What we have here is a failure... to communicate (Cool Hand Luke).
I mean this with
all respect N2- but that viewpoint is unrealistic. Let me explain with the following...
We have gone through how many MEC Chairs in the last 3 years? And the latest is about to retire. The attrition is SOOOOO high that anyone with any experience in the union is moving on. So, suffice it to say that the union is in a bit of disarray. Next, add on top of that a management team that will do N-E-THING (ANYTHING) it wants, and flies in the face of any authoritative body. Recent examples:
1. Harris Award... this little gem has been thrown right back in our faces time and again. When we were judged in favor of, the company STILL violated it and does so to this day. [Oh, and after the courts ruled against Murnane for erasing all the computer data, after the company issued a statement that Murnane was on administrative leave and a bunch of dross about high ethical standards, he turned up at JO's side in China for the new Shinzen Airline unveiling (read about it here, about 1/2 down the page:
http://mesalies.blogspot.com/). How's that for flying in the face of authority?]
2. Scope Clause... there were some more violations of this just recently. The management team does not seem to understand that those seats up front belong to US...
not Bombardier contract pilots.
3. Status Quo... according to the RLA, when a contract becomes amendable, NO changes are allowed to be made by the company or pilot group. So, why is it that no less than 2 memos, 1 a chief pilot memo and 1 a company "bonus program" (wolf in sheep's clothing bonus) have been issued in the last couple of months significantly changing our work-rules and compensation methodology?
Add to this mess 2 lawsuits (one of which has been won to the tune of 80-90 million), our planes being outsourced to China, attrition wildly OUT OF CONTROL, pilots timing out like the burnt-apple-pie grandma forgot about in the oven... heck, do I need to say more? Yea, I am apathetic. How could I survive otherwise??? To actually have FEELINGS about any of this stuff, to actually believe that a favorable contract is forthcoming would ABSOLUTELY BLOW MY MIND. Heck, my mind is already blown and I am still picking up the smoking pieces. Oh, and if we strike, that's a fine for ALPA and probably jail time for the union leaders.
Look, I will die a bitter and friendless pessimist etc etc... OK, now that we have that out of the way... everyone STOP for a moment. Just STOP, and copy this transmission (let me clear my throat):
*ahem* We MAG pilots will NEVER, EVER get a better contract.
NEVER.
Unless you have a solution for the enumerated items above, apathy *on*, desperation *on* and, "ERJ Driver over and out."
