Senator Slams Pilots for US Airways Bankruptcy

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

I can name a few:

I'm pro-labor and the Republican party isn't. Sorry I can't change this fact for you.

Well you may have a point that SOME Dems may be pro-labor in regards to pilots, to me both parties don't give a hoot about the average American worker they just have different ways of showing their "love". The Dems drive American business away through burdersome taxes and regulations while the Reps (seem to) favor things that benefit shareholders rather than the average Joe. Both parties are guilty of pimping off their constituents and saying the words they want to hear while their actions are contrary.

A few years ago NY Sen.(Up)Chuck Shummer was getting air time complaining about how USAir is porking NY consumers and how glad he was for JetBlue and SWA coming to NY.

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Typical antiunion scumbag politician. He's probably out having sex with his babysitter in his car behind the yacht club.

Or better yet, how about a "pro-labor" (not!) POTUS getting it on with an intern and probably dozens of others while on the job?

 

[hbrow15]

Pres Clinton(D) ordered American's pilots back to work when they decided to strike, not exactly a pro- labor move.

 

[Huck]

Time for me to whinge about our last great pro-labor democrat president:


1. - After his minion at Transportation Pina walked around in the debris field and pilots' remains of the Eagle RDU crash, they passed the "records sharing" act - covered by AC 120-68C, or something.

When you go for your next job, all your training records and chief pilot files go with you, including - and I quote -

Records of any disciplinary action taken with respect to the individual that was not subsequently overturned...​

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So suppose you get crosswise with management for volunteering for ALPA, or for refusing a broke aircraft, or whatever. ANYTHING disciplinary in your file goes with you.​

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They were polite enough to exempt military pilots from this (good for you guys - more power to you).​

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2. Older ASA guys can tell you - after 3 years of insane, insulting, stall-filled negotiations back in 1998, Washington sent in Bill Clinton's hand-appointed mediator, the democrat Maggie Jacobsen. They had given us a TA which the pilot force had voted down by 96%.​

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She promptly told us it was a good deal and we should take it. And if we didn't, it'd be another YEAR before she'd release us to strike. This from a good democratic White House that had just received 50 million from the AFL-CIO that we supported.​

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Bottom line - they both treat us like overpaid bus drivers. At least the Republicans are honest about it.​

 

[HawkI]

Ewww noooo, who is going to protect the shareholders!!! They have lost everything!! I'm assuming the employees have not lost anything? But again typical republican, worried about the shareholders.
]

While I don't agree with Senator Stupid's comments. It's easy to blame republicans for only looking out for the shareholders, but remember who the shareholders are, the Retirement Systems of Alabama. They invested $240 million of their money to help finance the first bankruptcy exit. This was schoolteachers retirement investments that helped saved the airline.

I'm glad somebody is also concerned about them!

 

[capt. megadeth]

Republican or Democrat....none of those people give a $hit about any of us.

 

[I.P. Freley]

A few years ago NY Sen.(Up)Chuck Shummer was getting air time complaining about how USAir is porking NY consumers and how glad he was for JetBlue and SWA coming to NY.

I don't understand your point. Of COURSE Schumer was glad that JetBlue was coming to New York, as Schumer is the senior senator from... New York.

They're based in his state, USAirways isn't.

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

I don't understand your point. Of COURSE Schumer was glad that JetBlue was coming to New York, as Schumer is the senior senator from... New York.

They're based in his state, USAirways isn't.

My logic may be incorrect, but U was a major player in NY markets and provided air service to some of the smaller commnunities (e.g., Jamestown). They also are union ("the working people" as politicians affectionately call them). He publicly bad mouths U saying their prices are too high and U's been gouging the NY people for too long. He then praises SWA and JB for coming in and rescuing the NY air travelers from high prices. I'm hearing this and thinking this pimp has probably benefited from U workers and now he's (indirectly) bashing them.

One correction, UpChuck in now the Junior Senator from NY. When King Hillary was annointed she automatically assumed the senior role. Chuck got neutered. Joking somewhat.

 

[I.P. Freley]

One correction, UpChuck in now the Junior Senator from NY. When King Hillary was annointed she automatically assumed the senior role. Chuck got neutered. Joking somewhat.

No arguing there!

On election day in 2000, I was flying one of those NY-based USAirways Express flights north to PLB, and listening to 770am on the ADF, talking about the landslide victory for Her Highness in the Senatorial race. I looked over at the captain and suggested that if we just kept going, we could be in Canada in an extra 15mins and simply STAY THERE.

It took us a while, but we decided we were better off in Hillary's New York than in Quebec.

 

[merikeyegro]

Think of the political realities of 1998, however. Clinton was on the ropes not only because of scandal but because of a fierce, growing GOP opposition in Congress. If you'll remember the 1994 mid-term election brought in 73 new GOP types. He was in no position to bargain by that point. Gingrich was the most powerful man in Washington at the time, not Clinton. A true government of the peeople (at the time). These Republicans actually attempted at fiscal restraint, too...that's another story.

I digress.

SO, Clinton kinda had to do what the Congress wanted, be it anti-labor or not. If I remember right, APA also had donated to a PAC supporting or had endorsed (can't remember which) Bob Dole in 1996. I believe that had something to do with American getting called back to work. If you'll remember, NWA went on strike in the fall of 1998 and didn't get called back. ALPA supported Clinton. It was a relatively big story at the time. I remember talking about it in a PoliSci class my junior year. I seem to even remember Clinton smirking about the difference between the two at one point during an interview.

Anyhoo, just because Dems haven't come out in support publicly doesn't mean that they don't support the labor union. The Dems don't hold a Senate seat in PA. Keep in mind that a U bankruptcy might hurt PA but might help TX, MN, or NY. NY and MN have some Dems on the roll in both houses that might not feel so bad about U going belly-up. Call it hypocritical, but the likes of Chuck Schumer, Anthony Weiner, or Mark Dayton aren't elected by people in PA. If they want to serve their respective constituencies, they aim to get policies written that support jobs/unions/companies that benefit their respective states. Fact of the matter is that the Republicans from PA have both come out in opposition to the union. They are joined by the likes of pilot hater and Bush-supporting sellout John McCain (it sucks - I used to like this guy) denouncing the union and the tyrannical "four pilots" that took down U. Sorry, but I predicted their demise over a year ago to some colleagues here at work. U has been a bad company for awhile now. I even warned a few short-timers not to take their jobs at PSA to no avail. They're in a little hot water now.

Well, the union had to stop somewhere. I'm sick of companies and Congress jumping on this labor-hating bandwagon. You can only give so much before you're worth more dead than you are alive. Some unions have too much power. Some not enough. Some, like this one, had just enough left and used it to finally stop the bleeding. Yeah, they may pay for it with their jobs, but they're likely to be just as happy elsewhere. Good chance that their jobs weren't that great toward the end anyway.

Congress will shut up eventually. Like a few said, all the grandstanding is for the papers and the constituencies. Let Santorum practice his scare tactics somewhere else.

I'm out...

 

[merikeyegro]

Come to think of it, why doesn't anyone on this board run for Congress if things are so bad? I'm guessing that at least a few of you are relatively well-off financially (better than $80,000/yr and NOT in jeopardy of losing your job next week). I'm sure you could afford the fees associated with filing your paperwork. Since many of you are likely Republicans, you'll just have to make sure that you run on the right platform. There are plenty of pro-labor Republicans (Schwarzenegger, Giuliani, Snowe, for example). They just don't come from the South. Try NY, MD, NH, ME, NE, CO, MN, WI, MI, CA, or OH for starters. You don't even have to make it your main issue (don't - you won't win the primary) but it could be part of your platform. Make fiscal responsibility, debt repayment, strength of military, free trade (within limits - require improved labor conditions as a contingency for trade relations, much like Starbucks does), or improved labor relations (better labor relations = more money for the business) part of your main message. I think it would work. Add in some tolerant social stances and you have a decent message north of the Mason-Dixon line.

You'd be a moderate Republican, but a GOoPer nonetheless. You might even get my vote with the right combo of these. I'm a registered Dem but don't believe in high taxation or government spending. It is possible, believe it or not. Hell, Joe Scarborough didn't have a pot to pee in when he ran against a well-entrenched Dem in northwest Florida. He went door to door to get signatures because he didn't have the $$$ to file the paperwork. He needed signatures instead. Don't think that the political process can't work. It just takes hard work and a little help from a few friends (hopefully some with $$$). Stop by your nearest party headquarters and ask around.

The reason these schmucks get into office is because they are determined to get there. If you run during a mid-term election, turnout is low enough where you could get elected if you stirred up enough of one segment of your district to conjure up the votes to win. Try it out. You never know. You might just learn a little along the way.

 

[320AV8R]

Once again, WE get the blame for years fo poor management...... Did anyone explain that the USAir guys could work for free, and it wouldn't have much, if any, bearing on the long term survival of the company?

Tripower455 is correct.

Allegheny transpired into USAir.....then bought PSA & Piedmont; the latter to avoid a hostile takeover by Carl Icaan, AND the fact that Piedmont was starting to eat USAir's lunch. That was 1989.

THE PROBLEM is that they NEVER managed the airline like a MAJOR carrier. The Allegheny mindset continued, and they were UNABLE to compete. That has cursed them until today. They immediately "gave back" the PSA routes, (when UAL & SWA invaded California). They have been retreating ever since.....not because of the pilots....but because of BAD MANAGEMENT.

To blame the pilots is ridiculous.

Good Luck to all at USAir.

 

[Publishers]

right

You are so right, they were totally incompetant and unfit to run a major airline. It is amazing that they even got or get the jobs in the first place. To blame the pilots is absurd.

All that said -- what do we do? Fire management. Any suggestions appreciated. My vote is liquidate if the leadership is that bad.