42GO

The facts are that OUR management has little or no authority to do almost anything, and that includes Jack, except run day to day operations. Decisions that we are concerned about are made, sorry to say, much higher than them.
So they get most of the blame with very little authority.
As far as the handspanking, there are a ton of guys that have done some of the dumbest stuff over the years they should have been gone multiple times over. Just ask someone who knows.
And I don't think you'll find any of them on this website.

TonyC

I'm sorry, but that excuse is old and tired, and we're not so dumb that we'll fall for it. Why does he participate in Negotiations if he has no function? To whom does he provide his expertise and advice? The fact that he sits on the OTHER side of the table speaks volumes to me, and it should to you. If you can't get that, it's because you CHOOSE to be blind.


Yeah, like the decision that you shouldn't be parking in the Out & Back lot if you're dragging a suitcase.


Tell me - - is he "in touch" with the real line pilot?!?!? How many Out & Backs have you flown where you trusted the airplane, the weather, the system form, and scheduling so much that you didn't carry a bag with toothpaste and clean underwear? HUH? Making such a statement betrays just how LITTLE he knows about what we do every day.



Cry me a river. Who has the authority to fire a pilot? HIM



Yeah, ask the Flex Instructor who saved an engine, and whom Jack had fired (from the Training Department) because the Captain's feelings were hurt. He was fired as a Flex before Jack ever even spoke with him. Jack had to change his mind once the Flew was given an audience.



I'm sure it makes you feel good, and patriotic, and loyal to stick up for him. However, your defense of him rings hollow. Whatever favor he did for you in the past, I don't know. I'll bet you a dime to a dollar, though, he saw it as being in HIS best interest. Remember, he volunteered to do this job. He makes the choice every day to stay in this job. He can choose to be the Company's man, or he can choose to be the pilots' advocate. As long as he chooses the former, I have no sympathy for him.




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USNFDX

Sorry Tony,
I'm going to call BS on this one. Jack is a good guy in a tough position. I don't always agree with everything he says or does (particulary his eulogy of Cheever), but his heart in the right place. We could, and have had, much much worse.

There are always 3 sides to every story. No matter where you go, you're going to have to deal with the 2% that make the other 98% look bad. Unfortanetly Jack spends 98% of his time dealing with that 2%.

Our lack of a contract has zero to do with Jack. He is not negotiating against us. He is merely there to "clarify" issues for both sides.

Tony,

You are getting way to emotional. It's just business. They are playing their cards exactly the way they are supposed to. I, like you, have decided they have playing this game to long, so I am no longer helping them! 100% no more. I encourage others likewise.

It's easy to use Jack as scapegoat....maybe it will make you feel better...but it wouldn't change anything. Life's short.

MD11Fr8Dog

Yea, but while he was wiping his mouth after that eulogy, he gave it to Cassell up the rear!!

I use to feel pretty much like Tony, until Jack spent 4 days with us in ALA (I have another long story about that trip as I lost my passport somewhere between ALA and CDG - guess who the Capt was - Capt Clepto!! ) in Nov 2 yrs ago. Jack bought lots of beers and dinners and told lots of 2 percenter stories. You are correct, he spends the bulk of his time playing Wack-A-Mole with the 2 percenters that keep sticking there heads up above the radar!

Also, Jack is a horrible bowler!

Albief15

Jan 05 I got a little quality time with JL as he asked about the Emerald Coast business--we met in his office on my 40th birthday (whoopee!)

I layed out what we do...and more importantly what we don't do...and he seemed to take it at face value. I never got told to "stop", but he did ask to make sure certain lines were not crossed. I've held up my end (everything he asked prior I complied with anyway....) and never heard another peep. I came away respecting his direct manner and the fact he (at least appeared) listen to me.

All I can say is that if I was a widebody capt you'd better be paying me about 250-300% of whatever the highest guy was making to make me even consider the job. I WANT our CPs, FLEXs, and LCAs to get rich...so we attract the RIGHT guys for the job verses some Barney Fife who just wants a little power.

On the other hand--we all know what the union's job is--to protect our jobs and increase our Q of life. Jack's got a tough job--but by definition he isn't there to be your buddy--he's there to represent the company's interests. As long as you understand who's paying his salary, I think you can understand his position at times. He isn't paid X dollars to be your bro, he's paid to make sure the trips are covered with safe, legal pilots. Period. Anything else he does for US is gravy. I don't expect him to cross the street to help me. (On a personal note...he might...seems like a decent enough guy). That is why I pay union dues. When I call David at contract enforcement, or have a question--I KNOW when I call ALPA they are there to help. Say what you want--but my 2% is CHEAP compared to the info and help those guys provide. So--in summary--I like Jack. I think he's doing the best he can. But even if he isn't--just do your job like the professional you are. If you have an issue, there is a whole team of folks there to help you out...and there isn't any ambiguity as to who is or isn't on your side.

captain_drew

When did Bruce die?!

DANG. .I missed breaking out the Champagne !!

Bitme

My take is most of them are decent guys if not a little bit misguided as to their loyalties. I'd trust them a lot more if it was on record that they'd never cross a picket line. What's so hard about that statement? They'd be "reassigned", that's what, so that tells you exactly where they're coming from.

TonyC

Business? Why, yes - - that's what I said in the first post.

They? Of course THEY are playing THEIR cards the way THEY are supposed to. Just understand that HE is part of THEY.


Perhaps MD11Fr8Dog's analogy of Wack-A-Mole is too accurate. The object of that game is to Whack as fast as you can - - speed is the object - - quick reaction time - - reflexes. Perhaps he's developed such a talent that he feels like he can whack before he asks. That's how the Flex I spoke of earlier was treated. Perhaps he feels he doesn't have time to ask questions before he aims and fires.

I don't know - - I won't pretend to know what motivates him. I can only judge by the product he produces.


Yesterday I mentioned that he said we shouldn't be dragging suitcases from the Out & Back lot, as if this was some kind of dead giveaway that we weren't actually flying a Out & Back. Well, apparently he received some feedback, and he issued a "correction" to his guidance. The trouble is, the correction is still misguided. Quote: "Suitcases would never
be a criteria for towing anyone…but might evoke a question." A question? What kind of a question? A question from whom?

Why would dragging a suitcase from the Out & Back lot make someone subject to questioning?



Well, USNFDX, I apologize if I gave the impression of being emotional about him in any way. Perhaps I used too many punctuation marks, I don't know. In my opinion, he's working for them, and not us, and that's perfectly fine. I really don't begrudge him for making that decision. I think it's important to be clear on that issue - - you know, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I consider his emails to be entertainment, and nothing more.


I just thought it was ironic that he offered a nugget of truth in that particular comedy piece.



Enjoy your time off.

Don't answer the phone.

Don't check VIPS.


Make it quality time.





Two Years is TOO Long.



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TonyC

[Besty Monty Python accent]

He's not dead yet.

[/Best Monty Python accent]


He's moved on, in a manner of speaking. I saw him the other day in the Greenway Training Center cafeteria. According to a fellow student who exchanged words with him from adjacent urinals, he's still on the payroll until next May. Until then, he's offering his expertise to his successor in an orderly transition.



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Huck

Bruce is gonna be in charge of our acquisition of a european carrier, pilots and all.

You heard it here first.