i'm a volunteer for the mitt romney camPAIN.:p

haha thanks, that made me laugh....

Well the 16 900's were not a bad idea with hopes of building on those. Granted they should have been leased from DL instead of being bought by us. As far as the Q's go, well that illegal purchase of Colgan should have never occurred, but the crook, PT and his 40 thieves set us up for failure with the purchase of Colgan. I have nothing against the Colgan pilot group, they are fellow pilots and brothers and sisters of the regional community, and all the courts could say when we took them to court, was "naughty naughty Phill you should have never made that purchase without notifying the union" but we got stuck with the props. Instead of that purchase, they could have purchased Mesaba and Compass. BTW, not only did PT get a nice package but he still gets consulting fees, now that is the kick in the forth point of contact. So instead of asking for the 5% from us, cut his consulting fees. We just need to really stick together as a whole pilot group, Pinnacle Colgan and Mesaba in true UNITY fashion and call managements bluff. After all if it's not bluff then we would be heading chap. 11 anyway, and if not then we would have stood in solidarity, ooooh is that a socialist term :D

Maybe everyone can take their 5% cut and use it towards off road tires for the whole fleet.

Delta couldn't buy them since they were in BK at the time.

(At least that's what Ed Bastian told Comair when Delta diverted our aircraft deliveries to other regionals.)

You used CUT and TIRES in the same sentence. If you're a union volunteer you could go to jail for that.

But the rest of us certainly know what you're trying to say. ;)

The following letter from CFO Peter Hunt needs to be framed and mounted on every wall in each crew rooms:

Quote:

---

“These investments will result in a strong company in 2012 and beyond,” said Mr Hunt. “When we sat down with Delta to acquire Mesaba the goal was to provide a better product for Delta and a better cost structure for both. To that end we have an early rate increase based on the increased costs of integrating the three pilot groups and the new pilot contract which will come 12 months from now. We will get a one-time payment as much as USD18-20 million to cover the cost increases incurred over the next 12 months for the contract and pilot training and relocation costs as well as integration costs. In addition, the contract includes forward looking changes in rates that will start in the Spring of 2012 that the company currently estimates at USD14 million annually. So, 2011 will be a down year because we won’t have the benefit of the rate increase until 2012. But that means a vastly improved 2012 and beyond and that is where the focus needs to be.” The company will also see its first rate increase in 10 years for its former Northwest operations effective in January 2013. The original contract called for an adjustment every five years but Northwest was in bankruptcy when the first five years came due, putting off any rate increases until 2013. However, during the past decade, said Mr Hunt, cost increases have far outpaced inflation owing to its ageing CRJ200 fleet. Consequently, the company is in for a sizeable increase beginning 2013.

---

So, the entire board of directors and executive management team knew in advance 2011 would be a loss, but with extra money coming in 2012 and BEYOND.....why all the smoke in mirrors now for everyone to take a paycut?

Simply greed in its simplistic forms. They figure if the money train will get padded in 2012 and the growth they anticipate in 2013, then why not fatten up their bonuses even more. They probably justify it like this, "The pilot group is only taking a 5% cut, they just received about a 4% raise on December 1st 2011, so really they are only taking a 1% cut from their pay prior to December 1st 2011, and if it mean having more cash on hand to do what we want to do with it, I think our asking of the pilot group is admirable" And this is how they think they're doing the right thing for the company, when all along they are doing it for themselves, because it sounds like things are already in order to make sure the company not only survive, but thrives in the coming years. So in short, they are assuring their bonuses increase year after year with that 5%, and I'm sure some of that 5% will go to continue Phill's consulting fees. Has anybody seen the movie Horrible Bosses? He's like Kevin Spacey!! Just sayin'

Anyone who thinks this 5% pay cut will have ANY bearing on what happens in the near and / or distant future of pinnacle is ill-informed and uneducated about the industry for which they work. NEVER in the history of the regional airline Buisness has a pilot group saved a company or recovered the money they lost by conceding!

What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome...

Vote yes, seek therapy, and develop a plan B for you and your family or...

Vote no and develop a plan B for you and your family...

Plan B saves you much needed money on therapy and would be my choice!

in·san·i·ty
[in-san-i-tee]
- noun, plural-ties
1. the condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind
2. such unsoundness of mind as affects legal responsibility or capacity 3. (formerly) psychosis.
4. extreme folly; senselessness; foolhardiness

Just sayin....

My fault...I should have preceded my example with "what is a condition of insanity" or a "symptom". Thank you!

Union email tonight says that the company now wants 7% reduction in compensation for 1 year rather than 5% for an indefinite amount of time. Seems like a ploy to get us to bite on a bigger cut so our wages are already reduced before bankruptcy cuts them again.

With the mention of "7% for 1 year," leads me to believe they have negotiated some sort of snap back at the end of 1 year.

We will see...

Give me the 7% snap back, an additional 5% (plus my annual pay raise), and two extra weeks of vacation every year for the duration of the contract and I'll consider it.

Until then, NO!

Then they will file chap 11, void the "snapback" and you will be left with your 7% cut + a lil extra.

Pre-bankruptcy "snapbacks" are worthless except to lure gullible pilots.

no thanks on the 7%. We are going to bkrptcy. lets all stop pretending that it's avoidable.

I found the part about the ALPA attorney providing a briefing on bankruptcy particularly interesting. I hope we're wrong but it sounds like more bad news is on the way.

refer to my post on page 34 of this thread. substitute 5% for 7%.

Mr. Mekne, with all due respect, I can not afford to work for you under the pay you are proposing.

vote no.

You realise the snapback won't happen, right? And it won't be for just 1 year...

Sure thing, Dougie...

Has anyone heard anything about the Charlie West flying? A few people mentioned tonight that after the 31 of this month, the CRW-DCA flights were all cancelled and all removed from their schedules... Anyone know if they are planning to close the base or anything? The only reason to have that base is the DCA flying.

7% snapback WILL get thrown out in bankruptcy. This is just a sham. Chapter 11 is happening folks, don't let them trick you. I for one will not be voting no, it will be HELL NO!!!

I've heard the same about the DCA flying out of CRW but the date is news to me. I guess only flying 1 Airways route doesn't make too much sense. If we do lose it I guess it'll likely become another out station/overnight if we keep it at all.

I hope the TA comes across the board to vote:

Option A: 7% Cut

Obtion B: No

Obtion C: Hell No

I vote C...

If you don't you're out of touch with both reality and historical precedent. You're simply asking for cuts in addition to your 7% in bankruptcy. FACT.

if they jsut needed a cash bump to get them through the year, they would have no problem finding financing for that. this is bs. we are ch11.

They've already hired the bankruptcy law firm and the consultants. You don't put on a jimmy hat unless you are going to...well you know...

So is the question now jump ship or ride it out?

That is exactly the dilemma I'm having. I feel that the right choice is to jump ship but I really don't want to start all over again for the 3rd time, however if this place implodes I won't have a choice. So the question is: jump ship or ride it out?

I think that's where we're all at now it would be a shame to bail and then see this ship right itself but it's the nature of the beast. Gather as much data as you can and make the decision you feel is best for you at that point in time and then sit back try to relax and wait to see how it turns out.

well if you're gonna jump might wanna do it before everyone else is competing with you!

And so brings up another very good point!

Word to the wise...at XJT we took concessions in 2008 with a snapback provision.
Well, we're still waiting for the snapback and will never see it now with the ASA merger.

Time to change the title of the post to 7 percent.

So is the company paying PT his consulting fees for the chap. 11 court date, what a joke, it would almost be funny if it wasn't criminal. I agree with everyone on here, take no concessions because they'll happen on their own anyway during chap. 11 proceedings, so we can continue to enjoy our current pay until further notice. Well now we know why that coward and criminal Phil Trenary escaped the company like the rat that he is.

It is hard see from your perspective right now but PNCL is not going to implode. Managements number one job right now is to spread as much doom and gloom as they can. The more your employees eat up the doom and gloom the more successful management is.....and hence the bigger bonus they will get in the end. PNCL will be fine. All non-union groups will take a small paycut, some contracts with all sorts of suppliers will be renegotiated and pilots will take a cut depending on how good management can turn your MEC and young inexperienced pilots agianst your contract. Which everyone know you guys are overpaid and driving the company into bk. :rolleyes:

I disagree Ima...I think we could see another wholly owned comair situation with pncl.They file bankrupcty,shrink the heck out of it,give flying to sub-contractors,clean up some of the debt on books.

Who would they give it to? Pinnacle if one of the cheaper airlines, if not the cheapest.

Delta has taken 6 years to scroo with Comair and they're not done yet. You guys have lots of time to vote NO and see what happens. Or vote YES and see what happens and have 7% less money while you wait.

The only problem is if you wait a year, and another year, then another year, waiting for "the ship to right itself". And before you know it, you've been a regional FO for a decade, your kids are grown, and your wife has left. So keep that in mind.

Fixing liquidity through wage concessions won't prevent bankruptcy. And 7% isn't all that were going to get cut in bankruptcy. Obviously this is a move inspired by our delightful seabury friends to double dip.

Also I heard a fascinating rumor about 700 furloughs, hope it's just a rumor.

just about the total size of the colgan portion of the company. coincidence?