I may just be a lowly 1st year FO on furlough but at least I figured out how to manage my budget without requiring open time. Open time is great, I picked up as much as I could before PSA furloughed. But as Boiler Up pointed out you should set your budget for your guarantee and anything more is just extra cash. If you still have a job then your most likely at least a second year FO, and if you can't survive on second year pay without open time then your living beyond your means. How much of a sacrifice would it be to not pick any up while people are on the streets you would think any gain that it would make is worth the cash your out. I was only at the company for a few months before the first 27 went out the back door and I found the money to not pick up open time.

Bass Slayer I call BS on your comment about the lines. The in august in DAY when the highest block hour build up was 84, for Jan it is 88 and credit was 89, 91. And when I held a solid line it was not a 90 hour line. The company has inched the block and credit up while people are on the street.

I am in now way an expert but I would think if the union could convince the company to lower the credit hours of the lines this would get people back right now. This is what I have heard ASA has done.

 

I disagree. It is largely dead because the teeth have been completely taken out of the unions. Strikes are essentially impossible. No credible threat of a strike = no leverage.

There is simply no power left on the labor side of the equation. We can be as united as we want, but the judges and congress and the president have consistently sided with the corporations, especially the airlines, for the past 15 years or so.

And there not much public support for pilot action either.

At least that's how I see it.

 

A reasonable person can't disagree with that; the current political and social aspect of unionism cannot be overlooked.

While airline labor strikes have been in exceedingly short supply during the Bush Administration, there can be PLENTY accomplished by the pilot group without a formal release by the NLRB; look no further than Northwest's "BoB" or ASA's "HAVOC" in the last 2 years as examples of what pilots can accomplish when they fly the contract, fly the FOM, call in sick when they are sick, and refuse to fly broken airplanes.

Unfortunately, doing those things requires personal sacrifice, and most people aren't willing to make those sacrifices (like missing a commute, talking to a flight manager, justifying their actions, refusing to be pressured) unless they can see an IMMEDIATE benefit in front of them. When enough people become willing to make a little personal sacrifice, and get on board with grass-roots movements (NOT wildcat job actions) then the company starts to take notice and eventually, things change.

My preference is that action to status quo...and the person or party in control of this country's political apparatus doesn't prevent pilots and pilot groups working together for common gain.

 

What you are suggesting is illegal. Until your released by the NLRB for self help (the term used for a strike), the union and the members can not advocate any action. This has become a huge weapon in the anti union fight. One of the lastest victims is United. APA lost a 25 million dollar judgement and almost went bust when it was suggested the folks call in sick. The unions are worried that they will be called on the carpet because even non union officers were using union communications boards to suggest the very action you are advocating.

Yes, as an individual pilot, you can make a choice to "fly the contract". The soon to be former administration made it illegal for anyone to suggest or ask you to do it.

 

FDR had pushed for airline pilots to be subject to the railway labor act in 1936.

Please don't turn this into a political thread. It isn't about striking, or work rules.

It's simply about picking up open time with pilots on the street. A few people here keep trying to rationalize it, but their arguments keep getting torn to shreds.

Lets keep it civil, please.

 

Just a couple of quick actual facts since yours are a bit thin.

#1 We at RAH can't get junior manned. I can pick up my phone and tell them NO!

#2 PBS tends to hose you anyway. I bid min sked every month and still got stuck with 89 hours. Not my fault.

#3 Our FO pay rate was a blended rate between a SAAB340 and a EMB140 we didn't even have a 170 on the property when the contract was negotiated. Now we do and we are in negotiations and working on it, stand by.

And finally some things were given up to avoid a inner office whipsaw attempt and we have a pretty solid scope clause thanks too it. It's yet to be seen how strong,we'll have to see how this business with Midwest pans out.

PS: If you aren't working here, which you aren't since your facts are all hacked up what they heck do you care?

I bid min because I choose too and can afford too and it may help someone else out. But I can't speak for someone else who may need the extra money, and frankly neither should you!

 

A nice clause to have.

Open time flying is always controversial. Due to court injunctions and past court cases lost, the union's hands are tied on telling pilots to not pick up open time flying. We need to find another way to solve the problem.

 

No, it isn't.

A few UAL pilots were advocating using up all sick time prior to furlough, whereas what I said was call in sick IF YOU ARE SICK.

If you've ever gotten a cold/flu/etc. from a colleague that showed up unfit for duty per the back of their medical, then you should understand what I'm talking about here.

That's my point...if enough individuals take the initiative to do something, the effect ends up being the same; the union shouldn't have to tell its members to not fly broken airplanes or fly when they are medically unfit for duty.

 

Not sure who this "you" is referring to since you didn't quote anyone, but the original thread was targeted @ PSA, not Reshuagua.

 

What makes you think this is about RAH? We've been talking about PSA.