Comair contract out!!
 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4419225.html

http://www.forbes.com/business/busin...ap3276575.html

Interesting decision coming up...work for less or close the company down.

another sad day in aviation...

I dont think there is a chance the judge will allow a strike. The pilots also dont want to strike. Those that do are the most senior captains. Everyone knows that with this contract getting tossed, Comair is in a better position to get more airplanes and more flying from Delta. All this is going to do is make some pilots leave for other carriers.

how much are they reducing pay?

93% of the Comair pilot group voted YES to a strike. I would say they are willing to strike.

Unfortunately, I do think you are right, the judge will most likely block any work action.

5-7% I think...

I don't understand how a "judge" can block a unionized pilot strike. I don't see how that is against the law. If that is the case where the company can just cry to a judge. Then what good is the union at all?

This day sucks for everyone... that has a union.

don't get me wrong im not calling you out but be careful with the wording. 93% of the pilots that voted authorized a strike but it doesnt say how many voted. it will be interesting to see what happens.


"Comair pilots overwhelmingly supported the union’s strike authorization ballot with more than 93% of the responding pilots voting in support of the measure."

http://www.alpa.org/DesktopModules/A...=2618&Tabid=73

Keep in mind, the judge can only block the union's ability to strike for 30 days.

Actually you are absolutely right. A contention amongst the pilot group is "how many voted?" Fact remains, the pilot group did vote yes.

Exactly. Look what happened with Mesaba - the company, MAIR, Inc. transferred $5 million in cash from Mesaba to the holding company and then all of a sudden Mesaba is bankrupt. Gee, I wonder why.

Then Mesaba gets to implement it's own pay scale on the employees, because they are now "bankrupt".

It's BS, we all know it including the executives, and it's the trend so far.

I just got the word a little while ago. Average pay cut is 11%. This starts Dec 30th. Also minimum days off while on reserve goes from 12 to 11. 1 hour less of vacation time per period from 21 hours to 20 hours. Apparently this is the same agreement that was proposed last spring.

"Judge Adlai Hardin"

you got his name folks, i think its time people start paying midnite visits to these judges houses

To add some corrections and clarifications....

I have been here (Comair) for 3 1/2 years and would be more than happy to walk out.
I,as a 70 FO, am going to take a 22% paycut while a 50 seat CA takes 8%. This is the cut on the hourly rate only. Per diem drops from $1.75 to %1.55, 75% pay on deadhead, along with some drops in value for vacation pay/accrual. Oh, but we will get a profit sharing plan..woo-hoo! Whatever!

Figures the CA's would get a lesser cut even though they make the most money! Like FO pay wasn't crappy enough!!! :mad:

This is 100% representative of my experience with alpa, and is the source of much of my reservations regrading alpa.

A judge can do anything he wants, until overturned by a higher court.

In this case there is a major grey area...

The Railway Labor Act normally prohibits pilot strikes except in certain cleary defined circumstances (basically you need the federal governments permission to strike).

In bankruptcy, if a judge throws out the pilot's contract, it would appear that the RLA no longer applies, since it is based on the existence of a contract. A bunch of guys can't just be forced to come to work for whatever the company wants to pay...we do not have provisions for indentured servitude in this country (except in the military).

what about the CRJ200 FO pay scale?

That needs to be quoted! That concept is hopefully what attorneys will use in any attempt by the courts to block a strike. we are talking slavery here, it sounds harsh but thats the reality of it.