Pressure on NWA pilots for 70 seaters

[Jimdandy]

http://www.startribune.com

On the second page of this article it states that NWA isn't going to replace the flying with regional flying at least not yet.

Is this pressure to get Pilots to release some scope for a Jet for Jobs deal?

In other words you give us some 70 seaters and we will put some furlough brothers back on-line all-be-it at a different company but at least they will have work. If you don't we will be forced to get an a$$ load of 44 seaters which means we will be less competitive especially in the future.

NWA Mgmt they are brutal negotiators. Good luck to NWA pilots lets hope oil goes down soon.

 

[Jimdandy]

Last update: March 16, 2005 at 9:52 PM
NWA to pare fleet, cut up to 900 jobs
Liz Fedor, Star Tribune
March 17, 2005 NWA0317
Page: 1 2


Northwest Airlines, facing a lethal combination of persistently high fuel prices and stubbornly low fares, will reduce its fleet by 30 airplanes in 2005 and slash up to 900 high-paying mechanics jobs from its Minnesota payroll.

For airline workers, passengers and investors, the retiring of planes and a new round of job cuts are fresh reminders that the steep, four-year decline in the fortunes of large airlines shows no signs of lifting, even as Northwest and other airline executives win wage reductions from some or all of their employees.

"Just when you think you've hit bottom, they pull it out from underneath you again," said Jeff Mathews, contract coordinator with the mechanics union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

Northwest had 451 planes in its fleet at the end of 2004. Most, if not all, of the 30 that will be parked are DC-9s, which have an average age of 33.8 years and which seat between 78 and 125 passengers. On Monday, Northwest said it would freeze the number of domestic seat miles it will fly this year at 2004 levels.

A NWA DC-9It blamed a glut of seats in the U.S. aviation market.

It's unclear how Twin Cities passengers will be affected by Northwest's decision to take some planes out of service, but a company spokesman said the airline expects to reduce the frequency of flights on some routes.

The Eagan-based carrier said Wednesday that it will shut down a DC-9 heavy-maintenance check line in the Twin Cities and not bring back six planes that had been scheduled to fly this year. The immediate impact: 130 mechanic jobs will be cut. Notices will go out in the next couple of weeks, and mechanics could use their seniority to take jobs elsewhere in the Northwest system -- displacing less senior workers in the process -- or simply accept a layoff and leave the Northwest payroll.

Another dozen AMFA members who work in a Twin Cities composite shop also will be given notices, because they support the heavy maintenance work.

Before the 2001 terrorist attacks, AMFA represented about 5,300 Northwest workers in the Twin Cities. That number has fallen to about 3,150, according to Ted Ludwig, president of AMFA Local 33 in Bloomington.

"I was here when we had the Iraq war layoffs when 1,683 guys got their pink slips in one day," Ludwig said. "This is just something that we've grown accustomed to and we will deal with it one day at a time as it comes."

Northwest said Wednesday that it will take another 24 planes out of service, but it declined to give a timetable for those changes.

"The first reduction will take place in June while additional aircraft will be phased out later this year," the Northwest pilots union said in a memo to pilots on Wednesday night.

"Because a large number of DC-9s are owned rather than leased, Northwest indicated it can realize a net savings by removing these aircraft from routes that are identified as unprofitable," the pilots union said.

Taking two dozen planes out of service will mean shedding an extra 700 to 800 mechanic jobs in the Twin Cities, where workers take planes apart, inspect them for cracks and wear, and rebuild them over the course of weeks. By eliminating so-called heavy maintenance work on its DC-9s, Northwest said it will close two of its maintenance lines operated by an outside vendor in Texas.

The worst-case scenario for the mechanics union is 930 job cuts this year.

But three other large Northwest unions -- the pilots, flight attendants and ground workers -- are not expecting job cuts.

Management does not expect to furlough any more Northwest pilots this year, according to the Northwest branch of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). But the company also does not expect to call more pilots back to work, and about 500 are still on furlough.

Bob Krabbe, an official with the Professional Flight Attendants Association (PFAA), said Northwest is not expected to furlough more flight attendants. Instead, he said, any changes in staffing levels will be managed through voluntary leaves

 

[Jimdandy]

NWA to pare fleet, cut up to 900 jobs
Continued from page 1
Page: 2


Union leader Steve Dunn said his union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), has been notified that job cuts for IAM ground workers are not planned.

However, the flight attendants, ground workers and mechanics unions all are in mediated contract negotiations with Northwest. Management is seeking at least $950 million per year in labor savings from its workers, and CEO Doug Steenland has said that target could go higher.

Some mechanics believe Northwest is trying to shift more of its domestic flying to regional partners such as Pinnacle Airlines, where pay levels are lower and planes are newer, and thus require less maintenance.

While the number of seat miles flown by Northwest pilots will be flat this year, Northwest projected that its flight capacity for regional carriers will increase by 32 to 34 percent.

"We are moving into the busiest part of the travel season. I don't know why we'd be reducing capacity," Ludwig said. "I believe they are moving these flights over to Pinnacle."

Northwest said it has not made a policy decision to shift a major portion of its flying to Pinnacle.

"The reduction in Northwest domestic capacity will currently not be offset by regional jet flying," Northwest spokesman Thomas Becher said.

Northwest is taking delivery of 22 regional jets this year that are headed to Pinnacle. The fleet will grow to 139 Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) by September.

The CRJs, which seat 44 and 50 passengers, are being used to open up new markets -- such as Idaho Falls and El Paso, Texas -- that cannot support the number of seats on a mainline jet, Becher said.

On Northwest's flight schedule, Becher said, "We constantly mix and match aircraft to maximize financial results. We look at aircraft size and frequency and constantly make adjustments."

Joel Denney, an airline analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co., said industry insiders have been waiting for some airlines to go out of business because of massive losses that have been posted over the past four years.

Instead, United Airlines, the nation's second-biggest carrier, and US Airways continue to languish in bankruptcy court. Delta Air Lines is once again warning that it might have to file for bankruptcy protection and Continental Airlines announced Tuesday that its employees must approve concessionary contracts by March 30 or it will insist on even deeper labor cuts.

Last year, Northwest lost $878 million, and it has lost about $2.5 billion on its operations over the past four years. Federal aid and the sale of some major assets helped lower its total net loss.

"You've got more capacity than the market can handle, which is why you are seeing Northwest holding back," Denney said. The airline is attempting to reduce losses and boost fares, he said. With fuel prices remaining at record levels, Denney said, there are no signs of significant improvement in the airline industry.

Northwest recognizes its passenger revenue is not at sustainable levels, he said, "so you have to take action."

AMFA leaders had been fearful that Northwest would phase out heavy maintenance jobs in the Twin Cities, because the airline plans to tear down an airport hangar to make way for more gates.

Ludwig and other union members have urged members of the Minnesota Legislature and Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) to block the further loss of mechanic jobs.

But the MAC and Gov. Tim Pawlenty have shown strong support for Northwest's airport expansion plan, and the Legislature has not inserted itself into the airline's labor-management relations.

Liz Fedor is at

 

[drag]

Better yet, lets hope oil continues to go up. Let the weed out begin. I dream of the day when the desert is full of RJ's.

 

[General Lee]

You are probably going to get 70 and 90 seaters anyway, so I say negotiate for them. Give some of your furloughs the option to fly them in the left seat. AA, CAL and USAir did it.



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[320AV8R]

We'll give up the 70 seat flying, only if Management promises to give us another pay cut

320AV8R

 

[cathal]

I hope whatever's coming benefits most (all) and harms few (none). Only hindsight will tell.

 

[avrodriverj85]

You are probably going to get 70 and 90 seaters anyway, so I say negotiate for them. Give some of your furloughs the option to fly them in the left seat. AA, CAL and USAir did it.



General Lee,

Why the left seat and not the right? What about the F/O who's been sitting in the right seat for 6+ years, paying ALPA dues? A 5 year DC9 F/O get's the left seat before him? I don't think so ! What happened to seniority?

You mainline guys are unbelievable. Entitlements Entitlements. Suck it up and ride the storm just like the rest of us. You took the risk by going to mainline, now ride it out and quit complaining, or get into another field of work. You bitch about management ruining your careers and taking your jobs away, but you want to do the same thing to the regional ranks when things don't go your way.

 

[canyonblue]

With what we have playing out at Airways, it can't be said anymore that the Mainline supports the Regional, it may also be the other way around. You can't have one without the other, and vice versa.

 

[xjhawk]

Right now, everything is just rumors. I cannot believe some people actually want airlines like US Airways to go out of business! What are you thinking? Do you realize that those people are just trying to have a job and a career too? I do not want to see Anyone at NOrthwest lose their job, or Northwest lose airplanes. I cannot respect Management for some or most of their business practices. How can you take bonus's while asking workers to take wage cuts? How can you cut ticket prices and take a loss while fuel prices continue to rize? How can you try and put another airline out of business while the tax payers are funding those bankrupt airlines? How is that legal or ethical? My point being, if i have one, do not hate other pilots or say bad things about us, just because we are stuck at a regional airline.Some of us hope that there is a future at mainline, but the fact id, in order for northwest to be competetive in the future, is to operate the 70-90 seat planes at the regional level. If everyother airline is flying them at the regional level, then Northwest must do the same. The other problem, is the lack of leadership at alpa to provide true leadership. To solidify the pilots, instead of allowing what is now happening in the industry. I still cannot believe that someone who is a wing walker at northwest makes over twice what i make! Maybe if more mainline ALPA pilots would think of Us regional pilots as more than "just " regional pilots. how can our union have dual representation? Anyway.......what was my point? Good luck to all, i hope we all make something out of our careers.

 

[avrodriverj85]

XJHawk,

It's all about the cash. We are managed by a group of jackals that are only interested in getting all the meat off the bone.

A NWA supervisor in DTW told me once that 'Dick' Anderson held a open forum a few years ago, to discuss or explain why NWA needed pay cuts from the mechanics. I guess during the open mike session a grizzly ex-republic type asked Anderson why they needed paycuts while senior management took pay increases and bonuses? The befuddled CEO responded by saying, "I worked hard for my salary and career and don't need to take a paycut"! OUCH.

This is the mentality we are dealing with. As far as ALPA goes, they are all about political agenda. Woerthless would probably defend his $400k+ salary the same way that Anderson defended his. Meanwhile, the guys that make that salary possible are getting booted to the street.

There is no difference between airline management and ALPA - both are in business to make money. If you challenge either one about their way of doing business, you're likely to lose a few fingers.

 

[NuGuy]

Well, with the current announcement to park 30 DC-9s, any possible relief on the 70 seat issue went out the window. People are so pissed it's beyond belief.

There will be no 70 seaters for XJ, 9E or anyone else short of a bankruptcy judges order.

Tough luck....

Nu

 

[cathal]

Funny one, Nu. You're only guessing and hoping like everyone else on this board.
The facts still aren't in. Until then you don't what you're talking about.

 

[JimBo480]

I agree with NuBuy.

The company is slaming the mechanics by announcing they are setting down 30 DC-9's and laying off another 900 from their already depleted ranks. Remember when management was going to ground all of the Avro's during your recent contract negotiations? The pilots are just caught in the middle, but they aren't taking it very well. Lots of upset people on our board.

As for working at a regional, while I would love to fly with you guys, I don't need to work in a hostile environment with people like Avrodriverj85 who would have a chip on their shoulder. I'm not throwing stones at you, if positions were reversed I might feel the same way, but I doubt it. Others have been more harsh, posting things like, "I'll enjoy taking their flying, will do it for less and laugh as they furlough more". This individual I would throw stones at. With these thoughts in mind, I'll stay in my current job working as a mechanical engineer and wait on recall. Life's too short, you need to make sure you enjoy each and every day.

I'm not sure what our MEC will do, but I think almost every furloughed pilot that has posted an opinion has one similar to mine. Some of the very negative post from here end up posted on our board, and only make the NWA pilots more resolved to keep the 70 seat flying.

Jim, on furlough since 03/01/2002 and enjoying the extra time with my family

 

[NuGuy]

Funny one, Nu. You're only guessing and hoping like everyone else on this board.
The facts still aren't in. Until then you don't what you're talking about.

Incorrecto...

1. Fact: The NWA Pilot agreement doesn't allow 70 seaters, period

2. Fact: There have been NO negotiations between management and the NWA negotiating commitee in several weeks. This comes straight from the MEC Communications Chairman, and backed up by the Council 1 Captain's Rep.

3. Fact: Any agreement is subject to membership ratification, which at this point, would be doubtful unless the airframes were on the NWA certificate and were flown by NWA pilots. Flow up/back is a big maybe...

4. Fact: The only people guessing and hoping here are wishful thinkers at XJ and 9E.


Nu

 

[SWA/FO]

As far as recall rights for pilots... does that expire at a certain time frame? I thought it was something like 5 years? Just wondering thanks.

 

[dbrownie]

As far as recall rights for pilots... does that expire at a certain time frame? I thought it was something like 5 years? Just wondering thanks.

SWA/FO

It has been extended I think, to 8 years I hope it never comes to that!

As far as the 70 seat flying, that is OURS. We are not taking that
from XJ they never owned it.

Of course the devil is in the details. I am sure our furloughed guys/gals
could fly it at a regional rate but the FAs and ground ops would
be handled by who?

I would welcome any of our airlink to our 70 seat as a bridge to the mainline,
but since it is OUR flying we need to take care of our group first.

Just my opinion (which doesn't mean much!)

Dave B

 

[Schwanker]

As far as recall rights for pilots... does that expire at a certain time frame? I thought it was something like 5 years? Just wondering thanks.

10 Years. It was 7 years, but was extended to 10 with last bridge agreement.

 

[Jimdandy]

We own the 70 seat flying blah blah blah

What you need to ask yourself is what will keep our company afloat and how can we best benefit and contribute.

Releasing scope and trying to get some sort of Jet for job deal is the only logical answer. It is envitable.

 

[AnimalTale]

[/QUOTE]

Why the left seat and not the right? What about the F/O who's been sitting in the right seat for 6+ years, paying ALPA dues? A 5 year DC9 F/O get's the left seat before him? I don't think so ! What happened to seniority?

You mainline guys are unbelievable. Entitlements Entitlements. Suck it up and ride the storm just like the rest of us. You took the risk by going to mainline, now ride it out and quit complaining, or get into another field of work. You bitch about management ruining your careers and taking your jobs away, but you want to do the same thing to the regional ranks when things don't go your way.[/QUOTE]


Forgive my observation,

Unfortunately, your company is operating BECAUSE of NWA. As they furlough, Pinnacle gets bigger and hopefully soon Mesaba too.

As an outsider, I also know that NWA holds the scope pretty tight( 70-90 seat flying is all for the NWA pilot...correct me if Im wrong) and the NWA MEC respects their regional counterparts, utmost. In fact I know a few furloughed NWA guys who slid back to PCL as FOs.

I would also be frustrated, like you, if a furloughed guy takes my Captain's seat b4 me. Remember, it is their flying to begin with and it is the way it is unless the mainline flying stays mainline. The airline industry is not a pretty place and I bet you a majority of those furloughed pilots paid their dues in the right seat of some turboprop at a regional.

YOU, my friend, ALSO took the risk of becoming an employee of a very unstable and unpredictable career. So it looks like you will also have to suck it up. Things will change again. And for the good of the career I hope NWA MEC decides to keep the 70-90 seat flying on property, so you can eventually get out of that right seat.

And remember, if it was not for the NWA and the sacrafices of the furloughed bunch, Mesaba & PCL would not be growing or flying jets.

Just an observation from an outsider. Good luck and be patient.

cya

 

[AvroJockey]

Incorrecto...

1. Fact: The NWA Pilot agreement doesn't allow 70 seaters, period

2. Fact: There have been NO negotiations between management and the NWA negotiating commitee in several weeks. This comes straight from the MEC Communications Chairman, and backed up by the Council 1 Captain's Rep.

3. Fact: Any agreement is subject to membership ratification, which at this point, would be doubtful unless the airframes were on the NWA certificate and were flown by NWA pilots. Flow up/back is a big maybe...

4. Fact: The only people guessing and hoping here are wishful thinkers at XJ and 9E.


Nu

Not everyone wants to steal your job!

I would probably guess that almost every pilot in the XJ and 9E ranks wants to fly 70-seaters, though at mainline.

I'm a wishful thinker allright, wishin' the 70-seaters go to mainline so I can get a real job.

 

[Alchemy]

Not all of us RJ pukes want to see 70 or 90 seat scope-busting aircraft at our airlines, despite the fact that it's already being done and would benefit us individually for the short term. As a relative newcomer, I can't see a productive use for all the animosity between mainline and express/airlink/connection carriers. Contracting labor out to the lowest bidder is a management fantasy, and I'm sure they'd do it on 747's rather than just aircraft under 100 seats if they could figure out a way. In the end, that's all we regionals boil down too....cheap contract labor. Let's not replace the word "regionals" in that sentence with the word "pilots". Keep the 70 seaters at mainline at CAL and NWA.

 

[ExAF]

Seniority Where?

If mainline gives up the 70 seaters, the DC9 flying will eventually get farmed out and mainline will shrink again. There won't be much of a need for a replacement 100 seater because the 70-90 seaters will fill the gap between the 45 seaters and the Airbi. They will just park the 9s as they come due for major maintenance and the flying will go to the feeder of choice at the time. If that flying goes away now, mainline will lose that flying forever. The regionals will continue to grow and will be able to look forward to remaining at the regional for a lot longer than they may have anticipated when they hired on. There won't be any mainline movement to move into. Remember...it is mainline flying, bought and paid for. Why shouldn't mainline get the left seat. Seniority does have everything to do with it, seniority at mainline and not the regional.

 

[Mesabi Miner]

Let's cool it

All of us are in this crappy situation together. Nobody is better than anyone else. The person that first built the wall between "major" and "regional" did this industry a severe disservice that is hugely exploited by our managements. It makes me sick to see the DC-9s on the way out. They are NWA's "paid for" bread and butter. The last thing we need are more CRJs. But, everyone needs to realize that Mr. Joe Shmoe FO has nothing to do with the allocation of flights and resources. The animosity seen these days should not be directed toward the rank and file. Let's face it. We're all just replaceable laborers. We are just numbers. Want to get mad at somebody? Let's get p1ssed at our management, not at the jumpseater who's trying to get home to his or her family. And along with management, why not get more on ALPA's case? In my opinion, ALPA has done this industry a severe injustice by maintaining the segregation between all of us.

MM - 5 year XJ Saab FO

 

[TurboAWD]

You got it Masabi, ALPA (and any pilot group that voted to relieve scope, particularly on the 70+seaters) is screwing everyone but the most senior pilots by letting "regionals" fly any jets.

Personally, I'd rather be furloughed from NW than working at 9E.
I hope NW holds on to the 70 seaters, but unfortunately the other pilot groups have made that pretty hard for them to do that.

I also find it odd that NW is parking "paid-for" aircraft, considering the load factors were well in to the 90's last summer (even if they do burn a ton of fuel).
If these ticket price increases hold (and hopefully grow), I would think it would be even dumber. Seems awfully familiar to the XJ Avro dissapearing scare during their negotiations.

And what the heck are they thinking puting CRJ's hub-hub (starts in May).
Let's see, need more frequency? No.
DC-9's and Airbus running with lots of empty seats? No.

 

[AnimalTale]

All of us are in this crappy situation together. Nobody is better than anyone else. The person that first built the wall between "major" and "regional" did this industry a severe disservice that is hugely exploited by our managements. It makes me sick to see the DC-9s on the way out. They are NWA's "paid for" bread and butter. The last thing we need are more CRJs. But, everyone needs to realize that Mr. Joe Shmoe FO has nothing to do with the allocation of flights and resources. The animosity seen these days should not be directed toward the rank and file. Let's face it. We're all just replaceable laborers. We are just numbers. Want to get mad at somebody? Let's get p1ssed at our management, not at the jumpseater who's trying to get home to his or her family. And along with management, why not get more on ALPA's case? In my opinion, ALPA has done this industry a severe injustice by maintaining the segregation between all of us.

MM - 5 year XJ Saab FO

Excellent observation! I agree.

 

[AnimalTale]

You got it Masabi, ALPA (and any pilot group that voted to relieve scope, particularly on the 70+seaters) is screwing everyone but the most senior pilots by letting "regionals" fly any jets.

Personally, I'd rather be furloughed from NW than working at 9E.
I hope NW holds on to the 70 seaters, but unfortunately the other pilot groups have made that pretty hard for them to do that.

I also find it odd that NW is parking "paid-for" aircraft, considering the load factors were well in to the 90's last summer (even if they do burn a ton of fuel).
If these ticket price increases hold (and hopefully grow), I would think it would be even dumber. Seems awfully familiar to the XJ Avro dissapearing scare during their negotiations.

And what the heck are they thinking puting CRJ's hub-hub (starts in May).
Let's see, need more frequency? No.
DC-9's and Airbus running with lots of empty seats? No.

Another great realization!

 

[avrodriverj85]

Since we are all sitting around the campfire, stroking each other, and singing kum-ba-ya, let realize this - mainline flying doesn't belong to mainline pilots, nor does it belong to regional pilots that fly under the NWA flag; it belongs to NWA. Management can do whatever they want with it. Everything else is subject to negotiation.

Now with that said, the NWA mainline pilots and regional pilots need to pull there heads out of their asses and fire ALPA up. Afterall, you're paying them to represent you, they claim they are doing a good job, so force them to earn that money or fire them. If we just continue to sit around and play this tit-for-tat for the next couple of years, it's gonna really suck.

Maybe ALPA has worn out there welcome or usefulness around here? Seems we keep moving backwards while they continue to claim victory.

 

[General Lee]

Avro,


Unfortunately you cannot see that LCC competition will kill you in your RJs with their mainline sized aircraft. If management wants to try to compete with RJs, they will lose. Also, with lower fares, it is more important to have more seats to compete. You don't see Southwest or Airtran with any RJs, because they need many seats to pull in profits with their lower fares. Check out how Indy Air is doing. Yeah, they have some A319s, but not enough. Your RJ only does well on routes NOT served by LCCs, and they are growing.

Also, before you asked me why I thought NW furloughs should go to the left seat instead of the right. Well, it all depends on what they can negotiate. We didn't do that at DL, and our guys were offered right seat at ASA and CHQ. On the other hand, AA, CO, and USAir negotiated deals for direct entry left seat, and since their regional partners were taking a lot of their old mainline routes, it was fair for them, and the company obviously agreed. Any NEW flying should be offered to the furloughed pilots. (IMO) AS far as displacing current left seaters at the regional partners, I don't think that is a good idea. As far as 6 year FOs, sorry.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[CWASaab]

...and the NWA MEC respects their regional counterparts, utmost. In...

I used to think this was true, to some extent. After years of going to recurrent ground school pizza dinners hosted by the XJ MEC, where a member of the NWA MEC would stop in and answer questions and give a great rah-rah brand scope pep talk, who could blame a guy for buying into the rhetoric. Did I mention the pizza came with free beer?

And then there were those great public signs of brotherhood: a certificate thanking me for my support during NWA's strike (didn't quite make up for XJ holding our pay hostage) and the giant billboard informing the public how poorly our newhires were paid leading up to our contract endgame (that was actually pretty cool).

They talk a great deal about brand scope and the red-tail family, but the truth however is that the NWA MEC and the NWA pilots have utmost concern for only themselves. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with looking out for number one, I just don't want to hear any more BS about brand scope and how much they support XJ (or 9E).

Why?

Until fairly recently the Northwest pilots had in there contract the right to restrict NWA from adding additional Airlinks. Not only do their recent contract changes allow for a third airlink (in the event a competitor folds an associated regional could be brought in to the family), it specificly prohibits (from my understanding) XJ or 9E from doing that new flying.

I can understand the desire to swoop in and start up operations immediately in such a case, but a wet-lease type of arrangement until XJ or 9E could take full opperation seems much more family friendly, to those in the existing family anyway. I sure felt sold out by this change.

Recognizing NWA's pattern of switching flying/growth away from which ever of the three groups is closest to endgame, I once asked the NWA MEC visitor to a XJ pizza dinner why the three pilot groups don't do a little coordination, and attempt to sign deals that become amendable at more or less the same time. Seems like the surest way to limit whipsaw. His answer was a long the lines of 'sounds great, but we would probably have to give something up to negotiate that, and I don't think the MEC or the NWA pilots would be willing to do that.' I felt a little stupid after asking the question, I honestly thought they cared, after all it sure is what they claim publicly, foolish me.

The goal with brand scope is to limit management's ability to threaten pilot groups during negotiations with the "airline xyz will under-bid us and be awarded our flying if we don't get a cost-neutral contract" BS, as well as keeping whipsaw-ing in check.

By pulling the rug out from under 9E and XJ, we have now seen just how committed ALPA, the NWA MEC and the NWA pilots are to their own rhetoric of brand scope and to stopping the current 'lowest-bidder-slide-to-the-bottom-squeeze-blood-from-a-turnip' phenomena.

...and the NWA MEC respects their regional counterparts, utmost. In...

There is no respect, just another bullet point to negotiate away when times are tough. The NWA MEC only cares about the NWA pilots.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.