FlyingDawg:
Scope limitations on regional jets. Did you know that EVERY contract has scope? Scope is the language that defines WHO does the work. There was NEVER a limitation on how many "regional" jets US Airways could fly. The ONLY limitation was who could do the flying. US Airways could have gone out and bought 1000 regional jets in the mid-90s --- they simply had to be flown by US Airways pilots. In fact, they already had a payrate (group 4) based on F28 and BAe 146 pay. (roughly 80 seats). Denouncing "scope" is popular fiction.
Fact is, management wanted to outsource jobs to a cheaper bidder. As you can see, they were successful.
Of the cities you mentioned GSP, AVL, RIC, GSO, RDU, TYS, CHA, CHS, and CAE were ALL served by "regional" jets for YEAAAARS before you started working for Chatauqua. They were served by F28s, F100s, and DC9s. Those were, in fact, "regional jets". They were simply flown by US Airways pilots and not by the lowest bidder.
Parity + 1%. May I remind you that this was Stephen Wolf's idea? It takes TWO to sign a contract. If Brian Bedford came to you guys and said, "hey guys -- I want to start paying you $100/hr to fly the E145" would you tell him, "no. I'm scared that you might not be profitable if you pay me that much!"
No, you let management manage the company. Both sides signed the contract. Not ONE of the 99-01 newhires were on the property as of the date of that signing.
You said, "You gotta allow you employer to profit if you want to stay in business. These two decisions spelled doom for US."
With all due respect, were you even out of flight school in 1997/98 when the parity contract was negotiated? US Airways definately had some network problems that needed to be addressed -- but not the two you focused on.