Tomorrow's news: "United has purchased 200 100 seat E-190's to be flown under the United Express banner". I hope not.

I'm not a huge union fan, but huge exec bonuses pi$$ me off. "You made the company (barely compared to gross income) profitable because you're paying less, working the employees more, dumped pensions on the US taxpayers and gas prices went down. Here's $23 million".

WTF? 1/4 of the quarterly profit went to the CEO?... I hope the stock craters on him.

Spongebob

 

Yeah, what he said! Go United pilots!...and for that matter, CAL, DAL and NWA too!

I actually wrote a letter not long ago to Mr. Tilton, telling him that I was a travel agent that booked many, many, many thousands of dollars in air fare on his airline alone per year. I also told him that I personally, have several hundred thousand of lifetime frequent flyer miles on UAL alone. I told him how I have had almost nothing but positive experiences with United's dedicated crews during my travels. I also congratulated him for emerging out of bankruptsy - and then without missing a beat, I said to him, (in a nutshell) "Living in the Bay Area, I've also seen the toll that the employees concessions have taken on them and their families. I expect that United will be giving back "very" soon to those who have sacrificed for the health of the company, so that those of us in the travel agent community will continue to feel good about booking airlines that support our fellow travel industry professionals"....guess what? I never heard back from him!

As soon as the profits return, I think it's time to agree to unite and circle the wagons, closely watch the companies progress, and then take aim when the time is right! I think it would be best for all, regardless of what airline you fly for, to stick together and support one another here.

 

FWIW, I have to disagree with you on some points.

Whiteferg was clearly an unmitigated disaster, but remember he was brought to you by a band of wanna-be "union leaders" who couldn't handle Dubo's crassness, which needless to say was not his strong point. So they elected someone clearly not up to the job because Dubo's tactics offended some of them. They put their own issues ahead of the pilots they were supposed to represent and elected someone not qualified for the job.

If you look at Whiteferg's "resume" before he was elected MEC Chairman, you'll see how little real experience he actually had for the job. It clearly showed by his lackluster performance. However, one shouldn’t blame Paul as much as those that elected him, knowing that he didn’t have the needed background for the task at hand.

I will never forget one particular and less than astute MEC representative who made the statement that if "Whiteferg doesn't have the backbone, we'll (meaning the MEC) give him one." Yea, right.

Dubo was a realist who would have handled the Chapter 11 process MUCH better than it was.

STRONGLY disagree with this statement! STRONGLY!!!!!

The MEC, under Bathurst’s “leadership” was simply afraid to say no to the company for fear of facing the judge’s rulings. They were defeated going into the process. Even if the judge awarded everything the company wanted, they would have been in a position for contract negotiations to start far sooner than they are today. A stupid, stupid mistake on their part that occurred because of their weakness.

Here’s something from the ALPA C&B:

L. PROTECTION OF PILOTS UNDER PENSION AND WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. SOURCE Board 1986
After consulting with the ALPA National Retirement and Insurance Department and reviewing existing contracts and pension language, each Negotiating Committee shall make every effort to provide the maximum protection to pilots under pension and welfare benefit plans in the event of the employer's bankruptcy, a strike by pilots or other employees, furlough, mergers and acquisitions, and plan terminations.

Do you think this MEC adhered to the spirit of this section? As one who was a member of and around the UAL-MEC during the time it was adopted I can tell you, while being comfortable about it, that it was never meant to imply that it was ok to enter into an agreement to help destroy the benefits of existing retirees to save the benefits of working pilots. That’s EXACTLY what “Bathurst and his MEC” did. They were bribed by the company to cut the ropes to the retiree’s lifeboat for their own pieces of silver, and they did exactly that.

“Bathurst and the current MEC are exactly what UALALPA needs.”? Not on your life. That’s not leadership under any set of criteria.

Activate their strike committee? Makes me laugh. When one loads a bullet into a gun, to be effective you have to be willing to use it. NOTHING they've done indicates to me they have the backbone to pull the trigger.

 

Fireman - although we've never met, from our mutual friend, I know that you are respected, and I appreciate your input and intelligence here as well. I know that our mutual friend who is a current 757/767 captain truly enjoyed his time as your first officer on the 747. He has nothing but honorable things to say about flying with you and your amazing career. Just wanted to tell you that.

Keep posting, because I truly respect what people like you, TomGoodman and JoelPayne have to say.

 

Aaaah .... I bought him dinner once.

Thanks.