One year from now: sign off on PBS or else?
 

Disclaimer: This may have been cleared up in your Roadshows, I’m just curious for dealing with our own scumbag (F9) management.

After reading your PBS LOA my understanding is that your group will continue to bid hardlines with many of your hourly and daily rigs not going into effect until a working and approved PBS system is in place.

This seems like a win-win for the company, where they can hold you under your current scheduling system with depleted pay rigs (including the elimination of transition conflicts), then be completely unreasonable for the implementation of a quality PBS system. At that point it would drag out through your dispute resolution process, then eventually go to Arbitrator Richard Bloch for a FINAL and binding resolution.

So my run-on question is this: How has the union has addressed this process, the likelihood of going to arbitration, and the possible outcome of a binding arbitration?

Arbitrators have had an distinctive pro-company track record for awards in the airline industry. It seems like any award would likely result in a concession for your pilot group’s PBS system. Meanwhile during this entire process to get to a binding resolution, the company wins with the temporary rules. I would say the incentive is HIGH for the company to punt anything PBS related, so they can go all the way to arbitration, hoping for a pro-company resolution.

Company wants PBS, they are incentivized to get it quickly. They are worried about us slowing down the process.

We get to pick the PBS vendor. It has to be in place I believe 12 months from vendor selection. There will be 2 union and 2 management working through the process and anything that’s not agreed on goes to an arbitrator. Arbitrator has to give special consideration to mainline PBS. The 12 month timeline and “special consideration to mainline PBS” should help from delaying or asking for unreasonable measures on the companies part.

Good answer. I hope you’re correct.

Our FAs would argue a "me too" clause if these rigs hit day 1...PBS implementation being the trigger is a nice work around, since they dont have PBS. They (NC) added $15m (IIRC) to the ratification bonus to account for the delay in these rigs from DOS to PBS ratification.

I hope so too

This is a very good question that was asked many times. They had a very long answer about how the arbitration is set up to prevent delay by either side. I remain skeptical that the company really cares about PBS for the reasons you mentioned. Many strong yessers are telling us how great PBS is for pilots so maybe it is a win-win.

Reread the LOA. Specially #14, 16, and especially 21. Any disputes go to Arbitrator Bloch. The way I read it, there ain’t no way out of it for the company or the pilots.

They also have to give consideration to the current work rules. It's written into the loa... Whether it happens or not is up for debate.

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What makes me uneasy with this whole "PBS" stuff is 1) I don't like knowing all of the PBS terms up front 2) Who is on this JPWG 3) Who breaks a tie if they don't agree 4) What is target.

Too many unknowns just to agree to without knowing. I also don't trust the company to negotiate after the fact....

Just my 2 cents.

Did you email the NC? They will answer these questions. Actually some have already been answered in the question and answer on the TA website.

Actually on it now, thanks


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3) A tie break would go to an already selected arbitrator for a “quick process” usually no more than a week. This question has been answered multiple times at road shows and on the TA under PBS LOA. Another well educated no voter.

Also, it goes to one of our preferred Arbitrators. I think this is a pretty big point as well.

Time will tell. Ask any of the Ex-Pinnacle guys how much he’s preferred.

Also ask ex-Colgan guys while you’re at it :)

Ah, the guys that wanted to staple everyone and have the meetings on a cruise ship. That probably didn't rub Mr. Bloch the wrong way or anything.

Ever heard the term “I’ve been Bloched”? It was very well known by Mesaba, Pinnacle and Colgan guys. Supposed Lofty attempts at Seniority grab aside. It was a horrendous arbitration ruling that impacted many individuals for numerous years.

I'm very familiar with it.

Guess Pinnacle MEC should've chosen better people to run their merger committee. They pushed a bad plan, were told it wasn't going to work, and decided to go forward with it anyway. Pinnacle pilots got exactly what their merger committee earned for them. And it's ancient f'n news, time to quit your crying. Can always tell who the Pinnacle pilots are in the crowd, they're the first to whine about some perceived injustices during the merger.
As a whole, the Pinnacle MEC was the most dysfunctional clown show going at the time.

Isn't Spirit being compared to Pinnacle and Mesaba a little apples to oranges? I understand it's the same guy but dealing with a major airline is different than a regional airline guys. I believe the unions winning record during arbitration is pretty outstanding, no?

Actually, it served me quite well in my Seniority range. I was more concerned about the overall repercussions for my peers. Not crying or whining. Just illustrating past precedent of Arbitrator Bloch’s rulings.

Have fun with your Arbitrated PBS fellas! Don’t forget to throw your peers (Reserve guys) under the bus.

I was just addressing his opinion of Mr. Bloch. Remember, he is a human. His decision can be swayed, consciously or subconsciously, by the behavior of others. The Pinnacle merger committee was a total goat rope. Their behavior probably had some impact on his decision. So when he rules on PBS, presenting a logical argument will probably work to our advantage. It's too bad they didn't keep Jyri around long enough to see this through.