Asa Mgt. Propaganda

[Medeco]

This was posted on the company website first thing this morning. It's too bad they dont say that 90% of what we want will not have an effect on our competitive ability in the industry.

We want a fair contract that helps everybody.

Medeco

Pilots conduct informational picketing as ASA-ALPA contract negotiations move ahead

ASA pilots are conducting informational picketing this week at ASA’s headquarters in Atlanta. The picketing is informational in nature and does not mean that ASA pilots are on strike. ASA continues to bargain in good faith with ALPA and is working diligently to ensure the company remains competitive during very challenging times.
ALPA, meanwhile, has advised that it has hundreds of open proposals that have not yet been seen or discussed by ASA’s contract negotiating committee. These and the hundreds of other proposals that ALPA has already put on the table could make ASA uncompetitive in a fiercely competitive business.

It is in the best interest of ASA, our pilots and our customers to complete an agreement that keeps ASA competitive and allows for future growth and profitability. The detrimental results of uncompetitive agreements have been proven across the industry at carriers that have not been able to grow their business.

 

[Old Crow]

The two year + negotiation process is proof enough that they have no intention to bargain in good faith. I believe Delta begins negotiations prior to the end of the existing contract and resolves all sections within a reasonable amount of time.

Our company pilot group has responded to every calling over the past 4 years and done so without hesitation. We are committed to being the best that we can be and respect our responsibility to the public.

It goes without saying that ASA pilots are some of the hardest working in the industry and do so with the integrity expected from all.

Let's resolve this negotiation process and get back to work.

 

[601Pilot]

This was posted on the company website first thing this morning. It's too bad they dont say that 90% of what we want will not have an effect on our competitive ability in the industry.

We want a fair contract that helps everybody.

Medeco

Pilots conduct informational picketing as ASA-ALPA contract negotiations move ahead

ASA pilots are conducting informational picketing this week at ASA’s headquarters in Atlanta. The picketing is informational in nature and does not mean that ASA pilots are on strike. ASA continues to bargain in good faith with ALPA and is working diligently to ensure the company remains competitive during very challenging times.
ALPA, meanwhile, has advised that it has hundreds of open proposals that have not yet been seen or discussed by ASA’s contract negotiating committee. These and the hundreds of other proposals that ALPA has already put on the table could make ASA uncompetitive in a fiercely competitive business.

It is in the best interest of ASA, our pilots and our customers to complete an agreement that keeps ASA competitive and allows for future growth and profitability. The detrimental results of uncompetitive agreements have been proven across the industry at carriers that have not been able to grow their business.

Hard to grow a business without all of your teammembers onboard, Skippy!

 

[atrdriver]

If they were serious about getting a contract done they would show up at the negotiations prepared, with some idea of what is going on here and at other carriers. Yet, they continue to arrive at the table unprepared, and with proposals that are without doubt regressive to our current contract.

If they really want to get something done, then they will get rid of the entire management negotiating team and replace them with some who are responsible, can make decisions, and will be prepared for each session. Until that happens, I'm afraid that we will continue to wallow at the negotiating table.

Skip and Chuck, if you are listening, get this through your heads. We might have been amenable to a "zero net gain" or "zero sum" contract, at least for a time, had you been treating us with some kind of respect over the past few years. But you haven't. You continue to violate our current PWA, and treat us as part of the problem. You are starting to see some unity with these picketings, but you haven't seen anything yet. We are your greatest asset. Maybe you should start treating us as such.

 

[Palerider957]

Informational picketing is a good start. But nothing will happen with our contract until Delta starts to feel the pinch at the bottom line.

I think we should really be picketing in front of the Delta GO, not the ASA GO. When the Deltoids light a fire under CT's as.s, then we'll see results.

Right now all we are doing is embarassing the management at ASA, as it beomes apparent to the world that they can't keep their house in order.


One curious thing--there was absolutely no presence from DALPA at our lines today.....hmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Palerider957]

We must absolutely stand firm on 100% retro pay, if we don't, then the company has won a MAJOR victory by delaying us.

 

[letthebigdogeat]

I couldn't make it today, how many showed?

 

[dfw700guy]

WE have to get the RETRO pay--CO Express got it and we will too....

It was great to walk today and send a message to just lets get to business and get this behind us..Skip told my new hire class a few years ago how proud he was that he walked into the 70seat neg. and settled it in a few days...

NOW I ask how Skip feels about his company being unprepared and looking very unprofessional!! Which does not surprise us....When was the last time you saw Skip, Drew, Bryan Laq.,Chuck,EVA---I never see them walking down the terminal to see what is going on..????

We control more money than any other group..NO SINGLE engine taxi,,leave lights on, uuummmmhhhh no where does it say that we call when we get on the ground to ops....no call for fuel--not our job--no call for lav dump--not our job---DEP. COORDINATORs JOB......

 

[79%N1]

Amen......I will vote NO for ANY proposal that does not include 100% retro pay!!!

Our mantra should be, "One more day of retro pay!" That might get them to negotiate! Following that, scheduling and other QOL issues. We all know, pay rates will fall in line with Comair, Coex, Horizon, etc...Not much more, certainly not less. This should not be so hard. Analyze the contracts of the other carriers and lets negotiate what is fair for all of us. It is clear by managements statement today on MyASA, that they expect us to finance the growth of this company. With our new contract, they feel we will no longer be competitive (With CHQ)

 

[letthebigdogeat]

Agreed!

 

[FL000]

When retro pay is agreed to in a new contract, how is it usually doled out?

 

[dadawgs]

If they were serious about getting a contract done they would show up at the negotiations prepared, with some idea of what is going on here and at other carriers. Yet, they continue to arrive at the table unprepared, and with proposals that are without doubt regressive to our current contract.

If they really want to get something done, then they will get rid of the entire management negotiating team and replace them with some who are responsible, can make decisions, and will be prepared for each session. Until that happens, I'm afraid that we will continue to wallow at the negotiating table.

Skip and Chuck, if you are listening, get this through your heads. We might have been amenable to a "zero net gain" or "zero sum" contract, at least for a time, had you been treating us with some kind of respect over the past few years. But you haven't. You continue to violate our current PWA, and treat us as part of the problem. You are starting to see some unity with these picketings, but you haven't seen anything yet. We are your greatest asset. Maybe you should start treating us as such.

Great post. I will vote NO! unless we get full retro among other things.
It is amazing that the company is posting this crap about being competitive. The fact is, this airline could be run very efficiently and competitively with a contract we all agree on if we had a management group that was not so inept.

 

[sleepy]

When retro pay is agreed to in a new contract, how is it usually doled out?

My past experience was that the MEC decided who got what.

 

[FL000]

Lump sum?

 

[ASAFOE120]

Right ON!!! I will never vote for a contract that does not have 100% retro pay. NEVER! Palerider is right on, management will have won a victory and Chuck will get a big bonus if we do not get FULL 100% RETRO PAY!!!

ASAFO

 

[asarjfo]

I couldn't make it today, how many showed?

.

I was there in the morning. We had extra people in reserve for each approved location. Some local news showed, but until we head to the aiport I don't think it will get much air time. I agree with the MEC decision to start at the GO and let Skip and the boys look out the window as we walked. We will be heading to the airport soon enough.

On a side note, we did get the the old "one finger salute" from a management In-Flight supervisor that was getting out of a van with Delta Connection painted on the door. Lucky for him the camera was rolling!

 

[79%N1]

The new Abort MEC magazine points out that we have been in negotiations for 26 months ---- and have TA'd only 1/3 of the sections of our contract!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is unbelievable! AND THIS WAS THE EASY STUFF! At this rate, it will take 78 months to get a contract!!!! This is OVER 6 YEARS!!!!!!! How can this be allowed to go on like this? Hopefully, the picketing will help.

On a side note, I was in the hotel van this AM in ATL, and some pax were in the van and talking bad on ASA, being to blame for missing their flight out the night before.......it seems they were told by gate agents that they were missing their flight because ASA pilots were going on strike, and were picketing instead of flying them to their destination!!! Nice..........

 

[~~~^~~~]

79%N1:

You are not kidding. On Monday, an airport vendor repaired a machine and tossed the broken coin holder next to a garbage can on D. ( After all, it was garbage ) Someone decided it looked like a bomb, so they evac'd most of D concourse. When my crew came up the elevator we were "secured" in the South side of D and held by Police along with about 1,000 pax. Our airplane was on the north end of D.

We called our dispatcher using our cell phones. The company did do a great job of realigning operations on to C concourse & finding another RJ. Thanks to Airtran we were able to get over to C and got the flight out 25 minutes late ( after walking from D2 to C30 something ).

Our thanks for our effort was a "crew delay" by operations and a bunch of snide questions over the radio from the "RooG" girl working the radio. The agents on C were angry that an extra flight was added to their gates & let the passengers know it.

Oh - and the 30 gates on C have not had a Departure Coordinator in the last few weeks. I saw a girl who used to be a departure coordinator hiding in the room under the north end of the concourse - but she never does anything, so I'm not sure what her job is ( maybe she is the departure coordinator ). In the absence of a Departure Coordinator the "ROG.." girl just enters "crew delay" when she takes the times.

This treatment makes a guy pretty motivated to walk around in circles. Unfortunately our permit limits the number of pilots that can actually picket, but there is no limit to the number of pilots who can stand around and support them.

~~~^~~~

 

[Stifler's Mom]

.
On a side note, we did get the the old "one finger salute" from a management In-Flight supervisor that was getting out of a van with Delta Connection painted on the door. Lucky for him the camera was rolling!

Who was this Supervisor????

As far as participation, we need as many people to show up as possible. H ell, there was even a guy who finished up a nap yesterday, and then pulled a double duty picketing. Either show up and help out, or forever be banished from complaining about our contract.

 

[SBD-2U3]

Crew Delay... That is completely unacceptable. They are there own worst enemy and they have now idea how bad it is going to get around that place. Especially with that kind of behavior towards the flight crews.


Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[svcta]

I'm sitting here looking at an ASA application and can't figure out why I'm not more motivated to fill it out.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Apu no like member scvta? Apu belong in somewhere else, like India.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I'm sitting here looking at an ASA application and can't figure out why I'm not more motivated to fill it out.

Everybody gets a crack at times like this. Right now it's ASA's turn, before us it was XJET, and after us, it will be another airline's turn.

 

[svcta]

That's absolutely true. I'm recalled from furlough in Jan. I'll just stick with what I got for now.

 

[Palerider957]

Crew Delay! That's hilarious. I can't count on one hand the number of times I've seen an actual "Crew Delay." In the end, who cares what the ops monkeys put in the computer...as for the invisible Departure Coordinator, should we expect anything more??

Management has to know that all those "Crew Delays" are a bunch of BS if they didn't, they would be on our A$$ to get planes out.

Yes the ant march felt good, I intend to do quite a bit more.

Fins, your story was great---and typical ASA. Our Gate Agents are some of the meanest people Atlanta has to offer.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

No wonder. Look where they hire from. About a 2nm range from the center of the airport.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Our Gate Agents are some of the meanest people Atlanta has to offer.

For some reason they are nicer on D. Budda Bing!