How USAPA's futile stand exacerbates the AA bankruptcy

[bigtexpilot]

(From USAPA's website):
Grievance Committee Chair Tracy Parrella provided the following information during today's BPR Special Meeting.

• Although the Union does not discuss arbitrators' decisions when in a draft form, we have very unusual and extenuating circumstances, which we believe dictate a change in our long standing practice of maintaining strict confidentiality -- for this specific dispute only.
  • Arbitrator Kasher suffered a very serious medical emergency approximately two weeks ago. He is recovering; however, he informed both USAPA and the Company that he would not continue his work until released from his doctor to do so.
  • During the second week of November a draft decision was released to the parties, and the Union requested an Executive Session, which was scheduled for December 13. Obviously, that has now been postponed indefinitely.
  • Unfortunately, the Union did not prevail.
• It appears that the Arbitrator found that we did not carry our burden of proof.
  • In order to prevail in this grievance ALPA's negotiators were required to do the following:
    1. The ALPA negotiators must have intended to have the pay restored on January 1, 2010; and
    2. The ALPA negotiators were required to clearly convey and communicate this to the Company negotiators during the course of negotiations.
• We were able to present only one negotiator.
  • The former ALPA negotiator testified that he had communicated these points to the Company; however, he was unable to produce any notes to substantiate his testimony.
  • The Company produced three negotiators who were able to support their testimony with contemporaneous notes taken during ALPA's presentation of the pay reduction proposal, which contradicted the testimony of the Union witness.
• We are still in the early stages of planning our strategy for the Executive Session, but it is unlikely that we will be able to get the Arbitrator to reverse his decision.
• We will ask the Arbitrator to clarify several issues in the draft decision.
• We do not see any grounds to appeal his decision to federal court.
• Given the very recent receipt of the decision and the delicate procedural stage, we do not want to discuss this any further at this point, but we will give more detail after the Executive Session has taken place and the final decision has been issued, at which time the entire record will be immediately made available to all pilots.

Despite justifiable disappointment with the apparent rejection of the Union's grievance in LOA-93, we caution that no pilot may engage in any slowdown or other interference with normal operations. The injunction issued by the United States District Court remains in effect and continues to prohibit each pilot from engaging in any slowdown, strike, work stoppage, sick-out, work to rule campaign, or any other concerted refusal to perform normal pilot operations in violation of the RLA. The injunction does not diminish or interfere with the duty of a pilot in command to insure the safety of his or her passengers and equipment, but safety concerns may not be used as an excuse to engage in any slowdown or other concerted refusal to perform normal pilot operations.​

 

[Taco Rocket]

Is this true? Does this mean they had to rely on ALPA people to prove their case?

Now I understand why this didn't happen....

 

[waveflyer]

Well, apparently all I had to do was ask-

Is waiting 5 years under LOA 93 still wise?
Why the 5 years to begin with? What's to be gained?

 

[TWA Dude]

Is this true? Does this mean they had to rely on ALPA people to prove their case?
.

They're referring to the former East negotiators when the East was Alpa.

 

[Soulfly]

.....

 

[Guppiedriver]

Is this true? Does this mean they had to rely on ALPA people to prove their case?

Now I understand why this didn't happen....

uSAPa asked all of the former east ALPA negotiators to testify in the arbitration. Only one volunteered and he didn't have any notes from the LOA 93 proceedings. The other two refused to lie under oath.

 

[Ocity]

uSAPa asked all of the former east ALPA negotiators to testify in the arbitration. Only one volunteered and he didn't have any notes from the LOA 93 proceedings. The other two refused to lie under oath.

Well, I guess I was wrong...at least TWO East pilots have a shred of integrity. That's a lot more than I thought.

 

[cactusboy53]

Is this true? Does this mean they had to rely on ALPA people to prove their case?

Now I understand why this didn't happen....

Dude;
Let it go. ALPA National is not to blame for all the mis-steps of the US Air pilots. You really need to read up on how you lost your pensions, how you got to LOA 93, etc.

CB

 

[Taco Rocket]

Dude;
Let it go. ALPA National is not to blame for all the mis-steps of the US Air pilots. You really need to read up on how you lost your pensions, how you got to LOA 93, etc.

CB

Would you want ALPA on property? Do you see this happening?

 

[cactusboy53]

Would you want ALPA on property? Do you see this happening?

Perhaps later. It depends on what happens with ALPA & the TWA DFR lawsuit / damages / appeal. While ALPA has some appeal as a National "union", ALPA's main focus in the past 20 years is more about how much dues money can they get vs. representing a body of pilots to get the very best contract (IMHO). Further, IF we merger with AA...there is no way USAPA or ALPA survive as the CBA in the merged pilot group.

The fact remains that we (all US Airways pilots) can gain control over our independent union if we work together. Doing so will be the QUICKEST way to a new contract. This rudderless ship has run aground, and the captain is still barking orders (like the ship is still moving somewhere).

LURKERS: Are you willing to acquiesce that the Nicolau arbitrated seniority list is the ONLY list that LCC / USAPA can legally use? Are you ready for a new contract that is at least better than the current AWA contract with perhaps DAL +1 wages? Are you ready for a change to a more positively controlled union vs. the stinking soap opera that ours has become?

GO TO: WWW.REFORMUSAPA.COM

1. Make sure that you are a Member in Good Standing.
2. Complete the three petitions on the website above, and mail them in.
3. Pay attention to upcoming elections.
4. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!
5. Participate and volunteer on a committee if you have the time.

We can do this together, OR you can sit and watch the "ship" be destroyed on the coral reef. Your choice.