegheny MEC and telling them to capitulate instead of calling Siegel and telling him to do what's honorable? Is it Woerth's job to try to save USAir by ordering small MEC's to give-in? Perhaps it's not so much about what Herndon can do but about what they can try to do. Instead of trying to strengthen the weak they bully them.

Dude

 

[B1900DFO]

It didn't sound to me like Woerth was telling the Alg MEC to do anything. He just informed them that to the best of his knowledge US Air was going to liquidate alg and transfer all of their assetts to Pdt if they did not give in to the terms of the merger. I'm not sure what you expected Woerth to do? He was merely passing on information that was critical to the future of 400 or so pilots at Alg. He didn't vote for them that was the MEC's job. Do you think it was not in alg's best interests to hear from Duanne?

 

[FR8mastr]

Alot of people would be surprised by the amount of pressure our union "leaders" are capable of putting on a small group. When all the DFR lawsuites come out, I am very much looking foward to watching those at Herndon reap what they have sewn! It will be quite an experience to watch these clowns try to explain away what they have done.

 

[TWA Dude]

I'm not sure what you expected Woerth to do? He was merely passing on information that was critical to the future of 400 or so pilots at Alg.

Passing on info is certainly the least he could do, but it shouldn't be the only thing. I guess we're so used to Herndon ignoring the regionals and weaker MEC's that we've come to expect nothing. To directly answer your question, I expected Woerth to show that he used the full influence of ALPA against Siegel to secure the best possible outcome for the ALG pilots. It sounds to me like he just made a few calls then acted as Siegel's messenger boy.

{break}

FR8mastr:

I certainly wish you luck in the DFR lawsuits. The former TWA pilots are right now fighting in appeals court to avoid dismissal of our suits on the basis of expiration of statute of limitations. Herndon et al screwed us good but it's really tough to prove in court.

Dude

 

[LearLove]

I thinking of getting some t-shirts printed up that say


"F%CK-ALPA" bet I could make $$$ around here selling them.

 

[resistance]

It is sad that USAir did nothing to change it structure during the time in bankruptcy to correct a failing system. Unfortunatly everyone under the US Airways banner will become the victims. The current management was no business plan to reclaim ground from the discount carriers and will lead the airline to it's future parking spot in Nevada. I feel sorry for everyone at all the TRUE USAir companies (Mainline and feeders) but it is too late for the Union, the governement, or the church to help at this point. The investors want their money (or what's left of it) back and the government will not support this company with another defaulted loan. Good luck to all involved and I hope the management will get there's one day before the man upstairs.

 

[mesaba2425]

Looks like we have a few more satisified ALPA members!!!

 

[eaglefly]

I agree that this is all temporary and sad.

The almost certain reality is that in the relativly near future all this won't matter, because U is all but certain to fail.

U may reemerge (I believe it will) like a Pheonix as a small (less than 50 Airbus) niche carrier flying it's best routes and citiy pairs with new investors, but only AFTER it ceases operations and divests itself of all the current garbage.

A small East Coast niche carrier has little need or money for regional feed, so current U Express regionals (and pilots) should see the EXTREMELY likely future.

Especially turboprops.

The RJ's may find a home elsewhere.

 

[climbhappy]

That US air MGT would prejudice one WO against another is knuckleheadedness at its finest. in my view, in BK court , all the WOS should have merged, fleets pruned, RJS ordered, routes restructered, NO flying given to outside contractors, and a reverse integration of mainline pilots into regional positions.

it might all be a MOOT point come the summer.

All of the US air pilot family are in my prayers.

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

I guess it doesn't matter that Matt Kernan was giving them the same info as Duane. BTW, his title is Resource Coordinator which is a new position created at the 2002 BOD meeting. The RC's job is to "coordinate" all the resources of ALPA for the small carriers (ie: B, C, and D). And here is the real kicker, Matt is an Allegheny pilot.

ALPA and Duane have givin the pilots of ExpressJet absolute support. It beats the ever-lovin sh!t out of the IACP! (Independant Association of Continental Pilots)

 

[surplus1]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, what would anyone expect from Woerth? It sent shivers down my spine to hear some of the same words that he spoke to the TWA MEC when we were fighting for our survival.

Don't ever find yourself in the underdog position. ALPA National only protects the strong.

Dude

Geeez you're negative. I hear that DW personally intervened (behind the scenes) with the top dogs at NWA management to avoid a stike at MSA and turn the tables in their favor. His direct intervention obtained for them an industry leading TA, with industry leading Scope that "stops whipsaw dead in it's tracks." I know this because I read his own quotes in various newspapers. Mesaba pilots, this very week, will have the chance to match the compensation of PCL, a well known industry leader in regional jet pay. This industry leading success will undoubtedly advance and improve the current negotiations at both ASA and COEX (XJT) and, as a fringe benefit, will also assist Comair pilots in finding a way to meet the concessionary demands of Delta management.

He also recently rose to the defense of the Eagle pilots, taking on the APA single handedly and defeating them, thus preventing AA pilots from taking away the jet Captain positions at Eagle. He will soon intevene there again and will surely secure an amendment to EGL's industry leading 16-year contract, putting them even farther ahead of their peers at Mesa.

He has steadfastly defended Mesa pilots against the Freedom alter-ego created by the actions of the U pilots, reduced the JO alter-ego attempt to ashes, transfered 50% of the new jet positions to U pilots, established industry leading Scope for MES and single handedly guaranteed that they will be among the lowest paid in the industry for the foreseable future.

With the able asistance of the AAA MEC, he has managed to abrogate the contracts and seniority of pilots at PSA, PDT, ALG, MSA, TSA, CHQ and bankrupt MDW, thus securing for furloughed AAA pilots half the Captain positions at all of those carriers, and for PSA the largest RJ order in the history of the U subsidiaries. In the process he was even able to secure the creation of a new wholly owned alter ego at U (that will fly any day now) and an unprecedented flow-through for the benifit of the WO pilots.

He has excelled in assisting CMR and ASA pilots by negotiating new Scope at Delta that allowed the two Delta subsidiaries to retain nearly half of their previously ordered 70-set jets (now distributed among only 5 DCI carriers ... when previously CMR and ASA only had unlimited rights). While at it, he was able to reduce ALL DCI flying from unlimited to less than 40% of Delta flying, and to establish long sought-after controls over where ASA and CMR jets could fly. The ASA and CMR pilots would never have been able to do this on their own. CMR pilots are especially thrilled by his efforts and recently he appeared in CVG to tell how he would solve any remaining problems they might have by negotiating "Brand Scope" in an effort to make the Delta pilots' control of CMR flying permanent. He received a standing ovation. Once this new "brand" of scope is established, all regional carriers will benefit immensely from the ability of the mainline MEC's to negotiate on their behalf, without their consent, thus ensuring that their futures and jobs are placed firmily in the hands of the mainline MEC's, where they belong. It's a break through.

To keep pace with SKYW's industry leading effort to save United's regional feed, he has successfuly assisted in negotiating industry leading concessions at Air Wisconsin and Atlantic Coast. Unfortunately, ACA management did not respond in a satisfactory manner and has lost the UAL contract. Otherwise the ACA pilots would have secured yet another bonanza of lower pay and lost work rules in support of the corporate failures at United.

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg and does not reveal the full thrust of ALPA resources working every day on behalf of regional pilots.

I just don't understand how you all could be less than thrilled by the successful and positive efforts of the ALPA President in your behalf.

 

[crj579]

Scope is an imaginary 5 letter word. Until every pilot realizes this, the whipsaw will continue. Duane is a dollar short and a day late on this. Read his article in Airline Pilot titled Fee for Departure,Again. The fact that he is just realizing that having multiple codeshares under the same brand name is causing whipsaw - is frankly scary! Now he wants to join hands and stop finger pointing. Sorry Duane, youve had your head buried a little too long in the sand. Supply couldve been limited at the bottom with a more guaranteed career progression under a single list. But, this wouldve taken a REAL leader.