OK--see ya around to talk in person.

There's a lot of misinformation floating around as "facts".

 

Some of us just cant see it! It'll be nice to see everyone there asking relevant questions.

Ram what would you give up for another 10 % pay increase, you appear to be smart enough to know that you'll have to give something up for it, right?

 

That's true if your negotiating an LOA during the term of the contract. We are in self help. We have leverage now, and the only time we will have leverage for the next decade.

They are running one of the most profitable airlines in history. They aren't going to shut it down because 450 pilots want STANDARD wages.

What am I willing to give up for another 10%? I'm willing to give up my leverage and sign up for another 9 years.

 

I've been watching your debate here and commend you all for it. Yeah, it get's testy, but that's part of the process.

A word of caution. You have a couple of people posting here who try to pass as, or are percieved as "experts" on unions, law and the RLA, who are not members of your pilot group; in fact they are mouthpieces for others who want you to get on with it and get this done. In reality, they have little experience, they just write what they are told.

This is YOUR contract and your airline. Take the time to read, listen and ask the tough questions of your leadership. Don't be emotional, it'll whack you every time. Don't assume that you are "entitled" to what other carriers have...you get what you bargain for. Management sees you as numbers on a ledger sheet...nothing more, nothing less.

Trust yourselves. Don't let outsiders tell you what to do or how to vote.

You'll do fine.

 

When are you all going to stop fighting Herb's ghost?

I doubt that RamRod is Herb, because I know that Herb moved on to his next quest, his next great adventure over two years ago. Herb's attention span is about three years, so he'll be off to Africa or somewhere else as soon as China gets boring.

I doubt that any of us at Spirit have any reason to be bothered by Herb's shadow.

If he ever comes back, it will be a major surprise to me.

 

Wow, did I really sound like that?
Did I keep calling every one "son"?
Did I keep making reference to "secret sauce"?
Did I refer to the entire pilot group, outside my clique as "Weak s**ks"?
Have I ever posted any "Inside intel"?
Did I end every sentence with "HA!"?
I assure you I am NOT wearing black uniform pants and a Hawaiian shirt, son.

 

Ramrod, stop fighting on this thread.

 

That's not fighting, and if you know the person in question, it's pretty darn funny.

 

Hey Ramrod, did you listen in on the conference call?! I think they explained some of your concerns very well.

 

Just listened to the union phone call

According to the ALPA lawyer, the NMB member (Linda Puchala) was the person who helped put this deal together and gave each party what she considered a fair contract. Linda is a previous Union president and was one of the members on the NMB who voted to release Spirit into self help. She is currently labor friendly. http://www.nmb.gov/directory/dirboard.html

Even though we are in self help, it would only take one phone call from Linda to convince Obama to establish a Presidential Emergency Board which would stop us from striking (she was appointed by Obama). If we vote this TA down, it is possible we would be stopped from going on strike a second time. According to the ALPA lawyer, we might end up fighting for our contract in a court and it is possible a court would give us a worse contract due to the costs the company incurred from us going on strike.

In my opinion, ALPA national wants us to vote yes for this contract because they consider it a fair contract and it met all of their goals. More importantly, ALPA national doesn't want to lose favor with the NMB to release other ALPA airlines into self-help in the near future.