Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
I'll give a rare compliment to the ASA MEC on this one. I have no question in my mind (from their gloating on the internet particularly), that the XJT MEC is in cahoots with management to lob us a hand grenade on this one. This entire merger, they have been the bad kids, and now all of a sudden, we stood our ground on one very important issue, and we're the bad kids. So of course, they love this and are using it to their advantage.
They will "negotiate" as long as they are required to under 26, then they will "let" the arbitrator impose an "industry standard" 900 rate well below ours. Then they will laugh at us as our airplanes are transferred and lecture us about being competitive (a change from their lectures to be tough previously). One thing I learned on The Pipe is that the XJT group has no class, and no unity, it is all about them. so I applaud my MEC. Shut it down for all I care. If we never get another plane, I'm fine with it. I will not do this job for one penny less nor one hair worse QOL. McPickle's gloabalized bidding system is not acceptable. I say keep it separate, and we'll all take our chances.
But I think we all know what ALPO's response will be to our protest on the TPA. Here's the sand. Go pound.
I'm not willing to take that chance. I like Flightline, but all indications show it is no longer acceptable to the company, and never was acceptable to XJT. If Smartpref is the way to a JCBA and SLI, I'm willing to compromise. Flightline is great, but it does have flaws and is not worth falling on our swords for.
McPickle has a very detailed explanation about Globalization and Smartpref on FI. I'm convinced that it can be as excellent a PBS system as Flightline.