US Airways pilots oust union over seniority issues

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Frustrated by an internal dispute over seniority, US Airways pilots on Thursday ousted their union of 59 years and agreed to be represented by another group.

The rare decertification election, supervised by the federal National Mediation Board, gave the fledgling US Airline Pilots Association the right to represent the 5,300 pilots in US Airways' system.

The group was created and supported mostly by pilots from the former, Virginia-based US Airways who clashed with other pilots after their carrier was acquired by America West in 2005.

Their struggles have become a cautionary tale as a new wave of combination talks sweep through the industry.


Read more: http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d903qtd80&

[saigon68]

1. Hey Capt Mac---What's going on here?

[DemoTex]

2. Sad day .. bud. The hot-heads prevailed. ALPA is out.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA - AFL/CIO) ain't perfect, but the US Airways pilots just cut their own throats, in spite, over the egregious Nicolai Award. I'll work up more on this in the next 24 hours or so, including more on the Nicolai Award.

BTW: I'll probably just add to this thread, so it doesn't sink like a stone in GD.

Mac

[coriolis]

3. Ohh...damn that ain't good.

Somebody did one hell of a sales job on those guys, it seems. :shrug:

[DemoTex]

5. Worse .. believe me.

I'll post when I catch my breath.

[saigon68]

4. Thanks in this day and age

Its hard to even begin to know what's going on

[DemoTex]

6. Labor-busting .. big time!

It works so well with mergers. Know what I mean, Vern?

[saigon68]

7. I was thinking in that direction myself

I have heard with the Delta\NWA shotgun marriage that the new entity will actually have 30% less aircrew. And that fares will be up 25%. Apparently little of the increased revenue is going to the people who actually fly or maintain the air frames.

In fact there are veiled threats to again file for chapter 11 if the Unions become too "Pesky" about either seniority or work rules.

[trof]

8. I remember when American left ALPA.

It was quite a blow to the union.
Divide and conquer.

[saigon68]

9. Kick