Army of one

[79%N1]

An oldie, slightly edited, which is appropriate these days at ASA, all should read. Opinions expressed in this post are those of the original poster, and not necessarily that of any ASA employee!


I am an Army of One (or 2, or 300, ...)


I am an army of One - A Captain in the ASA army.
For years I was a loyal soldier in (BL's/JA's) army. Now I fight my own war. I used to feel valued and respected. Now I know I am mere fodder.
They (ASA) used to exhibit labor leadership (cough, cough). Now they exploit legal loopholes.
They used to enjoy my maximum. Now they will suffer my minimum.

I am an army of One.

I used to save ASA a thousand pounds of fuel per leg; finding the best FL, getting direct routing, throttling back when on-time was made, skimping during ground ops, adjusting for winds, being smart and giving the company every effort I could conjure. Now, it's "burn baby, burn". I used to call aintenance while airborne, so the part would be ready at the gate. Now, they'll find the write-up when they look in the book. I used to try to fix problems in the system, now I sit and watch as the miscues pile up.
I used to fly sick. Now I use my sick days, on short
notice, on the worst day of the month.

I am an army of One.

I used to start the APU at the last possible moment. Now my customers enjoy extreme comfort. I used to let the price of fuel at out-stations affect my
fuel orders. I still do. I used to cover mistakes by operations. Now I watch them unfold. I used to hustle to ensure an on-time arrival, to make us
the best. Now I do it for the rampers and agents who
need the bonus money….but this too may change.
I used to call dispatch for rerouting, to head off ground delays for bad weather. Now I collect overs, number 35 in line for takeoff.

I am on a new mission - to demonstrate that misguided leadership of indifference and disrespect has a cost. It's about character, not contracts. It's about leading by taking care of your people instead of leadership by bean counters (an oxymoron). With acts of omission, not commission, I am a one-man wrecking crew - an army of One. My mission used to be to make ASA/Delta/Skywest rich. Now it's
to make them pay.

When they close base after base with no notice, I will make them pay.

When they constantly violate the letter and spirit of our contract - a contract that's a bargain by any measure, and force us to fight lengthy grievances - I will make them pay.

My negotiating committee speaks for me, but I act on my own. I am a walking nightmare to the bean counters that made me. Are you listening? This mercenary has a lot of years left with this company; how long can you afford to keep me bitter? I'm not looking for clauses in a contract, I'm looking for a culture of commitment and caring. When I see it, I'll be a soldier for ASA again.

Until then, I am an Army of One…And I'm not alone!

 

[Sawmill]

Interesting read. One question though...Why would you stay at a job that you hate so much? Why do any of you who work for any carrier stay there if it is so bad? I gave it a shot and realized early on how bad it was so I moved on...why dont you? Go back to school, find a real job, find a job doing what you like to do, earn real money, buy a plane and fly for fun, etc. Oh, let me guess...you have bills to pay or you have a wife and kids or youve invested too much time in flying to make a career change or bla bla bla. This is America...you get to choose what it is that you want to do for a living...so choose it and move forward....or keep looking back and be miserable and b1tch on a website (?!?) looking for sympathy or answers that will NEVER come! Grow up people...you are adults...take a little responsibilty for yourselves. NEWSFLASH: Flying for the airlines will never be what it once was (at least in our lifetimes) So fly for the enjoyment and satisfaction of the job or go get a job that pays a livable wage...you cant have both. Just my .02. Let ripping begin.

 

[79%N1]

Thanks. Are you hiring? In case you don't know, there is a mass exodus of employees at ASA, and management is finding it difficult to replace them with newhires. The rest of us are trying to make it better while we are here. Unfortunately there are many obstacles to this, including an unfriendly government (NMB), outdated governing rules (RLA), and whipsaw tactics. And yes, in the mean time, I have bills to pay and food to buy. Wanting to be treated fairly for all you contribute tothe bottom line of a company is not a crime.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Here is the CAL version. Looks like someone used MSWord 'replace'....

Army of One? I doubt it... only until members function collectively to effect positive change. For every Army of One there is a guy that is willing to anything and everything to make it work....

I am not saying message doesn't resonate....

I am an army of One - A Captain in the Continental Airlines army.
For years I was a loyal soldier in Gordon's army. Now I fight my own war.
I used to feel valued and respected. Now I know I am mere fodder.
They (CAL) used to exhibit labor leadership. Now they exploit legal loopholes.
They used to enjoy my maximum. Now they will suffer my minimum.
I am an army of One.

I used to save CAL a thousand pounds of fuel per leg; finding the best FL, getting direct routing, throttling back when on-time was made, skimping during ground ops, adjusting for winds, being smart and giving the company every effort I could conjure. Now, it's "burn baby, burn".
I used to call maintenance while airborne, so the part would be ready at the gate. Now, they'll find the write-up when they look in the book.
I used to try to fix problems in the system, now I sit and watch as the miscues pile up.
I used to fly sick. Now I use my sick days, on short notice, on the worst day of the month.
I am an army of One.

I used to start the APU at the last possible moment. Now my customers enjoy extreme comfort.
I used to let the price of fuel at out-stations affect my fuel orders. I still do.
I used to cover mistakes by operations. Now I watch them unfold.
I used to hustle to ensure an on-time arrival, to make us the best. Now I do it for the rampers and agents who need the bonus money….but this too may change.
I used to call dispatch for rerouting, to head off ground delays for bad weather. Now I collect overs, number 35 in line for takeoff.

I am on a new mission - to demonstrate that misguided leadership of indifference and disrespect has a cost. It's about character, not contracts. It's about leading by taking care of your people instead of leadership by bean counters (an oxymoron). With acts of omission, not commission, I am a one-man wrecking crew - an army of One. My mission used to be to make CAL rich. Now it's to make CAL pay.

When they furlough more pilots than the rest, pilots that cost them 60 cents on the dollar - I will make them pay.
When they under-staff bases and over-work reserves to keep pilots downgraded, down-flowed, or downtrodden - I will make them pay.
When over-booked customers are denied boarding system wide, while jets are parked in the desert - I will make them pay.
When they force pilots, who have waited 12 years to become captains, to be FOs again - I will make them pay.
When they ask CAL pilots to show leadership at Express, and then deny them longevity - I will make them pay.
When they recall F/As for the summer, just to furlough them again in the fall like migrant workers - I will make them pay.
When they constantly violate the letter and spirit of our contract - a contract that's a bargain by any measure, and force us to fight lengthy grievances - I will make them pay.

My negotiating committee speaks for me, but I act on my own. I am a walking nightmare to the bean counters that made me. Are you listening? This mercenary has a lot of years left with this company; how long can you afford to keep me bitter? I'm not looking for clauses in a contract, I'm looking for a culture of commitment and caring. When I see it, I'll be a soldier for CAL again. Until then, I am an Army of One…And I'm not alone!

 

[Sawmill]

79:
Yep...hiring everyday. (Bet you wouldnt like the work though)
Nope...wanting to be treated fairly is not a crime. What is a crime is wasting your life expecting something that will never come. Sooner that is realized, better off ya are. Think about it...who is the only person who is going to treat you "fairly" all the time?

 

[JoeMerchant]

Here is the CAL version. Looks like someone used MSWord 'replace'....

Army of One? I doubt it... only until members function collectively to effect positive change. For every Army of One there is a guy that is willing to anything and everything to make it work....

I am not saying message doesn't resonate....

On this we agree Rez.... the problem is we aren't acting "collectively".... Instead of "collective" bargaining, we are bargaining individually....

Each "brand" needs a single "collective" voice at the table.... otherwise we will act individually even if it harms the others.....

 

[79%N1]

79:
Yep...hiring everyday. (Bet you wouldnt like the work though)
Nope...wanting to be treated fairly is not a crime. What is a crime is wasting your life expecting something that will never come. Sooner that is realized, better off ya are. Think about it...who is the only person who is going to treat you "fairly" all the time?

Is It...................................Me?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Interesting read. One question though...Why would you stay at a job that you hate so much? Why do any of you who work for any carrier stay there if it is so bad?

Sawmill,

When you have more longevity than the President of your Company, you will understand. Many pilots at ASA built this place and now have six figure incomes and good quality of life. In balance the job is not as bad as the alternative - starting over at the bottom.

However, when you see your inflation adjusted income decrease by 30 to 40%, your airplanes being flown by a hostile holding company and you have been dislocated a few times your grievances start to add up. Particularly if your profitable holding Company refuses to deal with you in good faith.

Employees should not have to leave the Companies they built at the whim of bungee cord managers who pop in, get their bonus money and get out.

I completely understand where these guys are coming from. I don't think being destructive is the solution, but SkyWest may be about to reap what it has sowed.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Sawmill,

When you have more longevity than the President of your Company, you will understand. Many pilots at ASA built this place and now have six figure incomes and good quality of life. In balance the job is not as bad as the alternative - starting over at the bottom.

However, when you see your inflation adjusted income decrease by 30 to 40%, your airplanes being flown by a hostile holding company and you have been dislocated a few times your grievances start to add up. Particularly if your profitable holding Company refuses to deal with you in good faith.

Employees should not have to leave the Companies they built at the whim of bungee cord managers who pop in, get their bonus money and get out.

I completely understand where these guys are coming from. I don't think being destructive is the solution, but SkyWest may be about to reap what it has sowed.

Fins I agree 100%, but ALPA has created this monster.... ALPA is also reaping what it has sown and only management is benefiting.....

 

[Long Time Gone]

Fins I agree 100%, but ALPA has created this monster.... ALPA is also reaping what it has sown and only management is benefiting.....

Since you're always so negative ALPA, it's really hard for me to understand why you ever served for us. That whole Fab-4 plus you thing makes me twinge, also.

Shouldn't you be trying to pay more attention to that blond thing of yours??

 

[JoeMerchant]

Since you're always so negative ALPA, it's really hard for me to understand why you ever served for us. That whole Fab-4 plus you thing makes me twinge, also.

I guess I just wanted ALPA to become effective.... silly me..... let's just keep banging our head against this wall and competing with each..... great plan!

What's the new plan?

 

[Tomct]

I guess I just wanted ALPA to become effective.... silly me..... let's just keep banging our head against this wall and competing with each..... great plan!

What's the new plan?

Joe you will never change. I can't wait to hear what you have too say when we get the contract. I know...blah...blah....blah....ALPA will NEVER help us...blah...blah....blah!
Fins....very nicely put. Swmill, good for you moving on, but if you are not in the business anymore, then don't come on here and PREACH to us about leaving etc. Just go back to your little cubicle and keep punching the clock!

 

[Jungle_Jet]

That;s an individual who lacks either character or self-respect. What's worse is all these union lackeys who defend this type of behavior.

At what point did we find it perfectly acceptable to behave in such a manner?

Remember when this was a "professional" career?

 

[Long Time Gone]

That;s an individual who lacks either character or self-respect.

Actually, what's worse is that this individual is a former MEC officer with us, and so is his live-in (she was recalled). They (she actively, he silently) made a push to become LEC status reps, promising an end to the contract negotiations within 90 days or they would all resign. Our CP unofficially exhibited his approval for this group, and they became known as the "Fab-4". Knowing that he was a "silent partner", the pilot group unofficially renamed them the "Jackson-5", with the belief that they would only sell us out to management for their own benefit, which has always been denied by all of them, including "Joe". Needless to say, they lost BAD. It wouldn't have made much of a difference if they weren't on the ballot, if you get my drift.

We may have our issues here, just as everyone has theirs. We may be fools sometimes, but we're not STUPID.

As Johnny Storm from the Fantastic Four said........

"Flame On"..............:angryfire

 

[79%N1]

Saw LJ walking down the hall today in concourse C with SH. They were practically arm in arm! I am dead serious. They were sure cozy and chatting away!

 

[Long Time Gone]

They always are. You've noticed that JB ("Joe") hasn't responded yet, right?

 

[DrewBlows]

That;s an individual who lacks either character or self-respect. What's worse is all these union lackeys who defend this type of behavior.

At what point did we find it perfectly acceptable to behave in such a manner?

Remember when this was a "professional" career?

You're joking right? It was this kind of "behavior" that made piloting a "professional career". Do yourself a favor and read Flying the Line: Volumes 1 and 2.

 

[Tomct]

You're joking right? It was this kind of "behavior" that made piloting a "professional career". Do yourself a favor and read Flying the Line: Volumes 1 and 2.

Drew...don't waste your breathe on Jungle....apparently he loves taking it from mgmnt on a regular basis!

 

[Foxcow]

That;s an individual who lacks either character or self-respect. What's worse is all these union lackeys who defend this type of behavior.

At what point did we find it perfectly acceptable to behave in such a manner?

Remember when this was a "professional" career?

There was a time when were treated and compensated as professionals... I used to give 100%. I used to try to go above and beyond but no good deed goes unpunished. Hardwork is not rewarded and any gains due to efficiency are not reinvested in the ones (labor) that made it possible. I used to give 100% but now I am damn near idle thrust. I fly/honor the contract and nothing more. That automatically makes more of a man than management.

/rant