I love the scab fence!! The only concern I have is that we have 787's coming at UAL as well. Which scabs get to fly those?

 

Nibbling at the edge of negotiating in public here, but personally, I'm not a fan. I like the way UAL currently does it... common types or similar flying pay the same. Yes the 747 is bigger and faster than the 777... but the same can be said about the 737-900ER compared to the A319 (at least the bigger part). Breaking fleets into too many categories can create inequities between the two groups of pilots at different points in the seniority list. The other thing is that the next contract may well see a drawdown in the 747 and I don't want to lose our highest paying equipment due to that. Just my two cents.

 

The name of the game isn't revenue... it's profit.

 

I don't think you guys get them until 2016, but I do suspect that 787 and 747 fences will be gone by then as will the age 65 guys and the "you guys" "us guys" statements. Hopefully, we'll all be holding hands and singing by this time next year.

 

At the very least prepare in case we are all holding picket signs. Let's make this JCBA count!

 

I meant holding hands and singing on the picket line.

 

How do you fence off an airplane that both have ordered but nobody has? Is there a precedent for this? Do we fence the A350 that I'm sure we won't get?

I'm asking these questions just to play a little devil's advocate, not because I'm looking for a serious answer. There is no "us" and "them" to me starting tomorrow. Frankly if the rumors are true that there is a rift in the CAL/UAL MEC's during JCBA negotiations, I'm going to be disappointed. I don't put much stock in any of that stuff, as I had heard "from a reliable source" that the pay issue was already settled. I won't believe anything until I see it on paper.

Anyway, with all the crap that we've put up with for the last decade, I'm ready to start a new chapter. I have no doubt there will be some disappointments for all of us, but overall, I think the future is brighter together than it was for any of us independently. Hopefully we will all be one big family soon.

 

Spoof for laughs:

ALPA HQ BRIEF

 

Not much of a spoof! What's crew pass again?

 

I just read where Smisek said he doesn't expect a contract for at least a year. He also said that management must have 70 seat scope relief to be competitive. I can't speak for the CAL side, but I would say only 10% of the UAL pilots would entertain giving Smisek any more relief. I don't think he fully understands how we feel.

If he wants to wait us out on a JCBA, he can wait all he wants. The longer he waits, the more expensive my RETRO pay will get in order for my yes vote, and my strike fund continues to accrue every month.

Fritz