First off I'm working on a comprehensive post for a new thread where I play the Pro side, but in the mean time allow me to throw a few simple facts and anecdotes into the mix. I don't care for name calling or short witty remarks intended to put people down so if you don't like what I'm saying and don't have a factual retort I hope you will keep your remarks to yourself, BUT

I just came back from a 4 day trip where I questioned 27 L-UAL guys and 4 L-CAL guys on their knowledge and opinion of the TA. All 27 L-UAL pilots were in favor of the TA, 1 of the L-CAL pilots was in favor of the TA.


Has anyone realized yet that the pay rates in the table are not what you will get paid? The pay will be "blended" and when this is done the average will come a few dollars closer to Delta.

At one point in time Pan Am, TWA, United, and Delta all paid their pilots the highest in the industry. All of them went bankrupt. I have said from the beginning of my career that the truth is we are in competition with other airlines pilot groups to be more efficient. Do I like that? No. Do I wish I could make that not true politically? Yes. Did Delta's MEC actively discuss how they might aid in "killing" United when we were in bankruptcy? Yes. So, do you want to give your company a competitive edge in labor costs or demand a premium.


LOA 25: Most of the 27 L-UAL pilots I asked had no idea what LOA 25 was about. When I explained the issue, most pilots did not sympathize with the '99 hires. An ALPA rep said to me in private that they intend to repeal the impact by resolution after the SLI when the L-UAL councils can out vote the L-CAL councils. (I have zero proof of whether that is true or possible.)

If we reject this contract, remember there are 4 players involved: management, UAL-ALPA, CAL-ALPA, and the NMB. After talking to my local reps in person, it is my belief that the NMB will be less than sympathetic to our demands as the absolute economic value of this contract has been determined to exceed that of Delta's contract. So what is it that we want changed after a "NO" vote? Higher pay? Better work rules? More days off? Protection for UAL furloughees? A bigger retro check? I know it is hard to imagine, but if the union were to ask the NMB for the right to strike for any of these reasons I see little support outside of the pilot community, and the UAL and CAL desires may even work to oppose each other thereby actively prolonging the process perhaps indefinitely a la USAir.


Bottom Line: This contract has vast QWOL improvements for L-CAL. A huge pay raise for L-UAL Airbus pilots, and a sizable pay raise for the rest of the L-UAL pilots. It may not be perfect, but I will go on record saying I think it will pass.


Joe Peck
IAD - UALFO
756-FO
D.O.H. 4/1/96