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ASA Ant March coming up

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Which CP or MGMT guru are you Capt. Snitch?

av8tor4239 said:
cptn snitch:

Our load factors on Delta and the delta connection carriers are at pre 9/11 levels..

You have obviously been sucking on the KOOL AID nipple for a long time to belive that labor are the root of the financial problems...

there are many ways to improve our work rules in our contract while at the same time increasing the productivity of our workforce in a fair contract...

...Why are you so willing to lay down and let management walk on you and what you have worked so hard to attain?

Please remember that not everyone at ASA is a Senior 700 captain.. We have First Officers that have been on reserve for 3 and more years and are struggling to support thier families on the pay and work rules that are in place. These First Officers are also looking at 5-10 year upgrades. Our Current contract that was signed in 1998 was not designed to be in place for 6 or more years.. It was negotiated to be in place for 4 years. We are now in year the 6th year of operating under this agreement. Under the 1998 agreement, First officers were upgrading before they finished IOE.. That is not the case now.

Remember also our managment team approached us in 2003 and asked us to suspend section 6 negotiations for new shiny airplanes.. That tells you right there, they have no desire or intent to bargin in good faith. There is a reason the Railway Labor Act was put into place. History tells us it is managements goal to get there employees to do as much work for as little compensation under the worst working conditions possible.

... The only people that do not want to particitpate to better our working environment are ONLY the people that dont want to be here in the first place.. Maybe you should take your own advice... Free up a seat.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST RESPONSE TO SOMEONE'S ARGUMENT I'VE EVER SEEN!
BRAVO AV8TOR4239!!!

I guess it's true that George and Johns good ole boy network in place at ASA for so many years ( and still remaining mostly intact here today) has been an effective way to neuter the pilot group. .."Let's scare the hell out of them, tell them they are worthless and intimidate them with the threat of getting fired if they call in sick"....

Captain S. - Do you pay the full price you see on the window of a car at the dealership- or do you try to negotiate and haggle the sales guy down to a better price? If you like paying full price and know some other senior Captains who also like to , let us know and I will start supplementing my strike fund with some car sales on the side!!! I'm not trying to offend as much as make a point.

Isn't a trade something like basketweaving, or leather-work, or operating machinery in a factory? I don't think that basketweavers have a six month pro-check in which their career is on the line, and a pissed-off autoworker can put as many beer cans in the door cavity of a new car on the assembly line as he can drink without usually killing too many people. I'm beginning to think Capt. S. is someone at the G.O. with too much time on his hands that just wants to get us worked up.

I went to one of the best business schools in the nation, and don't buy into all of the company BS. They can afford to waste tremendous amounts of money on an annual basis on things like departure coordinators, (who you can never find) -why were they not necessary at any other airport in the nation? DFW worked great without them. "Let's make a system that already works poorly even less efficient by adding an extra step that costs us more money "... Caterering (who under operation "Clockwork Orange" no longer have to actually cater the aircraft unless the flight is over 2 hours - around 15% of the flights), and numerous other ways. We have more middle management than any other regional in the nation- you think that doesn't cost alot of money on an annual basis? The management solution here has never been to analyze and fix the actual problem, its "create new positions and staff another department with a bunch of people with no education". COPY DAT.

According to last weeks Wall Street Journal article ASA has ~ 800 flights a day and ~ 6000 employees, Comair has 1100 flights a day and 6200 employees, and Skywest 1500 flights a day and 6200 employees. On paper, that means Skywest is close to TWICE as efficient on an employee basis. (And they are for the most part happy also!)

I worked in restaurants at night for all of my college years, and the restaurant management was much more organized, efficient and professional at an entry level (waiting tables) job than ours has been during my stay here. The things that management is really good at here seem to be tracking job attendance, measuring the length of a female pilots hair or trying to figure out if your wings are spaced exactly 1/2 inch above your name plate on your shirt. The only REALLY professional department we have in the company is the training department. (No, I am not one of them). I believe we have one of the very best training departments that exist, period.

I find it incredible to think that I was treated better as a $2/hr employee than I am now as a captain with the level of responsibility we have. It was really fun learning to fly ten years ago (spending over $20K) to make no more than $34k a year for the last decade. I wouldn't have stuck it out here for so long if I thought there wasn't some light at the end of the tunnel, but we can't keep paying pilots the kind of wages that we do after their probationary year and expect people to be happy and compensated fairly.

I probably wouldn't care about these issues if I had come in here and upgraded in six months like people used to and was already off at Fed-Ex, SWST, etc., by now. From a purely financial standpoint, I believe I have been told that the "breakeven point" at which ASA would like to see you leave as a pilot is at year seven. Beyond year seven you are costing them more money than they want to spend. They don't want to reward the people like Capt. S, who have busted their A%& for the company for the last 15+ years and really deserve the pay. Its just easier to use that money for other departments, managers, departure coordinators, or to spend $300,000 a year on shiny new full-color brochures and a plastic badge we can hang around our necks showing pictures of a beautiful, happy (Skywest?) FA and a senior PIC helping a little old lady up the steps of a 70-seater.

DON'T FORGET- tug drivers always have "rigt of wauy" over aircraft in ATL.
 
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You both make very good points. Remember, this is a forum to stimulate conversation and ideas and you guys have kept the discussion at an appropriate level of tolerance, if not respect for each others views.

No, I don't pay sticker price for a car and I don't believe car salesmen any more than management. But I do see what is happening in the industry and where we differ is that I don't believe that we are able to bargain from a position of strength.

I am not doubting the integrity of our ALPA reps at all. I do, however, question the integrity of ALPA national when it comes to representing our best interests.

I also agree that management wastes money and spends too much time on self promotion. How many pictures of Skip do we have to look at? This company is nothing more than a PR exercise and resume entry for the Delta puppets that are sent to run the company. The Departure Coordinator idea was good, but they could never figure out how to implement the plan. All talk.

We are not far apart on goals and desires, only on how to achieve them and that's why we all have a voice.
 
capt.snitch said:
You both make very good points. Remember, this is a forum to stimulate conversation and ideas and you guys have kept the discussion at an appropriate level of tolerance, if not respect for each others views.

I am not doubting the integrity of our ALPA reps at all. I do, however, question the integrity of ALPA national when it comes to representing our best interests.

We are not far apart on goals and desires, only on how to achieve them and that's why we all have a voice.

Great post- Now how do we get them (MGMT and ALPA) to listen? I also agree that ALPA is more concerned about themselves and DAL than ASA.
 
capt.snitch said:
You both make very good points. Remember, this is a forum to stimulate conversation and ideas and you guys have kept the discussion at an appropriate level of tolerance, if not respect for each others views.

Thank you.. you too.. lets keep it that way

The two following quotes dont make sense :confused:


capt.snitch said:
I am not doubting the integrity of our ALPA reps at all. I do, however, question the integrity of ALPA national when it comes to representing our best interests.

capt.snitch said:
Bob Arnold is probably nearing 60 and doesn't care about your future. He is bitter, not at ASA, but at Ronald Reagan. He followed his union leader out on strike and challenged Reagan. Reagan did not blink and fired all of the controllers who walked, including Bob.

I smell RJDC here... I dont think that the RJDC issues have anything to do with our informational picketing or obtaining a fair contract to work under.
This is a quote from your previous post, how can you say that you "do not doubt the integrity of our ALPA reps at all ", when you speak of our MEC Chairman the way you did in your previous post.

Again I am not trying to change your mind.. you have every right to express your opinion just as I do.. but your opinions are contradictory.
 
Cost neutral? You're kidding me right?

Even if we matched Comair's newly ammended contract we would not have attained a cost neutral contract. If we are getting some effective new management we will save plenty of money in becomming a more efficent operation. We can make Delta or someone else plenty of money with a fair contract, effective scheduling and a real defined contribution retirement plan.
 
Captain Caveman.. excellent points.. We need to get a huge force out there on the 15th and 17th to show them how we are united and not going to stand for this any more
 
av8tor4239 said:
Captain Caveman.. excellent points.. We need to get a huge force out there on the 15th and 17th to show them how we are united and not going to stand for this any more
Get the troops motivated to come out and if not walk atleast stand around and show support. The more buzz in the lounges and on the radios the more people that will get involved. We need a big showing here. To let both sides of the table we are READY!!!
 
You hit the nail on the head sinca..... Make sure you tell who ever you are flying with to come out if possble.. also tell your Flight Attendants to come out an support.. We had a few out there in December!
 
I will not be participating in the picketing. I have picketed in the past. I have supported our MEC in the past. I have supported improving our contract in the past. Now however, I believe the time is here to help the company and not hurt the company. The announcement yesterday for DAL was serious. Our corporation is bleeding badly and is in bad shape. The focus now should be on preserving what we have, not inflicting more pain on the company. Our engine is on fire and we are worried about how this will affect the rest of our trip. The focus should be on putting the fire out first. We can worry about the rest later. The CMR deal isn't looking that bad now is it?
 
ASADriver said:
I will not be participating in the picketing. I have picketed in the past. I have supported our MEC in the past. I have supported improving our contract in the past. Now however, I believe the time is here to help the company and not hurt the company. The announcement yesterday for DAL was serious. Our corporation is bleeding badly and is in bad shape. The focus now should be on preserving what we have, not inflicting more pain on the company. Our engine is on fire and we are worried about how this will affect the rest of our trip. The focus should be on putting the fire out first. We can worry about the rest later. The CMR deal isn't looking that bad now is it?

Right on! If anything we should be offering pay cuts!

How about this, I'll contribute my company funded retirement! (Oops, don't have one). I know, I'll work longer, harder hours! (Well, we're flying to FAR limits now, can't offer that.) I know, we'll have our FO's take pay cuts! (hmmm, they're already at poverty levels)

ASAdriver......don't make yourself the patsy for inept management. If you aren't management, then I guarantee some memeber of our "Leadership Team" has read you post and almost fell over backwards with laughter.

For God sakes man, have some dignity.
 
ASA Driver:

You are correct. I just spent a couple of hours going through Delta's published financial records and I am astonished and saddened.

I have no idea if it will help an iota, but I'll be doing everything I can think of to operate as safely & efficiently as possible.

However, so much of what our pilot group wants is no cost to this company. There are so many ways that Crew Scheduling, Dispatch and CSSC could be improved which would actually save this company money while improving the quality of life. I certainly don't think paying Captains time and a half to fly empty RJ's around at night & into out stations where we know they are going to get stuck makes sense - yet nobody seems to have the authority to cancel flights that "don't make sense."

We know that the mainline guys are going to be back at the negotiating table very soon. What they negotiate usually has more to do with our wages and working conditions than what we negotiate. Regardless whether you are for, or against, the RJDC - the fact remains that the deterrent effect will benefit ASA and Comair pilots.

As far as our local negotiations go, the Company could make a lot of progress by giving in on issues that are to our mutual benefit. As long as the Company remains intransigent, then our choice is made.

~~~^~~~
 
Palerider957 said:
Right on! If anything we should be offering pay cuts!

How about this, I'll contribute my company funded retirement! (Oops, don't have one). I know, I'll work longer, harder hours! (Well, we're flying to FAR limits now, can't offer that.) I know, we'll have our FO's take pay cuts! (hmmm, they're already at poverty levels)

ASAdriver......don't make yourself the patsy for inept management. If you aren't management, then I guarantee some memeber of our "Leadership Team" has read you post and almost fell over backwards with laughter.

For God sakes man, have some dignity.


Palerider,
You are allowing your decision making process to be clouded by emotion. I would agree that we didn't cause this problem. I will agree that there has been some poor management at ASA and DAL. However when my engine is on fire, I can't worry about whether or not maintenance screwed up. I have to deal with the fire first.

Our "Leadership Team" is not what it seems. You see we are DAL airlines regardless of what either management or ALPA tell you. As goes DAL, so goes ASA. We are like Siamese twins that are connected at the head.

I have dignity sir - and I know when to fight. Now is not that time.
 
~~~^~~~ said:
ASA Driver:

You are correct. I just spent a couple of hours going through Delta's published financial records and I am astonished and saddened.

I have no idea if it will help an iota, but I'll be doing everything I can think of to operate as safely & efficiently as possible.

However, so much of what our pilot group wants is no cost to this company. There are so many ways that Crew Scheduling, Dispatch and CSSC could be improved which would actually save this company money while improving the quality of life. I certainly don't think paying Captains time and a half to fly empty RJ's around at night & into out stations where we know they are going to get stuck makes sense - yet nobody seems to have the authority to cancel flights that "don't make sense."

We know that the mainline guys are going to be back at the negotiating table very soon. What they negotiate usually has more to do with our wages and working conditions than what we negotiate. Regardless whether you are for, or against, the RJDC - the fact remains that the deterrent effect will benefit ASA and Comair pilots.

As far as our local negotiations go, the Company could make a lot of progress by giving in on issues that are to our mutual benefit. As long as the Company remains intransigent, then our choice is made.

~~~^~~~


Fins,
I agree with most of what you say. I am an RJDC supporter and believe that our bargaining has been weakened by ALPA's failure to bargain as a single entity on each property. I also believe that despite what both ASA management and ALPA say, we are DAL. Things do not look good at all. I see two options:

1. BK soon in which case, we will be engaged in concessionary bargaining.

or

2. A soon to be announced corporate transaction, probably involving SKYW and Branson, that will spin us off from the sinking SS DAL.

I prefer the second choice. In either case I want to do whatever I can to at least keep what I have. Inflicting economic pain will not help at this time.
 
ASADriver said:
Palerider,
You are allowing your decision making process to be clouded by emotion. I would agree that we didn't cause this problem. I will agree that there has been some poor management at ASA and DAL. However when my engine is on fire, I can't worry about whether or not maintenance screwed up. I have to deal with the fire first.

Our "Leadership Team" is not what it seems. You see we are DAL airlines regardless of what either management or ALPA tell you. As goes DAL, so goes ASA. We are like Siamese twins that are connected at the head.

I have dignity sir - and I know when to fight. Now is not that time.

Management shill....
 
Et tu fins?
 
.....
 
Palerider957 said:
Et tu fins?
I'm not Brutus, more like Bluto right after Flounder shot the pistol and Neidermier's horse had a coronary. There is a time to go screaming out of Dean Wormer's office.... We will return, it wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor....

I don't think ASA is stable enough to enter into genuine contract negotiations at the moment - whatever we do now will be eclipsed by a sale, bankruptcy, or other event far beyond our control.
http://www.classicmovies.org/sounds/germans.wav
 
~~~^~~~ said:
I don't think ASA is stable enough to enter into genuine contract negotiations at the moment - whatever we do now will be eclipsed by a sale, bankruptcy, or other event far beyond our control.

BINGO - Well said.
 
Sad

I am very sad to read the conversation that this thread has become.

ASA Driver.. your opinions on the status of our company sadden me..

Answer several questions for me: Why is management worthy of pay bonuses, pay increases, and able to make as many Vice President postions as they want; But on the other hand, our pilot group must settle for less than what we deserve?

There is a reason the Railway Labor Act was put into place. History tells us it is managements goal to get there employees to do as much work for as little compensation under the worst working conditions possible.

Next, why is it our responsiblity as a Labor force to VOLUNTERILY (this is what you are doing) lay down at the knees of our management when they have not asked us for concessions.

ASA Driver, it is not your job to save Delta Mainline..It is not even your job to Save ASA if it needed saving.. YOUR JOB IS TO SUPPORT THE NEGOTIATION OF A FAIR WORKING CONTRACT. Let our high paid managers save Delta, they are the ones that got us into this position in the first place (example: simplifares, LEO MULLINS bankrupt protected golded parachute,etc.)..

If our management wanted Concessions they would ask for them, then the concessions would be evaluated by our MEC, and then the concessions would be voted on by the pilots...that is not what is going on here.. We need your support to get a fair contract.

We are not trying to bankrupt the company.. we are just asking for a fair contract... It has been 2.5 years of negotiations and only 10 sections TA'ed..

ASA DRIVER, ONE MORE TIME FOR YOU... WE ARE NOT TRYING TO HURT DELTA OR ASA... WE JUST WANT TO NEGOTIATE A FAIR WORKING AGREEMENT.

ASA driver, please consult with a P2P member, and check the MEC webpage and read the negotiation updates.. INFORM YOURSELF.. You are obviously uniformed of our situation.. you make it sound like the pilot group wants to kill the company.. NOT TRUE.. we cant even get managment on the other side of the table to speak... Read your negotiation updates! get informed

Everyone else.. cant wait to see you at the informational picketing sessions March 15, 17th.

Thanks for your support!!
 
The whole Branson thing has come up before.

Why would Delta sell us to SkyWest if there was a chance Sir Richard would make us part of his new LCC, and thus a new competitor for Mother D.

That makes almost as much sense as selling a bunch of DC9s to a new LCC startup in your fortress hub and..........


Oh wait, nevermind.
 
Fins: if that is what you go by.. I cant find the button on my key pad for the symbol you use.

Our company is very strong and growing.. we are very stable too. The rumors about getting sold to Skywest etc. are a bunch of RUMORS.. they are not true.. When Delta was confronted to verify the BOGUS report by the Skywest CFO, Delta said that ASA and Comair are a critical part of the Delta network. All this crap about sales and Bankrupcy, and other events is just that crap.. Your MEC and especially your Negotiation committee know what they are doing..

Us going out an doing INFORMATIONAL PICKETING is not going to shut the doors at DELTA, or ASA. It is going to show DELTA and ASA that our pilot group is unified, and that we are done with the whipsaw tactics, the KOOL AID parties. It will also show the public that there is a disgruntled labor workforce out there.. the more media and public attention we get, the more pressure managment gets to sit down and negotiate..

READ YOUR NEGOTIATION UPDATES ON THE MEC WEB PAGE.. TALK TO A P2P VOLUNTEER.
 
Well, that was easy.... One bogus "leaked" story planted over at Skywest and one quarterly filing from Delta that didn't reveal anything that we didn't know already and the resolve of our pilot group is falling apart.
ASADriver. I hope that you are either (a) management or (b) too new to know any better. To answer your question: Yes. The Comair deal still looks bad.

My final thoughts are this: I won't do this job for one penny less or for one concession when it comes to work rules. Coming to work at ASA became a chore instead of a joy over a year ago. I can replace my income very easily, just as every pilot on the seniority list can. If we take a pay cut, I walk. If we get bought out by Skywest and stapled, we should all walk on the same day with the airplanes at outstations. They want 'em, they can have 'em, and any of you spineless pussies that want to go with them, good riddance. I am ashamed to call you my co-workers anyway.
 
FmrFreightDog said:
My final thoughts are this: I won't do this job for one penny less or for one concession when it comes to work rules. Coming to work at ASA became a chore instead of a joy over a year ago. I can replace my income very easily, just as every pilot on the seniority list can. If we take a pay cut, I walk. If we get bought out by Skywest and stapled, we should all walk on the same day with the airplanes at outstations. They want 'em, they can have 'em, and any of you spineless pussies that want to go with them, good riddance. I am ashamed to call you my co-workers anyway.

Good so I can bid out west and get out of South there will be less people bidding in front of me. Atlanta $uck$.
 
What ever happens to our company in the future (sale, bankrupcy, strike, liquidation, another terrorist attack, etc.) is completely out of our control as a pilot group. WE MUST SUPPORT OUR UNIFIED EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE A FAIR CONTRACT, and that includes informational picketing March 15th and 17th. With the outlook and attitude of ASA Driver, and Fins, and inclusive scope, we might as well work for free and tell the FAA to go to he11 because we are going to fly 20 hour duty days with no rest..
 
Freight....I can't agree more.
This industry is in shambles and is that the employees fault is it managments fault, or is it the passengers fault. Lets all stop pointing fingers and do the job you were hired to do. Do it to the letter of the law (POH/SP's). Not only is this the way we are suppose to fly but it is the most economical way to fly!
Let the other members of our organization (DAL/ASA/COM) do what they were hired to do......that's their job!
If they can't find a way to get a company profitable they will either be replaced or the company will fold. Do I want to see the latter? Hell no, but 98% of us (ASA) can go out and do a job that requires half the skill and responsibility with most if not more of the rewards/compensation.
QUIT worring about something you have NO CONTROL OVER!!!!! No matter how much they (managment) wants you to believe you are the cause of the problems it just isn't true.
Get out and have a beer people....live life....
Cheers
 
BUD............................WEI.....................SER. I think I will have a beer. I am more of Geniues man though.
 
av8tor4239 said:
Us going out an doing INFORMATIONAL PICKETING is not going to shut the doors at DELTA, or ASA. It is going to show DELTA and ASA that our pilot group is unified,
Perhaps you have the wrong idea, I did walk around in circles out in front of the G.O. and will again ( the weather is getting much better for it now anyway )

Sinca 3 has it right:
Lets all stop pointing fingers and do the job you were hired to do. Do it to the letter of the law (POH/SP's). Not only is this the way we are suppose to fly but it is the most economical way to fly!
Let the other members of our organization (DAL/ASA/COM) do what they were hired to do......that's their job!
If they can't find a way to get a company profitable they will either be replaced or the company will fold. Do I want to see the latter? Hell no, but 98% of us (ASA) can go out and do a job that requires half the skill and responsibility with most if not more of the rewards/compensation.
 
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