NPA's rebuttal....

[funnyman12]

Anyone read the NPA's email regarding their rebuttal to Lear's research? It is pretty fun to read. They must feel threatened.

 

[PCL_128]

It reads like a temper tantrum from a toddler, and it really doesn't rebut much of anything. Pretty entertaining, though.

 

[fuzzy077]

Who the hell wrote this thing, and why didn't they stick their name on it? Jack***es.

 

[SkiFishFly]

How long

Until Lear provides the rebuttal to the rebuttal?


I read over someones shoulder for a minute at one of their rebuttal points. I noticed right away that they never actually addressed the issue raised in Lear's rebuttal. They redirected by saying essentially that the referenced para was invalid.

and? - real mature response there...

 

[PCL_128]

Who the hell wrote this thing, and why didn't they stick their name on it? Jack***es.

I recognize most of the quotes from Skipper's road shows. No doubt that he wrote it.

 

[newnan]

Personal attack and passing the buck.

They seem to agree on alot of the concessions.
On scope, because they can already have unlimited turbo props and approx 40 50 seat rjs, it's OK to GIVE them more. What's wrong with this picture?

That's pretty much what I saw.

Still keeping my vote at NO.

 

[ATLplt]

I don't get it at all. You would think the union would back the play of the pilot majority and let this thing go down hard. Why does the board keep trying to dilute the no vote? 55/45 won't show much solidarity. 80/20 will.

Lear, any rebuttal to the rebuttal yet?

 

[Sandhawk]

Please post said letter here so we can enjoy it as well!



Thanks in advance!

 

[Lear70]

They seem to agree on alot of the concessions.
On scope, because they can already have unlimited turbo props and approx 40 50 seat rjs, it's OK to GIVE them more. What's wrong with this picture?

That claim by the NPA is incorrect.

The company CANNOT currently have "unlimited" turboprops. The Scope section says "aircraft", not turboprop or turbojet; it's all based on seats, and turboprops are just as restricted as jets under the current contract ASM limits.

Lear, any rebuttal to the rebuttal yet?

No, I've been too busy trying to figure out how to pay the bills, talking to union reps and other pilots, and looking for a new job.

Klaus issued the termination letter today, for me and at least 2 other pilots.

No, I'm not kidding.

 

[ATLplt]

.....

 

[EMBATP]

so what did they give as reason for your termination?

this is just the kind of crap that should make everyone raise all kinds of hell and put there resumes out everywhere....i gues klaus is making this place like nazi germany...


i can see him now talking to lear..." for you...zee war iz over....."

sucks dude...if you are ready to take up arms and burn this bitch down...i'm your man

 

[na4life]

No, I've been too busy trying to figure out how to pay the bills, talking to union reps and other pilots, and looking for a new job.

Klaus issued the termination letter today, for me and at least 2 other pilots.

No, I'm not kidding.

I hope you have got some good Labor Lawyers on your side. It appears AirTran management has decided that they would rather pay the settlement later and have you off property for the time being. Just be sure to make it so they pay you handsomely.

Best of luck in surviving until then.

 

[EMBATP]

hey lear

any way we can set up something to help you pay the bills until this thing gets settled?

if we dont look out for each other, no one will...

 

[IronCityBlue]

Lear,

I've seen this type of (mis)behavior before. Its in the back of the management playbook. Its one of their special teams plays they only pull out when nothing else is working. The purpose is not to punish you, its to frighten others. You will get your job back, 100% pay loss and probably a nice settlement, but it will take time. Management is hoping that during that time, they will frighten just enough pilots to get their way.

 

[radarlove]

Here's the trick: yes, if you get fired for union activity, you eventually will get your job back with back pay. The kicker is that it is likely you'll work in the meantime, and the company will only be liable for the difference between what you earned at your new job and what you would have earned at your old one.

So they're not out a whole lot of money and the scare tactic works wonders on the other recalcitrants.

Good luck, this is union-busting 101.

 

[wood pecker]

I recently was called by another airline and at first I was not sure about leaving, but after what they did to Lear I have no regrets. I only wish I was able to rub my ass and shake hands w/ those weasels for trying to ruin your life and everyones career.

I convinced the rest of my buddies that were trying to get hired to go elsewhere. History will repeat itself and MCO will find themselves short handed of qaulified pilots. I was able to use most of my sick time due to illness and only wish I could use the rest in protest for Lear. Maybe everyone else can. Now I no longer have to know how much horsepower the stab trim motor has or how to hotwire a 717. Good luck guys and if your junior you will be making $80+/hour at another nearby airline and the training dept does not hate you for being young. Your oral is on a computer...

 

[MGT3]

I only wish I was able to rub my ass and shake hands w/ those weasels for trying to ruin your life and everyones career.

The technical term is "stinkpalm"

 

[XJohXJ]

Good luck Lear. It's inexcusable what they're doing to you. You'll win in the end.

 

[MINIME]

Sorry to hear this Lear. But I'm confident that you'll beat this. Scaretactic 101 at its best.

Should be a sign for anyone considering Airtran as their next stop. Do you really want to work for an outfit that is ran with an iron fist? Why? When all the legacies are hiring. That's right, some of them don't even make you take an oral. It is done on a computer.

 

[BigMeat]

You guys at Airtran should all chip in and hire a lawyer from ALPA. Im not saying ALPA is a save all but they do have really good lawyers for stuff like that. Lear put his neck out to help his fellow peers and that should not be forgotten. Start a fund to pay for a lawyer and someone should call ALPA national and see how much a lawyer would cost. If you get one I will even chip in. I have many friends at Airtran and u guys deserve better than what they are offering u.

 

[Lear70]

Thank you all for your kind words.

The amount of support I'm getting from our pilots is incredible and has been the sole comfort during the last 24 hours. My phone, email, and PM's have been going crazy, so if you get a PM box full message, email me at [email protected] - takes me a bit to get to my PM's, I'm driving cross-country working on my side-business I've had to ramp back up.

A lot of people have offered help with bills, and I truly thank each and every one of you who have, but I'm OK, I have some savings left even though I used most of it to get through first year pay and, to be quite honest with you, I'd rather you send it to the fund for our F/O who is out with cancer in a bad way and needs the help MUCH more than I do. If you need the specifics on her fund, please email me.

The best thing you guys can do for me is any help with a Lear gig or other charter/corporate flying for the 18-24 months this is going to take. The company waited to terminate us for a couple weeks, whether deliberate or not, and we will just miss the October System Board of Adjustments (SBA); the next one is in March, then another 9-12 months or more to bring it to arbitration. I was hoping the NPA would offer to bring me on staff full-time like they have in the past, but I don't think that will happen until new leadership is in place.

I've retained an attorney, and that fight WILL be expensive, but they can't get rolling with anything except a Title 7 claim until after System Board - civil suits have to wait until you've gone through at least that portion of any Collective Bargaining Agreement relief.

Otherwise, keep spreading the word about the T.A., nominate and vote a new NPA president in who has proven they will fight when needed and who you think will best represent you, then back them 100% and be ready to volunteer your time for picketing events, etc. and push hard for a good contract.

Thank you, fly safe, and God bless!

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Sorry to hear dude!

 

[tubelcane]

Why would he want his job back? Would any of you? I would hope to hit them in the wallet, and walk away laughing all the way to the bank.

The bigger question is what are the Airtran folks gonna do about this? Are we going to grow a spine or just walk around with our heads down and take this?

 

[BigMeat]

Isnt NPA paying for his lawyer? If not you guys better vote that union out. Real quick. Thats ridiculous! Vote in ALPA, Teamsters, someone. Screw your MEC and what is their names?

 

[SkiFishFly]

I'm voting no

and looking for another job (voting with my feet)...

This airline management has
a. made a folk hero out of Rich M.
b. ensured that it is going to be much harder for them to keep up with attrition and adequately staff the airline.

 

[Jiminmem]

Very sorry to hear about everything Rich. I had hoped Airlink was the last place that you had to deal with people who played these games, guess not. This will definitely be resolved in your favor, its just the hell they are putting you through till you can finally win this casse.

Good luck and hopefully this will be resolved shortly.

 

[ATLDRVR]

Lear, what is the official reason for your termination? What was the reason for the other guys termination that you mentioned?

Obviously there are rumors floating around about the reason for the termination but would like to hear the true story.

Is the NPA going to represent you further or are you completely on your own?

 

[curtis46]

This is a sad day for ALL union workers.i've seen in some european countries,entire company to go on strike in protest for case like that;not so in america.

 

[Donsa320]

Labor vs Management

It occurs to me that if I were not reading this thread in real time I'd think I was reading from "Flying The Line" Part 1. I did not think these kind of management folks still existed. Lordy. You guys will have your hands full.

DC retired ALPA #20232.

 

[Lear70]

I've been advised by both the NPA attorneys and my personal attorney not to discuss it further, although you can find it on here if you look at the last few AirTran threads that have been on here the last week or so.

The NPA is still representing me, Brad Simms is doing an excellent job and as much as he can within the limitations of the RLA. It has to run its course through the grievance process, and the NPA IS doing their job.

I've retained an attorney for the civil side of the case and the NPA is not paying for his services, nor should they be expected to. The NPA's job is to get my job back as quickly as possible with pay and benefit protection, not to fight a civil case with pilot's dues.

I won't comment about the other pilots; it's their personal business and if they want to discuss it they can but it's not my place to say.