USAir's MDA just made us obsolete

[the turtle]

Today the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported negotiators for the Air Line Pilots Association and US Airways settled Thursday night on pay rates for MidAtlantic's new Embraer 170 planes. Under the tentative pact, a captain's pay would be capped at $58,000 a year on the 70-seat aircraft, and a first officer would make about $35,000.

"This would be an extremely competitive pay rate for the company that should go a long way in addressing their (regional jet) financing concerns," said pilots union spokesman Jack Stephan, adding that he is confident the union's governing body would "put its stamp" of approval on the proposal, the newspaper wrote.

GE Capital is financing US Airways' $2.1 billion purchase of 85 Embraers; the purchase is expected to be completed by September 2006. But the lender has been concerned about uncertainties clouding US Airways' ability to repay.
____________________________________________________

Good luck XJet and ASA guys in getting a Comair-style contract.

Now the question we need to ask, I think, is: How does ALPA allow a MAJOR to agree to accept a contract who's wages are lower than most regionals, including Mesa?

 

[Dizel8]

It was U ALPA, not sure national is happy with this. You know what is going on, the senior boys just sold their junior friends down the river. Who cares about the junior guys, just let me fly the big jet.

The fact, that U will now pay a E-170 Captain less than most commuters, should tell you something. Heck, I think CMR is almost twice as much and even Mesa is probably better.

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

No, mesa is a lot better. WOW

 

[Dizel8]

"capped at $58,000 a year"

Ouch!

 

[reepicheep]

The situation at U is this - a lame-duck MEC with a large contingent of weak sisters is in it's last days before a newly elected hard-line MEC takes over March 1. The company cried "boo" - again - and is pressuring for a raft of concessions in the next few weeks. The MEC are weak. Look for more "agreements" - this time on mainline.

The U MEC are not accurately representing the wishes of their pilot membership.

 

[crj579]

What a sell-out. Mesa and Freedom rates are much higher.

 

[T-Gates]

Holy $hit! Those pay rates suuuuuuuck.

 

[storminpilot]

http://www.alpa.org/aaa/DesktopModules/CodePhone/ViewCodeaPhone.aspx?DocumentID=100

MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE



February 6, 2004





This is Jack Stephan with a US Airways MEC update for Friday, February 6th, with three new items.



Item 1. The Negotiating Committee has reached an agreement with management in closing all MidAtlantic contractual issues. The agreement provides favorable enhancements to health and welfare benefits as well as immediate eligibility for matching 401(k) contributions. Also, EMB 170 and 175 aircraft will be flown at the American Eagle 70-seat rate. Further details will be provided on the web site once the MEC takes final action on this settlement



The Negotiating Committee will continue to meet with management the week of February 9th to evaluate the company’s need for relief regarding small jet scope issues and appropriate protections and returns should the Association agree to any contractual modifications.



Item 2. US Airways reported its fourth quarter 2003 earnings today with a net loss of 98 million dollars. They reported an improvement of 696 million dollars from the 2002 results. US Airways ended the quarter with approximately 1.84 billion dollars in cash, including 1.29 billion dollars in unrestricted cash.

In US Airways’ press release and conference call on the Company’s fourth quarter performance, US Airways President and CEO Dave Siegel was encouraged by the recent productive talks with ALPA. He also noted that the employees and the company have accomplished much in this difficult environment, although much more would have to be done to meet the challenges of low cost competition.

Item 3. MEC Chairman Bill Pollock joined other US Airways labor leaders at a regularly scheduled meeting with senior management today. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the 4th quarter earnings in detail as well as discuss a framework of options going forward for the airline. Further meetings are anticipated to be scheduled.





Please remember we have 1,879 pilots on furlough.



Thank you for listening.

 

[BTDII]

"capped at $58,000 a year"

Ouch!

I belive the reporter made a mistake. That should be starting pay since all MDA employees will not carry Mainline longevity to MDA. All will be first year employees.

 

[mckpickle]

Where does it say they will be at first year rates under the American Eagle agreement?

Link for Eagle 2003 pay rates
http://www.airlinepilotcontracts.com/Contracts/2003.htm

 

[InclusiveScope]

http://cf.alpa.org/aaapilots/MEC-Updates/2002-MEC-Updates/Dec_11_2002_code-a-phone2.htm

MDA rates of pay for US Airways pilots are as follows:

o Captains paid in accordance with MDA contract with longevity under that contract; no longevity credit for prior US Airways service.

o First Officer rates pay top of scale under MDA contract.

MDA may be operated as a separate division of mainline with wages, benefits and work rules to match AA Eagle pilots contract but will be included in mainline scope and grievance.

 

[CaptBud330]

Not TRue

Reepicheep, you don't have a clue. True, the MEC is due for a change but unfortunately, the change will only hurt US Airways more. Our current problems were caused by hardliners. If we had worked with the company 10 years ago, we certainly would not be where we are today.
You seem to think that confrontation is better then cooperation. If the incomming hardliners do not work with the current management, US Airways will join the ranks of PanAm, Eastern, Braniff, etc.
I've been at US Airways over 36 years and have seen the worst. I can tell you the hardliners have brought this company down. One man in particular whose initials are JD.

 

[dashtrash]

Oh, and mgt. had nothing to do with it. Moron!

 

[Dizel8]

CaptBud330,

So what do you think of he EMB-170 payrates and do you think the more juniors members will be pleased?

If your avatar is your position, then you would be pretty well insulated from this. Do you think there will be a feeling of the senior employees selling the junior ones short. If that is indeed the case, how would you repsond to such a statement?

 

[CaptBud330]

An insult

Don't get me wrong. I think the pay rates are an insult. The reality of the situation is obvious. US Airways is on life support. If the MEC were to stonewall the company over pay rates, US Airways would probably loose financing for the aircraft. What would that accomplish. The furloughed pilots would then be totally without a job.
Yes, it's an insult but 58K is a whole lot better then nothing.
As far as selling out the junior guys, unfortunately, we as pilots at US Airways have little if any leverage. Times, they are a changin.
Bud

 

[eaglefly]

Geez.................

I made 110K last year at Eagle flying 37-50 seaters.

They're flying 70-seaters for 50% less than that.

Won't last long anyway, U will flop over by summer barring a miricle.

What a tragedy.

 

[dashtrash]

"Won't last long anyway, U will flop over by summer barring a miricle.

What a tragedy."



It needs to happen if pay scales like these become reality. No airline has survived long term with a culture of employee give backs. I would rather go down swinging.

 

[reepicheep]

CaptBud330,

I see the Charlotte phone tree got to you.

"I got mine", right?

 

[N813CA]

Well I must say, us as pilots should give Mesa less Crap. US Airways just lowered the bar way past that. I can't wait to see how many "MAINLINE" Guys quit once they realize they are flying 8 legs a day making 58K.

 

[surplus1]

Well I must say, us as pilots should give Mesa less Crap. US Airways just lowered the bar way past that. I can't wait to see how many "MAINLINE" Guys quit once they realize they are flying 8 legs a day making 58K.

My friend don't hold your breath waiting for them to quit. They have 1870 pilots on furlough, with not jobs. They are going to fly those 76-seat airplanes for 58K in the left seat and for 35K in the right seat.

What's more, they are going to fly the EMB-190 with 100-seats (if they last long enough to get any) for $5/hr more, which will result in their company replacing the 737's with EMB-190's.

The union's president will NOT do what he did at CCAir, he will sign the agreement (already has). ALPA isn't trying to stop the race to the bottom, ALPA is leading the race to the bottom.

This action, taken with the full support and assistance of ALPA, will result in the destruction of the CMR contract, the ASA negotiations, the XJT negotiations, and will increase the pressure for further concessions on every "regional" contract in the country, including MESA.

It will also force JetBlue to pay lower wages for the EMB-190 they have ordered in order to match them and will make AirTran take a second look at their DC9 (717) wages. It undercuts the new Independence Air 319 wages and RJ wages. It will either prevent DAL from ordering a 100-seat airplane or force the Delta pilots to match those wages.

Smell the coffee my friend, you have just been screwed by ALPA again.

When the CCAir pilots tried to "save" their airline by low balling the wages, Woerth refused to sign the contract and went to court to prevent it from happening. He said it was because he wanted to "protect" Mesa. Now that the same thing is being done by a mainline carrier, Woerth does nothing to protect any regional carrier. That's the "representation" that you get.