UAL ALPA "Apology"

[StaySeated]

I can't find an electronic copy of the ad in today's Chicago Trib business section and I am too lazy to type the whole thing, but I have to say "nicely done".

I personally think most press releases and billboards are totally irrelevant and merely serve the purpose of generating some rah rah amongst the intended pilot group, but United's ad today was different.

UAL is getting slamed in the local press due to cancellations over christmas. UAL blames the weather and the pilots blame staffing. Here is the best line in the add.

"We have repeated warned United's management that they do not have the crew resources to staff our airline adequately and have repeatedly asked them to discuss these shortcomings. So far they have declined to do so. Instead, they diverted $750 million of cash payouts so that they may receive personal stock dividends of $2,196,165. The top five United officers received a combined salary between $65,983,879 and $100,850,809 in 2006. We believe your holiday travel experience would have been much better this week if they had used that money on the airline instead of on themselves"

Nice.

 

[Morning Wood]

How many pilots are still out on furlough (not counting military or medical)? How many have by-passed? I'm curious how many pilots ALPA projects UA to be short and by comparison, how many management says they are short. Things just aren't getting better in this industry, are they?

 

[D-Bo]

How many pilots are still out on furlough (not counting military or medical)? How many have by-passed? I'm curious how many pilots ALPA projects UA to be short and by comparison, how many management says they are short. Things just aren't getting better in this industry, are they?

The recalls are already done. Everyone that wanted to come back or chose to come back because it was the better of two bad choices came back.

 

[vtech]

ALPA didn't have enough ink to apologize for the "summer of love?"

 

[IADBLRJ41]

I have a copy of the Tribune today. It is a full page ad in the Chicago Business section. Very well done UAL ALPA

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

ALPA didn't have enough ink to apologize for the "summer of love?"

That ink was used to print that sweet CBA no one seemed to whine about...

 

[vtech]

That ink was used to print that sweet CBA no one seemed to whine about...

In the background I hear Barbara Streisand singing "Memories." Where's that CBA now?

 

[ualdriver]

I can't find an electronic copy of the ad in today's Chicago Trib business section and I am too lazy to type the whole thing, but I have to say "nicely done".

I personally think most press releases and billboards are totally irrelevant and merely serve the purpose of generating some rah rah amongst the intended pilot group, but United's ad today was different.

UAL is getting slamed in the local press due to cancellations over christmas. UAL blames the weather and the pilots blame staffing. Here is the best line in the add.

"We have repeated warned United's management that they do not have the crew resources to staff our airline adequately and have repeatedly asked them to discuss these shortcomings. So far they have declined to do so. Instead, they diverted $750 million of cash payouts so that they may receive personal stock dividends of $2,196,165. The top five United officers received a combined salary between $65,983,879 and $100,850,809 in 2006. We believe your holiday travel experience would have been much better this week if they had used that money on the airline instead of on themselves"

Nice.

Here's a link to the ad that was run. If the link doesn't work, then you can try the link below. If that doesn't work, the "fun" paragraph was as StaySeated wrote.

https://crewroom.alpa.org/ual/DesktopModules/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=41320

 

[vtech]

That letter of apology is just Pure Freakin Genius!

Might as well say, "Dear Customer, Our airline is managed so poorly you should make your reservations on the competition next time. There's nothing we pilots [who, by the way, didn't give a damn about you back in 2000] can do to make a difference in your travel experience today. So, if you take your business elsewhere, it'll be better for you and us in the long run. Well, better for you anyway. Maybe not for us but we're pissed and we're gonna show those management a$$holes because we don't give a $hit anymore."

That makes sense, doesn't it?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

In the background I hear Barbara Streisand singing "Memories." Where's that CBA now?

Would you rather it not have occured? I would have rather had concession begin from that CBA, then a lesser one.... you?

 

[Plunder Hound]

Vtech, the add was crafted much better than what you imply. Unlike the "summer of love" we have the customer on our side. I've received several unsolicited positive comments while in uniform. We are winning the PR game unlike 2000.

Trust me, I'm no koolaide drinker. I'm trying to get out of United as fast as I can, but ALPA is doing a good job with PR this time. Although, its all for nothing without new management. Very little chance for significant contract improvements with economy slowing and $100 oil.

 

[AWACoff]

Hats off to United. It was a great tactical move on the pilots' part. I would love to see things like this happen at CAL.

 

[Jonny Sacko]

Absolutely Brilliant.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

...but ALPA is doing a good job...

Wha...???? Is this the same ALPA that is constantly criticized on these boards on an hourly basis????

What about recalling John Prater??? Or "Taking it back"?

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Hats off to United. It was a great tactical move on the pilots' part. I would love to see things like this happen at CAL.

...This only happens because the MEC knows the membership is behind them.

If you don't have the rank-and-file support ( as many MEC's don't), then you won't have necessary credibility when challenging management.

It's called....Getting Involved !!!

 

[Morning Wood]

The recalls are already done. Everyone that wanted to come back or chose to come back because it was the better of two bad choices came back.

Yes, that's why I asked how many by-passed. How many of the people who by-passed have resigned or are there still some holding out for a particular airplane and/or domicile? I wonder if the company is counting on the ones who haven't resigned coming back at some point and in turn hiring fewer new people. Just a thought.

 

[ualdriver]

That letter of apology is just Pure Freakin Genius!

Might as well say, "Dear Customer, Our airline is managed so poorly you should make your reservations on the competition next time. There's nothing we pilots [who, by the way, didn't give a damn about you back in 2000] can do to make a difference in your travel experience today. So, if you take your business elsewhere, it'll be better for you and us in the long run. Well, better for you anyway. Maybe not for us but we're pissed and we're gonna show those management a$$holes because we don't give a $hit anymore."

That makes sense, doesn't it?

Is that you, Glenn?

 

[WalterSobchak]

What about recalling John Prater???

I'm Pro-Prater...strictly because he's a member of the Uncle Rico Cheesy Moustache Club.

 

[ualdriver]

Yes, that's why I asked how many by-passed. How many of the people who by-passed have resigned or are there still some holding out for a particular airplane and/or domicile? I wonder if the company is counting on the ones who haven't resigned coming back at some point and in turn hiring fewer new people. Just a thought.

Final UAL Recall/Furlough numbers:

Return to Active Status 934
Return to LOA 631
Medical Hold 33
No work permit 1
Resigned 573
Total 2172

The 631 on leave of abscence- no one knows if they're coming back or not. I would imagine a good chunk of those guys are military guys, and since those numbers are several months old, maybe some of those guys are back already.

I haven't heard about any changes in our hiring plan (yet), but as you might guess, our executives are probably taking a well deserved two week Christmas break.........

 

[PBRstreetgang]

ALPA didn't have enough ink to apologize for the "summer of love?"

You a Skywest pilot? Sounds like the koolaid speaking. I think UAL needs a "winter of love"
PBR

 

[PCL_128]

Excellent ad. Despite vtech's asinine comments, that's exactly the kind of PR move that needs to be made.

 

[saabservant]

Very nicely done.

Hey, anybody know of United's hiring plan?
Got an email request to fill out personality assessment.... no, I do not want to be a deep-sea diver, and I happen to like Greek mythology...

Have lots of 121 PIC, ex-Marine, no degree though...not expecting to hear from them...

Thanks, and Happy New Year to all

 

[AC560]

Excellent ad. Despite vtech's asinine comments, that's exactly the kind of PR move that needs to be made.

The only thing it advertises is that there are union difficulties at UA and if I am taking my family to Florida maybe I should book elsewhere. While it may be good for union moral I don't think it creates any long term benefits for UA or its employees.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

You a Skywest pilot? Sounds like the koolaid speaking. I think UAL needs a "winter of love"
PBR

Love the name PBR...and I pm'ed vtech and let to let him know what a POS he is...

 

[BoilerUP]

The only thing it advertises is that there are union difficulties at UA and if I am taking my family to Florida maybe I should book elsewhere. While it may be good for union moral I don't think it creates any long term benefits for UA or its employees.

Hate to tell you, but there are union difficulties at almost every single airline in operation today...

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The only thing it advertises is that there are union difficulties at UA and if I am taking my family to Florida maybe I should book elsewhere. While it may be good for union moral I don't think it creates any long term benefits for UA or its employees.

Yeah and there is political disharmony in the US.... maybe you should find a country were there isn't...


or you could fly skywest and jetblue to see Mickey...

 

[AC560]

Hate to tell you, but there are union difficulties at almost every single airline in operation today...

I am aware of that, the average American though doesn't. What the readers of this article see is wow things are messed up at UA, guess we should fly somebody else.

What can possibly be the positive outcome of this article aside from maybe rallying union membership which isn't worth the price paid in alienating your customer base.

Yeah and there is political disharmony in the US.... maybe you should find a country were there isn't...

Your analogy doesn't even begin to compare apples to apples.

or you could fly skywest and jetblue to see Mickey...

Which will probably be the effect of the advertisement on the traveling public.

 

[pipe]

How many pilots are still out on furlough (not counting military or medical)? How many have by-passed? I'm curious how many pilots ALPA projects UA to be short and by comparison, how many management says they are short. Things just aren't getting better in this industry, are they?

No. That trend began in 1979, but I am certain we'll see an uptick very soon.

PIPE

 

[PCL_128]

The whole point of such ads is demonstrating to management that the union has the ability to turn their customer base away if management doesn't play ball. Do you think strikes are good for business? Slowdowns? Nobody wants to do these things, but they are the only leverage that unions have to exert on management. Without hurting the bottom line, management won't pay attention. If they're smart, they will take care of the root cause of the labor unrest before things get out of hand.

 

[AC560]

Without hurting the bottom line, management won't pay attention.

Bottom line performance has little to do with executive compensation. One also has to consider that the weaker UA becomes the more likely a merger will occur. From a compensation standpoint the executives at UA would win big selling the airline off.