Hotstart54

Gents,

We are going through a rocky time at the moment. Our airline (BA) is attempting to start Open Skies, a new start carrier aimed at European basing and point to point services between the US and the EU.

We (BALPA and the BA pilots) are insisting that the new carrier have a common seniority list so that terms and conditions cannot be pressurized and eroded by conflict between the two entities. BA insist that this will not happen. We have balloted for industrial action and await the result on the 20th of this month (Feb).

Any perspectives you guys have on this would be very interesting, the examples that we have quoted have been American Eagle (AA) and Jetstar (Qantas). Your APA President Captain Lloyd Hill, American Airlines has very kindly recorded this clip for us warning of the dangers of a parasitic carrier. What happens on your side of the Atlantic (US), eventually happens on ours (EU).

I have lodged a post on my blog to further outline the position as impartially as I can. The comments may be interesting.

BALPA 'BA Plane - BA Pilot" campaign website.

As an aside - The hit count on my blog doesn't matter to me - the message does.

1800 RVR

Good luck! One seniority list for airlines under the same corporate entity is the only way to go. Keep up the good fight!

CactusCrew

Keep all BA flying done by BA pilots on ONE seniority list under one working agreement !!!!!

It doesn't get ANY simpler than that.

GOOD LUCK !!!

Wheels up

Don't depend on ALPA to stop the parasites. NW ALPA just allowed management to start up an alter-ego carrier named Compass that took some of their flying. This isn't just the camel's nose under the tent . . the camel's IN the tent now.

Eric Stratton

Do whatever it takes to not give up your flying including walking off the job as a group.

the pilots in the US have not had the guts to stand up to management as a whole. that american airlines video says it all.

Selcall

About time for an SOS if you ask me. Everything else is going to crap with the economy, possible mergers, open sky agreements... why not go ahead and stop "going to the office for lunch with the big wigs and start taking some of it back Captain Prater and company". (ALPA). It's getting were I can't tell the difference between the Pilots, the Politicians, and management because they all sound the same, just in different suits.

And before anyone crucifies me we as a group don't have the guts to do it so your rebuttals are pointless. I will now go back to my hermit hole for the day.....

saab2000

When I worked for Crossair in Europe we more or less merged two airlines - Crossair and Swissair to form SWISS International. The Swissair pilots did not want us to form one pilot group. But keeping it as two made both groups weaker.

The situation is not really the same, but having two pilot groups and seniority lists is not a good thing for the pilots. They will fight and snipe at each other and the management will simply sit back and watch gleefully.

A320fumes

DITTO!!!!!

Oldfreightdawg

The key, my friend, may lie in how strong labor laws are in your part of the world. For us here in the US, pilot unions are governed by the Railway Labor Act of 1932. Long story made short: striking is very difficult if not impossible. Therefore we American's have very little leverage at the bargaining table.

In 1997 APA struck American Airlines over 2 issues: improved pay, and scope; all jets,( RJ's or otherwise) were to be flown by AA pilots. President Clinton stop the strike almost immediately and petitioned for a PEB (presidential emergency board). The PEB is a group of "experts" that mulls the issues still left on the table when the strike began and then makes a recommendation. Their recommendation was to rule against APA on all issues. At that point we could have continued to strike, or take the deal. If we continued striking, the US Congress could have intervened, stop the strike and imposed their own contract on us. As it turned out, AMR sweeten the pot a bit more and the APA membership ratified the deal, and Eagle was "born again".

So you see, we have very little power to effect changes in our industry here in the U.S. On the other hand, if BA pilots are allowed to strike over this issue, then by all means it is imperative that they do so.

On another note, rumor has it that when (and if) foreign ownership in U.S. carriers becomes a reality AA and BA will merge. It would be interesting to exchange views with you on this either in this forum, through PM or e-mial.

Best Regards

Eric Stratton

I believe the president can only postpone a strike for 30 or 60 days...not stop it entirely. if that is actually the case then it is the first time I've ever heard that, or that congress can step in and impose their own contract on a carrier.