Originally Posted by
1Seat 1Engine
The East Coast guys need to realize that outside of their mutual admiration club, there's almost no one who has any sympathy for them.
We're all professional pilots, we all know the issues, we all know the history, we all know where US Air was headed on it's own.
They're not fooling anyone but themselves.
Ahhh said by a neophyte in the industry.
Unlike you my young friend, I do have sympathy for them, deep sympathy.
As previously stated, the AAA group has been through many mergers (5 to be specific) prior to this merger with America West.
Allegenhy/Mowhawk went (DOH with pay protections which defined LPP's in almost all mergers since), USAir/PSA straight DOH where all PSA pilots became instant Capts, Piedmont Air mergered with Empire Airlines (This went DOH on the F-28 only with a Relative Seniority Fence) and USAIr then mergered with Piedmont with straight DOH (with a Fence on the 767 for former Piedmont Pilots), and Then finally the Trump Shuttle was merged with USAIr.
You probably have No idea but USAir East had the Best contract in the industry in the Mid 80's. They had the Best Pay, Best work rules and Best A plan.
Unfortunately stuff has happened beyond their control. They fell from Grace.
Comments like they were going out of business any day and should be happy just to have jobs Paints with a pretty broad brush stroke. If USAir east didn't offer anything to America West, why did Parker want to merge? Because they brought a lot of assets and potential with them. USiar East has a strong hold in the North East corridor NYC, BOS, PHL and DCA. They have built a decent International Network (Al beit smal to Europe) America west had nothing and very litle east coast presence. Southwest was kicking Americawest's butt with it's expansion in the east and Had USAir East failed, SWA would have taken over Philly and Charlotte in a heartbeat.
This is not a slam to the US West Pilots, nor the US East. Both Carriers needed a partner to survive in the long term. Their route systems seemed to pair well together. America West Big in the West, USair Big in the East and Europe/Carribean.
When two labor groups merge, it is always a slug fest to fight for each others own personal best interests. In this Case it seems the USAir East MEC miscalculated Mr Nicholau.
They agreed to binding arbitration and now aren't happy with the results.