US Airline Pilots Association
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| US Airline Pilots Association | |
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Members | Legally represents approx 5200 US Airways pilots. |
| Country | United States |
| Key people | First Officer Stephen Bradford |
| Office location | Charlotte, NC |
| Website | http://www.usairlinepilots.org/ |
The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) is the collective bargaining agent for US Airways pilots. The US Airline Pilots Association replaced the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) in a representational election and is an "in-house union" with only the interests of the US Airways pilots as its focus. The election for a collective bargaining agent, authorized and administered by the National Mediation Board (NMB), concluded on April 17, 2008 with the USAPA prevailing by a margin wide enough for the NMB to refuse any further challenges. USAPA became the NMB-certified bargaining agent for all US Airways pilots effective April 18, 2008.
Contents |
[edit] Member Pilot Group
[edit] Integrated seniority list controversy
There has been much controversy surrounding the formation of the USAPA and the removal of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) as the bargaining representative for US Airways pilots. This controversy is mostly centered around the method used to integrate seniority lists from the two airlines, and has resulted in a division in the ranks between the previous US Airways pilots (often referred to as the East pilots) and the former America West pilots (often referred to as the West pilots).[1]
In 2005, America West merged with US Airways. Before and after the merger, ALPA was the bargaining representative for pilots from both airlines. During merger negotiations in late 2006, representatives from the two pilot groups were unable to reach an agreement with respect to integration of seniority. The US Airways pilots' proposal was to base seniority primarily on date-of-hire, as they thought was customary for the industry. This would place the more established US Airways pilots at the top of the ranks, while nearly 80% of the of the America West pilots would be at the bottom of the seniority lists. This was not acceptable to the America West pilots. The America West pilots' proposal included a plan that defined a series of ratios would maintain their relative seniority in the new organization, with the goal of preserving career expectations for its pilots. This proposal would place many US Airways pilots with more experience in a position below America West pilots with less experience, which was not acceptable to the US Airways pilots. The issue was eventually submitted to binding arbitration through ALPA arbitration board.[1]
In May 2007, the arbitration board released its judgment which awarded 512 top seniority positions to the most senior US Airways pilots, but also blended the seniority of the remaining active pilots. Furloughed US Airways pilots were placed at the bottom of the list. There are many other details to the award, such as plane and route assignments, but it was generally seen to favor the America West position.[2][3] Many US Airways pilots contended that this agreement violated ALPA policies and was contrary to generally accepted practices for defining seniority primarily based on date-of-hire. US Airways pilots also alleged other errors in the award, including the treatment of MDA (Mid-Atlantic Division) pilots as furloughed pilots.[4]
The USAPA was formed later in 2007. Its constitution lists "date-of-hire" as the primary methodology to be used for establishing or merging seniority lists [5], which would greatly improve the standing of the East pilots, who outnumbered the West pilots by nearly 2:1.[6] This policy difference and a suggested general dissatisfaction with ALPA's representation of US Airways pilots over the years have been suggested as the main reasons for replacing ALPA with USAPA.[7]
The US Airways West pilots see the formation of USAPA as a clear attempt to circumvent or nullify the previously awarded binding arbitration results. US Airways West pilots have generally declined to join USAPA[citation needed] and do not believe the new union represents their best interests. They have formed another organization, the America West Airline Pilots Protective Alliance (AWAPPA), specifically to promote the preservation of the seniority arbitration results.[8]
A potential future merger with United Airlines may again raise the issue of union representation. USAPA has stated that it disapproves of the proposed merger with United Airlines.[9] Whereas, the minority west pilots prefer the deal with United as it is seen as a means to oust the USAPA and reinstate ALPA.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b NY Times: Pilots' Battles Over Seniority Play Havoc With Airline Mergers (Alternate copy)
- ^ The "Nicolau Award" (ALPA Arbitration Results)
- ^ The Street: Union Fight Ups Stakes at US Airways
- ^ US Airways MEC Presentation to ALPA Executive Council, MAY 21, 2007
- ^ An early USAPA press release listed "date-of-hire" as the "only" methodology. The USAPA Constitution (paragraph I.8.D) adds "with reasonable conditions and restrictions to preserve each pilot’s un-merged career expectations.
- ^ Of the 5200 pilots in the combined organization, approximately 1800 are former America West pilots.
- ^ USAPA FAQ stating other reasons for ALPA decertification
- ^ America West Airlines Pilots Protective Alliance (AWAPPA)
- ^ Business Week: "US Airways pilots union disapproves of possible United combo"
- ^ US Airways pilots group sees benefits in merger
