Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
This flawed and oversimplified logic is used by some on this forum to justify rooting for the loss of 1500 pilot jobs. The nerve of those MAG prostitutes trying to move their careers along by earning an ATP and gaining PIC experience. Why can't everyone take advantage of American Eagle's decade-long, right seat seasoning process?
Reasonable to avoid a ten-year upgrade.
Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
The Union pilots of Mesa Air Group fought a successful battle to convert a non-union alter ego into a union operation. Doing so required a long term strategic vision and the willingness to eat some crappy contract provisions. This move benefited the union pilots as a whole. However in return, the uninformed refer to this pilot group as "bottom-feeders".
This argument worked somewhat until 2008...I gave mag the benefit of the doubt, since the rally cry was to "Fix it Up or Burn it Down in 2008". The reality was the MEC screwed up...they could have killed freedom without concessions (the lawsuit was already in progress).
Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
In a time of economic downturn, the Mesa MEC successfully won an improved contract, which will be up for negotiation in two years.
Um, no. Compared the rest of the industry it is highly concessionary. The mag pilot group had OJ between a rock and a hard place...and that opportunity does not happen every year. He had a host of critical issues to address and was not in a good position for a protracted contract battle. But the 418 handed him a Hanuka present...he got an industry-leading contract (from management perspective) without a fight!
Ultimately mesa is sub-par. The management and corporate climate is subpar. The pilot group's collective self-respect and backbone are lacking. I left because I was afraid of exactly this happening...another cave-in. I actually wanted to stay and go on strike just to exact my share of pain from OJ. I thought a strike was guaranteed....glad I didn't stick around for that.
Maybe you guys will do better in two years, but until then you don't really have any bragging rights.
BTW, how is the implementation coming along on that new contract? Did OJ hold up his end of the bargain in a reasonable time frame? PBS is going to hurt real bad with OJ pulling the strings...
Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
There are market forces at work much larger than one pilot group. Mesaba flying in SLC? Are they taking Skywest flying? Flying shifts all the time, yet when Mesa shows up somewhere, the shrieking starts.
SKW is covering some flying in ATL while Mesaba is in SLC...no net reduction in flying, just an annoying time-zone penalty for early wakeups.
I'm not bashing anyone, and I don't want a bunch of people unemployed...I wouldn't waste my time on that. I am sharing my experience and perspective in hopes of educating entry-level pilots and mesa FO's that there are much better alternatives (when hiring resumes). I would of course like to see OJ out of this industry...he should be running a telemarketing boiler-room, not an airline. Or maybe in an orange jumpsuit
