CaptainMark

OK...the LOA fails and the company opens up both bases and all positions are filled....what next...recall???? there was supposed to be a recall for the age 60 deal...where is that?...do we pat ourselves on the back or what?...do we run around and say "we showed them!"?...all the while both bases are making big bucks for the company...this is getting interesting to say the least...

FDXLAG

Or we pass the LOA and none of the 1st officer seats are filled. That leaves 2 years of STV while they spin up the purple eggroll or purple escargo program. Do we reward the NC with 4 more years?

CaptainMark

your prediction might be right as far as CDG fo's but remember the bid will include a mem 75 base...those guys will do STV or go on draft...company wins again because of US

MaxKts

If it just business as JL stated and to be done at the least expense why an LOA in the first place? The company needed something otherwise they would have just opened a bid for the two FDA's. Let the cards fall and see if this is it or will the company come back to the table. Haven't they been talking about opening a European domicile for a couple of years but could not work out the tax issues. After visiting CAN everyone, including the company reps, realized that no one in their right mind would agree to living in that rat-hole without some serious compensation. The company lets the NC say lets look at HKG and then can say we are giving you something.

Negotiations are like buying a house, take the asking price and deduct a minimum of 20% to start your offer, except in this case you add. According to what the MEC has told us, the company came with their LOA and basically said take it or leave it - it was their final offer. That is not a negotiation.

The LOA offers no enhancements in my simple minded view and therefore we can live without it. If enough people are so inclined to bid it after the LOA fails then we have shown the company we are as dumb as they thought we are and they are right - we don't have any special skills.

On a side note - I did like the part where JL mentioned that 727FE's may be able to hold WB Capt if this is shot down. Is he trying to get it to fail

CaptainMark

here is my problem..for those who were here...

contract....we r going to strike....company offers 200%...they win


postal contract....BC wants entire contract renegotiated....we lose 2 days of draft pay per month and get 2 additional days of work on our lines anyway( at straight pay)...they win


disputed pairings...they win(look at the bus bidpack)


FDA LOA..?


it is so hard to trust this crewforce and union..

Check 6

Mark,

The past is always an indicator for the future, but so what. I will not vote for a LOA that will not provide for me and my "choice" of families a middle class living in any FDA. I truely believe that if the CO could have opened these w/o a LOA or hired foreign pilots they would have.

But scare tactics will not work.......

I can not control what the CO may or may not do, I can only control my vote.

Daniel Larusso

CMark,

Your sources are obviously better than mine(none!), but logically how big could any MEM 757 base really be in the next few years? The company already has said that the first 8 birds are going to CDG by Dec. 08 and if you believe the people at the meetings it will be the first 17 birds. According to the -10 excess bid, we won't even have 16 of them in 3 years so where are the MEM planes coming from. Seems like MEM 757 may just a formality initially to get the requisite LCA/flex people to be sent over either voluntarily or involuntarily. Perhaps the 777 will be the same way since it's hard to believe we really need 2 bases for such a small fleet.

Albief15

Mark,

Here is the difference:

Guys fly at 200%--they make money. (hurts unity but helps individual)

Postal contract--guys lose but they wanted MORE MONEY. (see the theme)

DPs--guys fly them...(hurts unity but helps individual)

So--we have proven guys will blow off union's wishes to make more money.

Now then--this LOA--does NOT make guys money. Subic guys lose tax advantage and lower Q of life. Guys going to CDG may make more money on paper, but higher cost of living wipes out many/most of those advantages. So--amazingly enough--now we have unity (mostly). This is because this LOA is a BAD DEAL for most of the crew force financially.

So--that is why the crewforce you say you cannot trust is so united--its in their individual and collective interests to say "NO". In most of your examples, it was in their individual interest even if it hurt the collective group.

As far as what to do about your leaderhip? Suggest we focus on LOA first, then let chips fall where they may. There is plenty of time this fall to pursue new block reps, followed by new MEC leaders. However, you need to know the back story and who is trying to help your cause before you just start shooting. However--a quick snapshot of the correspondence from some of the reps is probably a good place to start.

CaptainMark

Here is where i think you are wrong...it does make guys money! how about the SO who becomes WB FO or NB CPT or the WB FO who becomes WB CPT..etc.etc.....i think we are all hoping noone bids this if it's voted down...that's where i think we lose...all these spots will be filled!...i have been saying this all along..maybe i could be wrong, but in every case we end up killing each other in the end....we will see...

MaxKts

If it is so easy to fill all these spots, then why did we just have a purple nugget program ANC is much easier to swallow than HKG and the company couldn't even fill all the ANC slots from within!