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As a reserve I sure am happy to see all that premium time being picked up by all the boys and girls on their days off. Helps my company out during these trying times and I get paid but dont have to go to work. What a win win.......

This pilot group is a joke

Unless we can get this pilot group to stop, we will never earn a market based contract. Our management will only take us seriously when the metal stops moving. We run our reserve system so thin it is ludicrous. There are days upon days with one, maybe two Captain's available to cover an entire base. Yet the hamster keeps spinning the wheel. How? Jack asses picking up and flying extra.
I have not picked up a trip, flown on a day off, sold my vacation, put in for VSA, put in for sick leave make up or picked up a premium for the last 6 years. Nor will I ever do so again.

I had the pleasure of flying a short flight to SEA on Christmas, ~7am departure from our outstation. Minutes before closing, an AS captain runs on, comes up to the flight deck, and proudly mentions that he was deadheading home after having flown down on the 5am departure from SEA and that he had seen "that they [the company] needed a lot of help today, so I figured I'd give 'em a hand!"

On CHRISTMAS! Not like we even get holiday pay here. What kind of PATHETIC ****ing LOSER gives up Christmas morning with his family to go make a couple hundred bucks? And how does that LOSER explain to his wife that instead of enjoying the holiday off with her and his kids, that he's probably waited 20 years to be able to hold, he's going to wake her up at 3am so he can go to work "because they need my help."

Who does he think he is, anyway, that they need HIS help? He isn't Superman, he's just another moron that this company exploits to be able to keep reserve coverage at a bare, cheap, minimum. How does he explain that Alaska Airlines is more important to him than his own FAMILY?

It was at that moment that I lost every lingering modicum of hope in this place ever changing.

Since I am so happy for the help I have been keeping a list for the past 4 years. I have it categorized; 30 and above, 15 to 30 and 0 to 15....I am going to give the 30 and above group a nice card and 15.00 Starbucks cards, the 15 to 30 group get 10.00 Starbucks cards and the slackers will get 5.00 starbucks cards. Since we are not allowed to ever put an item in a pilot V file(against system regulations) I will comail them to the base admins and they will happily do it for me. Of course I am including a little log of each flt/date.

Also going to propose to John Ladner and Scott Day that just like Legend Awards, Flight Operations owes to these ordinary heroes some type of public recognition. Maybe once a month on the pilot webpage a pictoral acknowledgement and maybe a special set of pilot wings once they crack the 30 and above barrier.

What do y’all think?

80%+ and 60%+ morons voted in the last two contracts, 2008 and 2013 respectively. Just by this, it's statistical that trips will be covered whether they are premium, VSA, OT, etc.

I'm no company man but I don't fault people for flying premium trips or picking up OT under normal ops-no one furloughed and/or not in contract negotiations. Majority rules and like it or not, we all agreed to play by these rules. We can't pick and choose the sections of the contract, otherwise we would be just as criminal as the company.

We all knew the greedy offenders during TPA/JCBA. Morally, they were in the wrong but contractually, they were not. I'm one to believe that had OT/premium trips not been covered during JCBA negotiations, we would have a better non-arbitrated JCBA today.
The greedy will never change their ways but who are you to cast the first stone? I find the self righteous types turn out to be the biggest hypocrites and we are all hypocrites. If you want unity, be kind to one another. As the saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

I am glad you see it my way....Really reward the heroic behavior with recognition. And of course it was Contract 09. 2008 was the year we hired and furloughed at the same time.

I always thought it amusing that of all the "legends" on the 2nd floor wall only 2 of them are for actual flying.

You've been keeping a list for 4 years?
Am I the only one that sees what is so wrong with this?

I didn't realize we were in negotiations for the last 4 years.

I'm sure this thread will be exhibit A when the company sues ALPA.

Well, they have been keeping a list too. So we can compare notes and make sure everyone due a Starbucks card gets one...Win win

Who is "they"?

This is absolutely disgusting. What a total pos. This is yet another reason why i call out at departure + 2:01.. Gives these rat vultures less time to help them out and destroy our chances of gaining anything.

Please keep doing this! Not enough time to get a reserve to the airport so they call me. Take my two day and give me your 3 day at premium.

Everyone, anyone, whoever they need “they” to be to solidify their stupid made up story.

Remember we have been in a continuous war since 2001... Each man, head down in your bunker. I have been keeping a list since then. I know everyone. I have you all in a list in alphabetical order... in order of the number of your offenses, and I am handing it over to WikiLeaks.

What a joke! What a bunch of losers. Do you know how nice it is outside? I am on a boat. It’s beautiful, I called in sick for a two day. I hope to hell someone got to pick it up premium. The last six days have been unbelievable. If you are going to give up one of these days it better be at premium or you are a fool. I haven’t worked since May 3rd!

oh wow, you've had the last 6 days off? welcome to life at every other major airline if you so choose to want six consecutive days off....but you had to call out sick. This is because you are a spineless selfish coward who puts the company and your own selfish needs ahead of every pilot you call a "peer." Thanks for bailing out the company, and by doing so they see no purpose in improving our quality of life ie your ability to drop or swap that two day so that you wouldn't have to dishonestly use "sick time". Thanks for your service.

I am actually off tell the 13th. Used one vacation day, one phone call.

"Fly the contract" is the mantra when in negotiations. So, if you don't care for premium pay get the Negotiating Committee to make it a priority for getting it OUT of the contract. But unless you want to give up pay and/or work rules to dump premium language, you can't really criticize those who "fly the contract" to their benefit.

Back in my day we had a super senior Captain who would use sick leave and trips touching training to drop virtually his entire line. Then he would make himself available for VSA on all of his off days. He was the single highest paid pilot at Alaska Airlines. Crew scheduling knew they could call him anytime to pick up flying.

The good news from the rank and file standpoint was if any line pilot got called on the carpet for sick leave abuse all we had to do was take in this Captain's pay records. He was also the reason we put the limitations on VSA scheduling (fly a VSA trip and you're ineligible unless there's no one junior to you with a VSA request) into the contract.

I guess the point is that if its in the contract and a pilot isn't doing anything outside the requirements of the contract then they're not doing anything wrong. "Fly the contract" is a two edged sword.

No no no, at Alaska we are only allowed to fly the minimum, never trade days, and never take advantage of our contracts language. We must be miserable, and understand we are always in contract negotiations. We must then celebrate anyone and everyone at any another company taking advantage of their contract. Maybe even exaggerate their exploitation and plunder.

I get it.....
 

I get it OTZ. Seriously, I totally get where you’re coming from.

Honest question: (I know, it’s rare.) Clearly at some point you found “your lane” for QOL and financial success here at Alaska. It seems by reading your posts, that the formula is some combination of
A. Living in base. B. Taking maximum advantage of the stock purchase plan. C. Not worrying about the contract “failures”, but exploiting those “failures” to the max. You don’t worry about how it affects negotiations. You’re not concerned if it ****es others off. Your position seems to be “Look, we have a weak union, who’s delivered weak contracts, with weak leadership, BUT, if you know how to play the game and live in base, one can carve out a solid
QOL and livelihood.... as long as you spend less time worried about “the union” and focus all your energy on taking care of “you”. Stop worrying about the “collective good”... it’s pointless.

Just curious. Did you come to Alaska with a more let’s say “traditional” union membership philosophy of working together to negotiate and achieve our goals etc, and at some point get disillusioned by Kasher, management infiltration of our union leadership, etc? Or has your philosophy always been, “I don’t worry about the union, negotiations, the next contract, who it benefits, who it doesn’t, etc..... I make it work for ME, to the max.... and if that ****es you off... sorry.... not sorry.”

I’m just asking if cynicism and personal experience with the union and the company shaped your approach.

Again... honest question. You’re certainly not alone in your approach. Prob at least 1/3 of the pilot group agrees with you.

Somebody fired up the Eagle again! 5 in one day! Man is it satisfying to get these messages! If you would like to get them as well, here’s how:

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Let’s not let the spineless dictate the outcome in 2020.

Man it is satisfying to crack open the first Red Stripe of the day... a little early... I was shooting for two but 1:45 that will work. Wife is taking in some sun, kids are out in the kayaks, no one will know it’s not yet 2pm. Is there any place more beautiful on a 80 degree day then the PNW, well maybe Southeast on a 75.

So the same tools that said they were getting relative seniority are at it again. Seems this group has only ever been wrong but I am supposed to listen to them? I have found in life, if you want to be successful, follow successful people. I am pretty sure that means maybe listening to none of these idiots. Everything in their lives is screwed up, to include their financial situation. I think I will continue to watch as they try and blaze a new trail. It’s like a train wreck, it’s hard to look away.

Well time to reapply lotion, enjoy!

In the heart of TPA and JCBA negotiations, both sides were picking up trips left and right. Nothing changed back then, I don’t see anything changing now or in the future. Packrat has a point about flying the contract. It cuts both ways.

We all tend to be machiavellian at heart. I have never voted yes on a contract, I never will. I am already a no vote and I have yet to see the junk they are about to throw at me. We don’t have a union, RLA takes care of that. We have an overpriced social club, dues I gladly pay. I expect nothing, yet am continually let down. With my no vote securely cast, the new contract will still pass with at least 65% approval. When I finally see the next catastrophe, I will pour over it and yes I will devour it for my own benefit. I will share my understandings, few will follow. Then I will be berated for making too much money. They will all label me a selfish company man, with the same breath they will celebrate my contemporaries that do the same as me at DAL and LUV, they parade them as champions

That didn’t really answer my question if this has always been your approach or if it was a response to what you perceived as weak union leadership/negotiations so decided at some point, “Dmn the Union, dmn contract negotiations, dmn this whole unity bs, I’m getting all I can for me.”

I certainly don’t blame you for making the most of the contract we have. To not do so is pretty stupid. And, I get your cynicism toward negotiations here. It seems most long time AS’rs fall into one of three categories, A “Union and negotiations are pointless so, I’m grabbing all I can, all the time.” B. Ambivalent cynicism where ya take what they give you and disengage believing nothing will change, ever... so why even try. C. A remnant of believers that, given the new dynamics of VX’rs, new pilots hired have been a part of winning good contracts, the competition for qualified pilots etc, if we can get 51-60% to unify and fight, we’ve actually got a shot.

I just wondered if you’d always found yourself in A group or that changed over time.,

All this wrangling. Just trying to get recognition for the guys and gals out there keeping the dream alive. Most West Coast all the way. We can do it

I am the most pro union guy as they come and I am ready to take this all the way if it comes down to it, but the LAST thing this pilot group needs, is any talk of a work action on a public forum. Nobody is furloughed, why do we care who picks up open time? I don't do it but I don't care either. When the time comes to care, we should all care, but until then, lets concentrate on the bigger stuff at hand.

PREACH brother!!! 👍🏼👍🏼

That’s the problem. When it was time to care, when the company was dragging their feet through JCBA negotiations and clearly negotiating in bad faith, we had pilots tripping over themselves to pickup premium. Several were so brazen and careless that they were called out by other pilots. Only to be backed by the union in a “hostile work environment” claim that nearly made it to court. The union won’t support any action like this, even if it’s during negotiations, so don’t wait around for approval.

And don’t worry about APC being an organization point for a work action suit. It’s the same 15 angry jackoffs on here all the time. I’m sure they have a file a mile thick back at angle lake just waiting for some hairbrained actions to trigger disciplinary hearings.

The hostile work environment issue is true. And if you don' t think the Company monitors this board, think again. In fact, there are probably AS pilots forwarding critical posts to HR.

Again, absolutely true. And if you stumble ONCE, you can forget about Alaska's so called "progressive discipline." If you're a target they'll go right to the TERMINATION card. Hopefully, you'll have enough seniority to retire rather than get fired.

I don't pick up open time by choice because I think it creates a false economy for the company. That is my personal choice. I can't fault somebody for picking up open time, even during negotiations. Everyone's life situation is different. What I will say, is that this company throws spaghetti at the walls to see what sticks. Every time they are bailed out of poor planning, min manning(or womaning), and being completely reactive instead of proactive, the company is vilified in not doing things the way they should, that includes people picking up a bunch of open time, extending, and coming in before their show time because the company illegally reassigns etc etc. No good deed goes unpunished, and we are never taken care of on the back end, for going above and beyond the contract.

Open time isn't the issue, its people afraid to fly the contract, that is the major issue...

Yep. Ask the Spirit guys how that worked out for them.

Should we compare their CBA to ours?

What does comparing CBAs have to do with anything? Certain NK pilots on APC were stupid enough to actually call out people picking up open time and telling others to stop picking up premium and open trips. That is illegal, you're constructing a work action. The dumbest move someone made at NK was a website with a list of pilots that picked up open time. Now you're asking to be fired and sued.

Looks like some AK pilots wanna do the same thing. Then again if the majority of AK pilots paid attention to the industry, they would remember what Spirit went through and not post this crap publicly, and they would also realize how severely behind a half way decent CBA we are...

I thought that Spirit pilots had “quid” coming to them from Mgmt for some future cashing....

Have the “Fun Credits” expired? If so....those were so many good times!

Oh boy... Political correctness off the rails...🥴