NWA Fleet Reductions.

[n5374f]

If rumors are started this forum is a good place to start them. Only God and Mgt knows the master plan. But what ever it is it wioo not be good for ALPA as a whole. Frank must be back behind the scenes.

 

[zonker]

If rumors are started this forum is a good place to start them. Only God and Mgt knows the master plan. But what ever it is it wioo not be good for ALPA as a whole. Frank must be back behind the scenes.

His protege is front and center:

Last year, in the midst of concession talks with the pilots union, Steenland hired Barry Simon as the company’s executive vice president and general counsel. Simon was a top executive in the Seabury Group, a New York consulting firm whose “restructuring” clients have included Air Canada, US Airways, America West Airlines and Continental.
Simon earned his credentials as an executive at Continental and Eastern airlines, where he served under corporate raider and union-buster Frank Lorenzo. In 1983 Continental filed for bankruptcy—despite the airline’s $60 million in cash reserves—in order to exploit a provision in the Bankruptcy Code allowing Lorenzo to abrogate his contracts with the unions. Simon directed Continental’s legal strategy when it emerged from bankruptcy a second time in 1991.
Simon also played a leading role in the bankruptcy of Eastern Airlines, which stopped flying in 1991 following the bitter strike by unionized mechanics. At the time, Lorenzo and his team stripped the airline of valuable assets and sold them at fire-sale prices to Continental.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the emergence of junk-bond dealers and corporate raiders in the airline industry like Lorenzo and Carl Icahn (who bankrupted Trans World Airlines, among others, and who is now worth $5.8 billion—no. 55 on the list of the world’s richest people).
Today, after nearly a quarter of a century of betrayals by the trade union bureaucracy (from the striking air traffic controllers in 1981 to the present scabbing organized by the airline unions against the striking Northwest mechanics), the corporate executives running the airlines feel even less restraint than their predecessors did when slashing workers’ jobs, wages and benefits and looting company assets to enrich themselves.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/nwa-s19.shtml

 

[Beetle007]

Jim-

What's your source ?

I haven't heard of any 320 or 330 deliveries being delayed. The financing was supposed to be in place and attractive.

320AV8R

I remembered this post from a while ago. Looks like things are back on track for the 330s and 319s (pending BK judge approval). I'm sure Mynameisjim would have updated us if he wouldn't have left =)

 

[Diesel-9]

2 A-330-300's and 4 A-330-200's arrive in 2006. 7 -300's and 1 -200 in 2007. These aircraft were prefinanced and were just renegotiated. Also rumor of adding to the 7 narrowbody Airbus deliveries next year.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Also the 787 program in 2008. NewCo to replace DC-9's and a whole new fleet of regionals. Doesn't look like fleet reduction to me.

 

[mynameisjim]

I remembered this post from a while ago. Looks like things are back on track for the 330s and 319s (pending BK judge approval). I'm sure Mynameisjim would have updated us if he wouldn't have left =)

Oh you sure you're gonna take all my delivery flights now, whore.

But I'm flying full time now punk.

 

[Beetle007]

They forgot to mention the 2 319s we picked up saturday.

http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh68871_2005-12-23_22-31-31_n23317695_newsml

 

[mynameisjim]

Merry Christmas Beetle

Hope you enjoyed your trip across the pond!

 

[Beetle007]

Merry Christmas...I tried calling you but the phone went straight to voice.
One of the higher ups on our flight (VP of flight ops) knew you had left and where you went. Not that I had any pressure to make a good landing =)

 

[NuGuy]

Also the 787 program in 2008. NewCo to replace DC-9's and a whole new fleet of regionals. Doesn't look like fleet reduction to me.

NewCo will never happen in the form management wants. There's going to be an ugly confrontation around January 16th. The NWA MEC drew the line in the sand all public and messy in the Star & Sickle, and you don't back down from that unless you don't want your union job anymore.

The pension is out of everyone's hands now, so that stick is gone.

Nu

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Actually, the article is misleading. The pilots rejected the current terms of the NewCo proposal. NewCo is a company created to shed debt of a fleet upgrade. NWA future finance plans are based on NewCo happening. They set it up so it's NewCo or bust. It's going to be NewCo but with NWA furloughed pilots, when this thing is said and done. Seniority is going to be real weird since the new hires will start at the top and move down the list.

 

[NuGuy]

Actually, the article is misleading. The pilots rejected the current terms of the NewCo proposal. NewCo is a company created to shed debt of a fleet upgrade. NWA future finance plans are based on NewCo happening. They set it up so it's NewCo or bust. It's going to be NewCo but with NWA furloughed pilots, when this thing is said and done. Seniority is going to be real weird since the new hires will start at the top and move down the list.

No, it ain't. It's going to be one mainline list, or not at all. McClain made that very clear.

NWA can make all the plans they want 'till the cows come home. It's going to be the current seniority list or not at all.

All you Building A and 3rd Floor types better believe it. I'd also be printing up some resume's to avoid the holiday rush.

Nu

 

[YourPilotFriend]

No, it ain't. It's going to be one mainline list, or not at all. McClain made that very clear.

NWA can make all the plans they want 'till the cows come home. It's going to be the current seniority list or not at all.

All you Building A and 3rd Floor types better believe it. I'd also be printing up some resume's to avoid the holiday rush.

Nu

What about the 76 seat airplanes at the regionals and the Avro with 85 seats. Is that going to be all one mainline list? I have posted on this board for the last couple of months promoting the idea of a unified list(brand scope). Many have pm'ed me telling me to go to hell, and many have praised me for my efforts.

 

[NuGuy]

What about the 76 seat airplanes at the regionals and the Avro with 85 seats. Is that going to be all one mainline list? I have posted on this board for the last couple of months promoting the idea of a unified list(brand scope). Many have pm'ed me telling me to go to hell, and many have praised me for my efforts.

76 seats or 85 seats at Airlink...not going to happen. Seperate list...not going to happen. This is all management's wet dream. This time last year, there where DC-9-10s still on the property (78 seats), so while UAL, AMR and CAL deem it ok to send that flying away, NWA pilots do not...not with 140 hulls of 100 seat flying.

NWA Pilot's scope says 55 seats and up. If they want one seat more, it will cost them, dearly, and even then you can bet those jobs will be reserved.

The ONLY way ScrewCo is going to happen is if it's one list with rock solid fragmentation protection. Whether or not Airlinkers are invited to the party is anyones guess, and I certainly don't oppose it, and in fact, welcome it. It will be below current furloughed NWA pilots, though.

If management doesn't want to play, fine...the MEC put the line in the sand. They can cross it at the risk of an "unfortunate confrontation".

Remember, these negotiations are OUTSIDE of section 6 of the RLA. 30 day cooling off and PEBs don't apply. Save money...January is going to have a lot of rainy days...

Nu

 

[320AV8R]

FWIW-

I've heard talk about filling up the AVROs with (85?) seats, & keeping them at Mesaba. (But what do I know ?)

The NEWCO / Neil Cohen / MidAtlantic deal is DOA, if it involves a separate seniority list. ALPA has said it would result in a strike (& probably CH 7).

Mgmt says NEWCO is "the only way" to finance new aircraft. They are betting the house on it. They pi$$ed away $1 Billion in 1998 in a similiar tactic.

It's a poker game. Time will tell who will blink first. The next "ante" will be on Jan 17th.

320AV8R

 

[Diesel-9]

Cobra (NWA) Airlines is in the on deck circle. There is a time and place for the strike. Now is the time. P.S. Strike scoreboard last 40 years. NWA 5 DAL 0.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Yes the pilots at NWA are seeking brand scope on 55+ seat flying. The judge will side with us; We have gone and said we will fly the airlink jets inside of the scope agreement at the regional rates. This is a done deal, we are kicking all the airlink pilots to the street or we leave. Seriously, I don't want to take the job of a XJ/9E pilot under these circumstances. However, I do believe it is a must to save the future of this profession. I would like to see those pilots who get the boot at least get a furlough number on one seniority list.

 

[320AV8R]

The judge will side with us;

How do you know ? Mgmt has a loooong list of reasons why their plan is better. Have you spoken to the Judge ?

We have gone and said we will fly the airlink jets inside of the scope agreement at the regional rates.

True.

This is a done deal,

Not true. The hearing before the Judge is on Jan 17th; nothing has been decided.

we are kicking all the airlink pilots to the street or we leave.

Not true. Our current scope dictates we own 55+ seats. There is talk of putting more seats in the AVROs. We are not kicking anybody anywhere, and our NEWCO negotiations have nothing to do with PCL and Mesaba pilots getting the boot.

Seriously, I don't want to take the job of a XJ/9E pilot under these circumstances.

Good, because you won't have to.

320AV8R

 

[PCL_128]

This is a done deal, we are kicking all the airlink pilots to the street or we leave.

Wanna place bets on that?

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Wanna place bets on that?

If you guys are NewCo or plan on flying greater than 55 seat a/c.