Important Items:

1) 9E is picketing, feel free to join us

2) Company wants to do away with 9E's contractual Call-in-Honest provision (XJ's is in their FOM, and 9E can take things out of the FOM anytime they want...company wants to get it out of the CBA so they have the power to remove it at any time)

3) Company's current contingency on the min day says Colgan won't get it, but XJ+9E will (no min day on tuboprops)

4) Company wants to jack up the health insurance rates high enough it would amount to hardly any raise for FOs

5) Company has been the source of all the deadlines, and the Union finally said "let's just not set deadlines--they just lower pilot morale and cause more trouble than they're worth." (??????????????????)

6) Company hasn't agreed to Pinnacle's taxi language (15 minutes after blocking in/calling the hotel if there is no hotel van, we can take a cab and be reimbursed--XJ it's 30 minutes, but I guarantee they stay at way better hotels so they prob wait less than us in reality).

7) Bonus money now falls under ALPA administrative manual, and will be attached as an LOA to the 9E CBA post-TA signing, but prior to ratification, to ensure we get the money before the TA goes into effect

8) We have strike permits for all hubs everyday up to Dec. 23rd...I hope JFK is next--let all the "Global Elite" feel a little less warm, fuzzy, and glamorous having to walk through a line of pilots pointing out the fact that they make 25K before riding a crappy RJ to their destination...we will make you feel "First Class" New York, just you wait and see!!!!

 

I'm assuming you mean picket permits? Any Colgan hubs have permits? Let's give 'em hell.

 

I can certainly see why the 9L pilots would be more ****ed than everyone, considering that the company's position in negotiations is "no min day for Colgan, but we'll give a min day to 9E and XJ."

The company is basically saying you are less of a pilot than a jet pilot when you fly a turboprop--TOTAL CRAP....lots of us guys at Pinnacle have flown turboprops when Pinnacle/Express started out as a Saab/Jetstream op, so that argument doesn't "fly" with us......

 

As an XJ pilot we've not had any communication since the last deadline pasted - which is unusual. I just had a question.

If the jets are going to 9E and turboprops going to XJ with Colgan disappearing there appears to be a bit of a contradiction on the min day issue. Either turboprops get min day or they don't. Unless there has been a business plan change that I am not aware of in which jets and turboprops will stay at XJ. I would vote no if there was no min day for turboprops.

My other question is what has happened to the "work for free" for 15 minutes every leg issue?

I would also like to say this. While I do understand 9e frustration about 5+ years of negotiations to nowhere, I am concerned about not being united with the other pilot groups. Picketing will do nothing. Nobody cares. When the NWA mechanics struck nobody noticed and flight schedules weren't affected at all. I think instead of picketing if no one would have taken the 200% paid flying that would have scared them. But now that all the holiday flying is covered what is the companies incentive.

If I was management I wouldn't care what the pilots do on their own time as long as the flights went out on time. With nothing in the open time - you gave them what they wanted.

 

million dollar question

 

SAFETY has always been our primary concern, nothing has changed there, having said that, I feel we should all increase our awareness when it comes to safety out on the line for the holidays. December 10th seems like a great day, along with 9E picketing, to focus more than ever on safety. What better time than the holidays? I advise you all to go back through these posts and read the thoughts of those at Asa or wherever it may be, that have gone through similar situations and understand what is productive and what isn't. Sure, it takes sacrifice on your part, but it is so small compared to the greater good of us all. You have to be strong, and realize this has to be done together. SAFETY First!

 

No min day for turboprops? No way.

It's one contract for everyone or a no vote from me.

And the call in honest has got to be protected for all the commuters.

The funny thing is that if they try to move the jets and combine Colgan and Mesaba without a JCBA, only the turboprops will have min day.

 

i will vote no right now if props dont get a min day - thats horsesh*t

 

Can anyone see any possible reason why props should not get a min day? I can't fathom why this would even seem like a plausible concept for anyone.

One Contract | One List | One Voice (unless you fly a tprop)

 

That min-day thing is ridiculous. At the heart of it, it just means you can bid your way into a better paying schedule. That means that its one more item which seniority allows for higher pay/better QOL.

Pinnacle already has a severe problem with the QOL and pay for senior vs junior. Its like working at two entirely different airlines, and many of those who work there don't realize its not like that everywhere else. At most regionals, the junior guys don't get 8 days off a month while the senior get 20.

This is just another attempt by the senior folks, who will all be flying jets, to get more pay while selling out the junior pilots, who will all end up on the turboprops. You guys need to be doing work to bring the two ends together, not push them apart.

Senior vs junior should have some benefits to bidding and such, but it shouldn't make it look like you work for two entirely different airlines.