Read the CBA section 11 M.20

You will find that even if every flex in the company quit tomorrow the powers that be can still force a flex to work as a flex for another 6 months.
Something that was not in the old contract but they put in the new contract for just such a time as this.

 

Six months is not that long. Bail now, the sooner you are out.

 

Well, "if" it's true that the flexes are quitting in mass (it's happened before) and if the tech pilots quit (I bet they do), the company could be in a real hurt locker in short order. Maybe Capt. PC will rethink his SHA (SAVE-HIS-ARSE) strategy?

 

I am a new guy flex and a junior wb capt. I can only hold secondary lines. My pay stinks in the schoolhouse or on the line.
I could quit as an act of solidarity. Quitting in my case would violate several parts of the ALPA code of ethics.
I totally understand why the senior guys would quit. They will enjoy better pay/and or QOL on the line or reserve.
The guys & gals that stay need to say no to draft. Believe it or not, union solidarity in the schoolhouse is pretty strong right now.

 

Excuse my ignorance, but how would resigning, if you so chose, violate the code of ethics?

 

A little bird told me that if the BLG is low for March, quite a few bus flexes are going to bail. That excess bid training will be quite slow with no instructors.

 

Thanks, the other guy beat me to the question. But as a follow up, how does it work? Do they alternate months between sim and line? Do they have rights to displace a line guy off his trip if they want to the line or are there restrictions about when/how he flies the line?

Not trying to start an APC forums riot, just curious about the job as it seems to be mentioned frequently.

Thanks.

 

"I could quit as an act of solidarity"
Good for you! ALPA code of ethics????? Looked high and low in the CBA but couldn't find that one. Is it on the ALPA NAt'l website?? Otherwise; just say you decided for "personal reasons" to do what you want to do.

 

There won't be any shortage of instructors. As I previously mentioned they can force the flexes to train their replacements. I know you are thinking that no line guys would apply for the job and you might be right. The fact of the matter is they would not need to. Management could just say "since none of you line guys want to instruct we will hire all professionals". The company uses the flexes for 6 months to train the new professionals and walah, problem solved. I know that the contract requires all PC, PT's and checkrides to be given by line guys but I'm pretty sure they will find enough guys to stick around to conduct those rides.
The company would love to go to all professionals. It would save them a bunch of money and would just add fuel to the fire of being overmanned.

It is interesting how you want the flexes to show solidarity by quiting because you percieve it would help your cause, but where were you when they got hosed in the section 11 negotiations. The fact of the matter is that the flexes and anyone going thru training or anyone that gets a reserve line is getting hosed by having to work the same number of days for less pay. Where as a line holder is getting less pay but at least they are getting more time off.

Most flexes work very hard to provide you with a smooth, productive, stress free training experience every time you come to the school house. If you think about the consequences of all the flexes quiting and the alternatives that the company could employ. YOU REALLY DON'T WANT THE FLEXES TO QUIT.
I know that when I go thru training I want the best insructor, and the best communicator that can explain things in an easy to understand and easy to remember manner. Not everyone has that skill or capability.

 

Crewroom > About ALPA > Code of Ethics

There you go, I believe United even had it in their FOM although I'm not sure.