AirTran expected to report "record" profit

[USARET]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that SK took the BOD and the N/C in a back room and made them his bitch. That might begin to explain the extreme amount of cooperation that they have been giving the company for the last year.

 

[Lear70]

GT1900, I thought I'd give you the evening to explain what you meant, but when you do, here's some points to ponder:

The NPA says this T.A. will cost the company approximately $8 Million over its ENTIRE DURATION. That figure doesn't completely take into account the work rule givebacks from the loss of door-close AND core block combined after the new credit times are instituted (we'll be overblocking, on average, 50% of the time). Additionally, it only takes into account the cities we currently fly, not the city pairings we open over the next 4 years.

But, for argument's sake, let's say that number is correct. We're giving them a contract that costs $8 Million over 4 years and the company will post profits this year of anywhere from 8 to 10 TIMES THIS AMOUNT!

Even if they didn't make even MORE money each year as they acquire more aircraft and routes (which they will), we're giving them a contract that is approximately 3% of their total PROFIT (not revenue, PROFIT), over the next 4 years, while at the same time screwing our new-hires, screwing our retirees, screwing our reserves, and gaining very little for everyone else.

Somehow I think we can do better than 3% without "breaking the bank"...

You WERE saying you were voting NO just last week. I hope that hasn't changed, because I've been to the road shows, and there's NOTHING in this T.A. that makes it worth voting YES for.

 

[Lear70]

Not trying to be nosey, but does anyone else get the feeling they're delaying the vote on this, this...what the he11 do you call something like that?...because they think the delay will work in their favor? IOW, do you think they believe everyone will simmer down and be more pliable?

That's EXACTLY what they're doing.

The more time that goes by, the less angry and militant they believe the pilot group will become; that's straight out of the ALPA concessionary contract playbook and, for the most part, they're right.

Without someone to keep everyone energized and motivated towards a better contract, it will dillute the NO vote we need so desperately to be high. I'm wondering, short of a recall effort starting NOW, what would keep the average line pilot's eye on the ball?

Polls here are never very scientific, simply because the people on here are, in most cases, the vocal minority. Even those that aren't won't chime in and say they support it, even if this board is anonymous, simply because they'd get blasted and we'd remember who they were and they'd always have to be on guard to STAY anonymous.

Just last week when one of the guys who WAS in favor of it spoke up, he got promptly pummeled and hasn't posted since.

So, any ideas how to keep everyone fired up for a full MONTH?

 

[j41driver]

...axing for concessions...

Been in ATL too long....

 

[SkiFishFly]

Been in ATL too long....

 

[ultrarunner]

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=9252

all this and a low ball TA. shameful.

Hey Citation, don't blame the company for your TA.

 

[SkiFishFly]

Hey Citation, don't blame the company for your TA.

I blame the company for thinking so little of us.
I blame our NC and BOD for being complete idiots.

 

[meanstreak]

Been in ATL too long....

I love listening to some of the F/A axing the pax to fasten their seatbelt. Nothing drives me more crazy than that. I wish I could correct them but I probably wouldn't have a job right now. I guess living in Atlanta you'll have to get used to it.

 

[ultrarunner]

I blame the company for thinking so little of us.
I blame our NC and BOD for being complete idiots.

But you're missing the point. When a group of employees decides to organize, you only get from the company what you can negotiate. That's the whole freaking reason you organized.

You think because the company may post record profits they're gonna just "share" it with those that decided to have representation? HA. Doesn't work that way.


That's the reason it's so critical to have an MEC that speaks for the majority. This has nothing to do, IMO, with the company.

 

[Lear70]

But you're missing the point. When a group of employees decides to organize, you only get from the company what you can negotiate. That's the whole freaking reason you organized.

You think because the company may post record profits they're gonna just "share" it with those that decided to have representation? HA. Doesn't work that way.

Only insofar as this management team isn't Herb in Dallas...

They *COULD* be that way, instill good will toward the pilot group, and maybe we could all work TOGETHER towards a future instead of going down the Legacy Airline path of management/labor relations (and we see how that worked out for most of the Legacies).

They *COULD* have done the right thing; they chose not to. A RESPONSIBLE management team would have understood there's a balance to make the employees happy while not bankrupting the company. Now we have to not only fly our planes, but fight the very company we're working for AND fight our own union leadership, and that simply sucks.

That's the reason it's so critical to have an MEC that speaks for the majority. This has nothing to do, IMO, with the company.

You're right about the first part... The NPA holds the lion's share of the blame in this POS T.A.

However, I believe the company was a willing accomplice in our BOD's direction and, as they say, "the friend of my enemy is still my enemy."

 

[Citrusflyer]

That's EXACTLY what they're doing.

The more time that goes by, the less angry and militant they believe the pilot group will become; that's straight out of the ALPA concessionary contract playbook and, for the most part, they're right.

Without someone to keep everyone energized and motivated towards a better contract, it will dillute the NO vote we need so desperately to be high. I'm wondering, short of a recall effort starting NOW, what would keep the average line pilot's eye on the ball?

Maybe this will help keep the motivation up; how effective is a BoD that has gone beyond not representing the pilot to basically representing the company?

Look at this from their (the BoDs) point of view.
**They send us this TA, with their full endorsement.
**They "say" they admit that the TA either needs to win, or go down hard.
**We get excuses that it was the best they could do with the support they were getting.
**They say some of the language will change to reflect the true intent of the particular section prior to a vote (not happening is it?).
**They tell us what the company's true intentions are always in our favor. (yeah riiiiggght). Blah, blah, blah.

THEN, behind closed doors, they whisper their discontent with the TA, but tell us it's the best they can do ("I voted in favor, but I’m really opposed to it” mantra keeps rising).
I have seen emails and heard conversations from BoD members to pilots that are stunningly condescending and arrogant.
Then the finale', they delay the vote until the end of the month, and will run it for 21 days, in an effort to dilute a "no" vote. They know it will still go down, but they're consciously making an effort to dilute the "no's", and for what purpose?

The only way I see this is that they don't want to go through this again, and will pull out every stop to make it as hard for us (their membership) as they possibly can. They will dilute the vote, wait 5 to 6 months to restart talking, and then come up with something that, in all likelihood, is not much better. Not one BoD member has shown any of us that they are willing to fight for us, yet their actions show how much they are willing to fight against us.

Actions speak louder than words, and their actions are speaking loud and clear!

 

[ATLDRVR]

I am voting yes!!

 

[Lear70]

I am voting yes!!

To the recall ballot? Good for you!

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

I am voting yes!!

you have that right. This guy is flame bait.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

Is there a recall petition going around, and if so, who should I contact to sign it?

 

[Clyde Frog]

I blame the company for thinking so little of us.
I blame our NC and BOD for being complete idiots.

You should be blaming yourself and your fellow pilots. Think about it.

 

[Lear70]

You should be blaming yourself and your fellow pilots. Think about it.

Go back to your cubicle, Chuckie... er... I mean, 400ADude...

I don't know the status of the recall effort, I'm not involved in it right now. Didn't want to sign it and didn't want to go there, but it's looking like we're running out of options with the way the NPA BOD continues to behave.

 

[snuba]

I am voting yes!!

Why??

 

[SkiFishFly]

I am voting yes!!

Are you really that ignorant? How can you vote yes for a single concession in the face of record profits?
Those profits will be used to fund record bonuses. If they are asking for concessions from us - what concessions are they going to take?
(hint - none)

Where do I find out how to vote for a recall?

 

[Ty Webb]

Ding! DIng! Ding! We have a winner!

A RESPONSIBLE management team would have understood there's a balance to make the employees happy while not bankrupting the company. Now we have to not only fly our planes, but fight the very company we're working for AND fight our own union leadership, and that simply sucks.

That pretty much sums it up for me.

At some point, the people of quality say, "I deserve better than this" and start heading for the door . . . . leaving the scabs, the super senior, the dimwits and the unemployable.

In other words, an airline that won't last long. . . .

In the long run, the pilot part of it is really about safety, efficiency and customer service, and without a suitable contract, they will experience rapidly churning turnover, an apethetic workforce, and newhires of marginal skill and experience . . . . . . hardly the stuff necessary to compete against a LCC that has a happy, motivated and appreciated workforce.


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