US Airways Management and America West Pilots to Open Separate Negotiations

[Eagle757shark]

US Airways Management and America West Pilots to Open Separate Negotiations
Friday March 14, 8:00 am ET
PHOENIX, March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC - News) management received notification today from the America West pilots requesting to commence separate contract negotiations under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act.
Also today, the America West pilots have begun separate negotiations with US Airways management on future Airbus A330-200 widebody flying.
Following is a statement from Captain John McIlvenna, chairman of the union leadership group representing the America West pilots.
"America West pilots have lost all patience with this merger. For nearly three years, we have been working with our brothers and sisters at the former US Airways to complete a joint contract. We had hoped that this process would prove fruitful for all pilots of the new US Airways; however, we have come to the point where we are leaving millions of dollars on the table each month for management to pocket. As a result, the pilots I represent are angry, frustrated and asking what was in this merger for us. It appears as if the answer is nothing.
"Since the America West-US Airways merger was consummated, more than 400 US Airways East (former US Air) pilots have been able to upgrade to captain positions, yet less than 40 US Airways West (former America West) pilots have been offered the same opportunity. It's long past time for management to make this merger right for the hard working pilots out West, whose contributions and sacrifices enabled the creation of the new US Airways."
The America West pilots' current contract became amendable December 2006, with provisions that allowed for the parties to open negotiations in June 2006. The US Airways pilots' contract is not amendable until December 2009. Prior to the merger, the two pilot groups negotiated a Transition Agreement with management that (among other things) recognized the rights of America West pilots to enter into Section 6 negotiations separately with management at any time. Until now, those negotiations were in recess, as both pilot groups had been dedicating themselves to completing a joint contract with management.
The America West pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l. (ALPA). Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing 61,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.



Source: Air Line Pilots Association

 

[becket]

It's about time AWA took control of their future. The East Scabs have no intention of complying with their legal obligations as outlined in the Trans. agreement.

If the Scabs don't mind working for 1993 BK payrates, I say let em. Dougie laughs all the way to the bank.

 

[reepicheep]

Wonder how much of a paycut mgmnt. will ask for...

 

[LearLove]

o this is gonna get good

 

[Eagle757shark]

This will be interesting.

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

Maybe we'll get a new contract before USAPA takes over in a month.

Oh well.... Management will stall and wait for the vote. USAPA will win and there will be nothing new for the west except years of litigation with our USAPA overlords.

 

[JoeMerchant]

This ALPA unity is great......time for some more popcorn.....

 

[trainer8]

Maybe we'll get a new contract before USAPA takes over in a month.

Oh well.... Management will stall and wait for the vote. USAPA will win and there will be nothing new for the west except years of litigation with our USAPA overlords.

Ain't gonna happen. PHX and Pos said so...

 

[TWA Dude]

I posted this morning on the Unions page but nobody reads there. Reprint:

And you may ask, "So what"?

Management has already told us they have no intention of conduction seperate negotiations -- that is, until recently when they hinted they'd negotiate the China routes with the East. A340s are also destined for PHX to fly London, Frankfurt and/or who knows where. So management might actually bite on this since it furthers their desire to whipsaw us. The West has no choice now but to fight back at the East which has been encouraging whipsawing for some time.

The West has sat quietly and taken the crap from the East for too long. Taking the moral and legal high ground has simply failed as a strategy. Expect to see more such moves in the coming weeks. If USAPA wins these steps are aimed at protecting the West from the anticipated attack on our seniority. If ALPA wins it shows that we'll play the East's game and seek to advantage ourselves using as much leverage as we can. That means LOA 93 for the East indefinately. We need a raise but at least our contract is livable.

There's a bunch of new Airbusses that start arriving later this year. Wouldn't it just chafe the East's butts if lots of those planes headed out West and the age-65 loss-of-attrition means more upgrades here? That might change their tune.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Whipsaw is like crack.....

Management is the dealer and ALPA is the addict.....The addict knows his behavior is destructive but he can't get off it.....

Meanwhile the dealer benefits and the addict suffers.....

 

[Freight Dog]

7 pages.... minimum.

 

[JoeMerchant]

7 pages.... minimum.

......this one's going to go double digits.....

 

[737 Pylt]

......this one's going to go double digits.....

How bad will the insults be??

737

 

[JoeMerchant]

How bad will the insults be??

737

:uzi:

 

[pipe]

I actually think this one has six to eight months in it -- maybe more!

PIPE

 

[Crzipilot]

340's for PHX huh??? That's a good one. I believe Tempe has had a chance at a couple of 340's, but when looking at overall cost they have declined to get them. I believe we are supposed to start the China route in less than a year??? The FCTI's ground school was cancelled, Tempe came out and stated they can't find 340's on the market because Boeing is late with the 787?!?!?!? Interesting, there are airplanes listed on speednews, so would imagine there's some out there available. The key though is Tempe can't get them at fire sale prices, so they have heartburn over, getting the right equipment to do the job, (see a recuring theme here, with res crossover and a bunch of other crap) Anyways, last anyone has said is a A330, severely weight limited, possibly some relief if they can do it via a polar route, not as bad weight limited.

So what's the significance of sect. 6 negotiations??? I believe everything must be status quo until the vote is over???

 

[JoeMerchant]

I actually think this one has six to eight months in it -- maybe more!

PIPE

....in that case it may outlive ALPA.....

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[Tejas-Jet]

The East Scabs have no intention of complying with their legal obligations as outlined in the Trans. agreement.

If the Scabs don't mind working for 1993 BK payrates, I say let em.

"Scabs"? I didn't know there was a picket line that had been crossed. Are the former AWA pilots on strike?

Can't be...I heard a "Cactus" call sign on the freq this morning...

I haven't seen any pictures of any picket line on the cover of the ALPA magazine...

 

[JoeMerchant]

"Scabs"? I didn't know there was a picket line that had been crossed. Are the former AWA pilots on strike?

Can't be...I heard a "Cactus" call sign on the freq this morning...

I haven't seen any pictures of any picket line on the cover of the ALPA magazine...

....ALPA true believers call anyone who disagrees with ALPA "scabs"....this despite the fact there are actual picket line crossing scabs who have held ALPA positions in the past few years.....

...anyone else see the irony......

 

[TWA Dude]

So what's the significance of sect. 6 negotiations???

This is basically a political move. Per ALPA bylaws a new CBA has to be ratified by both sides. If ALPA goes away so too does that requirement. And the USAPA people know this. Since they would try to make our lives as difficult as possible we're having to make pre-emptive moves to discourage Easties from voting USAPA.

Plus, the Easties have been demanding pay parity with the West despite having withdrawn from joint negotiations so this is a dose of their own medicine.