AA mainline APA supports Eagle Pilots
 

APA UpdateALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN EAGLE PILOTS IN THEIR UNPRECEDENTED CONTRACT TALKS WITH MANAGEMENTFORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 7, 2014) — The president of the Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, expressed strong support today for the pilots at American Eagle Airlines during their contract discussions with American Airlines Group management."APA supports our brothers and sisters at Eagle in their efforts to obtain an agreement that would ensure the current aircraft deliveries and regional flying stay at American Eagle," said APA President Capt. Keith Wilson. "The pilots of American Eagle have gone through the same bankruptcy restructuring process as we have here at the new American, and as such, they have already made significant sacrifices resulting in nearly $43 million in contract concessions. The current collective bargaining agreement has helped align Eagle's cost structure with that of its competitors, allowing Eagle to continue to provide regional lift to American."William Sprague, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association's American Eagle Master Executive Council, explained, "While the pilots of American Eagle worked hard to meet all of management's demands during bankruptcy, only 10 days after the new American Airlines Group exited bankruptcy, the pilots of American Eagle were asked to again renegotiate their contract. The pilots were presented with a new term sheet asking for additional cuts to pay and benefits, adding new work rules that constitute vast changes to this new contract. This was in exchange for a vague promise of replacement aircraft."Capt. Wilson added that "APA leadership’s position is that there is simply no need for management to take another 'bite at the apple' from the Eagle pilots immediately following a bankruptcy contract. Rather, management should ensure some level of career stability for those pilots and prevent yet another race to the bottom that has, of late, plagued the regional airline industry."Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association — the largest independent pilots' union in the United States — is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's website iswww.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation's largest international passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.

its all political.

If they showed no support for eagle, what image does that portray of the pilots of APA?

Then why can't Moak do this? If it is just image, how does this contrast with Moak's support of management's last offer to us?

The image that it might portray shouldn't matter to APA because when is the last time Delta or United's MEC said something similar about a regional airline's plight and its the same union? Either way, I have no problem with APA standing behind Eagle. The way I figure, at least someone is.

do what? support a regional airline and go against a major, of which they represent many of their wholly owned regionals?

More the reason to do so since they are all under the same umbrella.

Yes! This!

re read what I said.. ALPA national supporting a regional, and going against a mighty Legacy carrier? not happening

Yeah, really it was a pointless press release.

I see what you are saying but you are missing my point as well. What is so wrong about ALPA national taking a stance against concessions on the regional level?

they would be supporting something against a major, their top income providers.

Move along, nothing to see here.

So you're saying American Mainline and APA isn't a major?

There's nothing wrong w/it, but they won't do it because ALPA themselves represent mainline carriers. Moak is a Delta guy and will only do what's in the best interest of himself and pilots w/in his level.

Keep updating those apps boys and girls...let's get the hell outta here!

I assume your intention is to highlight the conflict of interest with ALPA's representation of Regional carriers? Is that the point?

I think it is especially interesting in Eagle's case, since hundreds of pilots here will end up in APA anyway.

IMO, the only reason why APA is showing support is that the 175's and other EGL flying could end up at other companies outside of the old AMR. There is a motive for their support and it's not an effort to make sure we end up over there. Remember, we were once a part of APA and were eventually "kicked out". APA's objective is to get ALL flying back to AA. I dont blame them though. Why should an RJ fly DFW to CHS, GSO, CAE, GSP, etc

Why is ALPA still representing the regionals? It's time for a serious movement for new representation.

This is what the APA does best... a bravado press release...

however, as usual, the APA is all bark and no bite.....

AA brought in Jerrold Glass. He is a notorious union buster. Complete SCUM BAG!

At least they are barking. ALPA National has rolled over to have stomach scathed my management.

In what way? ALPA National doesn't or rarely injects itself into local affairs.. in addition, ALPA National plays politics on the DC level... meaning they don't **** people off as a little fish in a huge sea....

but, what is the sense in barking...? People just acclimate to it and it becomes annoying....

Because this is not the goal of ALPA. The undeclared goal of ALPA is to assist in the destruction every regional airline. Sign off on concessionary contracts that are so bad that pilots will not even go work there, they can't cover their contracts and flights cancel without hundreds of new ultra-cheap pilots. Problem solved. Mainline does almost all flying again, like the last 20 years were a bad dream.

An interesting theory. I don't think that plan will work though. The airlines will figure a way to work through our government and fix their problems. Whether it's code sharing domestic routes to foreign carriers, or getting contract pilots like some airlines in the EU.

We can't beat airline management and the US government working together.

And from the top end... airlines like Emirates will squeeze US airlines out of the global market with cheap Boeing deals, and cheaper labor pilots.... look for Boeing to relocate in the Med East... an American company. :rolleyes:

If the "support" they mention is anything like the "support" they showed former TWA pilots, Eagle pilots may want to reconsider accepting this so called "support".

Junior Kids at L-AE worship APA. Little do they know.

Like the way ALPA supported TWA?

I think it's great APA made the statement. At least someone is standing behind Eagle. APA seems to be damned if they do damned if they don't. People would always say where are they; now that they are supportive everyone calls em the devil.

Making a statement is not support. In case you missed it they "support" RAH also.

They support the RAH pilot group voting a strike and also the no vote of confidence as well as the other outspoken things they are doing. They are supporting pilots standing for themselves and their worth ,and yes I know many got to RAH for the Ejet blah, blah, blah but that feeling is quickly worn out and not all of those guys wen there for those intentions. Anyhow, as a group they are standing united and against the management team. On the other hand the Eagle MEC voted 5-4 to send the NC back to management to continue working out a deal.

Thought the deadline was tomorrow.

It is! But we don't have to abide by the deadline, I am sure we will get an Eaglewire how disappointing it is that the MEC couldn't accommodate the deadline and that American is now pursuing other avenues for the aircraft. Or since we are engaged with them they might just continue working at it.

Agreed. With a displacement bid to follow.

I really wanted the company to see reason in this negotiation even though I knew it was a long shot. I hope everyone comes out of this on their feet. I can't see a reason why a FO would stay at eagle anymore, awful BK contract, shrinking fleet, meager flow percentage. My advice to anyone outside the 824 is to get out ASAP even if it's a lateral move.

Not likely. The majority there are meek lambs who are incapable of acting in self defense. If they were sailors, they would go down with the ship sobbing like schoolgirls even if a lifeboat was within reach. I've heard at least 4 of the domicile reps are not only willing to sell the pilots down the river, but are actually eager to do it because they are trembling in fear and desperately want to go home and be left alone.

Supposedly one was seen behind the building in Euless on break banging his head against the concrete wall and another was in the mens room with his hands pressed tightly against his ears saying, "la-la-la-la-la-la" when one of the visiting pilots asked him for an explanation. A third has called home several times repeating that he "misses his mommy".

In all seriousness though, the stories I'm hearing are pathetic.

Those stories probably aren't far from the truth. The ORD reps are about as pathetic as they come, wouldn't surprise me if the FO rep was calling home to mommy and the CA rep was sitting on the can crying.

I don't understand why they're even entertaining this proposal. 60 aircraft is a ~75% reduction in aircraft at Eagle. So they want us to take concessions to reduce the flying tremendously...does not compute.

If you're senior, this place will be here long enough for you to transfer to AA even if their plan is to shut it down. If you're a junior CA you're going to get your PIC time regardless and people will be hiring. In both those circumstances a "yes" vote doesn't gain you anything.

From the FO side no matter what the outcome is you won't be upgrading for years, let alone flowing which could take the better part of a decade. They're either going to shrink us drastically and make you work for pathetic wages under poor work rules, or shut you down over time. Either way you're not in a good position.

There is no incentive to vote yes from any position on the seniority list. Just get out, burn it down.

The pilots won't be burning it down, management will. They plan to burn it down to NO MORE than 60 airplanes regardless. It's just with a new contract, they can do it FASTER. Some of the reps are so petrified of the junkyard dog brought in to frighten them (glass), that they can't think straight anymore.

Then again, didn't some of the same reps vote FOR the B-scale when the junkyard dog wasn't even known and didn't they vote for the current contract out of trembling fear at what management said they MIGHT do in bankruptcy court ?

Some of them are going to need someone to walk them home and hold their hands after they are done begging for mercy. God, what an embarrassment.