When the Company stepped away from facilitated negotiations, they showed their true colors. When they sought NMB mediation, I changed my uniform. My uniform now includes a hat - - my "100% hat."
When you see my hat in the crew room, or on the crew bus, or in the terminal, you can remember that I am unhappy with the pace of negotiations, and I blame the Company for that. You can be assured that I will do everything within my power, and everything that my union and fellow pilots ask of me, to ensure that negotiations are brought to a swift conclusion, and that the contract offered recognizes my contribution to the phenomenal success of our company. I am reminded that while I enjoyed Christmas with my family with no pay raise in 2 years, our top executives were rolling in literally millions of dollars in bonuses. That tends to put a bitter taste in my mouth. (Not that they got the bonuses, but that we are left out in the cold - - sorry, three jumbo shrimp on a plastic plate doesn't compensate.)
When you see my hat, you can also be assured that I will contribute 100.0% towards the successful completion of each leg assigned to me. That's "one hundred POINT zero percent." I have no desire to work extra days at straight pay, in fact I have no desire to work extra days at time and a half or double time. I have no desire to work through my vacations. I have not taxied fast before, and I will not begin taxing fast now. I will fly the flight plan, even if it means I get to the hotel a few minutes later than my tired eyes would prefer. If ATC offers a shortcut, I will accept, but I won't ask for shortcuts. I will fly the scheduled heads. These are things I have chosen to do, and they are my personal decisions. I won't condemn or ridicule other pilots who make other choices, because I recognize legitimate reasons to act otherwise. These are just MY ways of remaining focused on doing my job to the best of my ability, 100%. One Hundred Point Zero.
Also, when you see my hat, you won't see my bald spot.
It's actually kinda warm.
If you're interested, I can tell you where you can get your own hat, too.
- The truth only hurts if it should. -