Wait--you're at Mesaba, right?

I can tell you're not at Pinnacle--believe me, you wouldn't have any optimism after that last email if you'd been here--we know exactly what's happening, because we've seen the exact same pattern a hundred times now...first it was the loss of the Delta flying, then it was the "United flying" myth, then it was the "NMB wants it done," then it was "Delta wants all labor disputes settled by end of 2009," then it was...well, you get my drift...

Something always comes out of the rumor mill/union reps that (non-officially of course) that stirs everyone into stopping the picketing, etc., keeps morale up, etc., until everyone realizes it was just another shell game...

Mind you--this is the management team that GAVE UP airplanes and revenue to Mesaba years ago, because they REFUSED to sign anything a penny higher than industry average with subpar work rules...

It's Southern, stubborn, "my way or the highway" management practices that you're dealing with here--not Northern, level-headed, rational decisionmaking...people don't sign treaties in the South--they duel...

Logic won't work--they WILL give up cost savings of 10 million because they refuse to sign a contract that costs them 5 million that requires them to relinquish control of things like crew scheduling and language like "operational necessity."

You guys do know who you're dealing with, right? FF is not some namby pamby kumba-ya guy--just ask a FedEx pilot...they'll know what you're talking about...

I guess Mesaba guys have a little more faith in their elected officials than Pinnacle does. Not hard to see why.

If XJ guys had been through 6 years of the same merry-go-round there wouldn't be much optimism left either, and I don't think faith in the ALPA reps has anything to do with it.

hahahaha. Why? Are the mesaba elected officials going to cave in? That is the only way we will get a contract. How are your elected officials going to make pinnacle management see it their way? I would really love to know the special powers they posses.


Exactly. Believing in your reps does nothing. As long as our hands are tied we will not see anything. It will take a Christmas miracle to get a contract.

I always thought 45 days was too aggressive a schedule, there is just too much to go over.

We all knew it would slow down at the hard items. The hard stuff is here.

They may not make the 15th deadline, but until they stop altogether, I'm keeping some hope alive.

Why would the Union and the company set a goal they knew was impossible?

Something to shoot for I guess, it was self imposed, they can always extend it.

They want to get a contract done as fast as possible because as it sits now no one at Mesaba can be furloughed until SLI. Mesaba is soon to be overstaffed, Cologan and Pinacle are way under staffed and to avoid having people on the street out of order we have to have one contract and one list. If they keep hiring off the street those are just going to be people who end up getting furloughed when the lists are combined and they are properly staffed. Plus word is no airline wants to deal on open flying until we have all our labor stuff worked out. If we drag this out too long the company will have no incentive to deal and then we will all be in big trouble. Once that clock runs out and the company can furlough or if they loose out on these contracts the investors will be looking for blood and it is going to come in the form of concessions.

The whole can't furlough thing is apparently still misunderstood by some Mesaba guys. There is a no furlough clause in the contract. However, it only deals with not furloughing as a result of the merger/acquisition or whatever. The SAABs are leaving, this has nothing to do with the merger, thus they CAN still furlough if they choose.

Exactly. The no furlough clause doesn't take effect till there is a list intergration and you cant be furloughed as a direct result of intergration. Doesn't mean you still cant be furloughed. No intergration = no no furlough clause. No no furlough clause = more furloughs at mesaba as the saabs are being parked. Furloughs = new hires at pinnacle. 100+ guys flow to delta. Mesaba continues to shrink. How is that for making it clear what is going on.