The side meeting with MG was, frankly, pointless. He played the idiot who claims he has no idea what's going on within his own company. Do you really believe he has no idea what's going on?

From what I understand, it was laid out to him why people are upset, and really how ****ed off people are now. I don't know if he will believe it over his own cronies or not, but it certainly won't hurt to let him know that everyone is ready to go on strike.

 

MG is an extremely wealthy, insulated and somewhat detached business man. He doesn't care if employees are happy or not. He cares about the shareholders. Want MG's attention? talk about what matters to MG: whatever affects his stock price (strike plans, unrealistic growth expectations, etc).

If we can successfully tie verifiable facts and figures (attrition, recruiting shortfalls) to what we want (competitive contract), we have a decent shot. If not, we will eventually (probably) strike. Complaining about morale is a waste of time. As a business man, MG lives within the laws of supply, demand and competitive market forces. Although he has even admitted in RGS that his compensation is not competitive, he's in no hurry until it directly affects his operation (like now...). As to the less tangible issues, such as dues checkoff, soft costs, etc, he must be made aware this pilot group is willing and ready to strike. I'm told he knows that now.

In last fall's COM 1, MG admitted to removing himself from the operation. To cover their a$$, his cronies were likely telling MG it was all the FAA's fault, but he's reportedly asking a lot of questions suddenly and shaking things up at corporate. Whatever the case, the current chaotic operational (expensive) mess and massive turnover must be causing MG to re-think his options. JMO

 

Perhaps I'm missing the gist here, but this starts out by saying the side meeting with MG was pointless but then finishes by saying it certainly won't hurt to let him know everyone is ready to go on strike. If it helps, I'm told MG was fully briefed on the pilot group's intention to strike.

 

You mean like flying a 757 from Las Vegas to Atlanta with an unnecessary fuel stop in Arkansas, and back to Las Vegas........empty both ways. Is that what you mean?!

 

How many former TWA folks are still at Allegiant and more importantly.......why are you still there? There's a bigger paycheck calling for you at American!

 

The point is that he comes in and acts all surprised about how unhappy people are, and that he doesn't know about the TDY base, the junior upgrades, or anything else that is going on. From what I've been told by someone else in management, he has been made aware for a long time about how unhappy people are, the current and upcoming rate of attrition, the fact they are having a hard time finding people they feel are "qualified" to work here, and the fact there will be a shortage of people to work here unless there are a lot of changes made.

He knows what's happening here. He just doesn't care. As long as the stock price remains high, nothing else matters.

If he hears this from a pilot he "trusts," maybe it will help, or maybe it won't. Who knows. While I feel the whole meeting was pointless, if he is bombarded with the same information from a variety of people, maybe he will finally listen.

Just like Levy saying he doesn't understand one of the contract proposals, if they would bother to ever show up for negotiations, it might make a difference in their understanding. Apparently, their flunkies are doing a good job explaining it to them.

 

Well say what you will but I personally feel that the downward spiral of the last two years has been the best thing that ever happened to Allegiant.

By making everyone's life miserable from top to bottom they have ensured a strike vote and a good contract. That would have been impossible if they kept the old regime in charge. They would have been smart enough to keep the upper guys happy and on and on we would have gone.

How many times have you heard a super senior captain telling a common story to all the rest of us but they are just incredulous that it happened to them? "They junior manned me. Me! Where's that Teamster lanyard?"

So a big thank you to GB and KB for bringing the pain. We couldn't have done it without you.

 

Apparently MG is saying he will attend the next negotiation. I'll believe it when it happens, but if he does, it'll be another indication that he's becoming more aware if his deteriorating situation.

 

Hopefully, the Airline Division is serious. However, in the past, they've only proven to be really serious about collecting dues. Hopefully, all this Internet strike talk is more than a couple guys' bluster.

When it all comes down to it will your pilot group fold like a house of cards in a tornado? That's the honest question you have to ask yourselves. Do you have enough of a majority who are willing to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. How deep are your personal pockets vs. Allegiant's?

On top of all that, how long will it be before you're even released to self-help.

 

He'd better attend the VERY next negotiation. When your pilots are ready to strike YESTERDAY and your operation is on the verge of collapse, time is of the essence. I've been told by several different sources that the mediator is getting impatient with the games that the company is playing.