Originally Posted by
aewhistleblower
Big Tom’s email was on point. This MEC is by far one of the best this pilot group has ever had. Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me how this company is stalling negotiations. Envoy needs new management people, RW and RN have been around for too long. I’m wondering if management is gonna send a response to the union’s email- are they man enough to do that!?
I agree, they've been doing an excellent job.
Personally, and I know this may be unpopular with some; but never ever give back concessions.
Let them furlough if they have to. It's not straight salary savings, because the bring-back costs are there too making furlough the more expensive option if it's going to be less than six months. The reason being the company will forever afterwards use it as the new baseline to say things like if it was okay then, then it's okay now.
Additionally, with the specter of BK looming is in discussions everywhere, and AAG has rehired the same legal firm that did their last bankruptcy. Last time they did BK they were trying to wring concessions out of us right up until the day before they declared. If we had taken concessions then, they'd have taken even more again during the bankruptcy.
In 2010 they were "divesting" us 'again' and said they needed concessions for us to be a viable stand alone company. It seemed like every four years at opener time we were "For Sale" or being divested, or being shut down.
The one thing that never changed was it was impossible to get actual gains. Their answer was always no, don't like it here, leave. The shortage changed all that. Real gains were made slowly over time until a new first year FO was making almost what junior Captains used to make. It was $21k a year when I started with no bonus, no flow, and no upgrade for about 10 years. By 2015 the industry abuse of pilots had become so bad that not enough people were entering the profession anymore. The industry's greed had choked off their supply of future pilots.
For the love of God, do not give them concessions when by every measure known they are already planning a run through bankruptcy. You'll end up giving twice. An arbitrator will be told by their lawyers that if the concessions were okay to save potential furloughs, then they are okay to save the company... and the snap back provisions will get cancelled and the deal will become permanent.
This management team is unethical and can not be trusted, and by the sounds of it, Tom's letter says that nothing has changed. Don't play their game.
some perspective
https://crankyflier.com/2014/01/23/a...agle-er-envoy/