We need support from ALL pilots.

[PCL_128]

PCL,

You are now a member of a non ALPA union, and just praised something the APA has done......... Ok..Where is PCL and what did you do to him.

Hey, what can I say? The guy's growing on me. First the single-line scope clause contract proposal, now the tough talk about BA pilots needing scope. This guy is speaking my kind of language.

How is that 717......

I just hope we keep them for a long time so I don't have to transition to the 737. That thing looks like way too much work.

 

[tubelcane]

If we allow this to creep in, it will cause problems for ALL of us.

AAflyer

February 28, 2008

Transatlantic flights face shutdown as US pilots back protest at BA

David Robertson

British Airways's dispute with its pilots over the establishment of a new subsidiary airline could spread to the United States and shut down two thirds of transatlantic flights.

Pilots working for American Airlines, which has a partnership agreement with BA, said yesterday that they would “unequivocably support” the BA pilots' union. BA's pilots are threatening to strike over the airline's decision to set up a separate division called Open Skies, which will operate from cities such as Paris and Brussels to New York.

The British Air Line Pilots' Association (Balpa) is worried that BA will use its new division to introduce a low-cost operating structure that will lead to reduced pilot salaries and benefits. The Allied Pilots Association, representing 12,000 AA pilots, is concerned that the idea will spread and that United States-based carriers might try to follow suit.

Captain Lloyd Hill, the APA president, said: “As far as outsourcing is concerned, the British Airways pilots' struggle is our struggle. Accordingly, we have pledged a broad range of support to our fellow pilots at British Airways, including personnel and financial resources, to help to resist plans by their airline's management to establish an alter ego operation.”

RELATED LINKS
BA passengers face flight chaos from strikes
BA pilots use crash as weapon in dispute

Last week, 86 per cent of the 3,000 BA pilots who are Balpa members voted to strike over the Open Skies proposal. BA and Balpa said yesterday that they would try to resolve their differences through Acas, the concilliation service. Talks will begin on March 3.

A strike by BA pilots would be the first in nearly 30 years and would cripple the airline. The support of American Airlines pilots will put extra pressure on BA, as its partner could also be grounded by the action.

About 68 per cent of all traffic between Heathrow and the United States is carried by AA and BA and industrial action at both would have a substantial impact on transatlantic travel.

Mr Hill added: “Our pilots have experienced first-hand the career damage brought about by outsourcing. We stand foursquare behind our British Airways colleagues in their efforts to stop this threat to our collective livelihoods.”

BA is proposing to begin Open Skies services from June, using old Boeing 757 aircraft. If the project is successful, it will extend the venture to include flights from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid and Milan to the United States.

Too bad the TWA pilots were'nt so blessed.

 

[sqwkvfr]

Does BA have a BA express or regional affiliate? Or are all BA pilots on one seniority list? Hopefully they avoid outsourcing and fight against scope changes.

BA does have a regional affiliate...."BA City Connect" or something like that.

 

[pkober]

What has ALPA said about this situation? I may have missed it.

I like APA's militant stance. I wish ALPA has some ball$.

 

[jke406]

What has ALPA said about this situation? I may have missed it.

I like APA's militant stance. I wish ALPA has some ball$.

Oh, they do...but they're not used to help the average pilot.

 

[Lear70]

How are they going to get landing slots and gates here???

Through BA, of course. It's the parent airline. The same way our regionals are run here; their routes, landing slots, etc are controlled by their Legacy leash-holders.

When is our government going to recognize that one way to lesson the overcrowding of our atc system is to just say no to "new" service?

Ummm... are we talking about the same government that signed this P.O.S. "Open Skies" agreement into law? They're NEVER going to "learn", it's all about big business.

would it be legal for pilots of US carriers to post sympathy strikes? if we shut down everything on this side it would help send a message on globalization!

No. Except *MAYBE* AA who has a codeshare alliance on the same routes and, legally-speaking, I *believe* you can only sympathy strike the same route pairings (not all service into, say, Europe) if it's not your airline who's on strike.

It's an interesting question, I don't think a U.S. Carrier has ever tried to sympathy strike with a European carrier.

I also like the way the APA is approaching this. Time will tell, but I think a hard-line stance is the only way to operate. Management has done it with us for over 10 years; time to reciprocate.

Great job, guys & gals!

 

[waveflyer]

ALPA put out a similar video

it was good- but the end message refuting the Eagle part of APA's video ruined it a bit for me. It's no knock on any pilot- but outsourcing is bad- it circumvents seniority... I really respect APA for what they are doing these days. We all need to get on board and follow their lead.

 

[PCL_128]

You have a link to the ALPA video? I didn't see it.

 

[waveflyer]

http://www.alpa.org/DesktopModules/...iew.aspx?itemid=12722&ModuleId=12567&Tabid=73

 

[AA717driver]

Business has been making up the rules as they go along for decades. This is no different.

BALPA couldn't have possibly seen this coming during the current contract negotiations.

It's very simple--BA is being allowed to begin new service that was previously not legal. This flying should be done by BALPA pilots.

There should be a worldwide recruitment ban for "Open Skies" airlines and anyone who goes to work there should be considered to be flying struck work.

If we don't respect our profession, how can we expect management to do so? TC