“Obviously this topic is not news to you, but it should give you pause to reflect on what a significant victory this was for USAPA in our ongoing effort to defend the rights of all of our pilots, both East and West...”      -July 7 CLT update

If you were able to read the latest CLT update in its entirety we would like to offer our congratulations. Their disjointed and overly loquacious update typified what we have come to expect from three representatives whom continually blame everyone but themselves for our current predicament.  

We were particularly piqued by their characterization of the recent decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals as a ‘significant victory.’ As most of us know, this is a highly deceptive interpretation of the ruling. No where in the decision can an affirmation of a date-of-hire methodology be found. It is fact that the court simply ruled that USAPA is free to negotiate with US Airways management with the caveat that the final product is subject to an unquestionably ripe duty of fair representation lawsuit. 

It is clear that the CLT representatives either received a flawed legal briefing on the true meaning of the ruling or they are continuing their pattern of reckless behavior by ignoring  reality and pursing a strategy of mutually assured destruction. We are confident it is the later. 

Now that the en banc request has failed, Judge Wake will dismiss the injunction (it is still in effect contrary to confusing statements made in recent USAPA correspondence) and enable a legal discussion to occur between US Airways management and USAPA. It should be noted that USAPA has already passed a quasi date-of-hire list to management and never received a response. Why the CLT representatives feel they will get a different response this time around is mind boggling to say the least. There is no indication that US  Airways management will be amenable to anything but the Nicolau Award. One needs to ask, why should they move off the accepted list? 

Of course, the CLT representatives ignore the need for unity in their plan. The NMB will never release the pilots to a 30 day cooling off period with over half the membership voting against a strike. Section 6 talks will most likely be parked while the union and management reach a deadlock over seniority. In other words, the idea that a contract with a quasi date-of-hire seniority list is even remotely obtainable is utterly absurd. 

In less than four years a captain at Spirit will be making north of $200/hour.

In four years a captain at US Airways will still make $124/hour. 

McKee, Ingram, and the union busting Crimi are plunging us into an abyss!