Originally Posted by
Waves
What becomes obvious on this thread is that many pilots here seem to think WE are running this airline; that we should be calling ALL the shots. Who to hire. What aircraft to buy. What routes we should fly, Etc. I understand we all have a vested interest, but you guys make it sound as if we are in charge here. We aren't and probably never will be. Additionally, it probably wouldn't be a good thing if we were.
Control over our own destiny is somewhat limited. Would any of you strike over this TA if it came down to it? Have any of you figured out a time line for prolonged negotiations? Our current contract isn’t even amendable until Jan 2013. Meanwhile we have 598 RJ’s filling our gates. Do you really think we have the clout or leverage to force management into a scenario where they would buy these 76 seat aircraft and then have to park them in a few years? I doubt they could even get such a deal if they wanted to.
One thing in which we can all agree. Former Management ordered too many 50 seaters. Should we now punish them for it by making them eat them and thereby greatly reducing our financial bottom line? You know, this isn’t your last contract?
Lastly, this TA will probably pass anyway so we will not likely see what might have been. This TA is certainly far from perfect, but IMHO the risks of renegotiating a new one verses the possible perceived gains are too high. I could be wrong.
Perhaps I'm oversimplifying your post but I read it as "If you don't want to strike over it, vote yes". Who said anything about striking?
This is a good/great company that has good/great management running it right now - again, right now. We were approached and the best that our crack team can come up with was this?
Where was the min daily guarantee, how about the pay rates which even th eyes voters admit don't reach the MEC direction to the NC, why is vacation still paid at 3:15 per day and why oh why don't we get paid for our time while in training?
We gave everywhere in this thing and that is why I'm voting no. Not because I want to strike, nor do I think we should. However, if RA's goal is truly labor peace then maybe a strike authorization following a turn down of this TA would give the NC the required leverage to act like the Pitt Bulls we need.