I was a history minor in college (biz major because the USAF wasn't taking pu$$y liberal arts degrees) and am now an arm chair historian.

One interesting little ditty from the 1850s is that political parties actually owned newspapers and of course slanted the stories their way. Then as now, people only read what they already agreed with.

As any historian will tell ya, the more things change the more they remain the same:D

Ferd

Sad state of affairs when RT.com has better information regarding our government than we can ever get stateside.

Honestly I don't know what is achievable. When you look at the 2013 pilot cost numbers they don't help us a bit. Not one other airline has stepped up since 2002 and done anything. There are also a lot of varibles yet to be determined. The obvious big one is the political landscape. That is why we have a lot of smart people working for us. I already put a post up on how the process works. We will have to feel out the NMB and then make a judgement on how much political pressure we can bring upon them when needed. We will have to look at future projected earnings. Perhaps most important of all will be providing a road map of how we anticipate a new contract forcing other airlines to our level.
Asking for a minimum of 20% up front would end talks at that point. Management will simply ride the process. It will be a long and bumpy ride for us and we won't be allowed off the wagon until the NMB views us as being reasonable. RA is a smart man and understands costs as well as anyone. He would never allow his costs in any area to get that far out of control.
What I want in the end is somewhat irrelevant. I can tell you this however. A 3 year contract that provides a 20% increase in compensation over the 3 years without any degradation in work rules along with a 2% bump in retirement will ratify easily if it's done by the amendable date. Flame away!

Thoughts & prayers for you and your family, Tsquare. :(

Tsquare, sorry buddy. :(

Read the book Six Frigates. It's a simply outstanding look at the world and politics from 1790 to 1830. Nothing has changed.

Sailing

Our execs have averaged over 20% annually in increases over the past 5 years. Why do you think pilots are so worthless?

If they make a mistake, they could get a paper cut and it could get infected. If we make a mistake..........

A) Radio is better.

B) But i love looking at Megyn Kelly and FNC girls

C) anchors are not reporters, tv has to be scripted to the second and you can't allow that kind of free interaction that msnbc just tried. You cannot pull it off. The best thing is interview an unknown guy by a reporter and put that on the air after the interview is done if it's any good.

GS,

You notice how out of your entire post, you only have one sentence that really addresses the issue? That should tell you that you probably have more of a beef with the network she works for and/or the occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave than you have with what she did, or didn't do.

What you and the others are criticizing her for is something that I assume we all do. I don't know about you, but people say stupid, inappropriate, crass stuff to me all the time -- at work, in the cockpit, in the gate area -- passengers and fellow employees alike.

As much as it happens, I'm still usually caught off guard. But, I try to move on and continue the conversation. I give them the benefit of the doubt and a second chance. Just like Mrs. Ball did. Ninety-five percent of the time, I find out that I misunderstood what they were saying, or they misspoke and didn't mean for it to come out the way it did.

Do you really think that people should jump conclusions based on first impressions? Do you really fault her for trying to push on? My experience has taught me that that's not smart. I push on all the time.

For a pilot, it's good CRM. For a cable news personality conducting an interview, it's probably part of the job.

I hope we don't reject the FAR 117 LOA, because if we do it will take 3 years to get another deal.

Or 1 hour.



Like the multi billion dollar 50 seat RJ nightmare, management finds themselves up against a wall with the coming training tidal wave.

They also need labor peace. If they turn their backs, the informational picketing will begin.

You say they hold all the cards, I say we won't have to picket one day. Management once again needs a deal sooner than later.

Those 2004 rates are over a decade old, adding 20% is nothing to management. They just ****ed away several billion to the shareholders.