AirTran Pilots...

[TV9Driver]

Don't you think that J. Tabor, K.G. and a few others should be made to come to work on Christmas since this was their major foul-up?

But, i'm guessing THEY will be home with their families.....no skin off their backs..

 

[AFcitrus]

Explain to me what "glitch" you are talking about. As far as a "glitch" in the system - they set the numbers, not the pilots. THEY have control, not the pilots. There was NO "glitch" in the system - quit buying the company BS.

You really think this is a time of crisis? Oh brother - I can see you haven't had a real crisis in the airline biz, if any real crisis in life.

Holding them "hostage"? You are kidding right? They make the mistake and it is MY problem? I fly airplanes, I will repeat, I fly airplanes - I do not manage the company, - i.e. my true control over what happens in the company ends when I leave my jet.

Your one of the guys running our military - now that's funny.

Yea I am one of the many military leaders running our military. Notice I said leader. I realize the concept of leadership is a very foreign concept to you so I'll save you the explanation.

What would you consider an airline crisis? I would certainly consider leaving thousands of our customers (who pay your paycheck) stranded on Christmas eve and Christmas a crisis. Whatever the cause, its a crisis and attitudes like yours make it worse.

Yes, they made a mistake and you are trying to make them pay dearly for that mistake. What a man you are!!! They offered premium pay, positive space and hotel rooms to make up for their "glitch". But that's not enough for you. You probably expect a $10,000 bonus check for your sacrifice - to fly on a day you were supposed to fly on anyway.

I tired of trying to spread the concept of integrity and teamwork to you guys who obviously don't care about anything but yourselves and your next trip.

See ya on the flightdeck.

 

[B73av8r]

Again - what was the glitch? Following the contract?

A day I was suppose to fly anyway - uh - no it was not.

I have more, but what's the use, it's all over with now "leader" - let it go.

 

[-9Capt]

Yes, they made a mistake and you are trying to make them pay dearly for that mistake. What a man you are!!! They offered premium pay, positive space and hotel rooms to make up for their "glitch". But that's not enough for you. You probably expect a $10,000 bonus check for your sacrifice - to fly on a day you were supposed to fly on anyway.

I tired of trying to spread the concept of integrity and teamwork to you guys who obviously don't care about anything but yourselves and your next trip.

See ya on the flightdeck.

AF,
This has little to do with making them "pay dearly". It's about granting relief from the contract they signed.

Anyone who has been here 2-3years has seen our contract eroded away by managements constant re-interpretations. Now, we see the NPA allowing it to happen and it's pushing guys over the edge. No amount of compensation is worth having my contract dismantled.

Apparently the NPA feels that the illegal assignments were coming one way or the other, so they struck a deal to make it as painless and profitable for the membership as possible. Personally, I'd rather have us stand our ground as a showing of unity and collective dissatisfaction.

You mentioned trying to spread the concept of "integrity and teamwork", I think you'd be a lot more successful if the pilots saw those same qualities from our so called management.

 

[AFcitrus]

I just read AP's letter to the pilots. Wow it sounds remarkably like what I have been saying for the past three posts (ie - don't strand passengers on Christmas, pick your battles, etc). The only thing different is that pilots who were not going to fly on Christmas prior to SAPII will get double pay. I suppose all of you die hards are now going to disagree with AP and vote against him. Careful, careful you might put a management pilot atop the union.

Now was that worth all this in-fighting amongst brothers? I think not.

Have a great holiday. (ernestly, not sarcastically)

 

[AFcitrus]

AF,
This has little to do with making them "pay dearly". It's about granting relief from the contract they signed.

Anyone who has been here 2-3years has seen our contract eroded away by managements constant re-interpretations. Now, we see the NPA allowing it to happen and it's pushing guys over the edge. No amount of compensation is worth having my contract dismantled.

Apparently the NPA feels that the illegal assignments were coming one way or the other, so they struck a deal to make it as painless and profitable for the membership as possible. Personally, I'd rather have us stand our ground as a showing of unity and collective dissatisfaction.

You mentioned trying to spread the concept of "integrity and teamwork", I think you'd be a lot more successful if the pilots saw those same qualities from our so called management.

I can't argue with most of that.

Have a good one.

 

[Murphy]

Call me crazy, but I'm kind of looking forward to working Xmas. Maybe I'll buy some candy with my premium pay and pass it out to the kiddies during cockpit tours. I did manage to customize my Christmas Eve schedule through the Crew Scheduling Dial 4 a Volunteer Program and get a layover in my local hometown airport. $84/hr...I'm almost back to what I made in 1992. Got's to like that premium pay...mama needs a new pair of shoes.

On a side note, is the election 4 BOD Prez still going on? I kind of feel like John Kerry. "I voted for the $87 million B4 I voted against it." I changed my vote and voted for Big Al "Pit Bull" Philpot. With the contract issues, merger talks, and continual battles with mgt, stick with the horse u got. Plus now that I'm union, I need to give up my individuality and goose step in unison with the rest of the masses and show solidarity. Someday perestroika will come to the airline industry.

Peace out and please try to be merry during the holidays. It will all work out. If not, dust off the resume and go someplace that makes u happy. Oh, that's right. Your experience doesn't count for crap if you go to another airline, even if you have a type in what that airline flies. Go to the back of the line with the rest of the young newhire young communists. Life's too short to get your panties in a wad everyday.

 

[Phaedrus]

Interesting. So what is the contract worth? How much? It reminds me of the story of a man offering a woman $20 to "escort" him. She of course declines, aghast that someone would make such a suggestion. He then offers $20,000. She accepts. Then as they walk out of the establishment he tells her he is willing to pay only $200. She angrily demands that she is due 20g's. "My darling", says he, "that was only to determine what you are. Now we will determine the value of your services."
I know I'm an outsider (now), and probably not completely up to speed on all the details of the issue, but I had enough of the "workarounds" of the contract in my short time there. Management clearly does not respect the pilot group in my opinion, re SK's remarks and the continual press-to-tests of the CBA, especially among the junior members of the pilot group.
I wish you all the best with your negotiations and the Holiday season. Hopefully management will come to terms with your true value to the company.

 

[gt1900]

From what I understand the "glitch" in the system is supposed to not allow too much open time on certain days..In other words. Flica would turn down Sap II requests if there was not enough coverage.. It doesn't sound like Flica did that, thus allowing everyone to trade away x-mas when it would have otherwise declined many of the Sap II requests... Again. I'm glad the union and Co. got it figured out. I would hate to leave hundreds if not thousand of Pax at the airport on X-mas... Im sure USair still hasn't gotten over the luggage depocle of several years ago... Remember.... The pax pay our paychecks... Not the company... Or at least I think thats how its supposed to work...

 

[SLEDNECK]

After the company awarded the build up lines, they knew there was a shortage, they could have fixed this then, but they AWARDED the lines. After that, it's their fault. If I forgot to bid, could I say, "I'm sorry, could you just over look that small detail and give me a line please?"

There's way more to this than working on Christmas. This is about the company wiping their ass with the contract. When does it end? Next month will there will be no lines and ALL of us on reserve for the better of the passengers?

Why is it that we can't go on strike to get our new contract? Oh yeah, I remember. Rules, laws, procedures and all that crap that we are bound to. Shouldn't they bound by the same? If not, shouldn't we be on a level playground? I mean if they are going to shred the contract, then shouldn't we be able to skip to the right to strike?

Everyone wants the passengers to get to their destination, but nobody is going to do it for free. That's how I feel about doing it without a contract. And I don't mean the future contract, I mean the one we already have. If we don't have a contract now that's respected, we might as well be doing this for free. The company is playing hardball and dirty every chance they can, I would rather the union did the same, even if it means stranding a few passengers. It would be a good time to let everyone show our commitment to a fair contract WITHOUT striking, or an unauthorized slowdown, or anything else illegal. After all, we wouldn't be doing anything other than flying our contract as agreed by the company. If you think stranding a few passengers during the holidays is going to be the demise of Airtran, you've definitely got management potential. That's the only weapon we have, especially when the company refuses to play be the rules. Of course they will blame us pilots for their mistakes, but they'll do that anyway, so let it be.