ASA Electronic Strike Ballot is Here!!!

[MarineGrunt]

36 posts without a single "no" vote. It's looking bleak for BL and company.

I really don't think anyone is gonna lay their nuts out to be stomped on!

 

[ASARJMan]

Interesting post from the ASA ALPA board. Something to think about.

There was a gentleman that stopped by the CT, BL, TH, GG, SH meeting. (Boy
they are pushing this 70 seat cut pretty hard) He is a senior Captain who
will retire in two years.
He expressed his opinion to the group that we shouldn't strike because
Skywest will transfer all the flying and let us walk....
As he left, he mumbled about losing $250K because of a National agenda.

Ok, everyone IS entitled to their own opinion and their own vote.
Some things to think about:
Skywest may want to let us walk, but Delta will be breathing down their neck
every hour we walk.

There are things that would greatly help me personally, if I wanted to be
selfish about this contract, but this is not my contract it is our
contract. Everyone has their big issues, but I think this guy was being
quite selfish. He only has two years left. I have 20+ if I stay here. I
will be living with whatever contract we sign for at least 8 years if not
longer.
This company push "because we knew you guys had a lot of questions" is all
about the 70 seat costs/cuts, the instructor pay, and the Delta "Box".

Let's not be shortsighted here. The reason they are pushing this 70 seat
cut so hard, even enticing with a small increase in 50 seat captain's rates,
is the 70+ seat is where the growth is. BL even said it. The possible 50
growth (or large Turbo-P's) is only from the COEX bid. The rest will come
in 70+ seaters. They are hoping we will buy into the bait and switch. 50
seat pay raise and in a few years we will be a mostly 70+ seat fleet. He
even said "we're only asking for a cut from 25% of the pilots", BS.

Bryan kept saying we bid based on aircraft Type, not total costs. I call
BS. Companies do not care what your costs are as a contractor, the care
what you charge them. The low CREW COST 50 seat and ATR's (remember we don't pay for fuel right now) are what allow us to be competitive on 70 seat bids. That will not be the case in the future. The 70 seat costs will be
the largest part and this is exactly why they are focusing in on it.
Rightfully so, but it is your future as well. Don't be shortsighted, the
company is not being shortsighted.

The 90 seat airframes that were coming here but now go to Skywest are being
used as a stick in the stick and carrot approach the company is using.
There is another, bigger reason:

E. New Aircraft-type
1. Should the Company place in revenue service aircraft other than the
aircraft
for which rates of pay are specified in this Agreement, the Association and
the Company will meet pursuant to Title I, Section 6, of the Railway Labor
Act, ninety (90) days, if possible, but no later than sixty (60) days before
the
aircraft is scheduled to be placed in revenue service for the purpose of
negotiating rates of pay for such aircraft.
2. If no agreement has been reached by the thirtieth (30th) day prior to the
date
the aircraft is scheduled to be placed in revenue service, the parties will
submit the issue to an arbitrator for final and binding arbitration.

If the 90 seat hits our line, we get a new rate, either negotiated or
arbitrated. The company wants the 70 seat rate down and to include up to 79
seats in the next contract. So, since we didn't get a contract quick
enough, they put them on Skywest property in a holding pattern. Skywest
doesn't get a new rate, and Skywest Inc. can take these airplanes away from
Skywest in a heartbeat. They WILL BE BACK. It costs too much to have a
dual domicile, ie SLC.

Finally, we will be merged. I am not talking through ALPA, or the NMB. I
suspect Jerry has real plans to merge these two airlines into a powerhouse
regional. The economies of scale dictate it (although I am not a MBA or
economist). I asked BL about why not a merge to keep costs down versus pay cuts. His explanation was lengthy. It focused on how the only benefit is
the senior level pay...no real benefit in costs because its averaged out
across the fleet...Salesman's snow job.

But look what is going on around you. Benefit changes, IT changes, a Best
Practice Team: It is happening now. Just pending keeping our costs on the
70+ down so when we do merge, they are as low as possible in the merged
group. They would of course prefer to keep the union off their property by
making a union look bad with pay cuts. He might even give Skywest pilots
their 70 seat rate just to influence the vote.



Before you make your decision, please listen to our Skywest Inc. CEO at this
conference and pay attention to his words on cost, growth, merger, and the
purchase of ASA. Very informative.
http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/ml/transportation06/58211105.cfm

 

[WWEfan]

I really don't think anyone is gonna lay their nuts out to be stomped on!

You must be new here. LMAO!

Superpooper, D'angel-ho and Joe Merchant will certainly have something to say about this.

 

["GO AROUND"]

One computer..........................................$599


Internet service provider...........................$15.99



One of an overwhelming "In Favor"
response by the ASA pilots telling
managment they can shove their
concessionary contract............................Priceless

 

[OCP]

Count 2. My capt. didn't have internet access or is on this place, but we both voted for!

 

[pudnocker]

Fonzie Says

Yesamundo!

 

[atlcrjdriver]

After much thaught and deliberation, I have cast my vote in favor of the strike authorization. This was not due to the wage debate at all, but due to the IMO more important issues that we can win such as scope trip/duty rigs and merger protection. I cast my vote to give them the leverage to help push these issues through.

This union now speaks for me, Don't have me end up on the street...

 

[USCtrojan]

Strike Vote

Interesting post from the ASA ALPA board. Something to think about.

There was a gentleman that stopped by the CT, BL, TH, GG, SH meeting. (Boy
they are pushing this 70 seat cut pretty hard) He is a senior Captain who
will retire in two years.
He expressed his opinion to the group that we shouldn't strike because
Skywest will transfer all the flying and let us walk....
As he left, he mumbled about losing $250K because of a National agenda.

Ok, everyone IS entitled to their own opinion and their own vote.
Some things to think about:
Skywest may want to let us walk, but Delta will be breathing down their neck
every hour we walk.

There are things that would greatly help me personally, if I wanted to be
selfish about this contract, but this is not my contract it is our
contract. Everyone has their big issues, but I think this guy was being
quite selfish. He only has two years left. I have 20+ if I stay here. I
will be living with whatever contract we sign for at least 8 years if not
longer.
This company push "because we knew you guys had a lot of questions" is all
about the 70 seat costs/cuts, the instructor pay, and the Delta "Box".

Let's not be shortsighted here. The reason they are pushing this 70 seat
cut so hard, even enticing with a small increase in 50 seat captain's rates,
is the 70+ seat is where the growth is. BL even said it. The possible 50
growth (or large Turbo-P's) is only from the COEX bid. The rest will come
in 70+ seaters. They are hoping we will buy into the bait and switch. 50
seat pay raise and in a few years we will be a mostly 70+ seat fleet. He
even said "we're only asking for a cut from 25% of the pilots", BS.

Bryan kept saying we bid based on aircraft Type, not total costs. I call
BS. Companies do not care what your costs are as a contractor, the care
what you charge them. The low CREW COST 50 seat and ATR's (remember we don't pay for fuel right now) are what allow us to be competitive on 70 seat bids. That will not be the case in the future. The 70 seat costs will be
the largest part and this is exactly why they are focusing in on it.
Rightfully so, but it is your future as well. Don't be shortsighted, the
company is not being shortsighted.

The 90 seat airframes that were coming here but now go to Skywest are being
used as a stick in the stick and carrot approach the company is using.
There is another, bigger reason:

E. New Aircraft-type
1. Should the Company place in revenue service aircraft other than the
aircraft
for which rates of pay are specified in this Agreement, the Association and
the Company will meet pursuant to Title I, Section 6, of the Railway Labor
Act, ninety (90) days, if possible, but no later than sixty (60) days before
the
aircraft is scheduled to be placed in revenue service for the purpose of
negotiating rates of pay for such aircraft.
2. If no agreement has been reached by the thirtieth (30th) day prior to the
date
the aircraft is scheduled to be placed in revenue service, the parties will
submit the issue to an arbitrator for final and binding arbitration.

If the 90 seat hits our line, we get a new rate, either negotiated or
arbitrated. The company wants the 70 seat rate down and to include up to 79
seats in the next contract. So, since we didn't get a contract quick
enough, they put them on Skywest property in a holding pattern. Skywest
doesn't get a new rate, and Skywest Inc. can take these airplanes away from
Skywest in a heartbeat. They WILL BE BACK. It costs too much to have a
dual domicile, ie SLC.

Finally, we will be merged. I am not talking through ALPA, or the NMB. I
suspect Jerry has real plans to merge these two airlines into a powerhouse
regional. The economies of scale dictate it (although I am not a MBA or
economist). I asked BL about why not a merge to keep costs down versus pay cuts. His explanation was lengthy. It focused on how the only benefit is
the senior level pay...no real benefit in costs because its averaged out
across the fleet...Salesman's snow job.

But look what is going on around you. Benefit changes, IT changes, a Best
Practice Team: It is happening now. Just pending keeping our costs on the
70+ down so when we do merge, they are as low as possible in the merged
group. They would of course prefer to keep the union off their property by
making a union look bad with pay cuts. He might even give Skywest pilots
their 70 seat rate just to influence the vote.



Before you make your decision, please listen to our Skywest Inc. CEO at this
conference and pay attention to his words on cost, growth, merger, and the
purchase of ASA. Very informative.
http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/ml/transportation06/58211105.cfm

Great Post ASARJMAN!! Thank you for the well thought out post. I feel for our pilots on the verge of retirement. This kind of BS is no fun for planning at all. I think most, if not all ASA pilots don't want a strike. It will affect us adversely for sure, that's why the senior pilot was distraught. However, I believe we all know it's necessary considering what is on the table. I'm not in favor of a strike whatsoever. However, that being said, I just authorized my MEC to do so, should they need to.

Trojan

 

[goahead]

FU_K yea count me in

 

[ASACRJFlyer]

I voted NO...

NOT! Are you freakin' kidding me??? Of course I voted YES!!! I didn't want to but when management backs you into a corner and tries to make you pay for their mistakes, what are you gonna do?

 

[asapilot]

Yes, without question!

 

[Tim47SIP]

Denied!

I tried, but no joy. MLOA guys cant vote. Give em hell for me! Good luck to you guys. :smash:

 

[whatitdoing?]

Uhhhmm.....hell yes!!! Enough of this crap....

 

[exeagle]

Not only Yes but HELL YES

 

[outtahere]

Put me down for a YES!

 

[NoR * CaL]

Great Post ASARJMAN!! Thank you for the well thought out post. I feel for our pilots on the verge of retirement. This kind of BS is no fun for planning at all. I think most, if not all ASA pilots don't want a strike. It will affect us adversely for sure, that's why the senior pilot was distraught. However, I believe we all know it's necessary considering what is on the table. I'm not in favor of a strike whatsoever. However, that being said, I just authorized my MEC to do so, should they need to.

Trojan

I agree w/ ASARJMAN's pointed post and I also have to say that, along w/ USCtrojan, we really do not have many cards left to play that have a positive outcome; and even if this card comes up empty, at least we played the only option we had left. I do not want a strike, I would like to see ASA grow, and I would like to see it do all the things that the bogus company-issued mail and newsletters say we do ("making this the best regional airline" etc etc"); however, not at the expense of opening a flood gate for future concessions and lack of control as far as the contributing to the direction our own destiny. I do not agree with ALPA all of the time, and I do not have any great love for our management; I just try to go to work and do the best job I can so that I and everyone else in the back can go home at the end of the day. In saying that I do not agree with all of what ALPA does, I do feel that this is the only option we have left to stand together as a pilot group, and stick up for what we believe is right for us, and the industry as a whole. If ASA goes down in flames, well, that will be too bad, because there are a lot of great people here, and the place does have the potentional to be the best run and best operated airline out there; and if it does go down, we'll know we've done all we can do...it is sometimes tough to see if any positive is a true possibility...and w/ that hesitation, count one more in for MEC's authorization....

 

[USCtrojan]

Authorization

I agree w/ ASARJMAN's pointed post and I also have to say that, along w/ USCtrojan, we really do not have many cards left to play that have a positive outcome; and even if this card comes up empty, at least we played the only option we had left. I do not want a strike, I would like to see ASA grow, and I would like to see it do all the things that the bogus company-issued mail and newsletters say we do ("making this the best regional airline" etc etc"); however, not at the expense of opening a flood gate for future concessions and lack of control as far as the contributing to the direction our own destiny. I do not agree with ALPA all of the time, and I do not have any great love for our management; I just try to go to work and do the best job I can so that I and everyone else in the back can go home at the end of the day. In saying that I do not agree with all of what ALPA does, I do feel that this is the only option we have left to stand together as a pilot group, and stick up for what we believe is right for us, and the industry as a whole. If ASA goes down in flames, well, that will be too bad, because there are a lot of great people here, and the place does have the potentional to be the best run and best operated airline out there; and if it does go down, we'll know we've done all we can do...it is sometimes tough to see if any positive is a true possibility...and w/ that hesitation, count one more in for MEC's authorization....

Okay, I concede Nor*Cal, you have a way better Avatar than me!

Trojan

 

[NoR * CaL]

Sometimes, when thinking about work, I need all the motivation I can...isn't she a newhire?

 

[GearUpLightsIn]

I couldn't get the online ballot to work so I called instead. In favor. C0(K Su&$rs!

 

[Iona]

yes, si, oui,and ya mon