That is the Companies #1 MO, and it is playing out perfectly....as always.

It only works when it is allowed.

And it wouldn't work without help.

Yes........we are getting paid less and so should the MEC leaders. Period. If they need to work less to be paid less, then that's fine. If they're not happy with that......they can resign. They won't of course. They have a great deal (even with lower pay) and they wouldn't ever quit on their own.

Why not set a structure such as this.
MEC will get RLG plus a certain number of hours (lets say 20hrs). When RLG is 72 they would get 20 hours per month to equal 92 hours. When RLG is 91 they would get 20 hours per month to equal 111. They get 1180hrs per year (4- 5 week months, 8 - 4 week months). That's better than 98 hrs per every month. But since we're a RLG low it would drop them down as well - but same amount of work days. Same as a reserve guy, Flex, mgmt.
If we go to the 48/60 the extra hours would go to 10 rather than 20. They're still getting paid more than the line dog but not some extravagant amount. As the words of THE DW come to mind... "It's the right thing to do."

I think the housing allowance is a crock... If a MEC officer needs a place to stay - let him do what all commuters do - it's called a crash pad. I'd probably not feel so strongly about this but since the MEC's thought's on HKG's housing allowance was so pathetic, what's good for the goose is good for the MEC.

That is a great idea, but I'm sure he would come up with some scripture that would prevent him from doing it. Besides, he wouldn't listen to us anyway.

I hate to get away from all of the MEC bashing and return to the question at hand, but here is what I got out of the "O's" talk the other evening.

1. Volumes are at levels not seen in 10 years, but with much different system form (we are set for a more international vice domestic staffing)
2. 757 production issues are largely resolved. They are still planning on purchasing the full complement of a/c (87 I believe).
3. 777 posting should happen in the Oct/Nov (ish) timeframe. There is a potential it could be staffed at 20 crews / plane (still in negotiations). In the spring of 2010 they are anticipating needing 250 or so pilots to staff 777.
4. The recent problems with the training letters are due to interpretation issues between the company and union and are currently being addressed.
5. Early retirement has / is being looked at. Right now the beancounters do not feel it is currently worth pursuing.
6. Depending on who talk to, the "O" said we are somewhere between 200 and 500 folks fat. He wouldn't specifically give a number so he tap danced on this question a bit.
7. The letter of intent for a 135 certificate has been sent to the FAA. Both certs will be maintained (121 for charters). Expect 135 in the middle of next year.
8. The 10 will be shut down completely after peak and probably by February (ish). There might be some guys in limbo after the 10 stops flying and before they have a training slot.
9. The airline 'cannot operate at the contract BLG minimums.'
10. They do not plan to furlough (barring anything 'catastrophic'). In 12 to 18 months they are going to need everybody so they are pursuing other staffing models. Specifically, he said that 08-03 was canceled so that they could work with the union on options that aren't specifically address in the CBA (carryover). These options are currently being negotiated. There will be another excess posting that will have less impact on the crew force.
11. 16 310's are being parked or returned to the leasing companies.
12. The "O" said he reads these boards so I would just like to tell him hello.

There were a few other things, but that is all I can remember. Hope that helps. Now back to the MEC chat.

Cheers,
Beertini

Thanks for the update. I hadn't heard about a 135 certificate application. What is the purpose of that and how would it affect our ops?

That's funny---I don't care who you are.
 

Now that's funny!

O's meeting
 

i was at the meeting too....very good recap, you beat me to it.

gotta say too, O was very forthright with info. he (in my opinion) was giving us the scoop as he knew it. i especially liked how he stated that even though a few on the seniority list might want to "whack" a couple hundred off the bottom to protect "their" blg's, this wasn't going to happen.

very good news to those on the bottom of our seniority list.

i guess at least our chief pilot is looking out for them, dw sure isn't.

thanks O

(since you do read this ;))