Originally Posted by Flogger

The biggest problem with the way DC is managed is Skywest. As long as that bottom feeder is part of the DC portfolio, there will be absolutely no trust between 9E and DC management.

DL continues to reward the non-union pilot profession destroying bottom feeder animal that is Skywest. They even continue to hire these non-union pilots who have repeatedly refused to join a professional organization which contributes to the safety and government lobby of the pilot profession. They won't hire senior 9E pilots, but they will hire pilots who have undercut the wages and workrule standards of an entire industry?

DC management was complicit with Skywest in the betrayal the ASA side of XJT. Was it really necessary to yank the travel benefits of all those ASA retirees who had served DL passengers for so many years and then retired with the promise of travel benefits?

Really? Was it not enough to just end the contract? Ya gotta bend over the retirees too? Some who retired while DL owned ASA...kinda like the way DL owns 9E now? That right there does not build confidence in our future.

DC is complicit with Skywest in the destruction of the MSP base. Is anyone aware that MSP was a very senior base with quite a few employees who have been turned into unwilling commuters? It's not like the flying went away. Skywest is doing it. Way to recognize our importance to the DC portfolio! Yaaayyyy!

When given a chance, DL forced 3 airlines into an unwilling marriage and pounded thru below-industry standard wages and workrules. A pilot shortage has forced a change in that situation, but there being no Flight Attendant shortage, the FAs are still operating under horrendous wages and workrules.

This is a business and we are meat. We are well treated meat at the moment due to the pilot shortage.

We are not valued teammemebers. Valued teammembers do not fear such things as losing their promised travel benefits after retirement. Valued teammembers know their employer will keep their promises.

By the way, I like it at 9E, nicest people I have ever met, I am treated like a professional, VERY well compensated and great training, but I left my koolaid dispenser sitting on top of the ASA/XJT crewroom popcorn machine.

Originally Posted by Avrogod

Section 25 of the contract states that block hours per duty period shall be maximized. When the company violates that, it drives days off down so it is a violation. Both the union and company have been pretty good at resolving differences so hopefully they can enter a dialogue and resolve the issue. I just don't appreciate how they implemented it without seeking resolution with the union.

Originally Posted by Shadre Reevis

The company has shown that block per duty period has been kept almost completely the same with the introduction of firebreaks. I think the difference was one or two minutes. I am not a fan of firebreaks but I still think your argument rests on shaky ground. Credit per duty hour is the more relevant concern here.

Originally Posted by Avrogod

During the first month there was a 20 min difference. There was a large outcry from the pilots towards management so they decided to let ALPA run some of the solutions and that's why it has gotten much better. It will probably get worse though this fall in the slower months. Easier to build them in peak flying months.

Originally Posted by Shadre Reevis

Probably maybe could possibly have a chance to get worse. In the meantime, as you tell me, the company has been willing to work with the pilots to comply with the contract all summer. That's all we can expect, just as they should expect no more from us. I hope the union has more ammo for their argument against firebreaks than you do.

Originally Posted by msprj2

Per diem is not free. Would you like to pay back trips that are cancelled?

Originally Posted by Avrogod

Only after the outcry in that first month from the pilots. They were deadset on not even communicating it with the pilots hoping that they wouldn't notice a large degradation in their schedule. It was only after senior management received some emails from line pilots that they even addressed it. It was only after that Crew Planning was instructed to "try" and accommodate the PBS committee.

I would agree that things here are pretty good but its not sunshine and unicorns like some people portray.

Union doesn't need a lot of ammo....they have the language and how it was applied practically over the past 10 years.

Originally Posted by Blueskies21

Wow. I agree with the Sadre in saying Per Diem isn't pay... but even so... wow. You want to work for 1.80 per hour??? I'll let you run with that, I'd rather try to negotiate a rig of some sort.

Additional to that... the cancellation language was negotiated, and then amended (not to our favor) with the application of "displaced period" vs leg by leg, so, do I want to give up negotiated contractual language for nothing? No. Hopefully you don't either.

It's pretty good here currently, doesn't mean it couldn't be better.