Originally Posted by NightBusDriver
Poor staffing levels ("insufficient reserves"), constant Vacation BuyBack and AVA, asking for case-by-case duty limit waivers ... I agree LIDO may not be contract-related, but I'm tired of "going above and beyond" to move freight, enduring incompetence with ramp-related screw-ups, and waiting patiently for management to "throw us a bone." So maybe LIDO reluctance and practice bid shenanigans are the start of something bigger and more collective. Maybe we're ready for a deal that's long overdue??
No, but there are plenty of other schemes afoot. The "Mother of All Bids," scope payments, direct offer(s) to pilots, and the very slick handling of the Enders fiasco way back when. Maybe we're tired of the various managers/VPs double-talking with forked tongues...?
What/whose foot do you suggest? I'm ready to engage someone/something!
I'll forgo pasting in the quotes to which the above refer since the theme is the same - - why go above and beyond when we've been waiting for over two years to get a new contract? Two years is too long.
I agree with you 100%. In fact, 100.0% is my goal every day - - 100%, and not a tenth more. Two years is too long.
Frankly, I think that MOAB was nothing more than the most recent example of the incompetence of this company in planning pilot manning. To concede that it was a scheme to throw us off balance in the negotaitions process gives them more credit than they deserve, in my opinion. Whether it was a scheme, or a scam, or just a blunder is really not relevant, though, is it? Two years is too long.
Scope payments - - another issue that gets folks riled up. Was the issue raised for the sole purpose of riling us up and taking our collective eye off the ball? Again, I don't see the Company being smart enough to plan to use wetleases so that we can be distracted by scope payments at this particular time. I think they just planned to use wet leases, and this is when they did it. Whose fault is it if we let the issue affect our focus? Ours. Again, two years is too long.
Direct offers to pilots? Yes, I think that was devised to take our eye off the ball, but it obviously was not well-enough devised, for it hardly made us blink. Shame on the Company for trying, but guess what - - it betrayed their lack of savvy and skill. If they can't come up with a direct offer that will distract us, why do we think they're smart enough to schedule wet leases or begin a program to transition to Electronic Flight Bags that will be timed precisely to distract us from negotiations? Two years is too long.
Vacation BuyBack and AVA? Those keen planners that determine staffing levels have counted on this because we have historically done it. For us to collectively change our approach to vacation might be considered an illegal work action. That said, I still make a personal decision about my own vacation, and my family needs me to take it when I can get it. Volunteer, Adavanced or otherwise, and Draft - - same story. I know that I will NOT wish on my deathbed that I had worked more.
Two years is too long.
Tired of various managers/VPs double-talking with forked tongues? Well, you can only get tired of it if you take ANY of it seriously, and I don't. If there is going to be a Vacancy Posting, there will be an FCIF. If it's actually going to stand (we've seen bids cancelled) then we will see it close. Until then, no fortune-telling Manager with a folksy demeanor is going to fool me with an e-mail. You know the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ME!" Well, we've all been fooled once - - it's time (no, it's past time) to stop listening to that mess and focus on what we know to be true - - Two years is too long.
Why are you "tired of 'going above and beyond' to move freight, enduring incompetence with ramp-related screw-ups, and waiting patiently for management to 'throw us a bone'"? I'm not tired of it - - because I don't do it! Refer to paragraph 2 above. 100.0% - - That's "One hundred POINT zero per cent." The Company counts on more than that, but my paycheck doesn't reflect it. Until I'm persuaded that the Company values the contribution I make to its incredible success by good-faith bargaining and the completion of a contract that recognizes our contributions, I'm giving 100.0%. Unfortunately, I don't think The Company is motivated to do that, and they won't be until more of us adopt the same mentality. I hope it happens soon, because Two Years is Too Long.
Back to LIDO - - well, you know where I stand now concerning negotiations, etc. I don't think LIDO is a scheme to distract us. I think it's a good thing. I don't think delaying our accomplishment of the CBT will affect negotiations a whit.
Whose foot? Well, I only know what I do. I fly what is scheduled, I don't bid carryover, I use the scheduled deadhead, I fly the flightplan, I take my vacations, and I wear my hat. Oh, and my standing bid is 737 Captain at 100%.
- The truth only hurts if it should -