I've heard some numbers thrown around recently concerning the LOA...predictions about what the Yes/No vote is looking like. Has anybody been solicited by the union as part of an official poll or does anyone know of one being given?

 

Obviously if ACP's are lurking these halls, it's not going to be a landslide victory like our Contract was (not because of its merits by the way).

 

The more senior captains I talk too, the more oblivios I see that they are. They are still in the the "my union speaks for me" mindset, and are not reading what they are putting out.

I think it is going to pass because of this, and the laziness of the crew force to actually read the LOA and figure out just how it will impact the "entire" crew force, not just those who desire to go abroad.

HJ

 

During my recent Asia trip, everyone indicated they were voting against it because the compensation is way under par, no education benefit, terrible move package, and STV.

On the other hand, I know a few who are voting yes because they won't bid it anyway and feel they're too senior to have STV impact them.

The vast majority however, are saying a big NO.

 

My biggest fear is that it just squeeks by; 50.01% vote "YES" because it most likely won't affect them. As I mentioned before, I have already heard numbers thrown around and was wondering if there was any validity to them. Most likely not, as they seemed pretty extreme.

 

My biggest hope is it squeeks by 50.01% vote and nobody, and I mean nobody bids it. See how long FDAs last when you have to resort to STV for your entire manning and how successful they are with continual turnover and pilots with no desire to be there. Imagine the Captain or F/O who flys the MEM-ATL flight every month, getting shipped to China. His frist question will be what are meters? You need pilots at the FDAs that are willing to stay for the FDAs to be successful. For those in the military, imagine running an AOR when units deploy every 30 or even 90 days in and out. Every ninety days you lose all your experience.

Remember, they have had problem filling SFS in the past, and that is a financial windfall for pilots (Houses w/ maids, cooks, and gardners, 80K tax free, 50 cent beers, etc). Imagine trying to sell HKG. Cost of Living doubles or triples to what you were used to, SARS, three hour taxi rides to and from work (w/ immigration in between each), etc. Should be an easy sell, especially with the LOA in place.

 

On top of that - imagine asking the Sheraton to pony up about 50 extra rooms for 3 months at a time - at the discount rate!

 

I would guess there will be no lack of captain bidders, and so STV's would be at a minimum. FO's on the other hand... That will be ugly.

 

59% will favor.

41% will oppose.

70% will vote.

 

For god's sakes, I hope Lippy will be dead wrong.

Please reverse those numbers...