N2rotation

I'm kind of sick and tired of seeing Mesa/Freedom pilots walking around the airports with a look of desperation and helplessness. Why aren't you guys doing something? Are you all actually involved in getting something better than a junior assignment MEL airline with 8 days off a month? Let's hear some good news out here. Until we hear anything, your crap contract and apathy is disgusting the airline pilot profession.

ERJ Driver

What we have here is a failure... to communicate (Cool Hand Luke).

I mean this with all respect N2- but that viewpoint is unrealistic. Let me explain with the following...

We have gone through how many MEC Chairs in the last 3 years? And the latest is about to retire. The attrition is SOOOOO high that anyone with any experience in the union is moving on. So, suffice it to say that the union is in a bit of disarray. Next, add on top of that a management team that will do N-E-THING (ANYTHING) it wants, and flies in the face of any authoritative body. Recent examples:

1. Harris Award... this little gem has been thrown right back in our faces time and again. When we were judged in favor of, the company STILL violated it and does so to this day. [Oh, and after the courts ruled against Murnane for erasing all the computer data, after the company issued a statement that Murnane was on administrative leave and a bunch of dross about high ethical standards, he turned up at JO's side in China for the new Shinzen Airline unveiling (read about it here, about 1/2 down the page: http://mesalies.blogspot.com/). How's that for flying in the face of authority?]

2. Scope Clause... there were some more violations of this just recently. The management team does not seem to understand that those seats up front belong to US... not Bombardier contract pilots.

3. Status Quo... according to the RLA, when a contract becomes amendable, NO changes are allowed to be made by the company or pilot group. So, why is it that no less than 2 memos, 1 a chief pilot memo and 1 a company "bonus program" (wolf in sheep's clothing bonus) have been issued in the last couple of months significantly changing our work-rules and compensation methodology?

Add to this mess 2 lawsuits (one of which has been won to the tune of 80-90 million), our planes being outsourced to China, attrition wildly OUT OF CONTROL, pilots timing out like the burnt-apple-pie grandma forgot about in the oven... heck, do I need to say more? Yea, I am apathetic. How could I survive otherwise??? To actually have FEELINGS about any of this stuff, to actually believe that a favorable contract is forthcoming would ABSOLUTELY BLOW MY MIND. Heck, my mind is already blown and I am still picking up the smoking pieces. Oh, and if we strike, that's a fine for ALPA and probably jail time for the union leaders.

Look, I will die a bitter and friendless pessimist etc etc... OK, now that we have that out of the way... everyone STOP for a moment. Just STOP, and copy this transmission (let me clear my throat):

*ahem* We MAG pilots will NEVER, EVER get a better contract. NEVER.

Unless you have a solution for the enumerated items above, apathy *on*, desperation *on* and, "ERJ Driver over and out."

Slice

Looking through your post history it's more than 50% Mesa *****ing. You may need to get a life. In lieu of that, I suppose you'll be out there picketing when the time comes, right? Or will you just continue to **** and moan?

texaspilot76

ERJ, it is obvious from your rant that Mesa is definately not a place you (or anyone else for that matter) need to be. You need to just get a job somewhere else. I am sure your credentials could easily get you a good job, and at the very least, you could go to another regional. Starting over as far as being on reserve and all that is nothing compared to what you are going through. Go somewhere else, take the pay cut for a while, suck it up, and be far better off in the long run.

ERJ Driver

I'm trying! I'm trying! *****ing, ranting and moaning aside... I'm trying! I just don't want to make a "step back"- to go from a CA slot to an FO slot at a regional. This is not career progression, let alone the temporary pay cut. Still, I suppose I am just about ready to apply to another regional. BTW... I tried the Compass deal... didn't get it. Them's the breaks for me.

Oh, and try having a life at a regional like Mesa... it ain't possible. So yes, I admit I have no life.


edit:
Guess I should tone it down huh? It's just frustrating (ain't so apathetic after all) to work at this airline. So many problems.

N2rotation

I'm ready to picket, the question is when is the time? Does the Air Line Pilot's Association of Mesa Air Group have any sort of plan for this?

N2rotation

I didn't really ask about what the company is doing. I know what the company is doing. I can't for the life of me figure out why the Mesa union is becoming so weak. It has to be more than the fact that the MEC chair has changed a few times. It sounds like you guys need the help of ALPA national.

Every other ALPA pilot out there would love a blast mail or two to hear if ANY progress is being made. Until then, Mesa pilots are apathetic in improving their lives in my mind.

texaspilot76

How much PIC do you have? Have you tried Continental, Delta, Southwest? If no luck there, there a some regionals hiring street captains, such as Mesaba and Big Sky.

Infoman

ERJ Driver,

The only advice I have... is keep looking forward and be careful that you don't pick up a bitter pill. This will show up during an interview. I have seen it and it is a show stopper.

Infoman.

Slice

Gee Texas, I bet he never thought of that... It's easy for a guy doing this job less than a year telling someone else to move no matter what the consequences. Btw, are you pro-union yet?