CALPA didn't buy into a bunch of management fear-mongering and concede a key job protection element of their contract, dip-sh!t. Furloughs were going to happen at AirTran if management wanted them, so if they fired the probies during mediated negotiations they would have to reclassify them as furloughed when the NMB dust settled... and flush the retread S-words out of the training department. The company got exactly what they wanted and the pilot group got dick. Again.
NPA, ALPA, IBT, it doesn't matter what initials are on the door of the Union office if the same weakened 'leaders' are running the show. Given the composition of the AirTran pilot group I wouldn't expect any significant improvements, however. I thought that there was reason for hope when Mike Best took over just after I left, but he's having a real hard time making chicken salad out of chicken sh!t.
I'm so disgusted with the company appeasers, you for example, that I could spit. I had the honor to work at several airlines with truly unified pilot groups. Pick up open time with guys on the street or during mediated negotiations? No way. Taking a strike vote? Hells yeah, 97% enough? The company want relief from the contract for some reason? Sure, we're willing to talk - here's our lengthy list of things we want in return. No? OK, we're comfortable with the agreement as written.
To answer your moronic question, Captain Best should have held the line (finally) and told the company that the NPA was happy with the contract language contained in the contract. It would have been the first time in years that the NPA told the company to honor the agreement they signed instead of offering to tickle their balls while they sodomized us. I really have a lot of respect for the AirTran pilots but there are enough freelancing, company-oriented, Kolski KoolAid drinkers there to make true progress impossible. Especially with 170+ of the junior guys soon to hit the street.
Oh. Hi, Mr. Kolski. I thought I smelled sulphur.
Harsh evaluation but perhaps right on. It's my understanding that the new union President is a hard liner that's hated by the company. That should be good for the pilots that want change. It's clear that AAI management is no SWA management.
Perhaps he's surrounded by company sympathizers that will not allow him to impliment his full agenda. Union officials have to be scrutinized before elections. (Food for thought) Since you voted down the last few proposals, ideally, none of your officials should have voted for them either. You elected to recall your old union due to the poor contract they negotiated. In the interest of having a unified vision, not electing officials that voted for it, should've been a priority.
Perhaps none of them voted for it. But if some did, the pilot group should watch them closely. This does not make them bad people. But they could be people who can easily be persuaded by company propaganda. Thus, not always acting in pilot group's best interest.
If negotiations and contract compliance are that bad, your union should be preparing for strike votes. The SPC should be in full force. Afterall, you've been at this for how long now? The threat of firing 177 of your young should be enough motivation.
No disrespect, but even AMR didn't come up with a plan like that. That's not bad on the pilots. But AAI management is worst than I thought. It appears that it doesn't have the union it deserves yet. With that in mind, I doubt Prater could do better. It comes down to your local officials.