ASA contract.....

[SkylerS]

No, I am a senior FO who once held a good line in ATL. If I want to be a Capt in ATL it looks like I will have to quit ASA and get hired at Comair.

I don't blame all Comair pilots, and I realize that this is one of our management's silly games, but I base my opinion on the comments of a few our our Comair guests in ATL. My advice to Comair pilots is to keep your enthusiasm for a fast up-grade to yourselves while in our crew lounge. Things will probably be better when you have one of your own.

Fast upgrade? Are you for real? Sleepy, I'm sorry, but you sir, are an idiot! Things have come to a screeching halt here. There are no upgrades. The last vacancy bid for 12 captains was cancelled (or so I believe). Things are going to get stagnant here while you guys grow. And quite frankly, I'm OK with that. I would rather see you guys grow than the others. I'm sick of you bashing us. If we wanted to screw you guys, we would have given in to the "concessions for growth." BUT WE DIDN'T! Need I repeat myself? So quit whining about us and get to work to make us the second best contract (and hopefully the third with XJET). Course I'm getting the feeling you would "give-in" to management before going on strike (if nothing else but to just get-back-at-Comair). I hope I'm wrong, very wrong.

--Sky

 

[RJFlyer]

would it be safer and better, in your opinions to stay here and just put up with the commuting or go ahead and jump ship now for a better QOL w/o the commute out of DFW? Is the future at ASA looking bad due to this contract? What is the upgrade time looking like over there?

Ductleak -

Nobody knows the answers to these questions, and anyone that pretends to know is doing just that - pretending to know. Good luck with your decision.

 

[DDpaysoff]

That is the most accurate description of not only the Atlanta airport but of the entire Atlanta community !

That is absolutely true. It is not just the airport. Everytime you go somewhere to buy something they act like you are bothering them. As for a base, it will have to be after Dallas, because our managment told us the three things we can count on are death, taxes, and a dallas base. Over here we believe everything they tell us. <insert sarcastic remark here>
After that Hell will freeze over and then you will see an atlanta base. How is the crack down there just in case?

 

[sleepy]

Fast upgrade? Are you for real? Sleepy, I'm sorry, but you sir, are an idiot! Things have come to a screeching halt here. There are no upgrades. The last vacancy bid for 12 captains was cancelled (or so I believe). Things are going to get stagnant here while you guys grow. And quite frankly, I'm OK with that. I would rather see you guys grow than the others. I'm sick of you bashing us. If we wanted to screw you guys, we would have given in to the "concessions for growth." BUT WE DIDN'T! Need I repeat myself? So quit whining about us and get to work to make us the second best contract (and hopefully the third with XJET). Course I'm getting the feeling you would "give-in" to management before going on strike (if nothing else but to just get-back-at-Comair). I hope I'm wrong, very wrong.

--Sky

I am just repeating what one of your pilots said. A junior base in ATL (where nobody in their right Comair mind would want to live) will mean fast upgrades for those willing to live in the jungle.

 

[captainv]

Sleepy,

Glad to see that you've seen the light, just in your posts on this thread...

sleepy: I don't blame all Comair pilots, and I realize that this is one of our management's silly games,

sleepy, earlier: As for Comair, ... It doesn't seem to be hurting their feelings too much to take our flying and weaken our bargaining positions in ATL.

that said, i can understand the hard feelings, with our rapid expansion in ATL. I hear plenty of b!tching at CMR about CHQ since they took over Orlando, and since they're scheduled to start flying routes out of CVG. still, they went from a Mesa-like contract to a much better one, even if it's not quite as good as ours. and have no grudge against their pilots - they have no more say in where they fly than I do.

As for all this talk about a crew base in ATL for Comair, don't hold your breath. Yes, they are doing some contingency planning in case it goes through. But Delta has not asked us to go down there yet. and with big D losing 400 million this quarter, i doubt they're gung ho about paying all the costs associated with a new base. in the short term, i suppose it's easier to rent out the westin and deadhead 8 crews a day to ATL to cover the daily mishaps...

and by the way, if you're not happy with your lot at ASA, then demand better. fight for the contract you deserve, even if that means a strike. i think you underestimate your position right now. Hopefully, big D has learned that a long costly strike will cost them more than giving you what you've earned. If they haven't. well, then all of our futures are limited...

 

[geardown]

Can you expand on what's going on?
I've been out of the loop for about a week.

 

[asacap]

To all ASA pilots,

Please stop requesting services such as fueling, cleaning, catering, rampers, etc. (According to our SP's, those services are implied and not to be requested over the radio) Sit and wait to get parked, don't call ramp tower. (That too is not your job) These are many things management takes advantage of and then credit for when our on-time record improves. Also, Nav lights, tire inflation, seat belt problems, etc. ALL need to be written up. Maintenance may just defer most of these things but it takes up time and makes the FAA uneasy, which makes management uncomfortable. There are many legal things that we need to start doing to get managements attention. Otherwise, they are rewarded everyday this drags out.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

To all ASA pilots,

Please stop requesting services such as fueling, cleaning, catering, rampers, etc. (According to our SP's, those services are implied and not to be requested over the radio) Sit and wait to get parked, don't call ramp tower. (That too is not your job) These are many things management takes advantage of and then credit for when our on-time record improves. Also, Nav lights, tire inflation, seat belt problems, etc. ALL need to be written up. Maintenance may just defer most of these things but it takes up time and makes the FAA uneasy, which makes management uncomfortable. There are many legal things that we need to start doing to get managements attention. Otherwise, they are rewarded everyday this drags out.

I don't think we're there yet. Personally I don't care who gets credit for what. The Atlanta ramp is running better now than it ever has, and I don't think it will do anybody any good to attempt to sabotage it.

Flame away.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Given the economy and the fact that customers get to speak with their pocket books, maybe we should be trying to give the customer better service, not worse.

Stooping to the management level only runs off the customer and in the long run a good contract isn't worth $hit with no customers.

Do your job the best you can. Leave the baragaining to those we elected.

My MEC speaks for me.

 

[asacap]

All I said is do your job and that's it. Anyway, management is laughing at us. They aren't even showing up for some of the negotiating sessions. They are showing us complete disrespect. I say we show it back to them. They are dragging this out intentionally. All I want is a new contract. Don't you?

 

[Jungle Prop]

That's a great attitude asacap, let's take it out on the people who pay our salary. I know, let's make every flight as late as possible, that will show the company! Sorry folks we were 30 minutes late beacuse I was too lazy to pick up the mic and remind the company to send a fuel truck, please fly again with us.
MetroSherff excellent point. Let the negotiators do their job and we will do ours.

 

[asacap]

Jungle Prop,

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to upset the passengers either but I place the blame on management for dragging this out. There is only so much that I'm willing to take from them. If they cared about the passengers so much then we would have a contract by now. According to our negotiators, management has not been negotiating in good faith. Sometimes, management needs to be reminded that we are an important part of the equation. Pure and simple.

Also, it's not laziness to not pick up the mic and order fuel. The SP's specifically say NOT to do that because it is an implied service and it will increase radio congestion. It is simply not your job to do that AND a violation of the SP's.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Sorry folks we were 30 minutes late beacuse I was too lazy to pick up the mic and remind the company to send a fuel truck, please fly again with us.

Change to read:

"Sorry folks, we are 30 minutes late because ASA can't get it's act together. It is impossible for me to fuel the aircraft myself, so we'll have to wait until ASA sends a truck. That may take awhile since our Departure Coordinator is having a lunch break, and he has no direct supervision. Possibly, when night falls, and the gate is needed, they may notice something askew. Then, after a myriad of phone calls, it will be discovered that our flight has not yet departed. Then, but only then, will we be sent our fuel. Thanks and welcome aboard the After School Airline...."

One call to the Departure Coordinator.

 

[anon]

Yeah guys,

That's a good idea. That's the way to treat our customers ... you remember the customers, the people who pay our salaries?

You want to get paid like a real airline, but you want to act like a 2 year old.

Let the MEC do its job. They might know more about what's going on than we do.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Everyone wants to provide a nice service to the passengers. Sometimes though, it's not possible. Organization is still lacking throughout. I don't get paid to chase after fuel trucks, catering trucks or rampers. Besides, if the departure guy doesn't handle it, guess who gets the delay...

 

[Sinca3]

To all ASA pilots,

Otherwise, they are rewarded everyday this drags out.

My biggest sticking point with this contract is 100% retro/back pay. This is the only thing we as a unionized group have to keep managment honest and timely. If we always agree for some half assed retro, managment will never be under any pressure to get the new contract signed. We are working for peanuts right now and it really pisses me off. I hope the pilot group stresses the need for meaningful retro pay to our CNC. This is a perfect time to let managment know this is the last contract they can drag their feet on....

100% or a NO vote

see ya

 

[sleepy]

Change to read:

"Sorry folks, we are 30 minutes late because ASA can't get it's act together. It is impossible for me to fuel the aircraft myself, so we'll have to wait until ASA sends a truck. That may take awhile since our Departure Coordinator is having a lunch break, and he has no direct supervision. Possibly, when night falls, and the gate is needed, they may notice something askew. Then, after a myriad of phone calls, it will be discovered that our flight has not yet departed. Then, but only then, will we be sent our fuel. Thanks and welcome aboard the After School Airline...."

One call to the Departure Coordinator.

You nailed it! LOL.

We should always write-up all maintenance problems, especially when we are at outstations (that expensive contract maintenance bill will make a big dent in management's bonus checks). I am so tired of crews flying around all day with broken stuff on the aircraft, and then writing it all up at the end of the day just before I get the aircraft for my nap with 5 hours of ground time.

If you are in maintenance you just need to clearly explain the problem to the pax. They will be glad that you are not flying them around in a broken aircraft. If the frequent flyers start to notice that our aircraft are always broken I believe they will blame management, not the pilots.

 

[English]

You nailed it! LOL.

We should always write-up all maintenance problems, especially when we are at outstations (that expensive contract maintenance bill will make a big dent in management's bonus checks). I am so tired of crews flying around all day with broken stuff on the aircraft, and then writing it all up at the end of the day just before I get the aircraft for my nap with 5 hours of ground time.

If you are in maintenance you just need to clearly explain the problem to the pax. They will be glad that you are not flying them around in a broken aircraft. If the frequent flyers start to notice that our aircraft are always broken I believe they will blame management, not the pilots.

Hello? How about, write up maintenance problems because it's a FAR, not just because it inconveniences you going on your overnight?

 

[sleepy]

Hello? How about, write up maintenance problems because it's a FAR, not just because it inconveniences you going on your overnight?

You mean that it is also required by the FAA? I don't think that any of us knew that. Thank you English for bringing this to our attention.

 

[English]

I know everyone else here on this board knew it. It was you that caused the wave of the red flag.