GIA, AWA, Mesa, Trans States, ValueJet, Skybus, Eastwind.
It takes one to know one. AWA brought down this industry. No question about it. Just look what the pay rates and contract was like before 2000. An absolute disgrace. Mesa Grande. Thanks AWA pilots for lowering the bar and helping setup todays pilot pay.
M
Even under the old AWA contract a new hire was paid a base salary of $35,000 which is actually more than USAir's then first year pay.
Pay began on the first day of orientation.
How much did GIA pay for the first year? When did the pay begin?
AWA started up and had two ALPA contracts.
The first one was negotiated while AWA was in chapter 11. How well did USAir do during their own CH11 negotiations? Not nearly as well.
The second contract was negotiated while under the control of the ATSB but still resulted in better pay and working conditions.
AWAs vacation accrual, training pay, deadhead pay, sick policies, and a host of other items are better than what USAir has now or has had in the past.
I think you are right - USAir really lowered the bar when they gave everything away. It would have been much better had they done the honorable thing and simply died.
BTW, you still have not answered - what is your connection to USAir. Am I correct that your father works there and that you still live at home?