Airtran Pilots if you want change vote for Schroll

[71driver]

I don't know if you guys and gals have read the position papers but 3 of the 4 are available on the NPA site.

David talks about breathing life into the TA2 which is a waste of time, our current contract is far better and needs improvements in far less areas than that TA2 does. Also David had a hand in the negotiation of that TA so if you have a half a brain he is a no vote!

Pons spends much of his paper berating Schroll and his paper didn't have much of a wow factor so he gets a no vote

Best- well he can't even find the time to write a position paper, he was thrown out of negotiations which could have meant he was standing his ground and that's a good thing ......however I think the company despises him and that is bad for any kind of productivity, because lets face it the company is driving the negotiations and THEY can make it easy or hard. he gets a no vote

John Schroll had his position paper out the first day, he is well spoken, composes himself well, has great ideas on where he wants the NPA to go. I don't know him personnally so I called his cell phone number on the bottom of his position paper (hell even Allen Philpot never had his cell phone number available to the pilot group)and spoke to him for long while. IMHO he is our man. Do yourself a favor Airtran guys and gals call John Schroll and talk to him yourself there is going to be a lot of talk about how he sued the NPA don't listen to rumors listen to John and read the papers he filed for his lawsuit and I think you'll agree he is what the NPA needs

 

[gearup5]

Voted for pons. I liked the idea of a pro negotiator and better pay for Fo's. Ask Schroll/Sabby what they think of FO pay(they both have said don't worry you will upgrade in three years.)

 

[Lear70]

Mike just had a baby girl less than a week ago, cut the man a little slack!

Do you think the company is going to LIKE just about ANYONE who stands their ground? In case you haven't noticed lately, 2 guys who have done exactly that are no longer employed and the company managed to oust the people on the NC who did the same.

Do you see a pattern emerging here?

Cooperating with a management group who's SOLE goal is to minimize our gains while simultaneously maximizing their profits and bonuses is an exercise in futility for moving forward.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you want to GAIN anything, it's going to get worse before it gets better. Leadership who is going to fight the hard fight is what is absolutely required right now, not someone who will try a "get along" type of approach.

Schroll and I have talked, and I haven't been able to get that far into his "plan" to see if he really has a plan to fight behind his "withdrawal from mediation" plan, but I would be surprised if that tactic actually works, given the level of hostility management has shown in the last 2 years.

I hope he proves me wrong if he's elected. I like the guy, just worried about his tactics which are in conflict with just about everything I've learned in 7 years of unionized aviation.

Not that it's doing me any particular good right now, since I can't vote,,,

 

[fletch717]

Gear, you need to ask around about pons. I thought it was a prank that he was nominated.

 

[Steeler Fan]

I'll read ALL the position papers before casting final judgement.

Congrats on the baby, Mike.

 

[jneely]

John Shroll has a checkered past as far as unions go. Do some research and change your mind. As far as I am concerered when it comes to elections, the person that will do the best job is the person that wants the job the least. John is on "the list". Does that mean anything these days? I don't know, but it did to a lot of people when that all went down. I don't know John, but in all due respect, I will not vote for a line crosser. Hell, I don't know his story about all that and don't care. He is on the list for some reason. If it is not valid, then it should be defended in his position paper. Do we want a union president that crossed the line? Not in my opinion. That being said, Mike Best is no better. He will have us up for a strike in a year or so. The sleeper is Mike Pons. He has no reason to run. Nothing to gain. He lives in Woodstock, so his motivation can't be that he is home every night. Just think about it folks. John Shroll is not what we need for sure.
Jeff Neely (Call me out. I'm not scared )

 

[DCitrus9]

Of all the candidates, Mike Pons is the last person I'd vote for, right behind Tom Benefield. John Schroll seems to have the best all around abilities and overall plan for putting this union back together. I like Mike Best, but I don't think it is his time yet.

 

[TV9Driver]

anyone but Pons... this guy has some serious "personality issues"

 

[ATLplt]

So, to recap this thread so far...everyone sucks. I'm feeling better about our future. Anyone else?

 

[tubelcane]

My head is starting to spin. Where is that damn easy button?

 

[71driver]

Gear up call Schroll and talk to him again, unless he is talking out of both sides of his mouth I the first question I asked was about F/O pay and he said the F/O needed serious improvment, (unlike Allen who told me you'll upgrade in three years anyway) John said if we are going to upgrade so fast then the company should have no problem with increasing the F/O rates.

Lear: I am not looking for someone to "get along" that is an insult. what I am looking for is someone that can walk the line with these jackoffs in orlando, be politically correct if you will while still getting the job done for the pilots there is a way to get a milk bone out of a pitbulls mouth and I am sorry you got bit: seriously

If Schroll is a scab your right I don't like that either, that said, when I hire my divorce attorney I am not looking for a friend, I am looking for someone that will do the best job for me

 

[Ty Webb]

The Company hates Mike Best because he was effective. Re-read the NPA opener (it's available on the NPA site, under "committees", I believe). That document had tighter language, modest improvements for ALL pilots, and was an improvement over current book in all regards, unlike that POS that came about in Mike's absence.

Mike is reasonable, knowlegeable, and can't be bought, intimidated, or threatened.

I don't know J. Schroll personally, but he is a Check Airman, "on the list", and thinks he can fly a line while being NPA President, which is highly unrealistic.

If I were a "hostage" on the sidelines, like Lear, and we had an NPA President who was flying the line (my line!) instead of fighting for my job, it would smack of "failure to represent".

 

[airline#5]

Airtran FO's. Don't vote for a scab...period. Our crappy pay will only get worse. Lear, don't worry, my SWA friends make fun of my pay too. Joke is on us, twice a month.

 

[PCL_128]

Schroll's ideas are just plain scary. He would set us back 2 years in negotiations and decimate the NPA structure. I guarantee that the management types down in Orlanda are cheering for Schroll in this election. From a previous post I made, here are some of the problems with his position paper:

1. He wants to stop using all services provided by ALPA. I don't want to get into a debate about whether we need to join ALPA, but whether you want ALPA on property or not, you can't operate a successful in-house union without a services agreement with ALPA. There's a reason that every major independent union in this industry contract with ALPA for various services. You simply can't do it all yourself. Getting rid of ALPA services would be extremely detrimental to this pilot group, especially in the area of negotiations.

2. He wants to cut the union budget virtually in half. We already need to be putting away more money for a strike fund; we certainly shouldn't be cutting anything. Cutting the budget and dues revenue during times of negotiations is pure insanity.

3. He wants to cut back on staff, but still thinks he and the other Officers could continue to keep current on the line. This is ridiculous. For starters, the President of a 1600 pilot union shouldn't be wasting time by flying the line regularly. I want him in the office and down in Orlando doing the work of the pilots. Second, if you did try to keep flying, you certainly can't do that while at the same time keeping a skeleton staff.

4. He wants to remove us from the mediation process as outline by the RLA. I don't even think this is legally possible, but it certainly isn't advisable. Mediation is a step on the way to self help, and self help is our only leverage in negotiations. Taking a step back further reduces our leverage and puts more power in the hands of management. This is horrible strategy.

 

[gearup5]

Which one is the scab again?

 

[PCL_128]

Airtran FO's. Don't vote for a scab...period.

Why just FOs? I can't imagine why a Captain would want to vote for one either. Do you really want to put your future in the hands of someone who did this?

 

[Phaedrus]

Just the fact that someone has to be told not to vote for a scab for a union position is inconceivable...
You may not be looking for a friend in a divorce attorney or a union rep and with a scab you can guarantee you're not going to find one. You say,
That's OK as long as he does a good job for me". Say what? He has already hosed you by crossing a line.

 

[c9skytrain]

JS's position paper was written by a third grader. I swear, I tell my kids every time they have to write anythinig for school to read it out loud to themselves to see if it makes sense before turning it in.

Cutting back on the union personnel is the last thing we need. I believe we need to add a communications person full time. We are 1600 pilots and growing. We need to act like a professional union.

 

[PCL_128]

Mike Best just added his position paper to the NPA website. That means that every candidate has a position paper posted. Voting is open by phone or ballotpoint using the same VIN and PIN from the TA vote.

 

[XRMEFLYER]

Just the fact that someone has to be told not to vote for a scab for a union position is inconceivable...
You may not be looking for a friend in a divorce attorney or a union rep and with a scab you can guarantee you're not going to find one. You say,
That's OK as long as he does a good job for me". Say what? He has already hosed you by crossing a line.

You got that right!

Kind of indicitive of the "I got mine" everyone for themselves mentality that pervades our society in general and pilot group in particular.

Thing is, if this Schroll guy is a scab then people need to get the word out. Kind of like hiring a convicted child molester to babysit for you because he is good with kids. Not smart!

I asked the captain I was flying with last week who was clearly pro Shroll if he was aware of that little detail about his guy's past and he had no idea and worse, didn't seem to care. Sad!

Just voted for Mike and hope there are about 1500 other like minded individuals out there.

 

[MGT3]

Just voted for Mike and hope there are about 1500 other like minded individuals out there.

All you need is 751 like minded individuals. I voted today.

Hey Steelers Fan: How 'bout them Cardinals?

GT

 

[Eagle757shark]

From what I understand, SK has been quoted by some that the best negotiator he has come across is MB. I've heard this from several folks I've flown with. What does that mean, don't know. I think there should be a time and place, similar to a road show, where the candidates have a forum to voice their issues and what their agenda is for the pilots at AirTran. I would like to make an educated decision based off hearing each candidates issues and also having a session where each candidate can answer questions. This is a very important vote. I do not want my decision to be based on others personal likes or dislikes for someone....we all know how that is in this business.

 

[airline#5]

The issue is this, FO pay $ucks. Who is supporting the FO's, aka "B" scalers?

 

[Lear70]

Lear: I am not looking for someone to "get along" that is an insult. what I am looking for is someone that can walk the line with these jackoffs in orlando, be politically correct if you will while still getting the job done for the pilots there is a way to get a milk bone out of a pitbulls mouth and I am sorry you got bit: seriously

Thanks, it sucks... there's no real other word that fits as aptly.

And please don't take offense, I didn't mean that as a slam on you or John Schroll and certainly didn't mean to insinuate that he WOULD act that way, I just don't think a "play nice" attitude is going to get us anything with this particular management group and I got a *slight* hint of that from John's position paper.

The guys who know him tell me that's not the case, so I'm not saying he's a "bad" choice, just don't think SOME of his ideas will work (downsizing the NPA, stopping the use of ALPA services (not that we have to use all of them, but some of them are VITAL), and flying full time while being NPA president during negotiations).

Fly safe out there!

 

[71driver]

mike best's position paper came out today and I must say I got a warm fuzzy feeling when I read it.

I did not know John Schroll was a scab, but those of us in the know, know there are three levels, does anybody know what his is?

I have been at over a half dozen 121 carriers some bigger than Airtran, and often the problem is, as it is now, is trying to figure out what is in a room while trying to look through a key hole...you don't get the whole picture, we/I think we are in the know only to have someone point out something contrary to what you know i.e. Schroll is a scab and unfortunetly we have more than our fair share of scabs. In the end I always reserve the right to change my mind based on the most accurate information I have at the time I vote.

So keep on communicating it is the best we can do.

 

[DonVerita]

In my almost 6 years here, I have never read a more well thought out and comprehensive position paper than what I read today from Mike Best. He truely "gets it".

I just voted online for Mike. Very easy decision.

Now, if we can just get him paired up with an equally emphatic and visionary Vice Presidential candidate, we are going to be sitting very nice indeed. We'll know who those candidates will be soon enough.

 

[PCL_128]

I did not know John Schroll was a scab, but those of us in the know, know there are three levels, does anybody know what his is?

Well, I disagree that there really are three "levels," but the list doesn't have a hire date for him, so that means that he was "old EAL," meaning hired at some point prior to the strike. Beyond that, I haven't heard anything.

 

[DCitrus9]

I'm glad to see Mike B has shown up with a paper and solid goals. I think he is a stronger candidate with a better grasp on the needs of the union, and I am flip-flopping my vote back to Mike Best, and hope you all do too.

 

[71driver]

I just got off the phone with Mike, will probably have to talk to him again but as of now I am leaning towards Mike also.

The problem is Mike was around for a portion of these negotiations and I was attaching him to this POS TA, but as he told me there were no concessions on the table when he decided to step down. I believe he told me he decided to step down when Crackpot I mean Philpot decided to get involved with the negotiations, that's when the concessions hit the table....what a mess!!

 

[tubelcane]

Mike Best's paper was impressive.

What about the Cardianls? That was their Superbowl!