AWA was not in a cash crunch. We had been profitable, something foreign to the old USAirways. US Air was gone, dead, done without Parker getting the money to do the deal. No Parker, no deal. No other entity, airline or not wanted anything to do with US Airways. They were gone by the end of July, possibly the end of June. Parker did not want to fight with SWA like he did over ATA (a better deal for both groups, that one), and so he did the deal. A monumental mistake. US Airways should have been left to die and we would have been merged with someone much better by now. Lets see, you lost how much over the past 20 years and you want to continue doing the same thing? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. (Einstein's words, I have been told).

AWA pilots voted for ALPA by 98%. We will not pay dues, any contract still has to be voted on by our pilot group according to the status quo. What if we don't pay dues? Parker would have to fire 1800 pilots, each of whom would have a day in court. Pretty doubtful. USAPA representation? What a joke, let's see how the guy that shot up his jet fares since the company has announced he is to be terminated. Another East piece of work.

USAPA is a Yellow Dog Union - a union set up specifically to bust the existing union. No true union worker would join a yellow dog union. Those who do are just as bad as scabs. Cactus pilots still have our AWA P numbers on the backs of our IDs. That's going to get us a lot better reception on ALPA jumpseats than a USAPA scab lanyard.