What happened to all the love Ben? First, let me say it's a honorable thing you do by volunteering for the surplus to EWR. I'm sure many will be keeping track of that. Secondly, what are you going to do for the junior guy that you potentially BUMP out of a Captain seat in EWR?

You've started to use the "us and them" to address the two pilot groups again and back to calling the blue side Brain Surgeons. We've come a long way for you to start that again because you didn't win your carve-out. You admit that your carve-out would be a precedent for all surpluses going forward and I'm sure you know that this little carve-out would perpetuate the granting super-seniority to every pilot surplussed at the expense of all other pilots TRUE seniority. Bad deal and the MEC voted "NO". Tell all the United pilots the vote tally. Not names and LEC's just totals. It was your "DEAL" and you should be the one to tell them. It would be more appropriate to put it in YOUR next Houston LEC RANT instead of just giving it to the APC crowd.

If there is a positive, you were able to persuade the company to break the surplus into three groups. Was it the Houston CP that bailed you out? After all, didn't he put the DEAL together for you to sell to the MEC?

 

Ben, you know a system bid (flush bid) would have been the best thing for UNITY and overall QOL for all United pilots considering the current surplus situations. I'm sure the numbers people have second thoughts. Jeff/Fred/JayP really thought JayP would end up controlling the MEC and it would be back to business the old CAL ALPA way.

 

Happy Father's Day!

That aside, read your own post. Absolutely NOTHING your said is truthful or coherent.

My hope is that you might have a friend who is more educated in this regard. I hope he/she helps you understand some of the facts on the issue. If you wish to educate yourself, hear is the documentation that you should peruse:


-The initial displacement was for 350, not 150, even if done in three rounds; basic arithmetic. Read Howard's letters on the subject "base realignment/IAH Displacements.

-The MEC has already given very specific "deals" to only the Pilots of SEA, ORD and LAX. The 171 resolution would give grandfather rights to ALL United Pilots. Read the grandfather rights resolution and LOA 14.

Lastly, this incessant libel you guys drivel about Muir and I being buddies is a lie probably founded on the fact that I have an outstanding record of picking up the phone and getting Pilots out of trouble without the Pilot ever having to come to the flight office. There is a certain sub-group in our ranks who are actually disappointed when I call and tell them that their issue has been handled and there is no need for them to report to the flight office. As a result, I now ask the Pilots if they want me to handle the issue, or would they like an investigatory meeting?

I know not where Rick Muir lives, what he drives, his wife's name our how many kids he has. It's all business. We have a mutual understanding that I will never get in the way of him being a manager, and He'll never get in the way of me representing Pilots.

I really hope that you educate yourself on these issues. If you need help, I'm always here.

Frats,

Ben
412/716-8208

 

I'm not in favor of unity for unity's sake; that action actually denigrates the concept of unity. Unity also doesn't mean "let's do it my way, because my way is best and that's the way we've always done it. First, let's find mutual respect, then we move on to unity; that's the only way it will work and be "true" unity.

 

Ben, the situations surrounding MOU 14 (BES CLOSINGS) are different than the situation regarding the bumps being seen in IAH right now. And you know it. If you had led the charge while pilots were getting bumped in ORD and DEN then you wouldn't be facing this backlash. But only now that pilots in YOUR base are getting bumped (including you) do you raise the flag and charge the hill.

I contend, as I have before, that extending grandfather rights is a BAD idea.... whether it was in MOU 14 or your resolution. Makes it less expensive and less punative to bump, which makes the company more likely to keep doing it.

 

Houston is not the only base suffering massive surpluses.

Open letter to the DEN LEC. With the highly unlikely probably that a 76T base will re-open in DEN(there is a chance), the DEN LEC should move to reinforce the recent base closing resolutions be afforded to protect DEN 76T pilots as a result of the recently announced DEN base/equipment closing and surpluses.

 

It's not my responsibility to lead the charge in ORD or DEN. But I (the entire MEC) supported their relief by voting in favor of LOA 14. I also reached out to the DEN Reps before putting the IAH resolution on the table. I have huge respect for the ORD and DEN Reps, but won't emulate or criticize the way they represent their Pilots. That would be out of line and inappropriate.

Also, I've heard the arguments that "this is different"; my counter is that it's no different to the Pilot being displaced. I'm obligated to advocate for 171 Pilots; I won't apologize for that and will work within established legal and moral confines to do so.

 

You should read the literature that I pointed you to. You appear to be working on hearsay rather than facts.

 

It's too bad you don't know the difference between a base closing and a bump.

Pretty simple concept.

 

Well, I'm sure you could educate me with your infinite wisdom. You guys kill me. Some of us have had experiences at other airlines before the merge.

I hope I never "learn" your way of doing business. At USAirways and lCal, ALPA fought ALL displacements/furloughs as hard as we could. I think we have a great record in that regard.