Judge Smails

Really? So you think our union safety committee would have willfully overlooked a safety hazard if the company had paid us better and shown us more respect? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?

Cruise

I respect your opinion, but I will also say you're 100% wrong.

This memo has nothing to do with negotiations and everything to do with the safety of our operation.

Safety is NOT negotiable.

Alphafloor

Yes I do think they would have overlooked it because it is a unrealistic "safety hazard". More likely to get hit by a meteor or be abducted by aliens than not being able to put out the fire.

AirbusA321Pilot

That has to be one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard in my 23 years in the airlines.

Gunga Din

If that's the depth of a legal "work action" (it's not) then it's not very effective.
The brain trust over there is really grasping at straws if all they can come up with is something we should never negotiate anyway (safety).
How is there not more outrage that these guys get raises or bonuses and we don't? Are we so lethargic we have lost the will to even fight a little?

The Juice

Gunga. I've made you MEC Chair with complete autonomy over the entire MEC. What changes/events/actions do you propose that will be effective and legal.

But be careful, if you suggest something illegal, you get sent to bed without dinner.

Gunga Din

I've never said I was the smartest one at this company but just simply piggybacking on other tried and effective methods at other airlines seems like a start. We don't have to reinvent the wheel here.
In my opinion, how about a nice fat billboard on 171 in Vegas or 190 in Chicago 595 in FLL? "Dear Spirit Passengers-the airline you're about to fly on hasn't given the pilots a raise since 2010 and refuses to negotiate in good faith, enjoy your flight"

Or a continuation of the IAH show of force and info picket. Or how about press releases to the major investment mags and newspapers? Or official suggestions to tripple check all paperwork and never overlook a possible write up? Now if these aren't legal then I retract them. But I would rather see the union lean into this problem a little more forcefully than always back on their heals. We could have had an effective June but our union ran from even the whiff of controversy.
How's that for a start?

tomgoodman

One reason that safety items are never used as negotiating tools is that you can't stop them once a contract is agreed to. Another reason is that the next time you raise a safety concern, your motives will be questioned.

Judge Smails

The odds of a fire while single engine taxiing are low, but it's far from unrealistic....and yeah, you'd be a schmuck to not care if the second bottle is available to put it out if it does happen.

leardriver

Or how a about the genius that re wrote the pneumatic start procedures. After starting #2 at the gate. You now taxi out without the yellow pump running. Your whole career riding on the #2 engine driving hydraulic pump keeping your brakes and steering going till you cross bleed start #1. Brilliant.