Let's get ready to rumble!!!
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: Left, right & center
Posts: 764
Brad killed the HIMS program because of control. If a pilot were to have drug or alcohol problems, and get Alaska Airlines on the 5 O'clock news, he wants to be able to fire the pilot on the spot and remove the problem immediately for damage control. Image control above all else.
He shows me the text and I see that it's Ben asking for an update on how much orange was out there. This was around 0700 on a Friday and the most important thing on Ben's mind was how many orange lanyards were in the terminal. Image above all else.
The only things these guys care about is image and the metal moving (preferably on time). If the metal stops moving, they pay attention in a hurry. If the image is in any way tarnished, they move like their hair is on fire.
I'm still hoping to get hired at Alaska for various reasons (although the clock is rapidly running out on that option), but I'm just not that excited about it anymore, and I'm not really trying that hard. After last year's meet & greet/promise to call "in the next few weeks" and subsequent unceremonious round-filing of the call list, I've sort of had it with them, and just don't much care.
#22
It's not that they expect to find the most qualified candidates there. It's because they need to show how committed they are to diversity and finding a new face for their next advertisement/PR event/web site/whatever.
I'm still hoping to get hired at Alaska for various reasons (although the clock is rapidly running out on that option), but I'm just not that excited about it anymore, and I'm not really trying that hard. After last year's meet & greet/promise to call "in the next few weeks" and subsequent unceremonious round-filing of the call list, I've sort of had it with them, and just don't much care.
I'm still hoping to get hired at Alaska for various reasons (although the clock is rapidly running out on that option), but I'm just not that excited about it anymore, and I'm not really trying that hard. After last year's meet & greet/promise to call "in the next few weeks" and subsequent unceremonious round-filing of the call list, I've sort of had it with them, and just don't much care.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,883
That, I have come to believe, is a very true statement about Alaska and, sadly, a lot of airlines in general. And it bugs the heck out of me. I believe it's the reason that hiring has become heavily HR-driven with less pilot group input. It's the reason that the identity group annual meetings (WAI, NGPA, OBAP, and whatever else is out there) have become such big recruiting events. It's not that they expect to find the most qualified candidates there. It's because they need to show how committed they are to diversity and finding a new face for their next advertisement/PR event/web site/whatever.
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,281
What is stupid is that the majors never went to whatever the generic career fair was.. aero crew or something like that, yet every year they didn’t go to aero crew (this is back when hiring was more difficult), they still went to all the minority events. That is why most of us have a sour taste in our mouth about these career fairs and having had to join the organization and pay money to attend. It’s not because we think 3000 women aviation’s are going to come replace us at Alaska.
And before you say we didn’t have to pay or attend the minority career fairs, you’re right, we didn’t.
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,883
You probably haven’t had to do a career fair in a while, so you’re probably unfamiliar with how ridiculous it is/was from both a time and money point of view. In this market you have to join various organizations that you don’t care about to hope to get some face time with the recruiters.. I was a member of WAI and OBAP and don’t care about either of them. If airlines only wanted the most qualified candidate then an online application would be fine, however I get it.. they want more. They want to know what kind of person you are, if you care about yourself and your appearance, can carry a conversation, etc.. all things that you can tell from a 15 min meet and greet conversation.
What is stupid is that the majors never went to whatever the generic career fair was.. aero crew or something like that, yet every year they didn’t go to aero crew (this is back when hiring was more difficult), they still went to all the minority events. That is why most of us have a sour taste in our mouth about these career fairs and having had to join the organization and pay money to attend. It’s not because we think 3000 women aviation’s are going to come replace us at Alaska.
And before you say we didn’t have to pay or attend the minority career fairs, you’re right, we didn’t.
What is stupid is that the majors never went to whatever the generic career fair was.. aero crew or something like that, yet every year they didn’t go to aero crew (this is back when hiring was more difficult), they still went to all the minority events. That is why most of us have a sour taste in our mouth about these career fairs and having had to join the organization and pay money to attend. It’s not because we think 3000 women aviation’s are going to come replace us at Alaska.
And before you say we didn’t have to pay or attend the minority career fairs, you’re right, we didn’t.
#26
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2018
Position: Q,
Posts: 72
I work at Alaska's red-headed stepchild, so pardon me for asking things that might be obvious to Alaska pilots. I thought that Alaska management had reached some accommodation with the Alaska pilots regarding the new uniforms. Do you mean to say that Alaska management is just ignoring your contract and forcing the new uniforms on the pilots and other work groups?
Horizon is supposed to roll out the new uniforms later this year. I haven't heard an exact date, but we have to order our stuff by the end of August. The company is providing us with only a basic uniform kit - no outerwear. Our union has filed a grievance stating that the pilots should not be required to pay for their own jackets or parkas.
I'd appreciate an update from the Alaska pilots. Thanks!
Horizon is supposed to roll out the new uniforms later this year. I haven't heard an exact date, but we have to order our stuff by the end of August. The company is providing us with only a basic uniform kit - no outerwear. Our union has filed a grievance stating that the pilots should not be required to pay for their own jackets or parkas.
I'd appreciate an update from the Alaska pilots. Thanks!
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: Left, right & center
Posts: 764
#28
Bottom line, for folks who dont read their ALPA emails.....until the union has APPROVED the uniform....DO NOT GET FIT FOR THE NEW UNIFORM!!!
I'm super proud to see how the overwhelming majority of airbus and boeing pilots are unified on this. This will not be the last time that our Unity gets tested by management......you can count on it!
KEEP ENGAGED!!!!......write to your reps.....ask questions to P2P ambassadors.....STAY INFORMED!!!
I'm super proud to see how the overwhelming majority of airbus and boeing pilots are unified on this. This will not be the last time that our Unity gets tested by management......you can count on it!
KEEP ENGAGED!!!!......write to your reps.....ask questions to P2P ambassadors.....STAY INFORMED!!!
#30
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Posts: 66
Bottom line, for folks who dont read their ALPA emails.....until the union has APPROVED the uniform....DO NOT GET FIT FOR THE NEW UNIFORM!!!
I'm super proud to see how the overwhelming majority of airbus and boeing pilots are unified on this. This will not be the last time that our Unity gets tested by management......you can count on it!
KEEP ENGAGED!!!!......write to your reps.....ask questions to P2P ambassadors.....STAY INFORMED!!!
I'm super proud to see how the overwhelming majority of airbus and boeing pilots are unified on this. This will not be the last time that our Unity gets tested by management......you can count on it!
KEEP ENGAGED!!!!......write to your reps.....ask questions to P2P ambassadors.....STAY INFORMED!!!
Sounds a lot like "Wear your "ALPA Approved" Orange Lanyards... until don't. No Backbone. The title of this whole thread made me giggle. If only it had any merit with this group.
Sorry to be the pessimist... I use to hold out hope for change... now I'm just one of "them".
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