United and US Airways - I hope it happens.

[WacoFan]

USAPA wants to be considered a real union, and even wants AWA pilots to join. My opinion is that if USAPA wants to be considered a true union, and not simply a power grab with the sole intention of overturning the Nic award, they need to actually have services and benefits available for their members. So, my question is:

Does USAPA have any supplemental insurance coverages in place to take the place of ALPA's? Does USAPA skillfully and earnestly try to fight for pilots that have grievances (including West pilots)? Has there been any activity or services to date, or has most USAPA activity been focused upon overturning the arbtration award?

Not taking a side, simply would like to know the answers to these questions - thank you.

[surreal1221]

Why exactly are all of these "Airline" related threads getting moved to the airline pilot forum pretty quick?

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by inside0ut

Wait.

We agree?!?!?!

What can I say? When you're right, you're right!

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by WacoFan

Does USAPA have any supplemental insurance coverages in place to take the place of ALPA's?

No

Does USAPA skillfully and earnestly try to fight for pilots that have grievances (including West pilots)?

No

Has there been any activity or services to date, or has most USAPA activity been focused upon overturning the arbtration award?

No

You're questions show you understand the main issue here. USAPA is a seniority grab, nothing more.

Unless the UAL/LCC deal goes through and USAPA is removed from the property, USAPA will be the demise of LCC as a viable airline. And that's the bottom line.

[BobDDuck]

I'm really not much of a USAPA fan either, but a lot of people are basically just saying what they want with out much evidence.

Originally Posted by WacoFan

Does USAPA have any supplemental insurance coverages in place to take the place of ALPA's?

Yes. They have Life, AD&D and LOL supplemental plans. I don't know if the costing is less or more then ALPA's plan was.

Does USAPA skillfully and earnestly try to fight for pilots that have grievances (including West pilots)?

I'm pretty certain that they have defended at least 2 ex West termination grievances that were in the pipeline from before.

Has there been any activity or services to date, or has most USAPA activity been focused upon overturning the arbtration award?

No idea. I haven't heard anything either way about that.

[WacoFan]

I appreciate the responsed Bob and Velo - thank you.

The supplemental insurance - do you have to join USAPA to gain access? If so, that is a tough one - supplemental insurance, but have to jon the group that is undermining my job and my livelihood. I was also unclear as to whether LCC is a closed shop - Arizona is a right-to-work state, but I am not sure that matters with the RLA - please advise. I have heard some say that West pilots that stopped dues checkoff would be in trouble, and have heard some say that AZ is right-to-work, so the West pilots wouldn't have to join. FINAL question - can ALPA give any benefits to, or help AWAPPA in any fashion?

Thanks for the answers - the "emotion" of the decertification has dominated the discussion, but I am actually interested in the workings and day to day business of the union and how prepared USAPA was to be a full service group from day one.

[kellwolf]

Not sure of the exact answer, but ALPA continued to give benefits and fight for the loyal guys that stuck with them when American split for as long as they wanted them. That was a different era, though.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Why exactly are all of these "Airline" related threads getting moved to the airline pilot forum pretty quick?

I think you already answered your own question

[bike21]

Talked to yet another UAL guy today who wants nothing to do with this proposed merger. I personally would hope for United to become a strong stand alone company again (and maybe even a swell place to work at), but that might be the curse of my ever-optimist thinking

[meyers9163]

Originally Posted by bike21

Talked to yet another UAL guy today who wants nothing to do with this proposed merger. I personally would hope for United to become a strong stand alone company again (and maybe even a swell place to work at), but that might be the curse of my ever-optimist thinking

Not at all man. I think we all would love for all these companies to make it through the high oil price times and stand strong at the end of the day. I think if you are a pilot with even some what of a heart you would wish no ill will. Therefore perfectly normal thinking...

[bike21]

Word up! That and I am honestly a big fan of United. Or at least the United that could be and has been before, if even briefly so. Hopefully not just a figment of my imagination

[meyers9163]

Originally Posted by bike21

Word up! That and I am honestly a big fan of United. Or at least the United that could be and has been before, if even briefly so. Hopefully not just a figment of my imagination

I'm with ya... I have a buddy on the 777 over there. Always telling me when I get my times he'll do his best to help me out! Always have thought great things about UAL and the guys/gals there.... Nothing bad for me to say about them.

[bike21]

Yep, the folks over there are basically good people and I am always treated well when jumpseating. It is the management and now pervasive 'burn it down' feeling among those good employees that won't see me applying until something changes their (just for you TonyW!).

I have no desire to fly trips with guys that hate their lives and complain the whole time (although they likely have a legitimate reason to do so). I know you will see that anywhere, but there seems to be a bit too much strife for my mellow ways at the moment.

[SeanD]

Originally Posted by bike21

Word up! That and I am honestly a big fan of United. Or at least the United that could be and has been before, if even briefly so. Hopefully not just a figment of my imagination

I still remember the t-shirt my dad used to wear during that stock ownership thing. "We Dont Just Work Here" or something to that effect.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by Kristie

I think you already answered your own question

So then any airline related thread that has nothing to do directly with Airline Pilots is going to get moved from the General Topics (where a majority of the population resides) to the Airline Pilot forum where - usually - only those of us employed by an airline, and an occasional Freight Dawg somehow makes it in () will be moved?

But hey - your living.

[Kristie]

not necessarily. But i think any airline thread where conversation moves into the union territory belongs in the airline pilot forum since unions like ALPA and USAPA are airline territory. I'd rather keep airline and esp union discussions out of the mainstream general topics area.

after all, that type of conversation really does belong in here don't you think?

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by Kristie

after all, that type of conversation really does belong in here don't you think?

Sorry, but what type of conversation doesn't belong? And where is here?

Just not fully understanding your post, and that statement.

[Kristie]

Union talk revolves more around the airlines than any other aviation field. Since the thread changed conversations from mergers to unions, i figured it would be best to move it to the airline pilot forum. it belongs here more than it does in general topics.

not every airline type thread will be moved, just the ones that revolve around airline "topics" where airline people know more about the subject than those in the general topics are. unions being one of those topics.

if the people in the general topics areas want to learn about the unions and the insides of the airline industry, then they can come here to learn and ask questions.

make more sense?

[bike21]

My question is...does it really matter?

I read the thread no matter where it lives.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by bike21

Talked to yet another UAL guy today who wants nothing to do with this proposed merger. I personally would hope for United to become a strong stand alone company again (and maybe even a swell place to work at), but that might be the curse of my ever-optimist thinking

Nah, I share the optimism. I have to be an optimist given my current employer. The other option is to descend into the pit of despair with the other 80% of our pilot group.

For United to become stronger, they're gonna have to ditch Tilton at some point. That guy has had it bad for a merger for years. He's more or less pimping UAL like the hot 18 year old new prostitute on the block.