LEAR70 (AirTran)

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

Just wanted say thanks, just heard you are going out to DC. You have done a lot for this pilot group. Give them hell.

 

[Lear70]

Wow. I have my own thread. Not sure whether to be happy or wonder if I've lost my mind getting this involved in things...

Either way, I can only hope the company REALLY wants to negotiate something that's POSITIVE in ALL ASPECTS in order to attain a working Agreement.

Otherwise, we're just wasting time and energy (and money). My minimum requirements from a contract have NOT changed. I'm going to do my best to make sure the NC tries to get every single one of them, but that's a LOT to change in a VERY short negotiating time span. The ONLY way it will happen is if the company wants it to.

Thanks for the support!

 

[EMBATP]

lear70

congrats, brother, on making a difference and for standing up for what you and this pilot group believe....that this t/a is a POS and that unified together we can get what we as professionals so rightly deserve...a contract that is industry leading, not industry standard....i am so tired of the industry standard term...it used to mean the top of the heap, now it means taking it in the shorts...i am glad you can make a difference and i feel a lot better knowing that there will be someone really "representing" this pilot group and don't forget to raise the BS flag at the approriate time...

all eyes on you.....

 

[SkiFishFly]

Lear

Thank you. You have my full support!

 

[CrewDog97]

Lear,
I was hoping you'd somehow be involved in the rework of the TA! Very pleased to hear you're on board! Keep us posted like I know you will and give em he!! for the rest of us!

 

[AppBrookie]

Lear,
You have my full vote of confidence, thank you for the work that you have already done and for the future.
Stick to your guns!!!!!!!

 

[FIREMAN]

Now I can put bag tags on.

 

[Lear70]

You guys are too much... But thanks.

Don't get your hopes up; this thing has HUGE holes that have to be fixed, and I have *NO* idea if the company even *REALLY* wants to fix it...

We'll know more on the 11th.

 

[Kharma Police]

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Used to be a mgt. tactic, I guess the NPA is giving it a shot. Best of luck, thank you for your resolve.

 

[Critter717]

Good luck, you will need it.

Perhaps you could ask Allen Philpot why he would again refuse to utilize lesser know members of the pilot group but instead go with ousted NPA leader Sean Sullivan. So, we have Brad Dunlap leading the merger commitee, Sean on board as an advisor. Maybe while you are in D.C. you can find something for Chris Todd to do. In fact according to the audit committee he does not even need to be formally asked to do something for the NPA but will submit a pay request anyway. He may already have a contract drawn up for you. Say hi to Skipper for us, if you can get him away from his hotel room "movies". Please be sure that these guys get paid for any trips they drop and keep them away from open time...wink...wink. No double dipping ok?

 

[Rook]

Always shakin' things up huh?:beer:

 

[Lear70]

Always shakin' things up huh?:beer:

You have NO idea... *sigh*

How do I keep getting myself into these things? Must be a glutton for punishment.

 

[Pancho]

Hello Lear70,
I too am extremely thankful for your sacrifice in these matters. I am curious about who the other members of your advisory board are and how AP selected them?

 

[Lear70]

Hello Lear70,
I too am extremely thankful for your sacrifice in these matters. I am curious about who the other members of your advisory board are and how AP selected them?

I am too...

Seriously, some of them we know, some of them we don't yet. The first "meeting" is set up for this Monday at 0730 in ATL, so I'm sure I'll know more then.

To be quite honest with you, I think they're trying to pull a broad spectrum of highly-visible people who can take this back to the line when they get a new T.A. who they *hope* will be personally vested in it enough to help "sell" it.

My personal thought on it is that if you have to "sell" it, it's not worth having to begin with. A good contract should sell itself.

My personal goals remain the same:

1. Fix Scope - keep it current book or require that if they want bigger aircraft, they can have them for 12-18 months to evaluate profitability, but then they have to bring them on property and negotiate a wage for it.

2. Bind the holding company, even by side letter as long as it REALLY binds AirTran Holdings to the ENTIRE Section 1: Intent, Scope, Merger & Acquisition, and Successorship.

3. Fix Scheduling. This alone will take weeks - I've come up with over 40 changes that are REQUIRED just to take it BACK to current book. It would be easier just to take current book and fix the loopholes, but unfortunately I doubt the company will allow that to happen - they got WAY too much ground given to them in Section 5. Needless to say, anything that has Core Block or loss of Door Close in it is an IMMEDIATE "no" vote from me.

4. Fix the pay rates. We don't need a 15 year pay scale. Evenly distribute what's there, make sure EVERYONE gets AT LEAST 9% (COLA), and preferably more, and bring the F/O's up to industry AVERAGE, which is about 8-12% more than they offered, and put in a clause that increases ALL wages 2.5% or more every year after the amendable date so we can maintain our existing pay through the 2-3 years of negotiations next time. If that takes more money, too bad. Welcome to being a successful company at the beginning of an industry upswing.

5. Fix Retirement & Insurance. Protect our retiree's health benefits. Reinstate existing coverages for loss of license. Lock in cost increases in Copays and Premiums to not more than the yearly increase in the CPI or Inflation. Lower premiums down to something closer to industry standard.

6. Fix the hotel section. The hotel broker has GOT to go... We're getting hosed on that deal, and I'm tired of staying in the crappiest hotel in town, no matter where we go, or staying in a property that is undergoing renovation, just to get kicked out once it's really nice.

7. Fix the grievance process changes, training changes, misc changes here and there that add or remove language that hurts us.

Like I said before, there's just SO much to do, and not a lot of time to do it in, that I just don't know what we'll be successful in doing except opening the Association's and the Company's eyes so when it dies, they know what NOT to do next time.

The changes we need are going to take a LOT of time unless the company is prepared to give a LOT of ground in a BIG hurry...

 

[UALX727]

Lear,

Keep us updated if you can (if that's allowed).

Don't back down from the pressures to come, (arm twisting). Stick to your gut, I believe you are speaking for many of us out there on the list.

Thanks, you will do a great job.

 

[SLEDNECK]

I am too...

Seriously, some of them we know, some of them we don't yet. The first "meeting" is set up for this Monday at 0730 in ATL, so I'm sure I'll know more then.

To be quite honest with you, I think they're trying to pull a broad spectrum of highly-visible people who can take this back to the line when they get a new T.A. who they *hope* will be personally vested in it enough to help "sell" it.

My personal thought on it is that if you have to "sell" it, it's not worth having to begin with. A good contract should sell itself.

My personal goals remain the same:

1. Fix Scope - keep it current book or require that if they want bigger aircraft, they can have them for 12-18 months to evaluate profitability, but then they have to bring them on property and negotiate a wage for it.

2. Bind the holding company, even by side letter as long as it REALLY binds AirTran Holdings to the ENTIRE Section 1: Intent, Scope, Merger & Acquisition, and Successorship.

3. Fix Scheduling. This alone will take weeks - I've come up with over 40 changes that are REQUIRED just to take it BACK to current book. It would be easier just to take current book and fix the loopholes, but unfortunately I doubt the company will allow that to happen - they got WAY too much ground given to them in Section 5. Needless to say, anything that has Core Block or loss of Door Close in it is an IMMEDIATE "no" vote from me.

4. Fix the pay rates. We don't need a 15 year pay scale. Evenly distribute what's there, make sure EVERYONE gets AT LEAST 9% (COLA), and preferably more, and bring the F/O's up to industry AVERAGE, which is about 8-12% more than they offered, and put in a clause that increases ALL wages 2.5% or more every year after the amendable date so we can maintain our existing pay through the 2-3 years of negotiations next time. If that takes more money, too bad. Welcome to being a successful company at the beginning of an industry upswing.

5. Fix Retirement & Insurance. Protect our retiree's health benefits. Reinstate existing coverages for loss of license. Lock in cost increases in Copays and Premiums to not more than the yearly increase in the CPI or Inflation. Lower premiums down to something closer to industry standard.

6. Fix the hotel section. The hotel broker has GOT to go... We're getting hosed on that deal, and I'm tired of staying in the crappiest hotel in town, no matter where we go, or staying in a property that is undergoing renovation, just to get kicked out once it's really nice.

7. Fix the grievance process changes, training changes, misc changes here and there that add or remove language that hurts us.

Like I said before, there's just SO much to do, and not a lot of time to do it in, that I just don't know what we'll be successful in doing except opening the Association's and the Company's eyes so when it dies, they know what NOT to do next time.

The changes we need are going to take a LOT of time unless the company is prepared to give a LOT of ground in a BIG hurry...

Don't forget about SAP! THe Sap II LOA was a complete failure, yet in the TA they have that same control over both SAP's?!?! We can't give up one of the best things about this place.

 

[Lear70]

Don't forget about SAP! THe Sap II LOA was a complete failure, yet in the TA they have that same control over both SAP's?!?! We can't give up one of the best things about this place.

Yeah, that's part of the 40+ things I have down for the Scheduling section...

That whole section is a complete MESS.

 

[j41driver]

Lear,

How's the recall attempt going? I see the link is off of your website.

 

[Lear70]

Recall effort is still out there.

Since I'm joining their efforts, I felt it rather rude to leave up, plus I've always said if AP changes his ways and gets aggressive for his pilots, I'd support him, so I'm waiting to see how everything goes.

We'll see what happens this week and next, and go from there. I honestly don't know what the status of how many signatures they have. Last I heard it was about 1/3 of the way, 80 signatures out of about 240 needed.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

I suggested to a board member 2 weeks ago about getting you involved in reworking of TA. I was glad when he said they were already working on that. Thanks for accepting this challenge. I can relax a bit now knowing that there will be someone competent in DC to represent us.
Thanks man!

 

[easydoesit]

Thanks so much Lear!!! I have a feeling we are all going to be indebted to you when all of this is over...I appreciate all of your efforts!! You are truly a blessing.

 

[Longhorn]

Wow Lear....arent you the big man on campus!!!! Your own thread!!! Niccccccccce.


disclaimer..lear and I are good friends.

 

[crosscut]

... I felt it rather rude to leave up, plus I've always said if AP changes his ways and gets aggressive for his pilots, I'd support him, ...........Last I heard it was about 1/3 of the way, 80 signatures out of about 240 needed.

I'll beg to differ. I’ve just seen 2 sets of signatures w/40+ on each (2 different guys). This is excluding other (system-wide) effort by many others. Allen will never get aggressive for ANYTHING & this alone makes him hard to support. He needs to go & the sooner, the better.

This "panel" is just another maneuver. The other three he mentions in his email are in the top 10 to 15% of the seniority & hardly a proportionate "sampling" of the "pilots' expectations." Those same three were, probably, recommended by KG (same "Pilot Advisory Board" terminology). Two of them are management pilots & the third favors the TA in its current form. Let me just say that while I have a high regard for your effort, your chances will be the same as Mike B’s. He, too, was outnumbered.

P.S. Weren't you a P2P before & then decided to resign because you disagreed with Allen? Didn't you think it was just as "rude to leave up" back then? Ironic that you would decide to go back ... but in a different capacity. This is not a potshot, just an observation. Good luck!

 

[Lear70]

Wow Lear....arent you the big man on campus!!!! Your own thread!!!

Ummm... no, not really, no. *sigh* (shaking head).

Nothing like being barely off probation and having a bunch of people instantly dislike you from one thing you put out (senior management, senior NPA negotiators, etc).

Lots of line guys appreciate it, not too many of the people in power do. Oh well, what can ya' do?

P.S. Weren't you a P2P before & then decided to resign because you disagreed with Allen? Didn't you think it was just as "rude to leave up" back then? Ironic that you would decide to go back ... but in a different capacity. This is not a potshot, just an observation. Good luck!

No, not really. As long as I was P2P, I didn't have anything up there against the NPA or any of its officials, I just disagreed with them.

Once I resigned from P2P and union activity, I felt free to engage in whatever activities I felt morally and ethically complied to do.

Once I agreed to help again, although in a different position, I felt it improper to leave up something that actively undermined the same effort I'm not trying to be a part of.

Hope that helps clarify...

 

[gt1900]

Thanks Lear... And good luck, your gonna need it. Vince G. would probably vote for more of a concession than the current TA offers... I have a feeling its gonna be a tough uphill battel, but having you in DC is a big relief for 90% of our pilot group. At least now we know there will be 1 person who truly stands for the pilots.... Good luck, and give em hell..

 

[airline#5]

Lear,

DOn't forget to stress the $hit FO pay. Where is 2/3 capt pay industry standard? Don't bite on the upgrade carrot, it's not coming anytime soon. Senior greed must be stopped!!!

 

[fletch717]

Lear, good luck I trust you won't sell us out like that P.O.S. SH.

Fletch

 

[fletch717]

Wait, Let me tell you how I really feel without all the sugar coated words.

 

[Just thinking]

how about negating all current side letters and requiring them to be spelled out in the contract... if they are worthless and not in the pilot group's best interest they need to be thrown out now and not allowed to without a time frame. I heard that there is a side letter requiring a doctor's note for anything over a 20 sick call. Not certain if this is true but I sure would like to see member ratification on all side letters from here on out. Christmas fiasco and sap2 jump out as a prime example. They had my support but quickly erroded it through poor decision making and leadership that blames the membership for its failures. You cannot lead from the rear. Lead, follow or get out of the way. If you can't be honest with the pilots you are supposed to represent then you should step down, fly the line and go home.Lear, Thank you for your honest assessment. You have earned my respect as a fellow pilot and person of fortitude. Your observations and convictions will be relied upon by many hopeful to keep the table clear of the BS on BOTH sides of the table.P.S. If you are looking for a pretty decent start for the new contract there is a pretty good one that was the NPA's proposal to the company a couple of years back. I guess they forgot they put it there. I guess that was more along the lines of what I was expecting from the BOD and NC.Thanls again Rich.... lookibng forward to shaking your hand day. Beer will be on me.

 

[newnan]

Lear,

What's the latest after today's meeting? Are you still going to Washington? That will say alot after what you said you would and wouldn't do.