fly4booz,
You sound ticked off and angry with the VX purchase. What did you lose with the merger? I just lost my base and forced to either commute 2,200 nm to the next closest base, or uproot/disrupt the family and move them across the country. But sure, I'll answer...
Originally Posted by
fly4booz
4 years. Talk to your reps regarding the SLI negotiations between the two groups (pre arbitration). Better yet, talk to Alaska's side also.
I don't need to ask them anything. The transcripts are out for all to see. Each side did what they think is best for their own group, as would be expected.
ALPA-ALPA carriers? You gotta be joking, right? You guys only voted in ALPA months before the acquisition was announced.
Yes ALPA was voted in June 2015. The rest is irrelevant. It is (and was) an ALPA carrier when it was acquired in April 2016.
You don't even have a contract or a real seniority list.
With ALPA voted in 9 months prior to the purchase date, it's unrealistic to have expected a new contract within 9 months. jetBlue just took 3 years for their first agreement after voting in ALPA. Stuff like that takes time. And VX does have a real seniority list. You may not like looking at it, but it's real.
This isn't a co-equal marriage. You guys want to treat it like DAL+NWA and UAL+CAL but it just isn't the same by a long shot.
It sounds like you're bitter over the VX proposal. And you've clearly said what AS was proposing was a "fair deal" so clearly you're heavily biased. I've come across some (and you sound like you're in that boat) that would be entirely POed if even one VX guy went above you on the final list. It's probably gonna happen, and best if you stop worrying about a list you can't control.
Acquisition vs. merger is irrelevant? I think not but everyone is entitled to an opinion.
ALPA merger policy isn't an opinion, and it covers this scenario which is why it is applying here.
You guys were well on your way of becoming Aloha II.
Now this is an opinion.
Alaska would not lose a bidding war with B6 and if Uncle Brad and his boys didn't acquire VX, some two bit investment company would have and dismantled your beloved airline. Or best case, you would be in the same boat as Frontier.
Hey, believe me I wish jetBlue did purchase us. Much closer culture, same business model, same fleet, much closer longevity for the two carriers, etc. etc. As for your "Uncle Brad and his boys" they had no choice if they wanted Alaska to stay as Alaska. That's why they paid what they did for VX. Delta is attacking your backyard in SEA pretty hard.
If you want to stick with "merger", the two companies are apples to orange. Let's start with 10 year old company vs. 85.
Yes, as mentioned the longevity variance is huge for the two companies. But it's a west coast regional airline that has always paid lower than the legacies with the primary draw of living where you wanted: PNW or Alaska. It's always been that way, and your contract reflects that.
Stepping stone vs. career.
What stepping stone? VX's attrition rate was similar to AS, proportionately speaking. We have lots of guys from Aloha, ATA, US Airways, AWA, and all sorts of other big airlines. When VX had it's primary run of attrition in 2011/2012/2013, it was mostly due to guys taking their recall rights back to United and AA.
No college vs. college.
I'd like to know who perpetuated this BS. My degree is in Aerospace Engineering.
Easy to get on vs. very selective.
VX was pretty tough to get on, and even the selection numbers for the interviews were low. In my group 5 out of 11 were hired. And btw, one guy not hired in my interview group at VX was hired by AS later that year. You can ask him which carrier was easier to get on.
Zero PIC vs. ....And the list goes on.
AS has taken zero PIC too. These days PIC isn't a discriminate thing anymore.
I'm willing to bet that no child ever dreamed of being a VX pilot. Well, I dreamed of being a Alaska Airlines pilot ever since I can remember and so did many of my peers. The less pay than the big three that you are talking about is somewhat true but when you look at the overall package, Alaska's isn't too far off especially for those older dudes still with a pension. Did you know that Alaska pilots were the highest paid at one point?
Of course you did. And AS knows too, which is why they capitalize on your types. It's okay to admit you prioritize a geographic location over pay, but that's no longer true with Delta available for SEA, all the big airlines for LAX, and Fdx/UPS available for ANC.
Unless driving to work or flying in the same time zone is the most important thing in your life or you just love Alaska, it makes no sense to stay if you are in your 30s or even low 40s.
Isn't that why you dreamed about working for AS? If you could be honest with yourself this quoted portion statement you just made is true for Alaska even before the VX purchase.