US Airways and its pilots union, USAPA, got a hearing to discuss what US Airways says is an illegal work slowdown.   In that hearing, the judge pretty much agreed with US Airways and told USAPA to cut it out and get their membership in order.   What the judge actually said was:

“USAPA and its members, agents, and employees, and all persons and organizations acting by, in concert with, through, or under it, or by and through its order, are enjoined from permitting, instigating, authorizing, encouraging, participating in, approving, or continuing any interference with Plaintiff’s airline operations, including, but not limited to, any slowdown, strike, work stoppage, sick-out, work to rule campaign, or any concerted refusal to perform normal pilot operations in violation of the RLA, pending a hearing on the permanent injunction.”

Beyond that, the judge also ordered the union to make a concerted effort to communicate to its membership that such activities were illegal and punishable. 

This is where USAPA wants to pay real close attention to things because it was the APA (American Airlines pilots) who got hit with a large judgement against it for the very same kinds of actions in the 1990s.   There is ample precedent here and it will be the pilots who pay for that kind of judgement against them. 

So here is my question:  When does USAPA quit acting like children and get to work representing and, more importantly, *leading* its membership to a unified seniority list and a new contract with US Airways?  What’s the plan?  When does action take place?  Right now, if USAPA got its act together and started down that path, union members *might* see a new contract by 2015.   That’s only 10 years after the merger.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax