Carl S.
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2004
- Posts
- 481
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The analogy is revolting, yes, but it's also offensive because it's pure spin and it's not apples-to-apples. We are flying airplanes here, not forcing ourselves on each other.
"This is essentially what's going on at USAirways."
Really, PCL? You think you've stated the real essence of what's going on? Right. You're sick.
Here's the deal: That super seniority you have on paper (you know, the paper Nic is written on) isn't really your's. Not yet. Maybe not ever. So why don't you just settle in for the ride like all you guys want East pilots to do.
And as for what USAPA is or is not going to do, you don't even know. You very well could end up doing just fine without ALPA. Me, personally, I'm probably going to end up just as junior as I am right now, about 1800 junior to my DOH, and 1100 junior to your most junior pilot (very approximate numbers.)
That's with or without USAPA. See? I'm not in favor of USAPA because I think it will help my seniority. I'm for USAPA because I've lost all respect for ALPA and I have absolutely no confidence in their ability to represent individual airlines. They do a $hitty job of it, really, and they get paid top dollar to do so. $85,000/yr secretaries? $263,000/yr for a "recruiter?" What kind of outfit needs a recruiter paid that much if they are worth a crap?
I'm quite confident that ridding ourselves of ALPA is the right thing to do no matter where I end up on the list. Fully expect to be on the bottom.
See ya!
The National Mediation Board (NMB) today authorized an election to take place March 20 through April 17. The Notice and Sample Instructions will be sent out on March 13. The Voting Instructions will be mailed on March 20, with the balloting period from 1201 a.m. ET, March 20 through April 17. The vote tally will take place at 200 p.m. ET on April 17, at the NMB’s office in Washington, D.C.
Yet another East pilot who doesn't understand the difference between longevity and seniority. I don't care if you've spent 99% of your career at a company, if it doesn't net you anything more than a junior FO spot pre-merger, then you shouldn't expect to be a Captain at a merged company.<font face="Calibri"><font size="3">It is strange to me that PCL keeps speaking of USAPA trying to steal jobs from the west. When a first year pilot is placed senior to a pilot who has given, at that time, 75% of his useful career to the company, honestly, who is stealing from whom?
It is strange to me that PCL keeps speaking of USAPA trying to steal jobs from the west. When a first year pilot is placed senior to a pilot who has given, at that time, 75% of his useful career to the company, honestly, who is stealing from whom? Those poor westies are being victimized. USAPA is trying to steal that 18 year bump you got from ALPA not following its own written merger policy. Oh please, you should really get off that it’s all falling on me dung heap and take a look at the horrible precedent the Nic award set. It seems the only people you are trying to persuade with your continuous blathering are those who don’t have a dog in this fight. As for those of us who are intimately familiar, your posts reek of the bank robber calling the police for help when the people who lost their money in the robbery have found you and want it back.
You are trying (very hard from the number posts on this thread) to label USAPA as a job stealing venture. What you fail to realize is that USAPA is the result of 6 years of frustration with a union that has focused its efforts on bolstering its own cushy salaries in the guise of lobbying while the average dues paying pilot has lost nearly half their income. There is a very large disconnect between ALPA National and the pilots they represent. Why is it every time you have a meeting with ALPA National they have to have all those high dollar attorneys in the room with them? Why would you need those guys in the room if you weren’t up to some underhanded stuff?? When you go to work do you have a $300 an hour attorney following you around all day???
With the benefit of ALPA’s economic analysis, USAir (East) has endured the following:
Loss of the no furlough clause (1800+ pilots on the street)
Loss of the Pension
Massive wage and quality of life cuts
Sale of 28 aircraft on USAir East 121 operating certificate to finance the merger (300+ jobs lost)
38 CRJ 900’s from America West (never before allowed under USAir’s scope) operating on east routes further delaying the return of furloughed pilots
In increase in scheduled flying per pilot per month to 95 hours (again delaying the return of furloughed pilots)
The replacement of 73’s with E-190’s at pay rates so low that regional pilots at partner airlines flying the E-175 are paid more
The Nic award was just that final straw that broke the camel’s back. Alpa National endorsement of the Nic award contrary to its own written merger policy has rallied the pilot group to finally dump this worthless self serving organization. It is the principle of the whole thing. Why continue to pay money to an organization that has done nothing but harm your career???
I think they are doing the opposite of what they have always done. They have always trusted ALPA, now they dont.
See you can find common ground
I want some EAST pilot to tell me the difference between LONGEVITY and SENIORITY.
If a guy was a B-737 FO on reserve who couldn't even hold a regular bid line, let alone a captain slot, what should that pilot hold after the merger?
Come on Easties! Someone answer this, please!
While its true that in the end it was the local ALPA that agreed to the "deals". Dont forget that it has always been National ALPA that has recommended these deals and in the end the National President signed.
The same national that has allowed all this outsourcing by signing on the dotted line with the MESA's of the world to contracts that cheapened the pay to levels that nobody can compete.
If you are a national union you need to look at the big picture. National ALPA could care less about the big picture. They sign these subpar contracts for regional feed for the only purpose of bringing in more dues money. Thereby hosing the regional pilot as well as the legacy carrier pilot. The only way to compete with 20 an hour is to pay 20 an hour, look at the East pay rates.
Apparently what you wanted to have happen in the above scenario is for ALPA National to have REFUSED to sign any of your bankruptcy era deals that SAVED your company. This would have most likely resulted in the liquidation of your carrier. In other words, sacrifice the weak in for the good of the majority. Lucky for YOU, they didn't...somewhat UNlucky for the rest of us.If you are a national union you need to look at the big picture. National ALPA could care less about the big picture. They sign these subpar contracts for regional feed .
USAPA is trying to steal that 18 year bump you got from a neutral arbitrator agreed upon by my fellow pilots not following a merger policy.
What you fail to realize is that USAPA is the result of 6 years of frustration with US Airways pilot representatives...
Somebody show me the clause in the ALPA Constitution or Admin Manual that the President used to "force" the US Airways MEC into taking these concessions.With the benefit of US Airways pilots making their own decisions, USAir (East) has endured the following:
Loss of the no furlough clause (1800+ pilots on the street)
Loss of the Pension
Massive wage and quality of life cuts
Sale of 28 aircraft on USAir East 121 operating certificate to finance the merger (300+ jobs lost)
38 CRJ 900’s from America West (never before allowed under USAir’s scope) operating on east routes further delaying the return of furloughed pilots
In increase in scheduled flying per pilot per month to 95 hours (again delaying the return of furloughed pilots)
The replacement of 73’s with E-190’s at pay rates so low that regional pilots at partner airlines flying the E-175 are paid more
suke:
so, to paraphrase...your local representatives are to blame for your plight, but you also blame the national union for "letting your local representatives be so stupid."
The perfect solution you have come up with is to eliminate the national union on your property, thereby having nobody around to "not stop your local representatives from making stupid decisions."
I still don't see the part where you've fixed your local representatives from making stupid decisions.
Pretty much EVERY anti-alpa post on this thread needs to have "ALPA" replaced with "US Airways MEC". Then we'll see where the problems lie. But if you morons want to go around believing it was ALPA who outsourced your flying to MESA, instead of YOUR OWN D*MN PILOTS, then be my guest. To me USAPA seems to be just another bunch of East pilots making stupid decisions.
Apparently what you wanted to have happen in the above scenario is for ALPA National to have REFUSED to sign any of your bankruptcy era deals that SAVED your company. This would have most likely resulted in the liquidation of your carrier. In other words, sacrifice the weak in for the good of the majority. Lucky for YOU, they didn't...somewhat UNlucky for the rest of us.
Here's an interesting letter from a retired East air safety chairmen. We've received similar letters from the Aeromedical folks...in fact, I believe aeromedical stated they WILL NOT contract with USAPA as they do with SWAPA and UPS.
Things that make you go 'hmmm'.....
-------------------------------------------------
Feb. 15, 2008
Fellow US Airways pilots:
For those of you who don’t remember me, let me introduce myself. My name is John Cox, and I spent over 20 years of my airline pilot career as an ALPA safety representative. Starting at the original Piedmont Airlines, then at US Airways, I held a number of leadership positions, including accident investigator, Local Safety Committee member, MEC Chief Accident Investigator, MEC Safety Chairman, and ALPA Int’l Accident Investigation Board member. Finally, I rounded up my ALPA work by serving as the ALPA Int’l Executive Air Safety Chairman from 1999 until I retired from US Airways at the end of 2004.
During all those years I spent doing safety work, I saw firsthand the resources available to assist ALPA members during difficult times. And I’ll be the first to tell you that an independent union will never have the resources and the expertise available that you may need to protect yourself and your career if you find yourself involved in an aircraft accident or serious incident.
Over the years as an ALPA representative, I’ve helped plenty of pilots out of difficult situations. I know firsthand what calling that number on the orange card means to a pilot. It means that ALPA resources are available to protect you, no matter where you are or what happened. Countless pilot representatives like myself, backed up by professional, full-time staff, spend their careers guarding the reputations and careers of ALPA members by bringing about safety improvements to our profession.
Take the accident involving US Airways Flight 5050, for example.
In September 1989, ALPA pilots were involved in a high-speed rejected takeoff at LaGuardia airport. Unfortunately, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and ended up in the East River. The aircraft broke into three pieces upon impact and was destroyed. I remember it well because I was a member of the ALPA accident investigation team that came when those pilots called the number on their orange card.
The accident scene quickly turned ugly for the flight crew. In addition to the technical, operational, and training issues involved in the accident sequence, our pilots faced the threat of criminal charges being filed against them by the local New York District Attorney.
That’s when ALPA’s Legal Department stepped in. In addition to the ALPA lawyers who were on the case, ALPA hired criminal attorneys to represent our pilots in criminal court. After the conclusion of the accident investigation, ALPA Legal and Engineering and Air Safety Department resources also helped them keep their jobs when faced with disciplinary action by the airline.
ALPA’s expertise and access also helped them keep their airman’s certificates when facing certificate action by the FAA, saving the pilots’ flying careers. Simply put, ALPA—with the help of safety representatives like myself—saved their jobs, their reputations, and their livelihoods.
This help is not cheap, by the way. A typical accident investigation will cost ALPA about $200,000. Add any sort of complication, however, and those costs can skyrocket. The threat of criminal prosecution and/or a disciplinary attack, for example, drives the costs up exponentially. The criminal attorney costs in this case alone ran about $500,000, and that was almost 20 years ago.
This story is just one of many I can tell. During the 20 years I spent as an ALPA safety representative, I participated in the investigation of dozens of accidents and serious incidents. I testified on behalf of countless pilots involved in FAA certificate action cases, and I represented dozens of ALPA members involved in disciplinary hearings before their airlines.
There is now a question about an independent union for US Airways pilots. I can tell you that if you choose to go it alone with an independent union, then you will indeed be alone. I know that an independent union can never replace the ALPA resources needed to protect a pilot in case of an aircraft accident or serious incident.
As a safety representative, I know that safety and politics have to remain separate. However, when it comes to a representational decision, it must be an informed decision. Leaving the ALPA fold means leaving behind your orange card—along with all the resources and expertise that come with it. Do not forget just how many resources a single accident can exhaust, because USAPA cannot go it alone. Before you cast your vote, ask yourself if you can afford to lose your orange card—the one ALPA resource you pray you never have to use.
Fraternally,
Capt. John Cox (US Airways, retired)
Former ALPA Int’l Executive Air Safety Chairman (1999–2004)
There is zero point in debating this further. Vote and be done with it. My big fear is that regardless of how the vote turns out, the fight will only intensify as a result. I don't see how any unity is achieved with either outcome...that is a serious problem.
Another question to ask the East guys: Do you wish that this whole merger never would have happened? I ask this to guys on the west, and almost 100% say F-no (even with our so called "windfall"). But can you Easties say the same thing and still lie straight in bed?
s
Nice spin, but no
I think they are doing the opposite of what they have always done. They have always trusted ALPA, now they dont.
See you can find common ground
It is ironic that none advocate for choosing ALPA.
Oh, wait. I suppose we could acknowledge that many have adopted ALPA's ubiquitous and unrelenting campaign of FUD. Perhaps emulation equals adulation?
ALPA is like an abusive husband being removed from the house... as he is being pushed through the door, he braces himself with both hands and feet against the door jam and make one last plea... "If you don't let me stay, I'll send some one who will beat you worse than I do!"