Originally Posted by
eaglefly
I'm aware of that argument and I'm confident it won't apply. First of all USAPA would have to present that as a means to gain in the AA/U arbitration. Then, to capitalize on that, they'd have to make a compelling argument that AA is indeed a "failing carrier" in and of itself and convince the arbitration panel it was a valid argument (good luck on that). Quite frankly, I bet the APA could make an even better argument that ultimately US Airways is a failing carrier as without hitching their cart to AA, they're the most likely to founder in the future, being neither fish (a global legacy) nor fowl (an LCC) and solo, would be a divided carrier and crippled in many ways as such. TWA had perhaps 300 million in operating cash, had been through multiple bankruptcies and was steadily being stripped of its assets by Icahn who was down to the point of burning the furniture to heat the house. AA on the other hand didn't file bankruptcy out of necessity, but out of convenience. It was simply a methodology of this management to finally gut labor across the board and although they met that goal, they slit their own throats in the process. They had 6 billion and simply needed to flush their debt, that being primarily the pension funds and retiree medical obligations. Free of those with their global brand name and presence, AA was quite valuable and would have had financiers falling all over each other to get in on the action. TWA on the other hand was begging for help and although rumored to have SOME interest, that hasn't been proven conclusively that even if it was valid, would have saved the carrier that unknown to everyone would soon have to face 9/11 solo. With TWA, it could be argued the parts were worth more than the whole and post 9/11 it would have been overly ripe for fragmentation or liquidation.
Anyhoo, as for the rest of your argument that the APA should agree to USAPA's dream of DOH, that's pure propwash. It's a non-starter that ain't going to happen even in arbitration and if you're hoping this arbitration panel decides to vendictively punish AA pilots for APA's past decisions regarding TWA, I think you'll end up empty-handed in that respect as well.
Sadly, your fact based argument is ****ing into the wind. While I feel that TWA got an extremely really raw deal, you have to remember the East pilots have convinced themselves that it was in fact
they that saved the West. Now they will use the argument that was used against them to explain why they should receive some additional benefit during the integration process with AA.
Don't worry, whatever the outcome of the seniority integration process, they'll abide to what ever agreements they made going in as long as they think the outcome is fair when the ruling comes out....which is to say the outcome is unencumbered DOH. The majority of the East pilots will try to distance themselves by telling you, "I never thought that was reasonable and I told my rep but I guess that just the way the cookie crumbles, right?" Maybe somehow they'll be forced to come off that pedestal and will make a "more than reasonable" offer...DOH with conditions and restrictions which
IS STILL DOH. They'll be shocked when you tell them to pound sand...call
you "unreasonable". Welcome to the party.
Originally Posted by
NERD
WOW!! It's good to see the AArogance is quickly coming back. Not even out of bankruptcy. Bravo to you eaglefly.
Versus what, USAPA getting all they're "entitled" to? So far, APA has tried to give the impression to everyone involved that they're willing to follow current legal process to achieve a resolution. The East are still muttering DOH and hoping it will gain some traction. Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome.