990Convair

Ok, I have heard from 3 independent sources that the bid is supposed to be posted any day now.

BG spoke in recurrent and said "250 crews - 125 captains".

What are your thoughts on this? It's not in my standing bid, but I was told that crew-planning pulled the standing bids and (yes, many have it in their bids) the bid will not go below seniority number 800 on the master list.

Discuss.

DiamondZ

Well guess we know how the senior bubbas feel about not having the 777 on their standing bid.

Good support for the union

nightfreight

First of all, I do not have 777 in my standing bid.

However, it doesn't bother me that others do. We all know it will go senior. Instead of dividing us once again, let's accept the fact that pilots will bid the 777 and move on. Rates will be set after arbitration whether we bid it or not. I think we are setting ourselves up for more division if we take a hard line stance.

If the company needs to alter our work rules to fly this aircraft, then we have some negotiating capital. If they want A-380 type rules (in the CBA now), they can pay A-380 rates. The -777 rates will be set by arbitration, but the duty limitations will not. There will need to be an LOA to alter our contract to change our work rules. I hope we take no work rule concessions unless they pay the higher rate. If they don't need the CBA altered, then arbitration rates apply and we can try and readdress this issue next time.

Busboy

Now, that's a definite concession...Half of the crews won't require a Capt?

Gunter

If you were the NC Chair you would get fired for that kind of talk!

I'm guessing you aren't on the short list for a NC interview.

nightfreight

Gunter,

Yeah, definitely on the short list. Just trying to be a realist here. We can't get guys to stop flying disputed pairings. I don't think we'll get 250 people to pull the -777 off their standing bid.

Some people have it in for the company for bringing this to arbitration. I don't. It's a smart move by them. The rate will fall somewhere in between widebody and -777. Why would they agree to pay the maximum? This is just business....

Now if they want -380 work rules or any alteration of our current rules, we can readdress these pay rates. No -380 rates, no LOA. Remember, it's just business....

Gunter

The realist in me says those in charge want to maintain our "good working relationship" with the company by coming to agreement without inviting in arbitrators and standing our ground.

What does the past tell you?

FR8Hauler

Good. Let them bid it. If they are crazy enough to subject themselves to another training program for no extra pay and 16+hour flights then go for it. Moves them off our senority list.

FlyByNyte

It doesn't divide us to remove the 777 from your standing bid. It was pulled but open again now. It will send the wrong messge to the company if you keep 777 in your bid. Why should we do it for free. We are talking about ULR, and a heavier aircraft than the 11. Sure it's not a super heavy--but the schedules and training will feel like it.

Now I agree, based on the last bids, that even if we all pull it...it will get bid.

Gunter

Even with a sub-standard LOA guys bid HKG. Does someone have hope the 777 won't get bid? Please explain.


The key to success for any 777 negotiation gains lies in our front line leaders. The NC and MEC.

Guys will bid it. And, no, it's not showing the company our hand by realizing that. It is illegal for the union to tell guys not to bid it. That would be self help and we are not authorized it on this issue at this time. In a way it's just us being the good employees that we are.

But that doesn't mean the union doesn't have a legal footing to ask for more and can't gain something from arbitration. Especially with the new FAA rules.

Perhaps "we" don't want arbitration because "we" want to do it for less than we can get????