I agree 100% with you! It stinks. But, when we're operating under ALPA bylaws and the RLA, we're basically fooked! After United's injunction years ago, ALPA is scared for more ramifications. More rogue "pamphlets" might be helpful..

 

I agree with most of what you've said. This is why the union has to "officially " stay above the fray and, in my opinion, say something like this "dear fellow pilots. While we are currently negotiating we would advise our members to fly only your awarded trip being mindful not to violate any part of the CBA", or something similar. "While we want to apply all legal pressure available to us, we ask members to limit their extra and above the minimum limits in this challenging environment. We recognize this may cause hardship but in the long run we will all benifit. If you considered volunteering for future events outside the required legal bound duties your MEC would ask you to refrain from doing so".
But what did we get? The opposite.

 

There is a lot of room between our unions current position and an illegal job action. No one here is asking for an illegal job action. But how about a little more robust pushback against a tide that sees us as Nancy's?

 

Hawaiian has only been amendable for 1 year and already has asked to be released. They have also set up a strike center by the airport showing that they will not accept being jerked around for years before getting a contract like we surely will. What are we doing? Wearing lanyards isn't going to get the job done.

 

Yes, Hawaiian has also reached an impasse. We will do the same when that happens, which could be during the 6-9th of sept.

 

Nothing pilots can do at this point will make a difference in the company's actions. Billboards? Passengers don't care (they think you're overpaid already). The only thing that matters right now is making a favorable impression on the mediator, and the only reason THAT is important is for her to agree to get out of the way. Nothing about your statement above would be received well by the mediator and would be counter productive.

 

The labor market is going to take care of us. It's just going to take longer than if we were more unified.


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I know your intentions are good, and I agree with your sentiment.

However, that statement would never make it past ALPA legal, guaranteed. The Union can not condone or promote anything that can be considered a job action, the above is a job action. Telling guys to only fly their lines is a job action when past history shows the company has a reasonable expectation that pilots will pick up open time .

Rouge Dragon pamphlets saying to not pick up open time is one thing, the union sending a blast mail out saying this, never going to happen.

Like Ram said, everything we do now has to be viewed with "how will the mediator view this," otherwise you're simply cutting off your nose to spite your face.

And in the end, some guys are going to pick up time and go above and beyond, regardless of any billboard or union email. This is an easy scenario to armchair QB with the "well I would do this or say this." Truth is so much is at play that we need to recognize we entered an important step in mediation, and we need to sit and see how this plays out in the short term.

 

gonyon - You nailed it. The June opportunity came and went. New hires - most included - are hungry for 'recovery' salary: money needed to make the transition to Spirit. Captains should have set the example.

June FAIL...

I have resolved hope! Logbook and resume updated. Those that can make the jump - let's roll.


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Big assumptions. Any legal behavior will not effect an impartial judge. Just like the company is bound to the law and contract yet still robustly pushes for better outcomes, so should we.

I don't see the company dancing around in fear of a mediator. Why is the union?

I can't wrap my head around an argument that says "it probably won't work so we should do nothing". That's not a very pilot like attitude. People do care. Passengers perceive us as cheap. Cheap fares cheap planes cheap employees. And in aviation cheap equals unsafe. If the public gets a whiff we are disgruntled they will directly impact the bottom line. Which is all management cares about.

Juice- How about we try? If we asked ALPA legal and they call my suggestion a "job action" I'll shut up. But let's not argue against ourselves. If they said it wasn't illegal would you join me in calling for the union to be more assertive?

As far as I know we haven't even tried to be more forceful. We are still very much in the let's play nice mode.