There are things we can do to increase efficiency, although it is true that it has to include the ramp, the gates, management, scheduling, etc..., but we can realize those cost savings and the resultant pay raise. The cost of doing business does have to go down, but by working smart, not by taking advantage of the labor groups.

I gotta ask: Are you qualified and trained to read and calculate a companies profitability? Are you a CPA or do you have an MBA?

I am not, and I hear people all the time talking about the companies books like they DO know what they are talking about. Take the latest round of paycuts XJT took - we had 'chicken littles' running around saying the sky is gonna fall when all they were doing was feeding off of fear propaganda.

I fly an airplane from point A to B as safe as I can. THAT is my job. I do not run marketing, planning, scheduling, hedge fuel, etc. - and I plan on raising the bar on this next contract - both in terms of pay and work rules. If you are looking for extra cash for this company then look elsewhere because you are not gonna get it from me.

That sucks for them, however I am NOT A F(CKING RAMPER!!!! I am a very intregal part of this company. I didn't take a week long course on how to stack bags in a bin. It took years and a lot of time, effort and money to do what I do!

And no I'm not a hat wearer or an egomaniac who needs to be called Captain by everyone. I'm just sick of seeing and hearing people diminish the pilot group as "just another work group". We are the engine that runs this airline, not some schmuck who filled out an application at the airport. Get some damn pride and sack up!!

We, unfortunately, have a lot of guys who are not ready to bite and draw blood.

Over the next three to five years a great deal of movement is going to occur within our industry. We (speaking for those of us who do not want to make a regional a career destination) need to bite, and bite hard. The time is now to recoup the lost time with families, the furloughs, to poor reserve utilization, poor pairing / line construction, the ridiculous behavior of management over the past three years - in the form of significant contract improvements FOR those of us who will likely remain on property (so long as the company exists) over the next two to five years...and even for those who will fill our shoes when we finally can escape this place.

So...no point having a good attack dog if it won't draw blood.

Passive negotiations get you nothing of substance.

Contact your status reps, voice your concerns, attend LEC and MEC Public meetings. Reach out to your volunteers working on YOUR behalf on the ASA and XJT JNC. Call them up, send them an e-mail. Do far more than complaining and challenging an ASA or XJT pilots' opinion on this very forum. Become active.

In the end, we all need to remember that we will be one pilot group - one labor group - doing the work provided to us by our management team. Who will we stand next to when the time is necessary? Each other. One group, one contract. This is still peace time, but if we don't collectively start thinking with a tactical mindset, we all will pay the price.

Another guy that "gets it". And believe me, the guy you quoted "gets it" as well.

You da man!!!!!!!! Well said in both posts....

good post man!

I think there are enough asa people feeling like the XJT pilot group to have a majority. The way Asa has been treated over the past few months is the way XJT has been treated for going on two years. We are tired, we know crew costs are not going to bankrupt our company, and we have been wading through managements poor decisions long enough. Any Pbs system that management is hoping to RAM down our throats is not going to end well.

So people who work around airplanes but don't fly them are "schmucks"??? nice attitude..... Both our companies would probably be better off if we had our own rampers but that has gone to the cheapest bidder with the exception of hubs. As far as being integral....look at SW....Quality rampers= ability to turn aircraft fast. I am amazed at the way some pilots treat people who work around the plane, it disgusts me. Sure there are slackers but there are in every job and every seat, that doesn't mean they are "schmucks". 5+ years ramp work for 2 large airlines so I have been on the end of "oh.....you're just a ramper"

Currently a part of the 9E, XJ, Colgan marriage...Let me tell you guys, IT'S A BLAST! You gotta try this!