ALPA Monument at KCVG

[vtech]

Hey, tell me what thoughts go through your head when you taxi past that monument to ALPA success at KCVG depicted on the 10-9 as "Terminal C?" Remember how busy that used to be? Remember all those RJ's parked there and the constant movement of planes, passengers, bags, equipment, busses to and from the main terminal? Today, Terminal C is closed. No planes, no passengers, no bags, no equipment. The busses are still there. Just parked out front of the terminal. The bus drivers and all the employees who worked in the terminal aren't there, though. Their jobs are gone, too.

So what lessons do you take away from Comair ALPA's 89 day strike and the aftermath over the last nine years or so? Pretty powerful and protective stuff, those ALPA regional unions, wouldn't you agree? They protect jobs, benefits, everything. And the vocal minority over at SkyWest who are whining, bitching and moaning about losses they've had while their pilot group has pretty much trippled in size over the same period of time want to start another union drive. Yep, that'll solve everthing. Let's get ALPA onboard over there. Great idea. Just taxi past Terminal C at KCVG and see the glory.

Nevermind. I'm probably just being narrow minded or exposing my ignorance.

 

[Full of LUV]

Don't blame the union.....

Hey, tell me what thoughts go through your head when you taxi past that monument to ALPA success at KCVG depicted on the 10-9 as "Terminal C?" Remember how busy that used to be? Remember all those RJ's parked there and the constant movement of planes, passengers, bags, equipment, busses to and from the main terminal? Today, Terminal C is closed. No planes, no passengers, no bags, no equipment. The busses are still there. Just parked out front of the terminal. The bus drivers and all the employees who worked in the terminal aren't there, though. Their jobs are gone, too.

So what lessons do you take away from Comair ALPA's 89 day strike and the aftermath over the last nine years or so? Pretty powerful and protective stuff, those ALPA regional unions, wouldn't you agree? They protect jobs, benefits, everything. And the vocal minority over at SkyWest who are whining, bitching and moaning about losses they've had while their pilot group has pretty much trippled in size over the same period of time want to start another union drive. Yep, that'll solve everthing. Let's get ALPA onboard over there. Great idea. Just taxi past Terminal C at KCVG and see the glory.

Nevermind. I'm probably just being narrow minded or exposing my ignorance.

Really, how can that be at ALPA's fault? If KCVG were a profitable hub, there would be everything in operation, they may have just switched to the newest RAH ofshoot regional offering even lower wages. The reason the flying is gone is because it is not profitable in this economy / oil price configuration.
Comparing what made sense in the late 90's with $30 / barrel oil and a relatively stable growing economy does not make sense in this worldwide recession with $80 / barrel oil.
Look back at many minicities, cvg, pit, las, etc that have had much bigger operations in the past only to succomb the economy.

 

[Britpilot]

Hey, tell me what thoughts go through your head when you taxi past that monument to ALPA success at KCVG depicted on the 10-9 as "Terminal C?" Remember how busy that used to be? Remember all those RJ's parked there and the constant movement of planes, passengers, bags, equipment, busses to and from the main terminal? Today, Terminal C is closed. No planes, no passengers, no bags, no equipment. The busses are still there. Just parked out front of the terminal. The bus drivers and all the employees who worked in the terminal aren't there, though. Their jobs are gone, too.

So what lessons do you take away from Comair ALPA's 89 day strike and the aftermath over the last nine years or so? Pretty powerful and protective stuff, those ALPA regional unions, wouldn't you agree? They protect jobs, benefits, everything. And the vocal minority over at SkyWest who are whining, bitching and moaning about losses they've had while their pilot group has pretty much trippled in size over the same period of time want to start another union drive. Yep, that'll solve everthing. Let's get ALPA onboard over there. Great idea. Just taxi past Terminal C at KCVG and see the glory.

Nevermind. I'm probably just being narrow minded or exposing my ignorance.

Are you really that stupid?

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

I'm probably just being narrow minded or exposing my ignorance.

You got it!

 

[Flightdawg]

Hey, tell me what thoughts go through your head when you taxi past <BS DELETED> "Terminal C?"

Cost of deregulation, management incompetence, whipsawing pilot groups, airline mergers which cost jobs just to name a few.

How come you see everything with an anti-union slant? Are you in management?

 

[Mike man]

Is this thread from three years ago?

How long have the C terminal been closed?

 

[Flightdawg]

Is this thread from three years ago?

How long have the C terminal been closed?

A few years, but the Union vote at Skywest is active now and management is worried. They screwed their pilots on PBS and now the ACA pilots are about to kick their PBS LOA back at them. When SKYW sweetens the pot and gives the ACA ALPA pilots a better deal, it will piss off the SKYW pilots and make them rethink joining a union. Threads like this are designed to intimidate pilots into believing "Unionism Bad, Management Good."

We didn't think a pilot board would only have pilots on it, did we?

 

[WayBack]

Hell, even I hate ALPA and admitt that ALPO had nothing to do with it. You can thank the BJ's down in ATL.

 

[crj567]

A few years, but the Union vote at Skywest is active now and management is worried. They screwed their pilots on PBS and now the ACA pilots are about to kick their PBS LOA back at them. When SKYW sweetens the pot and gives the ACA ALPA pilots a better deal, it will piss off the SKYW pilots and make them rethink joining a union. Threads like this are designed to intimidate pilots into believing "Unionism Bad, Management Good."

We didn't think a pilot board would only have pilots on it, did we?

Does any of this make any sense to anyone here?

 

[G2T]

I got lost at "ACA".

 

[Flightdawg]

If it doesn't make sense, then don't worry about it. All is fine.

 

[SkyNation]

don't you read this board? It's NEVER the fault of ALPA

 

[cmrflyer]

its delta mgt fault, its also the fault of undercutting w*************************, why use guys who want to get paid to work, when just around he corner are a bunch of morons who will do someone elses job for half the price. so long comair, hello ****************************** bags.
thanks for all your hard work at making this a profession worth having.

 

[WayBack]

Does any of this make any sense to anyone here?

I think he was drunk when trying to piece that baby together. And I highly doubt management is worried. Regional airline management has been shoving ALPA around for the last 15 years.

A few years, but the Union vote at Skywest is active now and management is worried

 

[Flightdawg]

I think he was drunk when trying to piece that baby together. And I highly doubt management is worried.

Only as drunk as your typical Skywest manager.

You don't think management is worried the pilots might vote in a union? Is it in the bag? Have the proper people been paid off? Nothing to worry about?

 

[WayBack]

Only as drunk as your typical Skywest manager.

You don't think management is worried the pilots might vote in a union? Is it in the bag? Have the proper people been paid off? Nothing to worry about?

Sure if you listen to an ALPA cheerleader they will tell you SKW management is terrified of ALPA. When in reality, SKW hasn't voted ALPA yet. So why should they be worried. It's still the same pilot group.

 

[Flightdawg]

Sure if you listen to an ALPA cheerleader they will tell you SKW management is terrified of ALPA. When in reality, SKW hasn't voted ALPA yet. So why should they be worried. It's still the same pilot group.

Probably not terrified and probably not of ALPA in particular, just unions in general. Walmart doesn't like unions either, so your management is in good company.

If you don't understand the difference between a pilot group backed by a union contract and one which either doesn't have one or has individual contracts, then someone more patient and smarter than me would have to explain it to you.

 

[PCL_128]

Skywest pilots are thinking about a union again? First I've heard of it. Hell, it's only been a couple of years since the last one. What has materially changed that could affect the vote? I just can't see wasting a few million dollars on another union drive if you can't show that the results will likely be different this time.

 

[Tarzan]

Probably not terrified and probably not of ALPA in particular, just unions in general. Walmart doesn't like unions either, so your management is in good company.

If you don't understand the difference between a pilot group backed by a union contract and one which either doesn't have one or has individual contracts, then someone more patient and smarter than me would have to explain it to you.

Apples and oranges my friend. Walmart employees have what sort of skill that can't be replaced tomorrow by someone who has NO training? A union there would drive that company out of business in a short period of time. Airline pilots have a little bit more on the line that a minimum wage job and a six pack of beer. Airline pilots endure years of sacrificing time with their families, low pay and other things we are all aware to the reach a level of good pay and QOL. Even that isn't guaranteed anymore. That can be cut short by a simple mistake that many have made before but haven't been caught for. They can lose their livelihoods with a stroke of a doctors pen. A union can help mitigate some of those risks to their jobs. So comparing a union job at WalMart to an airline union job isn't a fair comparison.

I am not a huge ALPA cheerleader but I recognize there needs to be some sort of legal buffer between the company and the FAA. ALPA provides that. Are there things that ALPA can better? Absolutely, that is the reason I chose to get involved. Hard to change things on the outside with no real voice. I am attempting to do my part. I can not sit here and trash an organization that is part of the mix whether we like or not without at least trying to be part of the fix.

Finally, the CEO's and COO's all have contracts. Why shouldn't I?

 

[Tarzan]

Skywest pilots are thinking about a union again? First I've heard of it. Hell, it's only been a couple of years since the last one. What has materially changed that could affect the vote? I just can't see wasting a few million dollars on another union drive if you can't show that the results will likely be different this time.

Why should ALPA invest any money in that? If SkyWest pilots truly desire some sort contractual protection, they don't ALPA sticking their noses in there to get the job done. Yes I am aware of all the other costs involved. Most of the grassroots stuff can be done without National putting their fingers into the mix.