Comair's contact is gone; will they strike

[9rj9]

Judge rules Comair can impose concessions on pilots: AP



By Katherine Hunt
Last Update: 4:26 PM ET Dec 21, 2006


SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that Comair can impose wage cuts and other changes in work rules on its 1,500 pilots, according to a report after Thursday's closing bell. Judge Adlai Hardin gave the regional airline permission to throw out its contract with the pilots, the Associated Press reported. Comair is a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines Inc.
Delta Air Lines, Inc
http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/quotes/financials.asp?symb=DALRQ&dist=mktwstoryfinancials

Earlier this month, the pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International, voted to authorize a strike if their contract was rejected by the court.

 

[Flyer1015]

Might reach a deal at the last minute, like Mesaba did. Who knows. Very critical few weeks ahead, that's for sure.

 

[Axel]

All the DCI carriers need to pay close attention here. If it comes to a strike, Mother Delta will almost certainly try to shuffle the flying to cover the struck work. It will be helpful to see a published list of struck work as the other DCI carriers can't just arbitrarily decline to work "just in case." Or can they?

While the Comair guys are between a hard rock and a place, this could be any of us and probably will be (like dominos) if we all don't back the Comair guys' play. Not to mention the principle. This is an opportunity for all the bickering to stop (or at least to pause) and for all of us to present a united front and stand up to these tactics.

 

[captainv]

Merry Christmas, my Comair brethren!!!

 

[Hovernut]

Yep, a black Christmas it is indeed for us, now. Word is out to clear our stuff out of the domiciles 'just in case.'

At least we got our fraggn ham this year!

 

[wmuflyguy]

Probably negotiate some TA in the 11th hour. I don't think we will strike...I mean after all, if Comair dies, what will JC and Cory do?

 

[MDAutry]

what is going on? After the dust settles the pay scales are going to go down? Benefits? Please fill me in on what has been happening... I was looking at Comair for the future?

 

[Dirt Doctor]

Call in Sick

I called in sick for Christmas I hope all Comair Pilots will do the Same!!! Merry Christmas to all. I hope MGT. can fly the planes....

 

[Tim47SIP]

Where is he?

How come we haven't gotten any Surplus sermons on this subject lately. Where has he gone???

I kind of miss the old guy.

 

[Cavpilot]

I called in sick for Christmas I hope all Comair Pilots will do the Same!!! Merry Christmas to all. I hope MGT. can fly the planes....

If there is a sick out, I assure you that the company will slap the pilot group with a restraining order before lunch. They will use your post as evidence. Don't believe me? Ask anyone that was there in December of '99.

"DOWN!"

 

[EMB170Pilot]

I called in sick for Christmas I hope all Comair Pilots will do the Same!!! Merry Christmas to all. I hope MGT. can fly the planes....

What's your name and employee number?

Tool!

 

[goodpilotithink]

Thank you mesapukes, sky(bendmeover)west and shettykitty!!!
We owe all of this to you spineless idiots.
Where do you think mgt got those pay scales??
What a bunch of morons. Flame away, but you cannot argue with facts.

 

[MDAutry]

Bump:
what is going on? After the dust settles the pay scales are going to go down? Benefits? Please fill me in on what has been happening... I was looking at Comair for the future?

 

[dowhite2]

Goodpilotithink,

Be sure to also thank us mesa pukes for helping pay your bills during your last strike!

D

 

[Lear70]

Bump:
what is going on? After the dust settles the pay scales are going to go down? Benefits? Please fill me in on what has been happening... I was looking at Comair for the future?

Have you had your head in the dirt the last year and a half???

WTF?

Long story short. Comair filed for Ch. 11 Bankruptcy a while back, has been slowly getting contracts dumped (F/A's first), now pilots have their contract yanked by the bankruptcy judge.

The pilots authorized a strike. Now we have to see if they'll play that card.

If they do, the company will seek an injunction and, thanks to the landmark case with NWA, will probably get it and force the pilots back to work.

Many pilots will call for many different individual types of work actions in protest: call in sick a lot more, burn the APU's more, fly lower and slower (kill on-time performance AND burn extra gas which is expensive right now $$$), none of which helps unless EVERYONE does it (and, by the way, it's illegal which is why the other guys were telling braniac to STFU).

In the long run, they have 2 choices: get a deal that's at least somewhat better than the imposed terms OR wait until Comair exits bankruptcy then strike (hasn't been tested yet) under extremely crappy imposed work rules for 6 months to a year or more.

In the meantime, they stand a real chance of losing a lot of flying if DAL decides they can't count on them or their performance really does suffer dramatically and might farm out more flying (hearing a lot of PCL rumors for the CVG flying with the new NWA agreement in place - probably just rumors for now, but who knows...?)

Long and short: until the dust settles, I wouldn't quit my banner towing job if I were you. Might be a LONG time before CMR hires off the street again in any real numbers much less has upgrade times which is what you need to be looking at for that almight PIC Turbine time. You might want to broaden your horizons a bit.

Good luck guys. If you do walk, you are welcome to our jumpseats to get home anytime.

 

[Aerosurfer]

Thank you mesapukes, sky(bendmeover)west and shettykitty!!!
We owe all of this to you spineless idiots.
Where do you think mgt got those pay scales??
What a bunch of morons. Flame away, but you cannot argue with facts.

Thats Funny, I don't recall any of us over here at Sha-takey-away ever voting concessions for growth....... Look where that got you....

 

[wrigley23]

Good luck guys. If you do walk, you are welcome to our jumpseats to get home anytime.

Thanks man good to hear, I'm already running the scenario in my head. "If it happens on that day and I'm here, how the &$%^ do I get home and how much will it cost." Nothing like going into the holidays with your job and bank account on the line.

 

[no1pilot2000]

Payback

If I were a pilot for Comair, I'd turn my back on Management and the Bankruptcy judge. Let the airline fly into extinction. Seems like Comair is mainly a airline in name now only, without substance.

 

[flylike44]

sad...there definitely needs to be an "official" list of struck work...sorry guys...

 

[goodpilotithink]

Thats Funny, I don't recall any of us over here at Sha-takey-away ever voting concessions for growth....... Look where that got you....

Your WHOLE contract was a concession you idiot.
Pattern bargaining was alive and well . We did our part. Then what do the others do??? Instead of using our hard fought for contract as an opener, as you are SUPPOSE to do in this industry, you idiots saw it as an opportunity to under cut us for the promise of lots and lots of shiny new jets. And in doing this, you idiots screwed every pilot out there.

 

[Axel]

Thank you mesapukes, sky(bendmeover)west and shettykitty!!!
We owe all of this to you spineless idiots.
Where do you think mgt got those pay scales??
What a bunch of morons. Flame away, but you cannot argue with facts.

Here is a fact: It benefits management to keep us at each other's throats because if we are fighting amongst ourselves we cannot present a coherent defense. Stuff like what is quoted above plays directly into management's hands and promotes their agenda.

CHQ management came to the pilots during the Comair strike and asked nicely if we wanted to pick up a little temporary flying out of CVG. They left with an angry looking welt on their cheek. Management came to us about a year ago asking (not nicely at all) for pay and work rule concessions in order to get a bunch of CRJ's. They left with an angry looking welt on the other cheek.

There were only about 400 of us during your strike, but we honored and walked your picket line and contributed to your strike fund. We'll do it again.

 

[acarpe3448]

I think you tough guys should carry out all your threats. Slow down, fly low, burn gas, strike, burn the place down. The sooner Delta drops you scumbags the better. I love to hear you all talk about your strike! You think that it was so big of you! It was dumb as sh$$! In the end you all are still going to take your paycuts, or take your pink slips! Rolling on the ground laughing my a$$ off! I hope Captain Ford enjoys the unemployment line!

 

[Lear70]

Thanks man good to hear, I'm already running the scenario in my head. "If it happens on that day and I'm here, how the &$%^ do I get home and how much will it cost." Nothing like going into the holidays with your job and bank account on the line.

No worries.

This industry has always had the good will from other carriers to get stranded pilots home from the outstations or hub if/when an airline goes on strike.

Very few carriers DON'T honor this, most everyone does.

Best of luck!

 

[Texx]

If there is a sick out, I assure you that the company will slap the pilot group with a restraining order before lunch. They will use your post as evidence. Don't believe me? Ask anyone that was there in December of '99.

"DOWN!"

It's not a "restraining order". It's an "injuction" and the company can't slap anyone. Only a judge/court.

 

[imacdog]

The pilots authorized a strike. Now we have to see if they'll play that card.

If they do, the company will seek an injunction and, thanks to the landmark case with NWA, will probably get it and force the pilots back to work.

The company has already filed an injunction against a strike, so the judge may rule on that before the company imposes its terms. It's a difficult position to be in when the company has full power to throw out your contract and the pilots have no legal authority to fight it.

 

[wolfpackpilot]

There is only one thing left for the Comair pilots to do....

Leave with your dignity, and your heads held up. Only the name will disappear, all of you will find employment.

 

[thebest]

Thank you mesapukes, sky(bendmeover)west and shettykitty!!!
We owe all of this to you spineless idiots.
Where do you think mgt got those pay scales??
What a bunch of morons. Flame away, but you cannot argue with facts.

Hey, Comair is alpa everything will be fine! What, your 2% isn't doing what you thought....imagine THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thebest]

I think you tough guys should carry out all your threats. Slow down, fly low, burn gas, strike, burn the place down. The sooner Delta drops you scumbags the better. I love to hear you all talk about your strike! You think that it was so big of you! It was dumb as sh$$! In the end you all are still going to take your paycuts, or take your pink slips! Rolling on the ground laughing my a$$ off! I hope Captain Ford enjoys the unemployment line!

Good idea, just give em more reasons to give Comair's flying to someone else! Keep up the good work. It is exactly what Delta wants to happen!

 

[WateryGrave]

I think you tough guys should carry out all your threats. Slow down, fly low, burn gas, strike, burn the place down. The sooner Delta drops you scumbags the better. I love to hear you all talk about your strike! You think that it was so big of you! It was dumb as sh$$! In the end you all are still going to take your paycuts, or take your pink slips! Rolling on the ground laughing my a$$ off! I hope Captain Ford enjoys the unemployment line!

Wow aren't you an angry little Delta Biatchhh. What happened? Comair guy get busy with your wife???

 

[cmrflyer]

very nice.