Easy answer WEST SIDE MAKES NO MONEY!!! EAST side does!! West bases on the east? Simple economics...LOA 93 WE DO IT CHEAPER!! Not by choice, but by the short sightedness of the WEST. You encourage Douggie to keep US on the lower pay-scale.

Here we go again. Poor Easties...you insist on separate ops, then in the same breath you want West pay and work rules. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Why is this so hard to understand? Parker knows full well if you get pay parity, you'll NEVER show up at the bargaining table. Hell, you really haven't made an effort to bargain in good faith yet because USAPA knows full well a joint contract WILL include the Nic and the leadership will get lynched after running on a DOH promise. The East, West, and company all agreed to a process. The company and the West have stuck to it so far but the East keeps trying to take their dollies and go home.
Remember the APA sick-out a few years back, No, I do. Case in point. APA did not want AMR to run RENO-AIR as an alter-ego airline within the American system. APA demanded that the Reno pilots be immediately placed on the current PAY rates and work rules of their existing contract.
AA/RENO was apples to our oranges. APA demanded that Reno be placed at current works and pay because they had nothing to lose. Reno was gonna get stapled and everybody knew it. Are you suggesting that you'd be willing to be stapled on the bottom of the West list to get West pay and work rules? Of course not. Face it, USAPA lied to you. You didn't have the upper hand during the "merger". Unlike AA/Reno, USAPA can't pressure the company to do ANYTHING.
And yet you sit here and bash USAPA for its existence.. How about enlightening ALL of US why "The West" now operates 24% of east routes...
Oh wait I have the answer, USAPA won a minimum block hr. grievance for the West!! Although the Vegas domicile NO LONGER EXISTS, the WEST has evaded disastrous downsizing by taking EAST flying!!
And now YOU want EAST bases?....... What are YOU implying??
So, smart guy, if the West STOLE 24% of the East flying as you continually imply, why didn't the East have to furlough 24% of it's pilots? You're right, Vegas no longer exists as a crew base, but what about DCA and LGA? Gone. Pilot hubs on both sides were reduced and pilots were re-allocated. If the East didn't furlough 24% to compensate for all the "theft", where did everybody go? They took a bunch of West flying and started operating NEW flying! Wow, what a concept.
As far as WANTING East bases? I only offered a scenario that would allow the East to remain stand alone, as seems to be your wish. Eventually, your coveted attrition would leave the East bases understaffed and I suggested a method to keep that from happening.
I don't want the West pilots operating an East base, I want USAPA to quit stalling and get a damn contract, as is their obligation, while living up to their other obligations. Yeah, that's right, the Nic. West pilots have met their obligations (*admittedly, often begrudgingly, such as paying dues to a union that sues West pilots and fails to bargain in good faith). Start living up to East obligations anytime. Anytime would be great.