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WSurf

The Smack Down!
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Posts
3,690
anuary 22, 2014

Fellow ALPA Members:

In light of the recent ASA/ExpressJet contract rejection and the American Eagle negotiations, I?ve received e-mails from many pilots. I?ve responded to the individual e-mails but want to make sure my views and ALPA?s actions are more widely known. The life of pilots at Fee-for-Departure carriers is hard. Low pay, career stagnation, and aggressive management efforts to erode ALPA pilot leaders? hard-won contract victories are the norm these days.

You have expressed concern about current negotiations and your future. Starting in 2000, ALPA leadership, fellow ALPA members and ALPA staff supported Comair pilots during their 90-day strike, rallied behind ExpressJet pilots in 2003 to negotiate an industry-leading contract, and in 2011 applied massive resources to help Pinnacle, Mesaba and Colgan pilots gain a superior single contract in just over 100 days. In between those landmark victories, the same commitment and resources were put to work at Air Wisconsin, Jazz, Atlantic Coast/Independence, ASA, Piedmont, PSA, Mesa and many others -- whether making improvements or protecting pilots during company bankruptcies.

So what has changed about ALPA's actions? Nothing. We are the same hard-working Union that supported those negotiations. In fact, I firmly believe your Union's commitment to all pilots -- no matter what company they work for and what kind of airplane they fly -- has only gotten stronger. But the airline industry has changed. Financial scrutiny resulted in consolidation and capacity reduction at brand carriers, and the same thing is now happening industry wide.

As hard as ALPA works to shape the landscape, we aren't in complete control of the industry changes underway, or company financial decisions to stop doing business like Comair, or file for bankruptcy like Pinnacle. Those decisions impact other industry competitors too. Pilots aren't to blame, and we have to think our way through the industry cycle that's underway. The response by pilot groups in this environment has been varied. Last week, pilots of ASA and XJT overwhelmingly rejected a concessionary contract and sent a message to their management team. The Association is working aggressively with elected pilot leaders on a path forward there.

ALPA is founded on the principle that each pilot group, and its local leaders, gets to make bargaining decisions. As always, the Association provides support from fellow pilots, professional resources, financial backing and legislative and regulatory access among other things.

Next week your elected leaders will be getting together as a group at ALPA headquarters in Herndon, Virginia to discuss these issues, and we will be here to help plot the course and execute on their direction.

Your Union will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to the fight, call for airline brands to take more responsibility for your carriers, and enlist the National Mediation Board to help solve these problems. As our record has shown, working together we can emerge with stronger contracts and more robust career opportunities.

ALPA is unyielding in its mission. Our Union will devote its full resources to protect and improve the careers of all our members. In the end, we are all pilots. And I believe in Pilots ? Period. Full Stop.
 
What'd you expect him to say? Status quo. Nothing will change. It's is out of ALPA's control.
 
When the mainline carriers were losing millions why didn't they ask for pay cuts from the regionals??? But now they are making millions and all the sudden they want regionals to fly bigger RJ's for lesser money. Yep that makes sense to me. :)

Looks like with the express jet vote and the pending Eagle ALPA has been shoved into a small pickle.
 
They want to lock in these crap bargaining agreements before the pilot shortage (if it happens) causes an advantage for the pilots. Meanwhile they still get their full pay, bonuses, & stock deals, no cuts there, no sir.
 
They want to lock in these crap bargaining agreements before the pilot shortage (if it happens) causes an advantage for the pilots. Meanwhile they still get their full pay, bonuses, & stock deals, no cuts there, no sir.

Yep.. the 10 year contract's with no profit sharing gives it away! Sounds like slave labor.

So let me get this straight... You are making money and want your regionals to fly larger planes to make you more money.... But you want to pay the pilots less. Yep that makes sense. :)
 
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They want to lock in these crap bargaining agreements before the pilot shortage (if it happens) causes an advantage for the pilots. Meanwhile they still get their full pay, bonuses, & stock deals, no cuts there, no sir.

Freeturd, most of your fleet is uneconomical, especially with high oil prices. Then mainline carriers are getting more "100 seaters", like DL getting 717s and AA getting A319s. Your part of the industry is shrinking, giving you very little leverage. Btw, Vietnam is requesting your paperwork for a Twin Otter FO job connecting Con Dao, Dong Hoi, and Da Nang. Go for it sport!


Bye Bye---General Lee
 
Unfortunately, the pilot and lift supply at the regional level is not as of yet scarce. Face it, we (regional lift and pilots) are a commodity and the fundamentals don't point toward paying a premium for a ubiquitous service. The dissolution of places such as Comair, and those pilots fleeing places like Endeavor for other contract lift providers have kept applicant pools full at other regionals. This could all change very quickly, but at the moment they're not yet feeling the pinch. Ironically, if somewhere like Lakes folds due to staffing, or an airline much like Endeavor is shrinking we're looking at a market of less and less jobs for the same number of pilots. Until hiring at the majors can outstrip fleet reductions at the regional level things won't be very rosy.
 
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Unfortunately management has figured you out. Despite the perceived "leverage" they will try to do anything to get the lowest cost out of you.

It's like playing a game of chicken with a train, do you say no to concessions and watch your company lose flying or say yes and live to fight another day until that day you make it to the major? Theoretically everyone wants to say no but practically, especially those in the real world with bills and responsibilities can't afford to play chicken with their careers. It's not alpa's fault. It's your fault.
 

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