AWA/U Seniority Food Fight - The First Salvo

[Fly4hire]

This didn't take long.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050519/dcth056.html?.v=9


PHOENIX, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain JR Baker, chairman of the America West Airlines unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, made this statement today following America West's (NYSE: AWA - News) announcement that it will merge with US Airways.


"Protecting and defending the careers of America West pilots are our top priorities.

In 1997, we saw the potential for a transaction in our future and were determined not to be caught behind the power curve if our company was involved in an agreement. The AWA pilots started a separate merger fund to cover all outside expenses, and it has grown substantially during the past eight years.

When news of discussions between America West and US Airways first came to light, we set in motion measures enabling us to more efficiently realize our goals. Our teams are in place, and we are fully prepared to safeguard the careers of America West pilots who put their trust in this union.

In our profession, seniority is everything. To be clear our union's Merger Policy provides for a process and timeframe for events to occur, but does not dictate how two ALPA pilot groups will integrate their seniority lists. Specifics on how the two merge their seniority lists are left up to negotiations between the pilot groups involved; however, if no agreement is reached, a merged list would emerge from a mediation-arbitration process. Clearly, in such discussions with the US Airways pilots, we would view a date- of-hire type of integration as a completely unworkable solution for the America West pilots.

While details of the transaction continue to evolve, we remain focused on our priorities: protecting and defending the career expectations of America West pilots. As such, we will not allow America West management to lose focus on running an efficient airline or forget their commitment of operating in the best interests of the employees.

We are a vital part of America West, and we will not allow our pilots' career expectations to be sacrificed as a result of our airline's success." The Air Line Pilots Association is the bargaining agent for the more than 1,900 pilots at America West Airlines. Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing 64,000 pilots at 41 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at

 

[I.P. Freley]

GO SWINGLINE!!

(stolen from another, similar thread)

 

[TheDonger]

JOINT STATEMENT OF LABOR PRINCIPLES
The management teams at both US Airways and America West Airlines recognize the anxiety and uncertainty created among our valued employees since news of a potential merger surfaced in April, and we sincerely regret that legal constraints prevented us from providing you with more details about our discussions. Now that we have announced our planned merger, we can assure you that we have heard
your requests to be kept informed and we will be as open as possible as this transaction progresses.
.
The leading question is the obvious one: what will happen to my job if America West is ultimately merged into US Airways? We’ll try to give you our best answer, but please keep in mind that it will take a long time to complete an operational integration and, as we’ve already seen, there’s always the potential for unexpected changes in our industry.

Even once we begin the process of integrating our operations, it’s still hard to say what will happen to anyone’s particular job. For employees in work groups not represented by a collective bargaining agent at either airline, our management teams will be fair to employees at both carriers. Every employee is entitled to be evaluated individually, and there is no presumption that employees of one airline will be favored over the other.

For employees in work groups represented by unions, the question of what will happen to your jobs is even harder for us to answer because so much of what will happen is outside management’s control. Our labor contracts contain different provisions governing how seniority lists will be integrated, and depending on your specific contract, provide for integration in accordance with a particular union’s merger policy or certain “Allegheny Mohawk” seniority integration provisions. We will honor those contractual commitments, and the ultimate outcome of seniority integration will be determined by your collective bargaining representatives as dictated by your contracts.

Although the seniority integration process will be handled by your union representatives, we have every expectation that our unions will honor certain obviously fair and equitab le protocols as they implement their merger policies or Allegheny Mohawk provisions. Specifically, we would expect that no employee who already had been furloughed prior to the merger would be permitted to bump an active employee out of a job. Likewise, we expect our unions will recognize a solution that simply “staples” all employees of one airline to the bottom of the other’s seniority list as unacceptable and unconscionable. To that end, because of seniority differences in some groups, straight seniority integration could have an effect similar to that of stapling employees to the bottom of a seniority list, an outcome that is inconsistent with a fair and equitable protocol. Therefore, some type of proportional integration would seem reasonable. Given our experience working with your union representatives, we do not anticipate they would advocate an integrated seniority list that violates the basic tenets of fairness and equity, and we encourage them to help ease any uncertainty among their members as soon as possible by confirming their intention to work toward seniority integration using these basic principles.

Lastly, although it is extremely important to go through the proper process of integrating seniority lists, dragging seniority integration out for an unnecessarily long period of time is not in anyone’s best interest. It is distracting to employees, and to customers who contemplate flying with the new US Airways. A thoughtful, deliberate but timely resolution will help everyone move forward with greater certainty, even if expectations are not always met.

We will provide updates about the proposed merger as soon as we can, while continuing to be honest about what we can’t predict. We truly believe this proposed merger is in the best interests of employees at both airlines, and we will work hard to provide you with information as we move towards a combined airline that has a great future ahead.

Sincerely,

Doug Parker
Bruce R. Lakefield

 

[Flechas]

This merger is gonna get really ugly between the pilots, best of luck to you guys, stund up for your rights!!

 

[michael707767]

. Clearly, in such discussions with the US Airways pilots, we would view a date- of-hire type of integration as a completely unworkable solution for the America West pilots.

I don't think DOH should ever be a consideration. The job you hold, no matter how long you have been there, is what counts. Sorry USAir pilots, but an 18 year USAir pilot who is at the bottom of the list is still a bottom of the list pilot. No better, no worse, than the guy at the bottom of AWAs list.

 

[Juniority]

no employee who already had been furloughed prior to the merger would be permitted to bump an active employee out of a job

Just in case any furloughed USAirways folks are feeling the least bit hopeful about all of this.....

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Don't worry. The US Airways MEC gave away the section of the contract that referenced "hope" in LOA 89.

The furloughees are still waiting to see what happens with Chris Beebe's "Not one nickel, not one job" speech.

 

[viper548]

Best of luck to all pilots involved

 

[General Lee]

I don't think DOH should ever be a consideration. The job you hold, no matter how long you have been there, is what counts. Sorry USAir pilots, but an 18 year USAir pilot who is at the bottom of the list is still a bottom of the list pilot. No better, no worse, than the guy at the bottom of AWAs list.

Just with more vacation, right? How about DOH for non reving? Who will get that first class seat? Lots of things to work out here.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[BeCareful!]

no employee who already had been furloughed prior to the merger would be permitted to bump an active employee out of a job

Just in case any furloughed USAirways folks are feeling the least bit hopeful about all of this.....

Well, thank you, Juniority.....I can tell you took no pleasure in telling me that, so I thank you for stepping up to the plate and dashing any hopes I might have had.

 

[michael707767]

Just with more vacation, right? How about DOH for non reving? Who will get that first class seat? Lots of things to work out here.


Bye Bye--General Lee

Agreed, lots of things to work out. I am strictly talking about who goes where on a seniority list.


PS, can't remember the last time I got a first class seat while non revving

 

[Cactus73]

Just with more vacation, right? How about DOH for non reving? Who will get that first class seat? Lots of things to work out here.


Bye Bye--General Lee

We don't use seniority at America West for non-rev boarding. Strictly check-in time.

This isn't going to be a big issue.

 

[atldc9]

My 2 cents, merge the lists like so. If you are in the top 1% at each company, you should be in the top 1% of the merged lists. Use a ratio, and work your way thru the active lists. Everyone will remain in the same relative position, ie percentage, of the new list as they were in thier pre-merger list. Once the active guys are merged together, anyone on furlough comes back at the bottom of the newly combined list.

 

[HAL]

My 2 cents, merge the lists like so. If you are in the top 1% at each company, you should be in the top 1% of the merged lists. Use a ratio, and work your way thru the active lists. Everyone will remain in the same relative position, ie percentage, of the new list as they were in thier pre-merger list. Once the active guys are merged together, anyone on furlough comes back at the bottom of the newly combined list.

OK, but what about the USAirways guys who are here now but get furloughed because of the 60 returned aircraft in the next year. Do they still go above me (bottom 10% at AWA) or are they tacked on the bottom because they are on furlough at the time the lists are merged.

Do I (because I am at the currently more successful airline) have a right or expectation to stay flying? If the merger hadn't happened I certainly would have expected to do so.

These are the questions that give the unions the heartburn of list-merging.

HAL

 

[viper548]

How 'bout no current AWA pilots lose jobs, they weren't going to before the merger, why should they after one. US had planned on sending planes packing, so THEIR pilots should be the ones on the street. Senority integration should be done after the planned furloughes at US

 

[B6Busdriver]

How 'bout no current AWA pilots lose jobs, they weren't going to before the merger, why should they after one. US had planned on sending planes packing, so THEIR pilots should be the ones on the street. Senority integration should be done after the planned furloughes at US

Ahh yes the fun is only starting! I'm sooooooooooo glad I'm watching this one from the sidelines. Expect more of the same then next thing you know the jumpseat will be used as weapon.

 

[Long Time Gone]

Just with more vacation, right? How about DOH for non reving? Who will get that first class seat? Lots of things to work out here.


Bye Bye--General Lee

With USAir it doesn't matter, anyway, since you have to purchase a first class upgrade, even as a non-rev. It's easier just to jumpseat, that way you can get a first class seat if one's available in the cabin.

That's how it was 3 years ago, anyway

LTG
former ALG MDT Dashslave

 

[sayagain?]

I remember all the jumpseat horror stories during the failed UAL/AAA deal. What a mess. Good luck folks.


sayagain?

another ex-ALG dasher

 

[LearLove]

I have the solution:

I suggested this way back during the UAL/U fiasco and again during the accompaning ACA/PDT-ALG deal and once again in the recient past in ref. to the ALG/PDT merger.

Senority integration via STEEL CAGE MATCH!!!!!!


I this case (U/AWA) we choose a neutral location like Kansas City KMCI and get all the US Air, MidAtlantic and AWA guys and lock them in a giant steel cage. When the bell rings it's every man for himself. First guy knocked out gets the bottom senority number. The next guy after gets one senority number better and so on till only one guy is standing. Last guy standing gets senority number one. Screw ALPA merger policy, this is the only fair way. We could even sell tickets and make back the paycuts weve given in the past 4 years.

Bonus - the guy who knocks out the most people gets to smash Duane Woerth on the face with a brick.

Any takers???

 

[MK82Man]

USAir MEC Response

Here is what the USAir MEC chairman had to say:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2005

Statement by US Airways ALPA Regarding US Airways-America West Merger Announcement

PITTSBURGH -- US Airways MEC Chairman Captain Bill Pollock of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) today released the following statement:

"US Airways Group, Inc. and America West Holdings Corporation have announced their intention to enter into a merger that would create both the nation's sixth-largest airline and the largest low-cost carrier network.

"The US Airways Master Executive Council (MEC), the pilots' governing body, will be analyzing the terms of this proposed transaction at the earliest opportunity.

"US Airways management believes that this proposed merger will enable US Airways to emerge from bankruptcy and then create a partnership that will be viable and competitive. I want management, our investors, and our flying public to know that the US Airways pilots are largely responsible for the progress that US Airways has made in its restructuring. US Airways enjoys this opportunity today because of the tremendous sacrifices made by our pilots. Our MEC and our pilots have been called upon again and again to make the most difficult decisions in this volatile and still-transforming industry. Our pilots have provided the Company with $7 billion in cost savings through four restructurings-an investment far greater than any other group. We expect that our sacrifices will be respected as we welcome the opportunity to become a partner in the creation of this country's premier low-cost airline.

"We also look forward to working with the pilots of America West as we begin the process of combining pilot groups through the seniority integration procedures outlined in our ALPA Administrative Manual."

CONTACT: Jack Stephan
Air Line Pilots Assoc., Intl.
US Airways Pilots Master Executive Council
(410) 703-2953; (412) 264-5600
www.usairwayspilots.org

I hope we see a civil "well integrated" list. I also like the % integration idea. If you were 9% at AWA, you are still 9% at the combined carrier, same for 22% at USAir; you are at 22% in the joint firm. With the heavy USAir retirements in the next five years, I don't think it will really matter a lot to the majority of AWA guys. ALPA's "realistic career expectations" are pretty easy to establish in this merger. Where would USAir pilots be in 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 15 etc. Same for AWA pilots. Our $$ balance would have carried us to the end of 07 at least I believe. We retire only 36 pilots this year and I would expect the bottom 80% of AWA guys will enjoy rapid movement at about year three into this deal. I welcome the pilots at USAir and hope they welcome me. I'm encouraged by Captain Pollock's comments above ... we have a shot to put together a real good LCC that has long term staying power. As far as furloughed USAir guys ... I don't know much about LOA 89 (?) but I do think they should have some rights at the new carrier. Maybe a preferential interview or a 2:1 (2 old US Air guys for every one new hire on the street). Since we were going to keep hiring this year and next I'd want us to be fair to guys on the outside looking for Major Airline Work ... MESA RJ guys/gals should not be frozen out for the entire USAir list to be recalled, etc. I am one AWA dude who is excited about the prospect. Call me new, call me naive, call me barely wet behind the ears, but it looks like a good match and a good future to me. I'll do my part. Let's spend our time and efforts convincing the American Public that it is a New USAir and they should give us a try. The last thing we want is four our customers to jump ship ... tell 'em thank you for riding with us every day. Let's go to work to be the best LCC we can be.