News out this morning that the US Airways’ West pilots (the old America West pilots) have now decided to go their own way.

Thomson Financial reports that US Airways  management said today that  it has been notified by America West pilots that they wish to pursue separate labor contract negotiations from US Airways pilots.

“Since the America West-US Airways merger was consummated, more than 400 US Airways East (former US Air) pilots have been able to upgrade to captain positions, yet less than 40 US Airways West (former America West) pilots have been offered the same opportunity,” said Captain John McIlvenna, chairman of the union leadership group, highlighting one of the main grievances of the America West pilots.

US Airways said America West pilots have also begun separate negotiations with the airline on the rules and conditions related to flying future Airbus A330-200 widebodied planes.

Is this something unusual? Not really. Remember that, even today, restrictions on who flies what aircraft are still in effect at Northwest Airlines – a lingering after-effect of that airline’s merge with Republic. Pilots on both sides in that merger finally agreed on a workable merge agreement — but only with certain “fence” provisions going forward.



Meanwhile, voting begins in about a week on representation of the pilot group at US Airways — as the US Airways’ East bloc of pilots push to oust ALPA from the property. The alternative union organization, USAPA, was created after an ALPA arbitrator ruled on the seniority question concerning the two pilots groups last May. The US Airways East pilot group claims that the award is not “fair” and, as a result, now seeks to remove ALPA as the pilot’s labor representative.

Just more fun than you can shake a stick at.

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