Originally Posted by
forgot to bid
Here's the thing. You need a solid retort to flip pilots and even then money is going to trump everything with certain pilots.
My buddy texted me today that on the ATL320 his Captain said "I'm too old to wait around for pay raises." Well, what about sick leave? Doesn't matter, I'll get a Doctors note. But... doesn't matter... but... doesn't matter... but. And so on.
Basically, if you want this voted down split in two and charge both directions.
First, whether you're a Captain or an FO, you go after the FOs and the removal of trips. Get your hands on the names of LCA, take the July category wide report for July and scratch off every trip of a LCA. Show that to FOs and at roadshows. If it's as bad as it probably is, it may get some attention. FOs are 53% or so of the pilot group.
Second, you go after any pilot with WIDEBODY LIFE stickers on the back of their car and this JV language. If the data is what we think then you have enough ammo to scare some pilots that their future aspirations are in jeopardy. The data has to be really good and not stretched, something that the NC/MEC can't debunk. If they think they're being manipulated they'll just focus on the pay raises and vote yes.
If you go DPA, guys will tune out. I wouldn't even go after the company, I mean I fully expect them to want us to fly for free and never be sick. The focus just has to be about the TA and mindset of a MEC Chairman and NC that agreed to it and how they need to try again. The MEC does have a Plan B and have openly said so.
Nice post FTB. Trashing the company that pays our bills and let's us pay for our kids college education goes nowhere. DPA? Eyes glaze over. It's business. We need to get rid of the indignant emotion and treat it that way. We know why the company wanted to do this early I think. PS reduction so they can do the same for the rest of the employees. We know why the union wanted to settle early. They are firm believers that small consistent raises beat waiting for a homerun years down the road. The fact is we gain so little in this we lose very little by sending it back. We have leverage now that we may not ever have again. Business decision.