AirTran Strike Vote...98 percent say YES!

[Carl_Spackler]

Sir, I will tell you it will not be another year! Even the mediator is becoming annoyed with AirTran managements stalling and childesh actions. The pilots at AirTran are mad as HELL! They are tired of the abuse by scheduling, the intimidation on the line and being scrutinized for just doing their jobs! If you aren't willing to stand up and fight for something, then don't tell a AirTran pilot. We are ready to fight for a fair contract, even if it means going on strike!

Right now in Milwaukee, the AirTran pilots are picketing the Annual shareholder meeting. Along with the strike vote, this event is getting a lot of coverage in Milwaukee.

I don't doubt for a second that AirTran pilots are mad as hell over the companies stalling tactics. But just being pissed off will not make a TA magically appear or cause you to get released. As far as the mediator goes, I'm not sure where you got your info from, but I would be very surprised if a mediator made it know that they were annoyed with a particular side. If they in fact are annoyed with the stalling tactics, your management will just give in a little to keep negotiations moving along at a snails pace.

I wish you guys had a fair contract yesterday, but as long as we are subject to the RLA these things will get drug out over and over again. For everyone's sake, including my own, I hope I am wrong.

 

[gt1900]

Well, I wish you were, but your not! While Im glad the vote was as high as it was, this really isn't anything the company didn't see coming. SK is a professional, who has been through this rodeo before. The only thing we can hope for is that the mediator does realize that this has been going on for 6 years now, even though its only been 1 year of negotiation with ALPA. Hopefully he is at the end of his rope as well, and motivates the company to finally start negotiating. Other then that, we are at the beck and call of the RLA..... Well, unless the AAI pilots decide to pull a UAL or ASA and finally say enough is enough. Nothing like a 40% ontime rate and lots of cancelled flights during peak summer flying to motivate the company.

 

[Frequency]

I knew it wouldn't take long for the naysayers to crawl out from under a rock.

You worry about what went wrong with your situation at Pnnacle. It doesn't pertain to ATN.

And no, it's not an "early section 6 move". When done properly and by the book, a strike authorization vote comes at the end game, which ATN is in right now.

What does ATN stand for? I have been a member for over a year now and get the ATN-MEC emails but no one has ever explained that to me... AirTran something? No one I have asked seems to know. They just shrug.

 

[RadioClash]

Congrats AirTran pilots!

 

[MILPILOT17]

All definitions for AIRTRAN AIRWAYS acronym or abbreviation have been removed or haven't been published yet.

http://www.all-acronyms.com/AirTran_Airways

 

[terrehautesux]

AirTranNocontract

 

[DonVerita]

What does ATN stand for? I have been a member for over a year now and get the ATN-MEC emails but no one has ever explained that to me... AirTran something? No one I have asked seems to know. They just shrug.

ATN is the 3-letter designator assigned by ALPA for AirTran Airways. Just as DAL is to Delta Airlines and UAL is to United Airlines.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Hey AT gang,

You need help walking the picket line? I'll be there. Anybody who votes a contract down and then walks the line gets my respect......

Even you Kharma!!!!

 

[waveflyer]

It's a good point- the mediators promote this snail's pace- I get that W had his labor agenda- an underfunded understaffed nmb under Obama is inexcusable. There are usually very small windows of profitability to get things done- these delay tactics are completely biased to one side and need to be stopped.

There better be one hell of a RETRO check included in this. And I hope every one on AT's property understands why retro is important- retro must equal the amount the contract would be worth if it were signed the day the old one became amendable or there is a huge financial incentive to delay. It needs to be value of contract plus interest if you have any desire to not be delayed to death next time

Good for you AT- you have my support as well

 

[njcapt]

Great results on the strike vote, guys. Stay strong.

 

[maxblast72]

if you have any desire to not be delayed to death next time

I think next time the Airtran pilots approach an amendable date to their contract, things will be alot different than 2005. I doubt there will be a failed TA, recall of union president and vice president, and the changing of unions during the middle of negotiations next time around. I doubt there ever would have been a 97.5% yes/96.2% participation for a strike vote under the NPA. I am not saying ALPA can or will cure all of our problems here at Airtran, but the structure and resources they have brought to our effort over the last 12 months are signficant.

 

[waveflyer]

True enough- my point was retro. I doubtthat your mgmt doesn't have a certain union busting law firm on retainer that knows how to divide a pilot group- part of the tactics is to get the union to bend over and put out TA's like that- the incompetent union, IMHO- I know it's not my airline- so you guys do your best and what's right for you, doesn't change the Retro argument. If you don't get a retro check equal to the amount it would be worth if it were signed on time- it rewards management. And incentized them to do it again. It should be simple math- not a negotiated item.

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

Think there's a lot of stuff y'all can accomplish with a 98% vote. Congrats Airtran pilots! Stay strong!

 

[no1pilot2000]

I admire AirTran pilots for showing unity in their strike authorization vote. Voting 98% to authorize a strike is amazing.

However, what will be the tipping point where the pilots say to AT management, the flying stops and walking the picket line, full time, begins?

 

[TurboAWD]

Just like previous performance is not a good predictor of upgrade times, what has happend with Section 6 negotiations over the last several years is not a good predictor of what is going to happen the next few years.

The NMB has changed. Great contracts will still not just fall out of the sky, but things ARE different.