.....Picks up beer and moves away from bar......puts back to wall.....

 

Lost wages (east pilots purposely blocked negotiations), furloughs, downgrades. Read the court transcripts and testimony from east alpa's official regarding torpedoing significant raises on purpose

 

"The jury has found USAPA liable to Plaintiffs and the represented class. Damage proceedings remain for the six named Plaintiffs, except for the claims for general refund of union dues and fees, which have been denied as a matter of law. "

 

Here, we find the east pilots complaining that ALPA torpedoed the UAL/ USAir merger:

"They also complained that more than a decade ago ALPA, instigated by other
pilot groups, subverted a merger that would have benefitted US Airways pilots."

This is such interesting insight into a malcontent group of bitter airmen- blame everyone except that person staring back at you in the mirror. What a way to live life.

 

Has there really ever been any doubt as to how this would eventually end? Sad really to not have the honor to abide by the results of a binding arbitration process that was agreed to beforehand...no matter how distasteful one may find the result.

 

Its ashame that the Pilots of US Airways have had to go down this path. These last few years have only divided the pilot group and will make it difficult in the future for the company to integrate the two groups. This has costs the pilots on both sides alot of money. East lawyer fees comes out of membership dues that both West and East pay, while the Wests lawyer fees come out of the pocket. What a shame, so much money wasted, along with so much left in the hands of the company.

Hopefully, the group can move forward, but I doubt it.

 

The Nicolau Award clearly stinks from an easties perspective. Otherwise they wouldn't have been willing to wallow in the muck they've been in for the last few years.

But it seems that the slim chance they ever had of reversing it are extinct.

So the majority block must be juinor to the minority block - that seems to be an opportunity.

How does equal pay for FO's and Captains sound?

There are about three million RJs flying in US colors; while even one of them is left, an ironclad no furlough clause ought to be a requirement.

Reserve, min days off, Junior manning, etc; you've got the votes - you should have a contract with the best conditions for junior pilots, ever.

Best of luck guys.

 

I don't really have a dog in this fight, however I do have an observation or two.

1) I get the feeling that this is so important to the US Air "East" pilots, the people affected are more than ready to run the company into the ground before conceding to this Nicolau decision.

2) Although legally binding arbitration, perhaps a way of progressing further and saving the company much heartache(not for the company's sake, but for their own career's sake), I think it would be in the interest of former America West pilots to try and come to some middle ground on this. If that doesn't happen, I wouldn't want any family member of mine flying on any US Air flight with a combined crew(East with West). Although I know both sides have very professional pilots, I think it would create such a "hostile" work environment which could potentially be unsafe. I'm not saying I think anyone would do anything crazy, but from a CRM perspective, I don't think there will be much between a East/West combined crew as a result of this.

I don't see anything good that will progress from this. Maybe both sides could sue US Air for creating a hostile work environment? Maybe that would be something.

 

How’s it going to feel when the USAirways LOA expires in December and the proverbial shoe is on the other foot? Do you really think that the USAirways pilots will be in a hurry to negotiate a new contract if they are the ones making more money? Based on the fact that they did not do so while making less money, I would say either the company had better be ready to make it worth their while or the West pilots will have to agree to fences. I suppose one can believe that there is a way that a judge can MAKE the pilots agree to a joint contract, but I sure do not see it. How can a judge insert himself into labor negotiations? Can the judge MAKE USAirways management pay a certain wage? How will this litigation be enforced when the contract must be voted on? The Nic award, in its present form, has such horrendous consequences for the USAirways pilots; it is hard to see them ever voting “yes” to ANY joint contract. USAPA has been ordered to “Immediately, and in good faith, make all reasonable efforts to negotiate and implement a single collective bargaining agreement.” Does USAPA have the power to make the company pay the USAirways pilots enough to make them sign a joint contract? Most likely, USAirways will go belly up or merge and that is how this will end.

 

I'm with justjack on this.

I also have no dog in this fight but do know a few easties. If any west pilot thinks they have won anything- I think they are sadly mistaken.

The east pilots will never vote any contract in with the NIC included(and there is no way for a judge to enforce a favorable vote outside of Ch11), a middle ground or merger or split off of the two groups will be required to end this.

IMHO