Some strong opinions:

Mesa tanking would be good for the industry. The pilots would go work for better carriers (so what if the Captains have to take a temp. pay cut) and the airplanes would get bought out by better carriers.

NOT all regionals suck. Not all are created equal. Colgan and Pinnacle arent even COMPARABLE to XJT or SKYW. You can't full support this statement until you've hopped the fence to greener grass.

Every ALPA pilot needs to support Mesa guys/gals this coming September. JO is going to try to extend negotiations and act all 'poor' and try to use China as a whipsaw.

SUPPORT the Mesa pilots and knock their management off their high horses! The more you care about your career, the better off we are.

You're all nuts.

Mesa stinks and the industry would be better off without the company bidding on things with their low pay and lower work rules.

Also, everyone knows that "Jack Straw" is the best Grateful Dead song.

We all agree that Mesa sucks, but not all of us had much of a choice in coming here. Yeah, I know the "well you should have found other work" is going to come up, but the end all here is that like others have said. If your mngmt is making bad decisions that doesn't mean you should lose your job. I think that would qualify most of the major airlines today the same. We all know they haven't exactly been making the best decisions lately. Does that mean that everyone should quit....not going to happen. Changing carriers is not always an easy choice. My days working here are numbered, but I have definately worked hard at spreading the word from the inside in hopes of changes for the future. I however won't wish that some other pilot group loses their jobs just because I don't like how ignorant their mngmt team has become.
Here's to wishing success for all!

I'm sure I would have taken a Mesa job instead of flying freight. I also would have left ASAP. Anyone staying more than a year basically voted for that contract, because you sure didn't vote against it with your feet.

Here's some food for thought: right now, the pilot groups at most of the regional airlines should have the upper hand in contract negotiations, because the airlines are universally short on pilots. If Mesa's pilots hit the street all at once, that will hurt our bargaining strength a lot more than their contract is now.

Our bargaining strength will be increased due to management's inability to throw the Mesa contract on the table during negotiations. This has been done numerous times. It will also be increased because when bidding for flying contracts, the lowest bidder is removed. You have a point about the flux of pilots, but compared to the other two reasons its almost insignificant.

what the beer man said...

yea but there will be a new lowest bidder. based on recent contracts, mesa hasnt even been a huge player, look at whos been getting contracts. RAH, XJT, SKW... i dont see how this is going to change anything. these guys arent going to all of a sudden raise their rates when negotiating contracts with majors, because theyre still competing with each other.

I think you misunderstood. We are flying similar aircraft now that were should be flown at the mainlines (CR9 and E170 etc). Everyone's attitude of moving on is allowing us to fly these "regional" 70-90 seaters for regional pay. Meanwhile "regionals" are getting these mainline aircraft while for regional pay. We are only stabbing ourselves in the back by continuing to allow this at these rates we are being paid. I make $19 an hour at a supposedly good regional. As scope continues to loosen I think we need to re-examine what a regional is.

Maybe experienced pilots won't settle for the starting wages that companies like Pinnacle and Skywest and all the others are offering. I think Mesa being out of the picture is way better than having a a few pilot's out there looking for jobs at the regional level.