Afraid to Fly
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Posts
- 65
The Colgan Pilots have a unique opportunity to decide what our future could hold for us in the upcoming vote concerning union representation. This is a very important one and should not be taken lightly. The choice whether we vote in ALPA or stay unrepresented will impact Colgan Pilots for years down the road.
A few things, first many have stated, “I won’t be here long enough to see the rewards of a contract.” Be careful with that mentality. Look what the FAA is doing concerning the age 65 rule. It WILL be changed within a year. Once it is changed it will effect hiring at legacy/major carriers, increasing our time at Colgan. With that increased time that will be spent at Colgan, we need a defined set of rules to dictate our quality of life. We have allowed the company to implement rules on a whim to fit their needs. What about the needs and wants of Pilots? The “Policy and Procedure Manual” is a poorly written guideline. Regardless, the company will create ‘rules’ WHEN IT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMPANY AT THE GIVEN TIME. ALPA can give us bargaining power to have a collective voice in OUR work rules.
This is nothing personal against the Colgan family. It is for us as pilots to make sure we have an opportunity to make an informed decision. ALPA representation won’t be the end to all of our problems, but it will help us go forward with our expansion in the right direction.
Many Colgan Pilots are wondering what exactly ALPA can do for us. It is time we start looking at specific issues that we would be able to negotiate in a collective bargaining voice. Below are some specific issues that ALPA at Colgan will work to negotiate. These aren’t promises; these are specific issues that have been negotiated at other carriers. It would be up to us at Colgan to decide what we want and negotiate for.
Here are some items ALPA at Colgan would work to negotiate in a contract with scheduling/dispatch articles.
-Commuters policy. If you live in base; awesome. But honestly ask your self if Pinnacle will want to keep 30+ bases open all over the country. Does it make economic sense in the long run? Take a look at the last three bases to be opened announced, IAH, PIT, and EWR. When you find yourself commuting to LGA or EWR wouldn’t you want to be protected?
-Programs to counter fatigue with the Pilots. Let’s face it guys, we get our A$$ worked off, for long days, in hot planes with minimal air conditioning, and little sympathy when they extend you to work six days in a row.
-Fourteen hour duty day for Pilots.
-Two hour call out for reserve
-Cut down on unnecessary Dead Heads, Limos, and Repos. Having a crew drive from LGA to ALB in a blizzard because no hotels were available in LGA at 8:00 PM. When the crew called at 10:00AM to tell them that they weren’t going anywhere, scheduling refused to book them a hotel. This needs to be changed.
-The line you bid is the line you get. No putting in extra days of open time that needs to be covered in the line you bid. Ability for us to tweak our own schedules with computerized bidding.
-Easier way to trip trade. It is ridiculous we have to fax in our bids and trip trades. It should be computerized.
-Cut down on Part 91 reposition flights. There is no need to ferry a flight Part 91 after a 15 hour 121 duty day. Make dispatch, mx control plan better.
-Increased vacation time.
-If you pick up flying on your day off, you get two more days off in return for you to use at a later time as well as extra pay.
These are some specific issues, which ALPA at Colgan would work to negotiate in terms of scheduling/dispatch. Post more if you have them!
A few things, first many have stated, “I won’t be here long enough to see the rewards of a contract.” Be careful with that mentality. Look what the FAA is doing concerning the age 65 rule. It WILL be changed within a year. Once it is changed it will effect hiring at legacy/major carriers, increasing our time at Colgan. With that increased time that will be spent at Colgan, we need a defined set of rules to dictate our quality of life. We have allowed the company to implement rules on a whim to fit their needs. What about the needs and wants of Pilots? The “Policy and Procedure Manual” is a poorly written guideline. Regardless, the company will create ‘rules’ WHEN IT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMPANY AT THE GIVEN TIME. ALPA can give us bargaining power to have a collective voice in OUR work rules.
This is nothing personal against the Colgan family. It is for us as pilots to make sure we have an opportunity to make an informed decision. ALPA representation won’t be the end to all of our problems, but it will help us go forward with our expansion in the right direction.
Many Colgan Pilots are wondering what exactly ALPA can do for us. It is time we start looking at specific issues that we would be able to negotiate in a collective bargaining voice. Below are some specific issues that ALPA at Colgan will work to negotiate. These aren’t promises; these are specific issues that have been negotiated at other carriers. It would be up to us at Colgan to decide what we want and negotiate for.
Here are some items ALPA at Colgan would work to negotiate in a contract with scheduling/dispatch articles.
-Commuters policy. If you live in base; awesome. But honestly ask your self if Pinnacle will want to keep 30+ bases open all over the country. Does it make economic sense in the long run? Take a look at the last three bases to be opened announced, IAH, PIT, and EWR. When you find yourself commuting to LGA or EWR wouldn’t you want to be protected?
-Programs to counter fatigue with the Pilots. Let’s face it guys, we get our A$$ worked off, for long days, in hot planes with minimal air conditioning, and little sympathy when they extend you to work six days in a row.
-Fourteen hour duty day for Pilots.
-Two hour call out for reserve
-Cut down on unnecessary Dead Heads, Limos, and Repos. Having a crew drive from LGA to ALB in a blizzard because no hotels were available in LGA at 8:00 PM. When the crew called at 10:00AM to tell them that they weren’t going anywhere, scheduling refused to book them a hotel. This needs to be changed.
-The line you bid is the line you get. No putting in extra days of open time that needs to be covered in the line you bid. Ability for us to tweak our own schedules with computerized bidding.
-Easier way to trip trade. It is ridiculous we have to fax in our bids and trip trades. It should be computerized.
-Cut down on Part 91 reposition flights. There is no need to ferry a flight Part 91 after a 15 hour 121 duty day. Make dispatch, mx control plan better.
-Increased vacation time.
-If you pick up flying on your day off, you get two more days off in return for you to use at a later time as well as extra pay.
These are some specific issues, which ALPA at Colgan would work to negotiate in terms of scheduling/dispatch. Post more if you have them!
