“Typically, in years past, our previous bargaining agent chose to ignore the problems of other airlines and other labor groups.”                  

-Rick Odato, USAPA SPC Co-Chairman

We realize it has been a busy and celebratory week at USAPA headquarters with their perceived win at the 9^th. The tastelessness of the gloating is beyond any of us ever imagined. A staff member of TheEye commented that “he has never been more embarrassed by the behavior of his fellow airmen following the decision last week. In 26 years and four mergers, this is a new low in the history of the US Airways pilots.”

In this context, we could not ignore the recent Strike Preparedness Committee update sent out by committee Co-Chairman Rick Odato. We are particularly astonished that he would make such a brazen statement regarding the prior bargaining agent when one of his direct supervisors is a known union buster (Steve Crimi) and the committee which publishes his updates harbors an alleged Continental scab.

If you recall, both ALPA and the AAA MEC were unambiguous with their positions on furloughed US Airways pilots accepting pilot positions at Freedom Airlines. In fact, the AAA MEC passed a resolution calling for the Article VIII and complete denial of furloughed benefits to those who chose to ignore their warning. At no time did ALPA or the AAA MEC ever differentiate between completing training versus actively flying the line. The mere act of interviewing for a union busting operation was enough to be in violation of ALPA and AAA directives.

Now let’s fast forward to the decision of the 9^th last week granting USAPA the latitude to negotiate seniority under the stipulation that an “unquestionably ripe” DFR will be triggered should an alternate to Nicolau be contemplated. Mr. Odato believes that the US Airways pilots will be walking in harmony on a picket line and advises us to order our company provided hats. Does he really believe that US Airways management will abandon Nicolau and give in to all other demands at the table when 1700+ west pilots will be working in the complete opposition to USAPA’s direction? The only scenario in which we envision the company moving off Nicolau is for the east pilots to buy their seniority and then indemnify the corporation with a hefty bond for the guaranteed hybrid DFR.

We also feel the need to point out the obvious to Mr. Odato. The Spirit pilots are represented by ALPA and their efforts are funded by the MCF. The reason a strike threat at Spirit is so powerful is it’s directly correlated to the power of the largest pilot union in the world. Before we made the mistake of voting in USAPA, we too were joined on the picket line with a cross section of ALPA pilots. We are confident that the Spirit pilots would have been far more grateful had we supported them financially through MCF funding then a few USAPA pilots showing up for media attention at their event.

Mr. Odato, we need to get our own house in order before we earn the privilege to walk the line.  We have the most divided pilot group in the industry, bar none. The Spirit pilots are making a brave and powerful stance against their greedy management with the backing of the entire profession. USAPA could only dream to replicate such unity.

USAPA was founded on the pretext of using the majority to disadvantage the minority. This history can never be ignored or changed. It is fitting that such an organization would support and harbor individuals who knowingly took advantage of their fellow aviators to benefit themselves. 

Don’t be part of the SCAM:

Seham, Cleary, and Mowrey = NO Contract – NO Money