Originally Posted by
gatorbird
Ram, looks like I owe you an apology. I wasn't aware that I was to drop what I was doing with my kid, family, friends, and trips out of town on getaways to counter your points within a constrained amount of time. I'll try to do better.
Sarcasm aside, some of us are not glued to a laptop to offer up detailed posts. I get on here and read (and post as of late) on MY time, not yours. Get past the self-centeredness, man!
To answer your earlier question: coming up on 10-year ALPA member status, thank you. Therefore I understand that your status rep. is your primary point of contact. That said, are you really so timid that you can't email or call up your scheduling chair/negotiations chair/whoever chair? These guys are volunteers and don't mind answering the phone and taking a question. Our pilot group and it's volunteers aren't that formal...
As for the ALPA trip drop list: who have you contacted within the MEC? What was their answer? It's not something I've ever been very concerned with, but if you are- and if it is a required posting- then why not just request it? Sounds fair to me, and I'll agree with you; if it's required and if there is ONE guy that wants to see it, then by all means...
As for the "MEC trying to reach into pilots' pockets": What does the contract say about move up pay? That's what I expect the company to follow and what I expect the MEC to ensure they do. The CBA is the CBA; you can't pick and choose those areas you wish to enforce and those you choose to ignore. Compliance is compliance. Period.
Don't worry GB, you will get used to the 24 hour news cycle, until then, please, enjoy your family, because when all this ALPA stuff is done, that's all you have - and that's a good thing. (Then you can post b-lists about the then current admin)
FWIW, no one in the MEC wants to answer about the FPL log. Every time it comes up, it goes away. It's required and it is not published. The reason may be a good sub-topic for an AMES message. As for formality, it all depends on who you are. My number has been black listed from even the most apolitical committee members. I'm sure they like taking your calls, but its not so for many of us. THAT'S WRONG!
As far as what does the CBA say? Well, if the company needs a trip filled, and I have the option of filling it; then I don't see the problem with the company throwing an extra C-Note at me to fill the trip. As long as I'm not taking the cash from another member (sorry, pilots not yet hired don't count), then I'm good with it. I like the people I work with, I am friends with many of them, but in the end, I fly airplanes for the cash, so I can enjoy my time with my family/friends (again, some of which work here).
This isn't a social experiment, like the MEC would like to profess. The MEC's aim to limit the furlough during the off season strategy is severely flawed and should be fixed. Unfortunately, they have Obamanomics on the brain, and will not accept input from anyone of unlike mind.
Since no one will get back to me, please look into the REQUIREMENT to publish trip drops, and the reason why the SPA MEC refuses to comply with ALPA policy. If I understood why, then maybe I could let go.
If you feel REALLY energetic, why not contact ARM and get him to post why he feels its okay to ride the gravy train while the rest of us settle in an min guarantee. He is a computer kind of dude, and I'm sure he is a member here.
As for picking and choosing, the MEC has always had a tool to insure proper staffing. They haven't used it. EVER! Yet they try to force staffing through the back door, via deep sixing the 150% for overtime, clamping down on move-up pay, enforcing the limit on 200% JRM pay (even though it is IMPOSSIBLE to be JRM'd at Spirit). This is ludicrous, either they are properly staffed or not. If they are not properly staffed, then file a grievance and go to arbitration. These guys would rather bust in the back door, by limiting pilot pay, than walk through the front door, which is wide open. It's a slam dunk, but the MEC would rather bust in the back door. I don't understand! I'm not a an astronaut, but I still can't wrap my brain around what these guys are doing.
Please, talk to your MEC and get back to the rest of us that they will not answer.
Thanks,
-PR