The problem is its against the agreement to do that. Number two, your MEC going behind our MECs back hurts both of us bc you're negotiating on something that the other party has no say on that directly affects us. It weakens our negotiating power when the two sides are making separate deals. I have no problem with your MEC testing out different software, but I do have a problem with your MEC cutting us out of negotiations.

 

I would also like to add that one of the reasons many of us voted no was because of the separate language in the TA. So why are we going down this path again?

 

Ive told you twice that the LXJET MEC has met with the company to negotiate PBS agreements behind the backs of the LASA MEC.

It has been explained to you three or four times that by doing this, they are violating the terms of the Transition and Process Agreement.

We cant do any more for you.

 

It is difficult to watch this debate being framed in contractual terms, when at the fundamental level this is about unity.

L-XJT has their contract because they had the benefit of unity with their mainline brothers. L-ASA did not have this benefit. L-ASA has been economically forced to write a more competitive contract.

Perhaps what the L-XJT side does not appreciate is the alter-ego hell they are in. Delta has been the most aggressive of the major carriers in managing down the cost of outsourced flying. It would appear they've even priced the flying below the level of sustainability (with several bankrupt carriers in the wake). UCAL and American are following Delta.

With a macro level focus you should understand that you are hugely exposed to alter ego replacement unless you find a way to unity first. Delta doesn't mind a whit if you guys fight eachother to the death ... in fact, it helps management. But, if pilots stand together, management can not replace us.

 

Us? Aren't you already at Delta? Get me in there and out of this mess.

jk jk

But you're right. The problem also lies within ALPA national that allows this to go on too.

 

But that's not what is going on. The ASA people will be part of the smartpref negotiations. This is required before moving forward with smartpref parallel bidding and smartpref parallel bidding is required by XJT pilots before deciding to go with it or flight line.

And most of us on the ERJ side voted against elimination of our B fund, excused sick calls, and OJI bank, lowering our 401k matching, sick accrual, and per diem, increasing costs of health care insurance, and watering down our LTD, including language about check in, reassignment windows, and ACARS notifications, AND PBS.

But here is the most important thing to keep in mind. The XJT MEC took a lot of time and effort to poll and survey the ERJ pilots to find out exactly what we want and don't want. Now they are acting accordingly so that the next TA doesn't fail. Has the ASA MEC done such diligence? That's not an attack. It might just be that the ASA pilots were not all that agains the last TA to begin with. Which is why I think they didn't poll. They didn't get the outrage emails and phone calls before and after the vote. The point being that we need a TA that will pass. This is part of that. If having ONE agreement that decides how we decide which PBS to go with, it's still ONE set of language dealing with it.

And in the sentence you quoted, there was an explanation. What is it you don't understand that ASA people will be part of the smartpref negations you don't get?

And this is EXACTLY why I've been preaching One List. Because even if the ERJ side concedes all those things in our current contract and go with flight line, Skywest will still own us and be the alter ego airline to whipsaw us against. We should be fighting for One List. Everything else is just so insignificant in comparison, even PBS.

 

You guys are just gonna have to realize were the bigger pilot group. That being the case, the Co realizes they only need to get the larger group on board and they have an agreement. That being said I don't care either way just get something done! I've already know were going PBS reguardless of what's said on this board. Majority rules guys, it sucks but this union isn't a Republic its a Democracy!

Your gonna lose, move on to something that's important to you guys and focus on that. This PBS issue has been decided. LXJT has out maneuvered you guys so stop crying about it!

 

Yes, LXJT is bigger pilot group now... However with 40 plus airplanes headed out of the fleet in 6 months that will even things up.
I would still like to know what the selling point of smart pref is... Specifically .... A globalized system...

 

This has been explained many times. The XJT MEC believes that smartpref is the easiest system to provide at least the same QOL we currently have with our line bidding and associated work rules. They also believe that flight line may do the same but it would take more and better work rules to achieve that same level of QOL we currently enjoy.

 

Well then I move that we take legal action against your MEC and the company for violating the transition agreement. You won't be bigger than us if they continue to shrink the ERJ side more than the CRJ.