To ALL UNITED pilots courtesy of ALL UAX carriers and their pilots

[CFIT]

Let's see, you're mad at UAL mgt., so you're going to deny the jumpseat to mainline pilots?


If you have an issue with management, there is an appropriate venue to present it - NOT by burning a bridge with your mainline pilots.

The problem is not management, it's the UAL MEC, management doesn't care about the priority. UAL MEC wanted the super priority and have been asked for over 2 years to put it back the way it was.

Simply put, put it back the way it was and this little episode is over.

 

[Flyerdan]

Let's see, you're mad at UAL mgt., so you're going to deny the jumpseat to mainline pilots? Turning your jumpseat into a political weapon - against the wrong entity will accomplish what, exactly?

When I was a JSC, I was always mindful of not politicizing the jumpseat, inviting all air carrier pilots on board, with or without reciprocity - because that's just the right thing to do. We all (well, except for me, I'm on the street..) have to get to work somehow, and improving access should be our only focus.

If you have an issue with management, there is an appropriate venue to present it - NOT by burning a bridge with your mainline pilots.

I think you are misinformed. We are being told that it is the UAL MEC who is the problem here and is holding up getting this problem resolved. That is why the hand out is directed to the UAL pilots so they will call their union reps and urge them to do the right thing and get this fixed.

So far, I haven't seen a single post saying that the current computer prioritization of the jumpseat is correct. The "Glitch" in the system is seen as a way to backdoor the whole procedure and is a violation of the jumpseat agreement itself.

What needs to be done is for the UAL pilots to just put all this emotion that is being generated aside and help the UAX pilots with this problem. It shouldn't be about egos or talk of a silly jumpseat war. It's a legitimate complaint about a legitimate issue so why not just take 3 minutes to make a call or email to your union rep and take care of it?

 

[CaptSeth]

The problem is not management, it's the UAL MEC, management doesn't care about the priority. UAL MEC wanted the super priority and have been asked for over 2 years to put it back the way it was.

Simply put, put it back the way it was and this little episode is over.

I didn't quite get that from the original post, and that's where my mind was when I responded. It talked about how UAL has assigned a cost to the change and was unresponsive. If there is an issue with the UAL MEC with regards to "super priority," that does complicate things to some degree as there may be contractual provisions that I'm unaware of.

I still maintain that withdrawing priviliges is the wrong tack to take, as the only real pressure will be applied to line pilots who don't necessarily disagree. Express pilots may wind up enduring additional hardship over this, but I hope not.

I've had dealings with the former UAL JSC, and had a very positive experience with UAL Pilots in general. Hopefully, this disagreement can be sorted out without the use of the "Nuclear Option."

 

[ArcticFlier]

Just my two cents

This will work. Many placed phone calls to the UAL MEC (who was the instigator here) will get it fixed. Most UAL line guys agree ( I suppose.........tell me if I'm wrong) that we should have priority on our own metal. Some lines of code and voila, the problem is fixed. The ball is in the MEC's court. pretty simple to me.

 

[Weasil]

This is an UAL pilot issue - the change was made by your MEC as a way to get around our jumpseat agreements! This is absolute BS...
We have an agreement - if you guys can't abide by it than the agreement goes away - it's pretty simple. All your bitching on here won't make one bit of difference - call your LEC reps and tell them to fix this now.

 

[Axel]

I agree that each company's pilots should have priority on their own airplanes. That being said:

This is a bad idea. A jumpseat war hurts everybody and I will not take part. I will ONLY deny a jumpseat to someone on their way to cross a picket line or on their way home from crossing a picket line. Nobody I know of is on strike right now. Welcome aboard.

 

[Poahi]

Not one single UAL pilot I've talked to wants to take away any offline carrier's access to their own jumpseat.

Using someone's ability to get to work as a weapon is wrong.

 

[ArcticFlier]

Not one single UAL pilot I've talked to wants to take away any offline carrier's access to their own jumpseat.

UAL's MEC apparently does. But it should be a simple fix if 100% of the UAL pilots see differently.

 

[bmpilot2003]

Using someone's ability to get to work as a weapon is wrong.

Exactly the UAL MEC has taken that from the UAX pilots! For 2 years and continuous negotiations the UAL MEC has decided they own our right to have priority on our jumpseats. Complete disregard for jumpseat agreements. This letter is not a declaration of a jumpseat war its a call to rank file UAL pilots to have their MEC to fix the problem. How hard is that for you to understand POAHI?!

 

[SpauldingSmails]

deleted; redundant.

 

[Poahi]

...the UAL MEC has decided they own our right to have priority on our jumpseats.

If they've done that, then shame on the UAL MEC. That jumpseat is yours. I get that. I also get that this has festered for way too long as well. I'm just not convinced that this type of threat is the right tactic.

 

[PCL_128]

UAL's MEC apparently does. But it should be a simple fix if 100% of the UAL pilots see differently.

It would be a simple fix if you used education as your method rather than threats and ultimatums. The average UAL pilot has no idea that this is going on. If you hand him a letter that merely educated him and asks him to call his MEC and his company, then you might get somewhere. If you hand him this letter that threatens him, then he's going to get pissed off and want to retaliate. It's the whole "you'll attract more bees with honey..." thing. This is basic politics and diplomacy, folks. Your reps should know better than this.

 

[strega7]

It would be a simple fix if you used education as your method rather than threats and ultimatums.

Why doesn't this tactic work during union negotations? Unions like to make threats to get what they believe is fair, how is this different?

The average UAL pilot has no idea that this is going on.

So ignorance is an excuse? Kinda like not knowing PFT is bad?

If you hand him a letter that merely educated him and asks him to call his MEC and his company, then you might get somewhere.

Might get somewhere? Relying on what someone might do is not the way affect change. As a strong union man you should know that!

If you hand him this letter that threatens him, then he's going to get pissed off and want to retaliate.

Retaliate for what? Educating him about his company not following the jumpseat agreements they agreed too?

It's the whole "you'll attract more bees with honey..." thing. This is basic politics and diplomacy, folks. Your reps should know better than this.

Our reps have worked with UAL for 2 years, the MEC is "happy" with the status quo.

 

[PCL_128]

Why doesn't this tactic work during union negotations? Unions like to make threats to get what they believe is fair, how is this different?

Unions do try to use cooperation. Ever heard of interest-based bargaining? ALPA loves to use it. Unfortunately, management usually isn't interested.

So ignorance is an excuse? Kinda like not knowing PFT is bad?

UAL pilots aren't mind readers. They have no way of knowing this is going on if they aren't educated.

Might get somewhere? Relying on what someone might do is not the way affect change. As a strong union man you should know that!

Unlike Dubya, most people are smart enough to realize that you should exhaust all possible avenues of a peaceful solution before resorting to draconian measures. The average UAL pilot hasn't been educated on this matter yet. You should work on that before issuing threats.

Retaliate for what? Educating him about his company not following the jumpseat agreements they agreed too?

That's not what you're doing. Educating doesn't come veiled in a threat or an ultimatum. Your letter should not include a threat if the intent is to educate and request assistance from the rank and file. I'm not opposed to a letter, just to the threats.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Unions do try to use cooperation. Ever heard of interest-based bargaining? ALPA loves to use it. Unfortunately, management usually isn't interested.



UAL pilots aren't mind readers. They have no way of knowing this is going on if they aren't educated.



Unlike Dubya, most people are smart enough to realize that you should exhaust all possible avenues of a peaceful solution before resorting to draconian measures. The average UAL pilot hasn't been educated on this matter yet. You should work on that before issuing threats.



That's not what you're doing. Educating doesn't come veiled in a threat or an ultimatum. Your letter should not include a threat if the intent is to educate and request assistance from the rank and file. I'm not opposed to a letter, just to the threats.

The problem is that human nature.....Especially Airline Pilot human nature..... is to not get involved until some external force causes some kind of pain or personal hardship.....Not saying that is right...Some of us do get involved before things become a problem....but most do not.....

 

[PCL_128]

The problem is that human nature.....Especially Airline Pilot human nature..... is to not get involved until some external force causes some kind of pain or personal hardship.....Not saying that is right...Some of us do get involved before things become a problem....but most do not.....

That may be true, but that doesn't justify not even trying to appeal to the rank-and-file before beginning threats. Come on, Joey, certainly you can agree that it would be reasonable to appeal to the UAL pilots with a non-threatening letter before resorting to threats and ultimatums.

 

[JoeMerchant]

That may be true, but that doesn't justify not even trying to appeal to the rank-and-file before beginning threats. Come on, Joey, certainly you can agree that it would be reasonable to appeal to the UAL pilots with a non-threatening letter before resorting to threats and ultimatums.

I think it would be a waste of time...The average United pilot has bigger things to worry about right now than try and force their MEC to change a policy that benefits the mainline pilots.....It would simply prolong this policy.....

It's been this way for over 2 years....I'm sure most of the United commuters know what priority they have been getting on the jumpseat....

 

[PCL_128]

I think it would be a waste of time

Diplomacy is never a waste of time. It should always be attempted before resorting to these sorts of tactics.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Diplomacy is never a waste of time. It should always be attempted before resorting to these sorts of tactics.

They spent two years in the "diplomacy" phase....You are way to believing in mainline MECs to do the "right thing".....Force is all they understand....

You will never accept any type of rebellion against ALPA....However as you can see most people disagree with you.....

 

[PCL_128]

They spent two years in the "diplomacy" phase

No they didn't. They have yet to appeal to the rank and file UAL pilots. Their efforts have apparently failed with the UAL MEC, so it's time to try working with the rank and file. If that fails, then alternative measures may be justified. But jumping straight to threats is inappropriate and counterproductive.