tcaphou

<sound of crickets chirping >

ATCsaidDoWhat

You never read my previous post. Never said I worked for Omni; but after 30 years in the game, I have a very, very good Rolodex. Especially on the labor side.

bemak

Throwin' in my 2cents for once. I would not dispute ATC's experience, nor would I dispute anything that he is saying, he is the kind of pilot I would want during negotiations. Although I am not employed by Omni, I have been through the entire process regarding first contracts. That deck is absolutely stacked against the pilot group, if a company wants to negotiate, it does, if it doesn't there is almost nothing that can be done short of getting the NMB is release the pilot group for "self help". That may take years, since companies will just sandbag and stall, claiming that they are too busy or the holidays or some other excuse to not show up to monthly negotiations. The sharp aggressive pilots end up sticking their necks out at the negotiating table, fighting for the rest. Problem is that these are the guys who usually have the fastest track out of the company to better things, as their willingness to fight for the pilot group shows professionalism and forward thinking (my observation only). The longer a company stalls, the better chance that the activist pilots find better grazing at FEDEX, Atlas, etc. (Why not, Atlas has an IBT pilot on its hiring board who is looking for this type of individual). Subsequent negotiations drag on, no one is putting pressure on the company, the negotiators have to cut some sort of deal. I sincerely hope that this did not happen at Omni.
My advice would have been to reject any contract without duty rigs or per diem. Get aggressive, volunteer whatever you can, and absolutely do not fly any airplane that isn't being properly maintained. If that fails, get creative.
One other thing, don't believe that a company is going to change its ways when pilots start fleeing. I heard that AJT had a mass defection, they were only too happy to get rid of the troublemakers. Then again, AJT is in a class all by themselves (miserable bastards). They never changed their stripes, and their arrogance found them getting laughed at on the national news feeds during the 2009 strike. Get active, get some duty rigs, and get contractual. It not only helps you tremendously, it makes the ACMI pilot group stronger.

60% participation? Shame on those guys, that number is a joke.

Way2Broke

Sure there are 355 pilots on the seniority list, but only 337 were eligible for union membership because they are new hires, maybe even a few more than that are new hires, I don't know when the class before that started. So now the 214 votes and participation doesn't look so bad, and then you have to take out out management, and other people that were not able to vote for some reason (out on leave, medical, and now that I look at it a few folks that don't even work here anymore are still on the list, etc) and the number of eligible voters is even lower. Before we all go crucifying the pilot group here for the participation numbers, lets make sure we are dealing with real numbers!

Also, let me point out that in order to vote the Teamsters required that you go back and pay back dues since they were voted in. There were captains that paid 1000's of dollars in back dues to just have a vote. Not everyone has that kind of money laying around. I whole heatedly disagree with paying that kind of money for dues when you do not have a contract in place.

HercDriver130

So you dont think you should pay dues to the union until your contract is signed..... what is the IBT??? A charity? I think not. You voted in a union, pay the dues, get a contract signed.

Worldguy

ATC has said he does not work for Omni, OK ATC, go back to your playground. The Omni Guys did not like the TA and voted such, If you dont work for Omni it is none of your business.
Good on you guys at Omni for voting the way you did. It is time you got what you want/deserve.
Cheers.
WG

ATCsaidDoWhat

Keep that in mind when your management comes back to the table and says, "Omni works for ___, so we think that is the new industry standard."

We ALL want and deserve more. We ALL must be smart enough to know how to play the hand and when to realize that as long as we are at will employees, management can do whatever they darn well please with little risk of repercussion.

As far as "walking with our feet?" Well, unless you have a mass exodus on the same day, they can fill the holes and we all know there are guys out there willing to do the job for next to nothing. You can't strike because you aren't released. And assuming you engineered the exodus, they will sub out the flying at no risk to themselves. And since it's not struck work, no other pilot group will have a legal leg to stand on and refuse to fly it.

Hence, the need for plans B, C, and D.

stuart716

Since you dont work with us at Omni why are you so concerned with what happens to us? Or are you just that bored with your life that you have to come on here and stir up drama on here for a pilot group that is already fired up over negotiations? You are not helping us by further trying to divide our group with your rambling.

HercDriver130

my opinion obviously is of no relevance... but it only helps us all if the OMNI pilots hold out for a decent contract

NightIP

I honestly can't believe that I'm reading other union members imply that we should have ratified this steaming pile of TA. It didn't even come near the industry standard! We're not Amerijet, and we're not going to settle for a concessionary contract just because we want a contract. The landslide rejection of this TA should have been a strong indication of such.

This industry is quickly becoming a buyer's market. Why settle for something less than what we deserve?