ASA Merger Committee

[Oakum_Boy]

In this management style, you cannot have pilots working three days per week nor swapping nor dropping. It just causes too much animosity amongst other groups in the airline. That's why you see pilots having to share bathrooms with rampers. Expectation Management is what it's called and the MEC is on board with it.

 

[COOPERVANE]

I once asked about automatic release upon completion of reserve assignment. It is NOT MY JOB to remind scheduling where I am!

I was told that it was unreasonable to be automatically released. They would not even consider negotiating for it in the next contract. I was told reserve sucks and basically to get over it. If/when I am off reserve I still want this even though it won't benefit me personally. That is our basic problem. The people in charge of negotiating out QOL only think of themselves.

Other airlines have this. This is but one example where our ALPA leadership fails to even achieve parity with others.

 

[Whydoitry]

I once asked about automatic release upon completion of reserve assignment. It is NOT MY JOB to remind scheduling where I am!

I was told that it was unreasonable to be automatically released. They would not even consider negotiating for it in the next contract. I was told reserve sucks and basically to get over it. If/when I am off reserve I still want this even though it won't benefit me personally. That is our basic problem. The people in charge of negotiating out QOL only think of themselves.

Other airlines have this. This is but one example where our ALPA leadership fails to even achieve parity with others.

You will be glad to know that we have this at XJT, release if there is nothing on your schedule 15min after block in, no need to call sched. just check the computer.

 

[wms]

Not exactly. Fences will be put in place (I'm guessing 3-5 years) that will prevent intermingling of the pilot groups. So it will be at least that long before any XJT people are reps in ATL or IAD. And how many XJT pilots will actually transfer to ATL or IAD? Prolly not enough to win an election. Then again as apathetic as the ASA pilot group is it may only take a handful....

Remember the furlough fund? 12% participation.
LEC elections? 30% participation.

We are PATHETIC! LOL!

Of course the combined MEC will be able to roll call everything in XJT's favor almost immediately....just sayin'.

Fences have to do with standing bids so our seats and domiciles will be protected. So it's safe to assume that the LECs (domicile-specific) will be consistent with what we have now. But after SLI there will be elections for MEC (company-wide) officials and since XE has the greater number of pilots the new MEC will probably be made up of former XE reps.

And generally fences only protect current positions. New positions and resultant vacancies are generally open to all pilots, depending of course on the specific terms of the agreement. It's all open to negotiation.

 

[zawillif]

Not exactly. Fences will be put in place (I'm guessing 3-5 years) that will prevent intermingling of the pilot groups.

Why is there all this talk about fences?? Why does everyone think we need to have them? I'm wondering what the benefit of a fence will give us?

My opinion is no fences. Everything is kept separate until we are awarded the SOC. After we get SOC, when there is a vacancy, everyone in the combined company can bid for it. No displacement bids, no mass bid with everyone in the company switching around. If 10 captain slots in IAD become vacant, bid for those 10 slots and thats it. If 10 captain slots in IAH, same thing. DAL/NWA had 1 fence in the entire merger that combined 12,000 pilots and 9 bases--why should we need any?

 

[79%N1]

Yea. No fences.
Vacancy driven.

 

[Bako Cap]

You will be glad to know that we have this at XJT, release if there is nothing on your schedule 15min after block in, no need to call sched. just check the computer.

At SkyWest, if not expressly notified by the company (they cannot use ACARS for this), we don't even need to check the computer. I just leave the aircraft and go home.

 

[COOPERVANE]

At SkyWest, if not expressly notified by the company (they cannot use ACARS for this), we don't even need to check the computer. I just leave the aircraft and go home.

THIS IS MY POINT!!!

ASA scheduling has a culture that will not release control. Our reps won't even try and push for this next contract. I hope this merger can fix some of our reps ATTITUDES.

I hope all the Expressjet guys read our contract VERY carefully, this is your future if you aren't careful.

 

[crj567]

THIS IS MY POINT!!!

ASA scheduling has a culture that will not release control. Our reps won't even try and push for this next contract. I hope this merger can fix some of our reps ATTITUDES.

I hope all the Expressjet guys read our contract VERY carefully, this is your future if you aren't careful.

Voting all our reps out of office will damn sure fix some attitudes! Once people get drilled in the butt by our crap PBS agreement for a while, I think our pathetic pilot group may finally wake up and do what sorely needs to be done.

If our guys won't do it, the XJET guys sure as hell will!

-Enjoy that 6 hrs per day while it lasts.

 

[Freebrd]

Voting all our reps out of office will damn sure fix some attitudes! -Enjoy that 6 hrs per day while it lasts.

yeh but the same clowns just run again or the ousted ones just end up on a committee look at the PBS dude, now in charge of the neg team :angryfire

we need to take back that 6 hr crap we only get 4 for PCs! ok compromise and we both get 5 hrs! :beer:

 

[crj567]

yeh but the same clowns just run again or the ousted ones just end up on a committee look at the PBS dude, now in charge of the neg team :angryfire

we need to take back that 6 hr crap we only get 4 for PCs! ok compromise and we both get 5 hrs! :beer:

This fact is really pissing me off lately. I was very much unimpressed with his road shows. I hate the fact the he sat up there and pretty much tried to tell us that we were too stupid to read what we were reading-we actually pay dues for this kind of flim-flam job!

-Once people figure out how much we lost by agreeing to this crap PBS mess, I have faith that they will finally wake up and send people like that back to the line......

 

[Cpt Oveur]

This fact is really pissing me off lately. I was very much unimpressed with his road shows. I hate the fact the he sat up there and pretty much tried to tell us that we were too stupid to read what we were reading-we actually pay dues for this kind of flim-flam job!

-Once people figure out how much we lost by agreeing to this crap PBS mess, I have faith that they will finally wake up and send people like that back to the line......

Yes you may disagree with what he says at the roadshows, but he does not beat around the bush. I've found that if I just talk to them one on one or pick up the phone and call them, anyone in the union will take the time and explain or discuss whatever you need to.

 

[NotTooBad]

Voting all our reps out of office will damn sure fix some attitudes! Once people get drilled in the butt by our crap PBS agreement for a while, I think our pathetic pilot group may finally wake up and do what sorely needs to be done.

If our guys won't do it, the XJET guys sure as hell will!

-Enjoy that 6 hrs per day while it lasts.

What's the worst that could happen? A bunch of 4 day trips with 11 & 12 days off a month?

 

[No Delay]

The problem is the same problem we have with congress.

I believe many good men start in congress with the purest of intentions...a real desire to make life better for the people they represent. Unfortunately, they all soon get sucked into the lifestyle. They get lost in the power, pay, and comfort.

I believe our union reps start with good intentions. But soon they have the extra pay (6 hrs/day) and the flexible schedules (crappy 4 day??? naa, I think there's a union meeting! Suddenly, they are pretty much their own boss, not much accountability, etc.

I think some easy fixes would be to first resend the 6 hr pay. An earlier post was correct...why is their 1 hour meeting worth so much more than our 8 hours of recurrent?????????? Someone in the union please explain that.

Also, if you want to work in the union...there should be a limit on how many trips they can drop or days they can miss. Why not put all union reps on reserve? or ready reserve? It doesn't take long to forget where you came from....but you won't forget where you are! Our reps should never forget who they represent. Every pilot from the top to the bottom!

Or how about taking back the 6 hrs of pay, have the union reps and pilots set goals on what they hope to accomplish (being reasonable of course), and then create some type of bonus system. Pay them for what they accomplish! Have the pilots vote on their bonuses!!! Bet you would get some representation then. Why should we pay someone when our quality of life is getting worse every year?

Just my 2 cents.

 

[the palm]

My QOL has done nothing but improve over my career here.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Freebrd]

My QOL has done nothing but improve over my career here.Just my 2 cents.

that's because you have the best of two worlds Palm, flying shiny (s0metimes anyway) jets and then jetting off on your secret missions James Bond all over the world!

 

[PCL_128]

The problem is the same problem we have with congress.

I believe many good men start in congress with the purest of intentions...a real desire to make life better for the people they represent. Unfortunately, they all soon get sucked into the lifestyle. They get lost in the power, pay, and comfort.

I believe our union reps start with good intentions. But soon they have the extra pay (6 hrs/day) and the flexible schedules (crappy 4 day??? naa, I think there's a union meeting! Suddenly, they are pretty much their own boss, not much accountability, etc.

I think some easy fixes would be to first resend the 6 hr pay. An earlier post was correct...why is their 1 hour meeting worth so much more than our 8 hours of recurrent?????????? Someone in the union please explain that.

Also, if you want to work in the union...there should be a limit on how many trips they can drop or days they can miss. Why not put all union reps on reserve? or ready reserve? It doesn't take long to forget where you came from....but you won't forget where you are! Our reps should never forget who they represent. Every pilot from the top to the bottom!

Or how about taking back the 6 hrs of pay, have the union reps and pilots set goals on what they hope to accomplish (being reasonable of course), and then create some type of bonus system. Pay them for what they accomplish! Have the pilots vote on their bonuses!!! Bet you would get some representation then. Why should we pay someone when our quality of life is getting worse every year?

Just my 2 cents.

Here's an idea: if being a union rep is such a wonderful, cushy job, why don't you run for office and take advantage of all these supposed perks? I mean, if it's such a great gig, guys should be tripping over themselves to get to the meeting to get nominated, right?

But of course, reality is a different story. Your reps are usually flying full schedules plus doing their union work on most of their days off, leaving little time for fun and family. They are usually working through lunch and hurrying through eating a Chick-Fil-A sandwich, not dining on lobster. They are usually working 16 hour days when they get trip drops, not lounging around relaxing.

Time for a reality check, folks. Being a union rep is a crappy job, not a cushy gig. That's why few people keep doing it long-term. Only a handful of really dedicated people can last longer than one or two terms before burning out. Show some respect for the people that are working hard to make your lives better. There are a lot of great people working for the ASA pilots.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Every time...and I mean EVERY TIME there is some criticism of the union guys, the standard response is "well, what have YOU done for the union?" or "YOU are the union" "why don't YOU run for office"

Every time I have asked to participate I was told they didn't need any help.

I don't think our reps sit around and eat lobster while sunning at the beach everyday, but I have seen a fundamental change since I have been here. We seem to be in an era of acquiescence and "cooperation" with the company.

When I found PBS was sold to us by reps who were bribed by the company with a pay raise, I was pissed. Face it guys.... that does not look good. That looks very, very bad. Did you really think you could sneak that in unnoticed? Do you REALIZE how bad that looks?

All I want is a rep that does what he says he will do. I am not a First officer, but I want a rep who will look out for THEM. I am not a senior lifer but I want a rep who will look out for THEM. I AM a reserve Captain. I also want a rep who will look out for ME.
What I don't want is a rep who tells me reserve sucks and just deal with it. After 3.5 years, it is wearing THIN. We should be improving QOL for EVERYBODY, from top to bottom.

Does anyone remember the campaign posters plastered everywhere? Remember what every one of them said?

"I will listen to all our pilots and look out for everyone's interests"

Well, In MY opinion that is not being done.

Don't run for office if you don't want to do the work

BTW, sorry about the thread creep. I think the merger committee will do a fine job and I respect these guys. I am just tired of the elected reps.

 

[sweptback]

If the reps aren't getting the job done, recall them!

 

[the palm]

How you gonna recall the reps? My buddy told me the last LEC meeting had more ALPA guys show up than regular line pilots. I do believe the majority of our pilots are happy and just don't want to make waves. Yeah, we got our problems, but who doesn't?