Originally Posted by
whtever
"Bottom Feeder" = a pilot who will attack another pilot, or group of pilots, usually without specific knowledge of the situation. Usually negative in attitude, but safely hidden behind a screen name or a trail of rumors. Not always, but normally an inexperienced FO, naive to the ways of the industry only learning from the forums and lifers at their own regional. Someone that enjoys themselves at the expense of others. Will usually find fault where there is none. Immature in nature, but without the tools to change. They will retaliate with ignorant remarks only to show their true colors. And finally, a "bottom feeder" will tell you their goal is unity and a better standard for their industry, yet their actions do nothing but the opposite.
As aviation professionals, as I use that term loosely, look at the problems we face today. Threads like this are not the solution, nor are the many who participate.
whtever,
Good post. I have to admit I got my blood boiling during these past negotiations here at Mesa. The Tentative Agreement was voted in by 18 votes. It passed by 2.2%. Approximately half of the Mesa pilots you meet voted no and were willing to risk their careers to bring our contract up to industry standard. I truly believed we had a good chance to improve our quality of life and the industry with this TA. On many points we did meet the standard and on a couple of issues we exceeded it. Our negotiators did make some really great improvements but I believed if we had collectively voted no we could have sent the TA back for review and could have come very close to an "industry standard" throughout the entire contract.
I've been thinking alot about where we go from here and I've decided that personally I'll concentrate on professionalism, unity and optimism. I'm going to ask all of you reading this to join me and ignore the negativity and divisiveness and try to persuade our fellow pilots to unify under the call for an industry standard.
The next great round of contract negotiations are just about to begin and regardless of your political affiliations we will for the first time in years have a labor-friendly administration in office. We at Mesa start negotiations again in September 2010. Contact your individual MEC's and encourage them to define and bargain for an industry standard. All "regional airline" MEC's should have a bottom line that will not be crossed. If we support each other we can stop the whipsawing and the decline of a once proud industry.
The way things look I'll probably be at Mesa for a few more years at least and I'll do what I can from my end. Just think of me as your "guy on the inside". I just ask all the pilots reading this to "educate" from their position with encouragement and optimism. Let's all do the best we can to return this industry to the great place it once was.
Good Luck to us all,
Winglet