Well EL10 I agree with much of what you are saying, but not the part about us dragging this JCBA out very much longer.

They came to the table here because
1) This is a recess from the NMB and everyday we spend working on the JCBA is one more day that we won't work towards an impasse and eventually a strike.
2) The JCBA will be an easy road for them to blend the XJ jets and pilots in with 9E.

Management wants to try for a "hail mary" and see if they can ease thier transition with the XJ jets over to 9E, but they are proud that they can continually operate us at a far lower cost than the rest of the industry. If you think they will stray far from this model of short changing pilots under thier own free will I think you are mistaken. From the outside looking in there is no way we will be able to measure the savings the company will gain by having a smooth transition. I'm sure they have a number, and if that number is not greater than the cost of this JCBA by a large enough margin they will attempt to drag this out as long as possible before facing the NMB again. Then they will use this JCBA negotiating in court to show that they came to us and tried and tried to get a deal done, but now we are standing in the way of progress and they will move forward with the "asset transfer" without our consent. Since XJ and 9E are both ALPA our MECs are going to have to figure out a "fair and equitable way" to blend the XJ orphans into our crappy situation.

Now el10 you may call this irrational if you must, but from where we at 9E are sitting this is the way they play ball. That is why many of us are wondering why we are extending all of these deadlines instead of going back to the NMB table where we actually can muster some sort of leveage if things don't move along.

 

 

Subcommittee meetings Monday and Tuesday, and full negotiations scheduled for Wednesday - Friday of this coming week. Items still open:

·Section 1 (Scope and Recognition) - Successorship and fragmentation provisions remain open.
·Section 2 (Definitions) – Still on hold for negotiations wrap up.
·Section 3 (Compensation) - Pay rates, pay rate escalators, cancellation pay, premium pay, minimum day pay (including reserve), training pay, and instructor pay remain open.
·Section 4 (Guarantee) - Value of a pro-rated day is still open.
·Section 7 (Vacation) - Vacation slide and vacation pay/schedule value are open.
·Section 11 (Training) - Instructor rules, instructor job security, prohibited training dates and opportunities for recheck are all still open.
·Section 24 (Filling of Vacancies) - Re-qualification freeze provisions remain open.
·Section 25 (Scheduling) – Issues including long call reserve, trip trading rules, rescheduling rules, instructor displacement rules, mandatory overtime rules, reserve rules, and call-in-honest provisions are all open.
·Section 26 (General) - Crew room provisions and fatigue language are still open.
·Section 27 (Insurance) – Medical plan design/cost sharing and certain provisions of the life insurance coverage are still open.
·Section 28 (Retirement) – Section still open with agreements attached to contingencies.
·Section 31 (Duration) – Still open.
·FOQA/ASAP LOAs – Still open.

 

Friday now? Ha! Is there a reason we have heard nothing since early Thursday? We must now get our info from the "always accurate and unbiased" Internet message board?! What is the Union's stance now? While this looks bad for all, understand that my confidence has not changed in regards to the MECs. Has it been discussed, or is there a drop-dead date. This really is rediculous, management has made all three MECs look like small children asking for candy. There needs to be a date, that no matter the progress, negotiations have stalled and it is clear the "good faith" negotiations are no longer that. I keep hearing the argument that if we are making progress, why not keep extending the negotiations? Two reasons; the first, as I understand it, management has tried to reopen TAd sections while negotiating other issues- this is not progress! Also, pay attention, the post I quote stating current open sections looks very similar to the remaining open sections as of 11/15 and 12/2- this also is not progress. Not that I am not thankful for those who negotiate on my behalf or don't recognize the hard work, but it is time to see this for what it is. Increased/better communication along with more realistic and truthful views at this point will be more beneficial in the long run. There's a pattern here...

 

So he's Obi Wan Kanobi now?

OUR ONLY HOPE!

While Higney might be a great rep, he's by no means alone in our struggle to obtain a joint contract.

 

If this is true, it is too funny. Just like a used car salesman pulling the bait and switch. If this is true can I change the date I predicted a TA would be reached?

 

it seems if mgmt can screw up countless deadlines set for crews, i dont see why the crew need to show up on time for them ! after all - all ontime performance is purely for mgmt bonuses which they seem to get plenty of, esp this latest round. i hope our reps see that there seems to be extra money to burn and it should go in fair share - our way.

 

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I HATE PCL, THEY ARE A SLEEZY OPERATION!! Only a PCL pilot will show up at 5:30 Am. with sunglasses on. And yes I just witnessed this 4 days ago.