Originally Posted by
flapsfail
Listening to the conference call last night was a waste of time. Our mec seems to keep emphasizing that there is nothing else we can do. I think there is a lot more they can do. They don't want to get in trouble in fear of a work action viloation but you could advise the group to flythe book, write up any mx item, discourage picking up open time...you get the idea. Now they are scrambling to do somethign like picketing. When was the last time we did that? There should have been more pressure on the comany the whole time. What a joke
So, we get no contract but we aquire mesaba....seems fair. Keep up the good work guys, the bonuses this year should be real nice for our execs.
Sorry mesaba guys, you've been pinnaclized...be sure to bring that dr's note in if you call in sick....
Like I said before, you guys have a very strong partner with the XJ guys. They do not mess around. They have been through this before and will get the best possible outcome. No one needs to do anything other what they were hired to do. Many XJ guys do what they need to do to get things done and do it very unselfishly. I will give you an example.
In December 2007, XJ released a memo threatening to fire people if they released the brake early as they saw it as pilots stealing money by getting on the clock. XJ pilots followed the rules exactly. Did they stop making an extra couple minutes on every flight.....Yup. But guess what happened to on time performance. It tanked in a very big way because the ramp has never been staffed to actually get everything out on time by the book. Rule repealed immediately.
I suggest 9E guys take the same approach. Will it cost you extra money? Probably. Will it be a pain? Yes it will. But it is the only way management teams will ever learn. We all know corners are cut at both Pinnacle and Colgan and it needs to stop. Fly by the book and take your days off to have some fun. If things are broken, write them up without regard to where you are. Safe taxi speeds at all times and do not drop a brake until everyone (including the ramp) is ready to go. If you need a bathrooms break...take it. If you need to go get food...get food. If you are too tired after 12 hours and they want you to do one more quick turn...call in fatigued. I guarantee you this will start to fix problems. The minute everyone starts to play by the book......it will force management to due the same.
9E pilots have already been caught talking about how they cannot wait to get all the jets so they can upgrade and leave the XJ guys to the props. This is probably the worst attitude anyone could have and they need to be put in place. It will start a bitter war between pilot groups and no one will win. (look at America West and US Air).
By the way, when is 9E going to go public with their contract issues. When was the last time they picketed? I know there was one a year ago. They need people picketing weekly. Sometimes it seems like you guys really don't even want to fight for a good contract.