So i would expect a lot more $$$ if you have no job security. Kinda like a contract employee. You just never know when it is going to end. And i know it's not like anyone has any kind of job security but nevertheless. You need to make your money now. Not in the next contract cause that might just never happen.

 

12 month bid cycle

 

Check in 2-24 hours prior!?!? BE CAREFUL! If you have to be on a company network (ie physivally at the airport), then you will basically be getting two hours of ready-reserve at the start off each trip!

If you're a commuter, you don't want to check in from home, cuz if you don't make your flight, guess what? You LIED, and they can fire you for that!

You are dead-on about the pairing construction...without PRECISE language, words like "maximize" are meaningless...sounds like a synonym for "to the extent possible".

PBS is worrse than useless without absolute control of system parameters by way of contract language. The auto drop feature will only work if you have language requiring a certain reserve coverage.

Soundds like another winner from MAG ALPA

 

If he can obtain a negotiated contract with set terms then someone just might be willing to buy the company.

Yeah I know with all the baggage etc. blah blah blah I can see the rebuttal already.

 

I agree with the check in BS that rick refers to, don't the FA's have to deal with that BS on Ready RSV already? That's asking for a major headache for everyone. JO's got something up his sleeve why else would he be willing to bargain for a new contract? His bean counters love the current one.

Unlike rick I have more faith in MAG pilots willingness to hold out for something better. I wish them the best of luck to hang in there and hang tough.

 

How do you put that kind of language in a contract? For the companies that have PBS and are happy with it how do you control the reserve coverage? Surely the company can decide to staff the airline anyway they choose. I can't imagine putting in a line that says 'minimum reserve coverage each day should be xx% of the number of pilots on roster' would help the PBS issues because the company would always operate at xx% reserve therefore would have reason to deny any PBS operations.

I guess you would need language that states minimum reserve coverage to be xx%. This xx% should be enough to allow a yy number PBS transactions that will call upon reserves. Then when reserve coverage drops to zz% due to PBS transactions no more PBS transactions will be permitted.

My concern is also the big picture. For instance if we sign this contract JO now has fixed costs for the next 2 years and can therefore make it easier for Mesa to get financing for whatever financial time bombs are looming. If we don't sign this contract will Mesa go tits up and will we be out of a job? For me signing a contract like this to keep my job might be worth while.

On the other hand now could be the time to negotiate for everything we want. JO is over a barrel and knows he can't get financing without a pilot contract and the company will go tits up without it. Therefore now is the time when we have most leverage over the company and now is precisely the time when ALPA needs to stand their ground and negotiate for everything we need.

I'm hoping our ALPA guys provide us good leadership and insight into the big picture at the road shows.

 

Well put. I am hoping for some more insight as well.

 

I'm confused, do you want to give in to JO so you can keep your job or do you want ALPA to fight for a better contract? It's just amazing how history repeats itself.

 

What we want is more information in order to make the best (most reasonable) decision. Hopefully that will be fulfilled at the roadshow.

 

If you are even considering PBS at Mesa, then I feel sorry for you. The same people who brought you "bring your board to work day" and 8 days off a month are going to be controlling your schedules.