Alaska Pilot Concessions

[Formula1]

What is the latest on AK Airlines management trying to get concessions from your pilots? Looking at Airlinepilotpay.com- you guys still have a very nice pay scale- I think it would be 3rd highest paying behind Delta and Northwest?

Anyways, is management still trying to get concessions or have they given up? I see that the company has taken major cost cutting steps in getting rid of many management positions company wide.

Just Curious

 

[ferlo]

Yes they still insist they need major give backs from the pilots.

My guess is if they really want give backs they better be ready to risk arbitration because I have not spoken with one pilot in the last year that is willing to vote for one dime of concession. Myself included. They are doing a great job of lowering operating costs in many areas. My only concern is why did it take so long to realize that you have 150 managers too many? Who is responsible for not having the maximum seating in our aircraft? The list goes on and on. IMO, they have a long way to go, trimming real fat, before I'm willing to offer mine.

 

[mach none]

Yes they still insist they need major give backs from the pilots.

My guess is if they really want give backs they better be ready to risk arbitration because I have not spoken with one pilot in the last year that is willing to vote for one dime of concession. Myself included. They are doing a great job of lowering operating costs in many areas. My only concern is why did it take so long to realize that you have 150 managers too many? Who is responsible for not having the maximum seating in our aircraft? The list goes on and on. IMO, they have a long way to go, trimming real fat, before I'm willing to offer mine.

Our contract will come down to who wins the election in November. If Kerry wins, we will have a contract by the end of the year. If Bush wins, we will go to arbritration.

The reasons are simple. Kerry is pro labor and will not allow cabotage and baseball style arbitration. Bush wants to allow Air India and whoever else, to fly domestically in the US. He will also sign baseball style arbritration and everyone in labor will no longer have the strike threat to spur negotiations.

Where does this leave us at Alaska. We have informed the company we are opting out of arbritration for the next contract. If we go to arbritration in the spring, it is a two year contract and then we can seek self help after all the processes have run their course.

If Bush wins, us opting out no longer matters. The company gets to hammer us in arbritration and they get arbritration in the end.

Place your pony and take your chances. It will be an interesting 4 years either way.

 

[Formula1]

I hope that you guys can get a contract most expeditiously and I also hope there is lots of hiring next year- I might need a new job by then.